Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1961-07-15
The Speech OF Rev. Martin
Luther King

The speech of Rev. Martin Luther King here last
week wherein he aroused the easily stirred emotions
of his audience by reference to that passage in the
Bible which proclaimed that there could be redemp-
ton without the shedding of blood; and wherein he
urged Negroes to be ready to die for their rights upon
sober reflection, cannot fail to the deepest
thought and concern of the really responsible Negro cit
liens of this community
On the subject of Biblical references the use of
which his profession of preacher gives him great lev
ty, but which at the time be made the most
powerful tool of the mountebank, demagouge and rab
BILE rouser it is well understood by every we'll informed
Theoogian, sincere christian preachers, and Bible stu
dent that the passage here referred too has meaning
only as the prophetic prediction of the coming of
Christ. In keeping with that prophecy and prediction
Christ came nailed to the cross, where he died.
after his side had been pierced that he might shed his
redemptve blood
Well aware of his ultimate destiny and the power
of his redemptive blood, before going to the
Christ condemned as lie, any call for shedding of
blood in his name, after his DEATH by procamng that
the meek shall inherit the earth.
The question of Biblical reference aside as we'll as
the questions of segregation and integration, the folly
of any statement, that by the slightest implca
tion might lead anyone of 19mion Negroes to battle
with anyone of 160mllion white people, is evident be-
yond further comment.
In his speech here Rev King beied every tenet and
principle of his socaed non-volent Southern Christian
Leadership Conference.
We believe the time has come when every think
ing Negro in Mississippi and in the rest of the SOUTH
should take good hard look at Rev. Martin Luther
King and the forces behind his sudden rise to national
fame as Negro leader First there certain indus
tralsts and business leaders outside the SOUTH who
see keeping racial tension stirred up in the south
to halt the movement of industry to the south
then certain white people outside the SOUTH themselves
still fighting the civil war, who support anything to
challenge southern white people; and finally the Com
munist who hoping to keep the Negro issue stirred
up until they take the rest of the world and u
matey destroy the United States.
Actually neither of the above forces are sincerely
interested in the welfare of the southern Negro but are
furnishing the financial and other to keep the
Negro issue alive in the south to help them accomplish
their ends.
Everywhere in the south there is great undeveoped
potential the development of which is just beginning
The opportunity to share in the fruits of this de-
velopment presages greater future for the Negro in
the south than in any other section of the nation but
the enjoyment of this opportunity will depend the
concern, friendly interest, and goodwill of southern
white people.
Speeches like Rev. Martin Luther King made here
last week make contribution to the concern good
will and friendly interest of Southern white people in
the future welfare of Southern Negroes.
Finally, this is written to help Negroes in this time
of crisis coerced by the fear of being called uncle TOMS
make up their minds express their honest convic
tons, start putting of their money in the banks
instead of the civil rights collection boxes and be
wary of the real worth of growing list of organiza
lions and Individuals masquaradng behind the facade
of Negro rights and first-class citizenship.