Jackson advocate., 1963-12-14
| WILL NEVER
CHANGE
JOSEPH r. ALBRTGHT

JOSEPH r. ALBRIGHT
Several days ago ! received q
letter from an old friend with
whom ] was formerly associated
during the days / served in
Washington as Special Assistant
to the Administrator Of Veter-
ans Affairs Of the United States
government. In his letter he
sternly took me to task for
what he called my astonishing
deviation from your respected
position as a fighter in the front
ranks Of those who never COM
promise with racial injustice
MANY Of US who so deeply
admired you in past years are
troubled by what we hear and
read about you," he informed
me. "Just what has happened
to you, Joe, since you have
taken residence in Mississippi?
Have you been brainwashed, or
just tired Of the struggle 2"
My life has been lived pretty
much under the umbrella of this
axiom: Never Apologize For
Your Honest Convictions And
Don't Bothef>To Explain Them;
Your Friends Will Not Need
Either, And Your Enemies
Won't Believe You Anyhow. But
because Of the past, friendly,
sincere relationship that exist
ed between us, / made an excep-
ton in this case. If there be
others who might be concerned
about, or doubtful Of, my intent
or purpose in these critical
times, l invited them to read the
portion of my reply to the letter
as stated below.
You may accept my unqual-
flied assurance that despite
what you might have heard or
read am still as uncompromis-
ing as ever in my position on
equality under the laws of Am
erica equality for every man.
woman and child. Therefore ]
have no quarrel with any other
person who seeks to bring this
about. However, l see far too
much emphasis in too many
quarters being placed upon the
means OF accomplishment, rath-
er than the end itself.
Il will resist with every IA
cllity at my command every
program claiming as its pur-
pose citizenship equality which
does not place the welfare of
America above all other consid-
erations. 1 will not stand by
and see the house burned down
because of an improperly at
tended blaze in the fireplace.
Remembering at all times
the honored dead who have fall
en- all over the world in defense
of my blessings an as American,
will not remain silent while
the disciples of discord contrib
ute >. and / care not whether
it is done inadvertently or other
wise to disunity and mis-
trust.
T will walk with courage
among all who follow the path
of reason and common sense in
the pursuit of the procurement
Of our inviolate rights and
by our / mean all Americans
-. but will continue to oppose
any living person on these
shores who would procure his
rights at the expense of any
one else.
"As far as my adopted state
is concerned, invite you to
come visit US. / believe you
will discover that We possess
our share Of decent, law abid-
ing, God fearing citizens :.
people of both races who strive
to enhance goodwill and pro-
mote the mutual welfare of Mis-
sissippians.
"In closing, let me recall to
your memory q placard that
hung on the wall of my former
office in Washington which
stated, Democracy can not sur
vive without unity :. and unity
lives in the court Of reason
mo, my friend, / am neither
brainwashed or tired. Rather
/ am more determined than ever
to live by exactly the same
creed / have always possessed:
l am a loyal American first,
and a proud Negro second"