The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1961-04-13
We Think Not

WI n the flrSt effeotlye demOnStra-
ton against forced segregation now a
matter of history in Mississippi, thought
ful citizens are wondering what may be
in store fer us and cur state in the future.
Meetings held and announcements
made Indicate that on about assault on
Mississippi's segregation laws may begin
any time now.
Citizens dedicated to the welfare,
peace and progress of this state. and this
includes Negro citizens as we'll as the
whites, now the great majority of Mis-
sissippians will be injured to some de.
gree in any struggle of major proportions
between the two races. Just as in Little
Rock and New Orleans.
Yet nothing is done to prevent or fore
stall What is clearly an impending court
battle in which neither side will gain
a real victory, really accepted by both
sides.
Now we have arrayed on opposing
sides the forces of Indignation and the
forces OF massive resistance to integration.
Caught between these two organized,
militant mirorities are the great majority
of our people in the state, black and white.
who are neither integrationist or segre-
gationist, in the usual meaning of the
word, but simply good citizens who want
to live and let live with dignity in a
peaceful and harmonious state where the
rights and privileges of all are guaran-
teed equal protection under the law.
This vast majority of Mississippians,
black and white. are the ones who will
suffer most if the states public schools
are closed because they cannot afford to
send their children to private schools, even
if there were enough private schools.
These are the people who will suffer
most economically if Mississippi's indus
trialization program is altered or reduced
in effectiveness because of racial unrest
or conflict. if new jobs in expanding in
dustries fail to materialize.
Intelligent people on both sides
recognize that force is not the real
answer to the problem = yet force
seems to be the only weapon which
either side has considered using.
Forced Indignation is %repugnant
TO all of the white population of Mis-
sissippi.
By the same token it seems that
the white community could and
should recognize the fact that forced
segregation is just as repugnant to
intelligent, educated Negroes.
Neither the white man or the Negro
deserves any praise or censure for the
color of his skin - something God gave
him.. Neither car take any credit for it
either.
AS long as the law says a man, any
man, can't do something or must do some
thing, simply because his skin is black
that long is the Negro cast in the
role of second class citizen. And that
long he is going to oppose those laws with
everything he has including the pro-
lection of the e. S. constitution and the
authority of the u. S. Supreme Court.
By now certainly this is apparent to every
informed, intelligent white citizen of the
state.
So it seems now the hour of de-
cision is so close at hand that some
where in Mississippi there should be
people of both races truly dedicated
to the welfare of the state and all
of its citizens, who could and would
be willing to assume leadership of
our affairs at this time and prevent
another Little Rock or a New Orleans
in Jackson, or elsewhere in the Mag
nOlia State.
Our inevitable day in court, if
leadership is not forthcoming to fore
stall it, can be prevented only in one
way - and that is repeating all of
the statutory laws on the books that
require forced segregation. These
laws by their very nature are dis
The Lexingt