St. Paul recorder., 1963-11-07
jackie Robinson
Address Thrills
NAACP BonoueF
Continued from Page IL

resistance to the opposition and
hostility Of fans and players.
"Everytime he, Robinson)
stepped to the plate and hit
home run, he knocked old Jim
Crow out Of the park" Newman
said.
The editor asserted Robinson
carried on his own March on
Washington" from coast to coast
as he appeared in ball parks in the
Dodger lineup and by his skill
and fortftude opened up a sport to
all Americans and made it in fact
as well as theory, THE Great
American Pastime."
Mr.. Robinson, a member of the
national board Of the NAACP in
quiet voice with a minimum of
gestures, set forth his ideas and
belief on the future of the Amer
ican race problem.
No Satisfaction Until Free
He criticised those who are crit
ical Of Negro athletes, performers
and others who join in the civil
rights fight. He cited the exper-
iences of Nat King Cole and Lena
Horne who have in the past been
Inundated by whites, despite their
general popularity and success.
Robinson stated he would not be
satisfied and the nation should not
be content, until every single, man.
woman and child have the basic
freedoms which the Constitution
provides.
He told how some sports writers
attempted to turn him away from
working for the rights Of all Ne
groes, with the suggestion that the
country and baseball had been
good to him."
Their theory, he said, was that
if he continued to contest against
the violation Of Negro rights the
sports writers who made the selec-
tions for many outstanding awards
would become alienated from him.
Robinson said he decided that
any awards he received by ignoring
the plight Of his people would have
haunted him as he looked at them
on the walls of his trophy room.
Negro Has Earned Rights
The former big league star told
his audience that the American
Negro had earned his right to full
citizenship by his devotion and
loyalty to the United States in war
and peace. Nov, he said" it is
time for white Americans to show
their loyalty to the Negro"
Critical OF Richard Nixon
Robinson criticised former Vice
President Nixon who he supported
in 1860.
He said Nixon ignored the Negro
vote in 1860 and lost the election.
Mr.. Nixon has not learned any
thing from his 1860 experience.
Robinson stated because he's now
advocating 10 the Republican
party that the civil rights issue
be ignored in the 1864 elections.
Robinson was the only National
Negro figure to support Nixon in
1860.
How can any political party ig-
more the major domestic issue of
the times" Robinson asked the
audience.
Against Barry GOIdwater
Robinson drew applause when
he stated if Senator Barry Cold
water was nominated by the Re-
publican party for President he
would walk and crawl into every
corner in the us. to oppose him.
IF Goldwater is named Presi-
dent, human rights will have a
tremendous setback in the nation
which sorely needs decent treat
ment of all Its people to keep its
international position" Mr.. Robin
son told the banquet.
The speaker stated he still wasn't
completely sold on President John
F. Kennedy.
Robinson said he wasn't a mem
Der of any political party. He drew
laughter when he said he was
ready to support any man Of any
party who was prepared to give
the Negro the rights he deserves