The Lexington advertiser. [volume] (Lexington, Miss.) 1904-1985, 1962-05-17
A Positive Approach

A Mississippi Council On Human
Relations has been organized by white
and Negro leading citizens represent
ing every area of the state.
The purpose of the Council is to
work toward understanding and better
relations between the races in Missis-
sippi.
None will question that both I'M
d~erstanding and better relations are
needed and few are who will not admit
present relations are at a new low ebb.
The mere fact there is a group of
citizens who care enough about our
state and its people to try to improve
human relations is encouraging.
1t is a well known fact nothing
worthwhile can be achieved without
understanding - and there can be no
real understanding when people can
not communicate. This is basic to all
human relations. 1t is also well estab-
lished that when people do not COM
municate problems arise which seem
to defy solution. An atmosphere of
fear envelops and conflict becomes in
evitable.
Only when we bring u problems
out in the open and examine them, dis
cuss them freely, is there hope for solu-
ton.
Thus the Mississippi Council On
Human Relations should provide a We
hicle whereby people of good will may
work toward solving our problems by
bringing them out in the open and dis
cussing them and coming to under
stand each other. This kind of positive
action offers Mississippi's only hope for
preserving racial peace and prevent
ing certain future conflict.
Mississippi cannot afford the type
of racial conflict now in progress in
other southern cities, such as Birming-
ham, Alabama. Our whole state tax
structure is based on not only main
tanning our present economy but in
creasing it. We are skating now on
thin ice. Any serious racial disturbance
will upset u economy and anticipated
income will not only fail to materialize
but actually decrease. Mail order
houses do a tremendous business in
Mississippi already.)
State business and professional
men and women have long recognized
and privately admitted the need for
some kind of a constructive approach
toward relieving the stress and strain
existing now in race relations through
out Mississippi. The problem has long
dominated the business and social life
and government and affected industry.
These business and professional leaders
would do well now to join the newly
formed Mississippi Council On Human
Relations and help to give it strength
and direction. Voluntary action now
would be easier and of greater moral
force and benefit than later action
compelled by the crisis of dire neces-
sity as has been the case in many
OtAN PIQSOO.
Governor Ross Barnett could add
ITO his role as our leader and Chief
Executive by giving encouragement
n moral support to these people who
are attempting to help our state move
forward rather than backward through
the Mississippi Council On Human Re-
lations.
The white Mississippi Citizens
Councils have brought lis steadily
worsening relations between the races
incited by fear, uncertainty, suspicion,
and i~ntimidations, both economic and
social. They have brought us to the
present impasse in race relations, a
point OF no return. We have been led
down a blind alley and now have no
place to go. People have come to know