Jackson advocate., 1963-11-09
Mr.. PRESIDENT AND GENTLEMEN OF THE
BOARD OF DIRECTORS AND CITIZENS

One-thlrd of the population of the South is of the
Negro race No enterprise seeking the material civil or
moral welfare of this section disregard this element
of population and reach the highest success but
convey to you, Mr. President and Directors the sent-
ment OF the masses OF my when / say that in no
way have the value and manhood of the American Ne
gro been more ttngy and generously recognized than
by the of this magnificent Exposition at every
state of its progress 1t is recognition that will do
more to cement the friendship of the two than any
occurrence since the dawn of our freedom
Not only this, but the opportunity here afforded
will awaken among of industrial progress
Ignorant and inexperienced it is not strange that in the
first of life began the top instead of
at the bottom that seat in Congress the state leg
islature sought than real estate or indus
trial ILL., that the political convention of stump speak
ing 1 more attractions than starting dairy farm or
truck &arden
ship lost at sea for many days suddenly sighted a
friendly vessel From the of the unfortunate vessel
was signal Water, water; die of thirst" The
from the friendly vessel at back "Cas
down your bucket where you are" second time the
signal Water water send water!" ran up from the
distressed vessel and answered Cast down your
bucket where you are. And third and fourth signal
for water answered Cast down your bucket where
you are The captain of the distressed vessel at last
needing the Injunction cast down his bucket and it
came up 1u OF IeSn, sparkling water from the mouth
of the Amazon River To those of my race who de-
pend on bettering their condition in foreign land or
who underestimate the Importance of cuvating friend
y relations with the Southern white who is their
nextdOOr neighbOr would say: Cast down your buck
ct where you are"-Cast it down in making friends i'm
manly way of the people of all races by whom we
surrounded.
Cast it down in agriculture mechanics in commerce.
in domestic service and in the professions And in this
connection it is well to bear in mind that whatever other
sins the South may be called to bear when comes to
business pure and simple, it is in the South that the
Negro is given mans chance in the commercial world
and in nothing is this Exposition eloquent than in
emphasizing this chance Our greatest danger is that in
the great leap from slavery to freedom may overlook
the fact that the of to live by the produc
tions of hands, and fail to keep in mind that we
shall prosper in proportion learn to dignity and
gorify common labour and put brains and slils into
the occupations of life shall prosper in pro-
portion we learn to draw the line between the super
fical and the substantial the ornamental gewgaws of
life and the useful NO RACE CAN PROSPER TILL IT
LEARNS THAT THERE is AS MUCH DIGNITY IN
TTLLING FIELD AS IN WRITING POEM. IT rs
AT THE BOTTOM OF LIFE WE MUST BEGIN, AND
NOT AT THE TOP. NOR SHOULD WE PERMIT OUR
GRIEVANCES TO OVERSHADOW OUR OPPORTUNI-
TIES.
To those of the white who look to the incoming
Of those Of foreign birth and strange tongue and habits
for the prosperity of the South, were permitted
would repeat what say to my race, Cast down
your bucket where you are." Cast it down among the
eight millions Of Negroes whose habits you know whose