Jackson advocate., 1963-09-14
The Greatest Challenge To Local
Negro Preachers

There is developing increasing evidence in GER
tain sections of Negro leadership throughout the
nation of growing fear and concern in regard to the
growing irresponsibty that has become a part
OF the civil rights movement; becoming especial
ly more noticeable since the widely acclaimed sue
cess of the March on Washington.
AS proof of the above we need only point to an
article in a recent edition of Time Magazine in
which the Attorney General of the State of Mas
SachuSettS, Negro serving in the highest cleo
tive office ever held by Negro in the United
States, is reported under attack from the militant
Negro element because he dared to point out GER
tain faults among Negroes that and should be
corrected solely by Negro efforts and there is
Louis E. Lomax, the widely acclaimed Negro writ
er and advocate of full and complete Negro civil
rights, now, who Willingly unwittingly reveals
his concern over the growing responsibility that
has entered the movement while at the same time
evlncng desire to escape the ire of the militants
by stating in article in most recent edition of
Look Magazine that Negroes must become more
responsible after integration.
In regard to Mr.. Lomax's article he appears to
us out OF fear, to have deliberately put the cart
before the horse" the saying goes rather than
tell the cold truth that Negroes are going to have
to become more responsible before achieving any
thing like integration first class citizenship now
or in the future, in this country
Then to bring this matter little closer home
there is the of James Meredith who is also
reported as no longer hero of the younger mill
tants after having elected little common sense
vention
The above has been referred to simply as the
background against which we call attention to the
growing irresponsibility that has entered the
movement" here in the City of Jackson, and in the
State of Mississippi kind of responsibility
which ultimately must be paid for regardless of the
turn OF history, by the more responsible Negro
citizens of the City and State
Here is Jackson private property is being at
tackled and destroyed, other Negroes are being
threatened
their homes and property threatened downtown
shoppers are having their packages snatched away
with arrogance and signs of total disregard and dis
respect for the law; all in the name of a boycott
called for the most part without rhyme or reason,
and still being promoted against of those who
have already made honest efforts in regard to jobs
for Negroes. Moreover, gangs of Negro youth,
with no idea of respect for their elders and much
less idea about, and understanding of, the Ameri-
can ideal Of freedom of speech roaming through
Negro neighborhoods at night hurling rocks and in
suits at homes and passing cars; their gggling and
laffing, being sufficient evidence of absolutely
knowledge of, concern with, the fact that their
conduct is doing the cause of Negro civil rights
and first-class citizenship far more harm than
good.
Having spoken thus, it should be at once seen
by every Negro in Jackson and in the state with
intelligent sense of responsibility that the time has
come to call halt to the growing irresponsbility
being enacted in the name of Negro civil rights in
the City of Jackson and in the state; which leads
us to the question of where and with whom lies
the responsibility to bring end to this rresponsi
bility.
In Jackson, particularly, the leadership of Ne
gro Civil Rights movements have been all but COM
pletey taken over by Negro preachers, to some ex-
tent at least, almost to the exclusion of the pro-
fessional Civil Rights organizations.
Our concern here being primarily with the fu-
ture welfare and betterment of the Negro masses
of Jackson our conclusion is that the responsibility
calling halt to the growing acts of responsibility
in the name of the movement" in Jackson presents
the greatest possible challenge to Jackson Negro
preachers.