Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1961-05-20
Negro Origins.
{ Continued from Page One)

When the new organization was
| formed was not made clear in
what was obviously its first pub
lie action, but some informed OBJ
servers see it as a move of the
State NAACP to have other or
CARNATIONS share the responsible
ties in a continuation of it's pol
icies and program against the ad-
vice of the White House two of
whose Negro spokesman recently
let it be known that President
Kennedy wanted the NAACP to
move it's activities to other and
broader fields and leave civil rights
for Negroes to be handled by the
Kennedy Administration.
Following the conference the
local headquarters of the NAACP
issued the following statement:
His Excellency The Governor
Of The State of Mississippi
Jackson, Mississippi.
We want to express our sincere
appreciation for your having taken
time out of your busy day to give
us an opportunity to present to
you some of our problems and to
suggest ways that, perhaps, you
can, and will, assist US in solving
them.
AS citizens of our state we feel
certain that there are correspond
ing responsibilities that accom-
pany our requests for rights and
privileges. Mississippi has Won
derful potential. Once the prob
lens of racial prejudice, segrega-
ton and discrimination are solved,
Mississippi will become the great
est state in the nation. We shall
then work for the welfare of all
the people and we can all walk in
dignity being proud to have had a
hand in the improvement of our
great state.
However, we believe that before
we can make the type of contri-
buttons which we believe ourselves
capable, certain problems must be
seriously faced.
/. Registration and voting.
Under our form of government,
we believe that the best possible
government can be realized only
when all of the people shall have
the right and opportunity to de-
termine who shall govern them.
Your excellency, we find that
there are 10 counties in our below
ed state where no Negroes have
been permitted to register and that
in all 80 counties tactics are be-
ing used to discourage Negroes
from voting. In many instances,
this right is outrightly denied. We
seek your executive assistance in
encouraging the circuit clerks of
the counties to refrain from every
racial prejudice in performing
their duties as registrars. We
also seek your assistance in re-
moving from the state statutes
the literacy test that is a prere-
quisite to voting, as many citizens
both, Negro and white, are dis
franchised because of it.
2. Law Enforcement.
We believe in and support law
and order as other law abiding
citizens. We are of the opinion
that when one is accused and ar
rested for an alleged crime, the
individuals constitutional rights
should not be violated because of
hatred, prejudice, and personal
feelings, on the part of the ar
resting officer or officers.
We mention this because we
have witnessed an increase in po-
lice brutality in Mississippi against
Negro citizens.
3. Employment.
We note with a great deal Of
satisfaction your obvious concern
for improving the economy of Mis-
sissippi. This has been attested to
by your untiring efforts to at
tract new industries, and other
commercial enterprises to our
state. However, we believe that
only, by solving some of the local
and state problems such as those
mentioned above, can we expect
such enterprises to come to Mis-
sissippi in any appreciable num-
bers. We believe that studied eff
forts to make employment avail
able to all persons regardless OF
their race, creed, national origin,
etc. should be made. We would
appreciate your assistance in help
ing create the climate within the
state when Negroes on state pay
rolls can have freedom of associa-
ton with individuals and organi-
cations of their choice without
threat of economic reprisal or fir
ing.
4. Education.
In spite of the fact that ire
mendous efforts are being made
to improve educational opportuni-
ties for all Mississippians. we
continue to lag behind national
standards.
a. Higher Education.
| We question the wisdom Of con-
tinuing the states present pro-
gram with reference to graduate
and professional study for Ne.
gro people to leave the state te
study in predominantly white in.
stitutions Of higher learning when
they could do the same thing In
our fine institutions of higher
learning.
b. Public Education.
We request your assistance also
in seeking state legislation for 9
compulsory school attendance Law
too many Of our people are not ir
school everyday. Many of ouI
problems would be nonexistent il
all of us were better educated.
We further believe that definite