Jackson advocate., 1963-08-24
The March On WASHINGTON

We note for press reports, an editorial COM
ment in some of the nations leading newspapers,
both White and Negro, including the Atlanta Daily
World and the Pittsburg Courier two among the
foremost Negro newspapers of the nation, both
opposition, and concern over what might happen
during the March on Washington the nations
capitol city set for Wednesday of next week.
The opposition too, and concern over what
might happen during the march, particularly among
those friendly to the of Negro civil rights is
based on the fear that outbreak of violence and
riotng during the March will do great harm to the
civil rights cause and further deav the full eman
cpation of the American Negro in this year of the
Tooth Anniversary of the signing of the Emancipa-
ton Proclamation.
In the matter of President Kennedy's civil
rights proposals, with the aim of being to impress
the Congress of the United States with the urgency
Of the Negroes demand for enactment of the civil
rights legislation, it's action to date seems to us to
indicate that the Congress is little impressed by the
threat of the March on Washington. Indeed it
may well be that the March on Washington" has
already had the effect of slowing down Congress
sonal action on the question.
In observing the contemporary scene in the
north now we'll in the south; in states like
Illinois, New York, and New Jersey in the north as
well as in states like Alabama Louisiana and Mis-
ssslppl in the SOUTH and taking into consideration
the results of most recent poll showing vast in
crease in opposition Negro ntegration demands and
civil rights demonstrations, are of the opinion
that we Negroes, in the face of such growing and
overwhelming evidence of the mistakes of their
present course, being led by individuals and
groups motivated by aims and ambitions not sore
ly and sincerely concerned with the full freedom
and progress of the Negro masses.
Our opposition to all kinds of demonstrations
and marches from their very first beginning as a
means of obtaining Negro rights primarily for the
reason that is becoming daily increasingly evil
dent, that they prevent, rather than help the de-
velopment of public opinion, and public support in
the White community where the real power lies in
support of the Negro Having thus said it is
hardly necessary for us to state here our whole
hearted opposition to the March on Washington"
Finally, having lived with the disapprobation
of the current crop of Negro leaders and organiza-
tion for the past decade can speak with
out fear of their continued condemnation to the
Negro masses, the little Negroes of the State of
Mississippi, the main area of our concern, by say
ing, especially to those who recall the period from
1910 to 1854 when we were making great progress
in voting and political participation, in education
and in job opportunity in the state, with the grow
ing goodwill and help of responsible White people,
don't put your hope in the March on Washing
tom, and any future protests and demonstrations
but rather let us hope and aim for the time when
responsible White and Negro leaders in the state,
uninfuenced by any outside sources, begin again
the great progress that we had made from 1910
TO 1854 in this state