Jackson advocate., 1962-05-26
The Black Muslims Movement And
Negro Frstclass Citizenship

In 1947, or there about, while in the nations
capitol city to receive plaque from the Washing
ton Institute on Race Relations. for what we were
already doing for the betterment of race relations
in Mississippi, while at the samtime helping more
and more Negroes obtain the right to vote and
political participation, at his personal invitation
we had the unforgetabe experience of going to his
Chambers in the Supreme Court Building, and talk
ing with Mr.. Justice Hugo Black, of the United
States Supreme Court, on the vastly important
subject of the future of the Negro, and the COM
ing of New South
During his talk in which he noted the future
plans and program of the NAACP, and other or
ganizations presumably interested in Southern Ne
gro rights Justice Black said that winning for the
Negro in the south the right to vote and political
participation was of vastly more first and primary
Importance than any other course that Negro Or
CARNATIONS, and Negro leaders might pursue.
For Negro organizations, and Negro leaders,
to adopt any other course, with some particular
reference to attacking separate but equal schools
in the south, below the college level; before south
ern Negroes gained the right to vote and learned
the value of intelligent political participation,
would serve mainly rallying cry for all kinds
of forces and organizations, whose activities would
serve only to delay and defer, rather than hasten
the full emancipation of the Southern Negro as
well as the development of New South Justice
Black also pointed out
History since 1947, already records the failure
OF Negro organizations, and Negro leaders to make
voting and political participation first and pri-
mary concern; the attack on separate but equal
schools in the south; and the forces and organiza-
tions that have since come into being, rallying
around the emotions arising out of the school nte-
grafton issue.
The Black Muslims Movement is one of those
organizations that exists, and finds raying point
because, Mr. Justice Black pointed out Negro
organizations and Negro leaders failed to give first
and primary Importance to the right to vote and
political participation.
Out in Los Angeles, California, the other day.
according to news reports, serious riot occurred
between Black Muslims and Los Angeles police
the repercussions having already split the ctys Ne
gro citizens, and reached all the way to Washing
ton, where the Mayor went to urge that the gov
ernment outlaw the Black Muslims Movement
We are in absolute and total disagreement
with the estimate of the Black Muslims, given
following the riot, by Roy Wilkins, the Executive
Secretary of the NAACP, as reported in the Los
Angeles Daily newspapers
The Black Muslims Movement has arisen and
advanced thus far, on a program teaching Ne
groes stark out and out, hatred of white people,
and anyone who has read or heard the speeches
and statements of Black Muslims leaders, who is of
average intelligence, can not fail to see that their
continuance would ultimately and somewhere
strain tolerance to the breaking point, anent the
Los Angeles riot while they abuse, rather than
honor the high American principle of Freedom of
speech.
Finally in their quest for civil rights and first
class citizenship in the light of our talk with Mr.
Justice Black of the United States Supreme Court
Negroes do not need and can best do without the
help of the Black Muslims Movement, it being
in our opinion, one of those organizations whose
activities are serving to delay and defer, rather
than hasten their full emancipation.