Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1961-05-27
Don't Try To
'AmaIgamate' Me
Joseph F. Albright,
Staff Correspondent

For some time now I have had
the feeling that much of the
frantic, hysterical diatribes bel
lowed from certain quarters
against that nasty word "integra-
tom stems from the fact that
these sources have enormously
made the word synonymous in
their own thinking with "amal-
gamation". l believe the time has
arrived for US to dig up the cask-
ct and have another look at the
corpse and let US be sure that
we are exhuming the right body,
please.
II indignation" means equality
in the courts of law universal
and unhampered suffrage +. OPP
portunity for every man to secure
job commensurate with his abil-
ity, training and character
the privilege of exercising his
duty and making his contribution
for the defense of America
application of sovereign constitu-
tional rights to every man, wom-
an and child under the Flag
then | suppose I am an avowed in
tegrationist.
But if Indignation" means the
voluntary abolition of all of my
proud racial heritage as an Amer
lean citizen who happens to be
Negro my churches which
have stood all of these years as
the arch defender of righteousness
my publications which have
been relentless in their assault up
on injustice no matter where it
existed my lodges and fra
ternities whose bonds of intra-
group fellowship have eased, times
without number, the bitter, hard
road of racial development
my business and commercial or
CARNATIONS which have anchored
US in many an economic storm /.
my educational institutions, such
as those magnificent monuments
of dedicated training who are
members of the United Negro Col
lege Fund, without which entire
generations of us would have been
lost in the miasma of academic ig-
norance then, brother you
have just lost me. / have seen
nor heard nothing which could
ever convince me that respect and
devotion to my racial heritage
would in any sense detract from
my unqualified love for my coun-
try. In fact, in my book the re-
verse would be true; for if a man
he's not learned to respect himself
and his origin, he is one of the
earth's sorriest creatures with but
little concept of respect for any
thing.
The foregoing has laid in right
on the line as regards my attitude
on racial" amalgamation. Now
l will be just as blunt in address,
ing myself to personal" amalga-
nation. Ever since l first opened
my eyes and looked upon the love-
ly face of my mother, l have been
endowed with this conviction: with
all due respect to the countless
wonderful ladies of all other
groups, the Creator really hit the
jackpot when he got around to
mine. will never get over the
emotions of awe and gratitude
when l see how much charm, pulch-
ritude, and sheer desirability he
has seen fit to pour into the beige
beauties all around me land GER
tainly those in Mississippi).
keep hearing the refrain of an old
blues number that says, eff you've
never been loved by a brownskin,
you've never been loved at ALL"
(Yes brother, if you bait the
tender trap" with one of these,
you'll catch me every timely And
if I ever fail to be fully apprecia-
tive for your splendid gifts of my
womenfolk, Lord, then You have
my number called, for 1 shall have
had it, but good.
So that makes me an anti-per-
sonal amalgamationist, too. |
have not the slightest intention of
stupidity leaving this valley of
feminine diamonds in quest of any
others, any place, or any time.
(And all those "amens" you hear
are being shouted by millions of
Joes who are on exactly the same
wave lengthy
And now that we fully under
stand each other, brother, you can
put the body back. This time let
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