Newspapers / The Carolina Times (Durham, … / Sept. 17, 1955, edition 1 / Page 2
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I \ (I ( rAMTlPO gATURPAY, AUG. 27. HSI SATURDAY, SEPT. 17. 1»S5 AMERICAN NEGROES POSITION lir WORLD AFFAIRS Through no efforts on their part, the 15 million American Negroes now loom on the horizon as the barometer by which the rights of all the colored people, constituting three-fourths of the world’s inhabitants, are measured. Thus what white people in America, the citadel and arsenal of democracy, do to the Negroes in this country is interpreted by Asiatics, Africans and Australians as what they and other white people will do to other colored people if they accept demo cracy as a way of life. Thus the lynching of a 14- year-old Negro boy in Miss issippi, done in a corner of the South, becomes a tragedy of international proportions, focusing the penetrating eyes of three-fourths of the world’s inhabitants directly on our white people here in America. So what penalty the Miss issippi lynchers will be made to pay may determine the de stiny and may be the very survival of our white people here in America and con sequently those of the entire world. Therefore, the fight for Negro rights in America must be pushed with every ounce of energy by foreseeing whites and Negroes, not alone for the sake of the Negro but for the sake of our white brethren who appear to be rushing headlong toward racial suicide. That is what William Faulkner, noted author and native of Mississippi, was saying when he wrote about the lynching of Emmett Till in that state recently. Here is what Mr. Faulkner had to say: “When will we learn that if one county in Mississippi is to survive it will be be cause all Mississippi sur vives? That if the state of Mis sissippi survives, it will be because all America sur vives? And if America is to sur vive, the whole white race must survive first? Because, the whole white race is only one fourth of the earth’s population of white and brown and yel low and black. So, when will we leam that the white man can no longer afford, he simply does not dare, to commit acts which the other three fourths of the human race can challenge him for, not because the acts are them selves criminal, but sim ply because the challengers and accusers of the acts are not white in pigment? Not to speak of the other Aryan peoples who are al-* ready the Western world’s enemies because of political ideologies. Have we, the white Amer icans who can commit or condone such acts, forgot ten already how only 15 years ago, what only the Japanese—a mere 8U mil- lim inhabitant of an island already insolvent and bank rupt—^d to us? How then can we hope to survive the next Pear Har bor, if there should be one, with not only all peoples who are not white, but all peoples with political ideo logies different from ours , arrayed against us—after' we have taught them (as we are doing) that when we talk of freedom and liberty, we not only mean neither, we don’t even mean secur ity and justice and even the preservation of life for people whose pigmentation is not the same as ours. And not just the black people in Boer South Africa, but the black peo ple in America too. Because if we Americans are to survive, it will have to be because we choose and elect and defend to be first of all Americans to present to the world one homogeneous and unbroken front, whether of white Americans or black ones or purple or blue or green. Perhaps we will find out now whether we are to survive or not. Perhaps the purpose ot this sorry and tragic error committed in nauve Mississippi by two white adults on an a^cted Megro child is to prove to us whether or noi we de serve to survive. ttecause if we in America have reached that point in our desperate culture when we must murder children, no matter for what reason or what color, we don’t deserve to survive, and probably won’t.” The lynching of a 14-year- old child in Iviississippi is a most revolting otiense against decent society edl over the world. Xi the age old pattern 01 southern courts in matters of this kind is followed, little it anytiimg wiU be done to vmdicate Uiat state before the eyes of the entire civilized worla. For there is no record where a white man or men have ever paid the full penal-, ty for a crime against a Ne gro, however heinous and loathsome it might have been. Instead of a fair and im partial trial of the defendants, this newspap^ will not be surprised to see Mississippi attempt to whitewash the crime or find some way to set scott free the three per sons who have brought a dis grace to that state and the na tion. At best, we predict that the defendants will get only a light sentence or probably a fine if they are punished at alL No fairminded person could hold the law ei^orce- ment agency of Mississippi responsible for the commit ting of such a vile act. Crim- insds of the lynching sort usually work in secrecy and, therefore, the law may not be cognizant of their intentions We do think, however, that the state has a bounden duty to punsh to the fullest extent those responsible for this vilest act of all acts, the wan ton miirder of an invalid phild. EVERYTHING BUT THE COLOR They had everything but the color. They had culture, refinement and the poise that would make them a wel comed couple in the best of communities. Back of it all th^ had ttxe money with which to purchase their home and to cap it all they even had a son in the armed service of their country. The one un- forgiveable sin they had com mitted in this world is that by accident they had been bom into the Negro race. This is the saga of the Ne gro couple from Jamaica, New York who purchased a home in a white community in Southern Pines, North Carolina only to discover that they are the center around which one of the most vicious hate campaigns of all times is raging. This is the cruel fate of every Negro who dares to exercise his rights as an American citizen below the Mason Dixon line^n this land of the free and home of the brave. A Negro comes into this world through the same bio logical process arranged by the heavenly Father for all his other children. He strug gles to get an education, joins the church, works hard, walks circumspectly before God and man, pays his taxes. His sons in their early years are tom from his arms and are sent off to fight for the rights of his and their country. He eVen joins those who hunt down and persecute communists found lurking within the con fines of his country. But none of these things move your fellow white countrymen to accept you as other human beings. Japanese, Germans, Italians and others, who just a short time ago were blowing off the heads of American soldiers and bayonetting the guts out of their stomachs, are accepted anywhere and everywhere with open arms. This while native bom Amer ican Negroes are threatened with violent death and de struction if they dare move into a home they have bought and paid for in their own na tive land merely because it happens to be located in the vicinity of the self-styled superior race. Probably these miserable, wicked, godless and unchris tian white people, who live in what they sure wont to call exclusive Kenwood, in their desire to exclude Ne groes have also excluded God; because “where Grod is there is freedom,” freedom to live, work and walk unafraid among men in the earth Where God is not, there men not only threaten to burn down homes and kill their oc cupants but they do it. Alexander the Great see ing Diogens looking attentive ly at a pile of human bones, asked the philosopher what he was looking for. “That which I cannot find,” was the reply; the difference between your father’s bones and those of his slaves.” Twentyy-five, fifty years from now those in iCenwood who now fight, fume and tear their hair like spoiled brats over a worthless toy, because they feel themselves too good to have a Negro for a neighbor, will be no more. Even one as wise as Diogenes will not be able to detemine whether their bones were those covered by a white skin or a black skin. What fools some of our southern white folks can be. THE DECADENT OLD SOUTH the line against the onrushing tide of freedom of all men now sweeping the earth. Talk about stark tragedy, it was in Greensboro last Saturday. Instead of resentment and contempt even the Negro spectators who had come to SATVRDAY H. ALBERT SMITH M. E. JOHNSON (Continued from Page One) witness the hearing evidenced sympathy for those who blind- ^ by prejudice are unable to read the handwriting on the wall. So they will take an appeal to the U. S. Supreme Court where the vitjiol will be even more bitter than before. L. E. AUSTIN, Pabltohw CLATHAN A. ROSS, Editor where Negroes who are forced to spend more time, energy and money to obtain that which is given freely to even former enemies of this country without hesitancy, will learn how weak and sick in soul some of our white folks are. SEPT. 17, 195S Mutaclns Editor . BnslncM Manager Pubiidwd Evmt SatuRl«7 by th« innTXD miBUCmRS. Ineorporated at S18 E. Pettigrew St. Entered m Moond clue matter at the Poet Office Durham. North Carolina under the Act of March a. UT9. Nattooel AdvcrtMnf HepreeentaUve: Interdate UaMed Mewepapeta. ^ Advertising Mgr. JESSE COFIELD Circalatioii Manas®r No guarantee of publication of unaoUdted mate- rial. Letters to the editor for publication must be ■igned and confined to 500 words. Subscription Rates; 10c per copy; Six months, tS.OO; One Year, 3.00 (Foreign Countries, f4.00 P^ year.) Life k Like That By H. ALBERT SMITH Comment On Governor’s Speech No speech in recent months has stirred the citizens of this state 80 deeply as the one de livered by our chiel executive, Governor Luther Hodges, on the night oi August 8. The re action was terrific and un doubtedly followed a pattern not calculated to give the go vernor much satisfaction 11 any. Negroes were practically unanimous in voicing their condemnation; and not a few white persons of prominence and influence echoed a similar sentiment. That this speech brought a reaction so unfavorable was due to several causes. First and foremost was the adauci- ous flaunting of the Constitu tion, now written into law by the United States Supreme Court. The governor said in so many words that the law was obnoxious to him and there fore he could see no reason to obey it, but was dead set on circumventing it. In such a stand, he assumed the roje of spokesman for the white peo ple in the state bolding similar views and sentiments. In the second place, there was the chief executive’s ap peal to the Negro citizens of the state to join him in a cru sade of rebellion against the law of the land and in the cir cumvention of the provisions the law stipulated. Serving as a mouthpiece for hide-bound reactionaries and prejudiced- diseased white supremacists was bad enough. But to ask the victims of the social phi losophy he stands for to join him in an Illegal attempt to void the law was so startling a procedure that It Is hard to conceive how he could have persuaded himself to do It. Yet, our chief executive did did just that. In the third place, the go vernor saw fit to issue a threat, not even thinly veiled. If Negroes failed to join him in his suggested campaign of unpatriotic rebellion against a constitutional requirement written into law and should press for the effecting of the provisions the law . demands, they would be responsible for the terrible consequences that might follow, the abolition of the state’s public school sys tem. In so many words, he told North CaroUna Negroes that 11 they would back him in defi ance of the law of the land, all would be well for them; but if, as patriotic citizens, they did not, they faced a dark future. A further cause for the ava lanche of condemnation f&af fell upon Mr. Hodges was the ineptitude he manlfesied in making this unpatriotic appeal to Negroes to be unpatriotic and threatening them if they failed of favorable response. Just how he could conceive Negroes would do this, especi ally with its involving their acknowledging white supre macy, fighting for the contin uance of a second-class cit izenship which they detest and perpetuating the cruel in equality and painful injustices that they have borne for him- dreds pf years, is hard to un derstand. Human nature does not work that way. A few Uncle Toms, hoping to profit by such an acquie- sence might be expected to do so. But that is not strange. For, In every age and among all people, there have been Uncle Toms like the- one shown in an issue ol the Morn ing Herald a lew weeks ago ol a Negro down on one knee presenting a watermelon to Kerr Scott. (Even white peo ple who seemingly approved must have felt the same dis gust for that kneeling slulmp of a man practically all Ne groes did). But the Uncle Toms in the Negro race today are few as is disclosed in Ne gro reaction to the governor's speech. As for yielding in the face of threats, how could any wise man expect that in this day of enlightenment and unrest when oppressed people all over the world are rebelling against oppression and strug gling for full equality? One could hardly expect a group Ol people, more American than many others, nurtiured in the cradle ol democracy, partakers of the rich heritage which is America’s, moulded by Ita no ble ideals ol manhood and freedom, and Imowing no other country but the United States (for which they have fought, bled and died,) to yield in cowardly acquiesence to a threat-loaded appeal to flout the law of the land they love. In the next place, the go vernor’s ill-timed and malici ous attack upon the NAACP irked Negroes and failed to please morally enlightened white people,. The organization is strictly an American pro' duct, motivated by the highest Christian principles and demo cratic ideals, fighting for the realization of manhood dignity and full equality, a theme preached and proclaimed from pulpits and legislative halls all over America, but never put into lull practice. The NAACP in its ideal is at one with the highest concept ol hu man dignity set lorth by He brew prophecy, the teachings ol Jesus Christ and our Con stitution. And, In its procedures to have that concept translated Into practice all over Ameri' ca, the NAACP is carefiil al ways to stay within the bounds ol the law. To condemn such an organization is unlalr, un just, preposterous and absurd. Finally, Mr. Hodge's speech revealed with X-ray clearness that he hardly qi^alifies as the statesman and leader he iff supposed to be. People, both black and white, looking lor the constructive Advice and admonition ol a statesman, heard with stinging disap pointment a speech Irom their leader such as the prime min ister ol South Alrica might have made, if restricted by a country like the United States in which *the spirit and ideal ol justice and equality have lound wide support and is emerging Irom the debris ol race hatred and prejudice Irom which it has been in a long struggle to Iree itsell. Is it any wonder, such listeners condemned the governor’s speech? - , ' V 'Mf The Search for Health i The search lor antibiotics, the infection-fighting chemicals produced by tiny organisms, has jjrogressed at an amazing pace during the past decade. II the quest continues with the same intensity prevailing during, this period, it is estimated that some 400 antibiotics will be discovered in the course of 1966 alone. Of these 400—derived from bits of soil, plants and other organic matter gathered in all parts of the world—only one or two i(re likely to be found useful in the ligkt against human infection. The others will be disqualified or sched uled for further study. The one or two that remain, however, may be drvgq destined to save millions ol lives. Polycy- dine (also known by. such names as Panmycin and Stedin), newest and safest of the clinically proven broad-range antibiotics, is aa ex ample. Developed by adentist* mt Bristol Laboratories, tiiis drug— which is of the chemical family called the tetracyclines—^is being used in hospitUs througbont the world to fight scores of mlections ranging from pneumonia to vene real disease. But before a drug reaches such eminence—in fact, l>efore it is test ed on a single human patient—^it most be subjected to a series of careful tests. And here is where the weeding-out process eom- mences. The tests reveal if the drug is too toxic, how likely it ie tb produce allerpc reactions, and other pertinent {formation. The care exerted bv research laboratories in the devtf opment ol antibiotics is illustrated in the east of Etamycin, one of the most recent antibiotic tUscoveries. Al though this drug, also developed by Bristol, has shown considerable effectiveneu when pitted ia Um laboratory against germs involved in such diseases as pneumonia, an thrax and tuberculosis, it still laces an “obstacle course” ol ex-^ periments and studies. This intensive search lor drugs that restore health, conducted in laboratories throughout the coun try, inevitably has led to eon- siderable duplication ol elTo^ Frequently, the same antibiotic has been discovered independentiy. by several research teams. This has happened in the ease ol Etamycin. But the search continues, un abated. For in every new sample of homble-looking earth may lurk a microorganism that holds thel remedy lor diseases t^t at pres-' ent have no cor*. f Two Thirds Of The World Will Be Watching Our Leadership At The U. N." •» ladies and GEWaEMEN, IN ACCOfiO WITH THE VIEWPOINT OF THE SOUTH AFRICAN PRIME MINISTt«-l CONTEND that the UN SH0U^2^T INTER FERE WITH THE UNIWS , DOMESTIC PROBLEMS*; WMm U.S ^ IRON CURtAI '4. I Spiritual Insight "GOOD MEDICINE" By Reverend Harold Roland Pastor, Mount Gilead Baptist Church "A cheerful heart is good me dicine, but a downcast spirit dries up the bones..’’ Prov. 17:22. Any good doctor will advise ol the wisdom ol this passage fr^m proverbs. It contains a practical, workable sugges tion to saleguard the rich treasures oi - your health and well-being. We are reminded ol the wisdom and blessedness ol a cheerlul heart. Isn’t it really true that a cheerlul heart is a good medicine lor the mind, body and soul ol man? A cheerlul heart thus becomes a precious and price less possession? It is a protec tion aginst the things that dis rupt and destroy our treasured sources, ol health. Yes, a cheerful heart Is a pearl or treasure ol great price. It guards our health. It heals us when we become sick in body, mind or soul. Then truly...“A cheerful heart is good medi cine...” The Good Medicine ol a cheerful heart is never vauled in terms ol dollars and cents. It is a spiritual quality ol blessedness in the soul. We cannot buy it. It is a gift. The cheerlul heart is an es sential of health. Without it our great treasures of health are in danger. We need to pon der this great spiritual truth of health in our times: The Cheerful Heart Is A Basic Element In The Health Of Body, Mind And Soul Of Man. What is he saying to us? He is saying that a cheerful heart would banish much of the sickness of our times. Too many allow ourselves to be robbed ol cheerfulness ol heart. What wonders the spiri tual tonic ol a cheerful heart can do lor so many ol usi Let’s get wise and go skipping and dancing with a joyful, a cheer ful heart; A Cheerful Heart Is Good Medicine! Let’s guard the rich trea sures ol our health by culti vating a cheerlul heart. Let’s regain our lost treasures ol health by cultivating the spirit ol a cheerful heart. I know an elderly lady who has achieved this cheerltilness ol heart even in the face of a serious handicap. It is true that “a cheerful heart is good medicine...’’ A cheerful heart is in the reach ol all. You don’t need money to get it. A cheerful heart protects and preserves the rich spiri tual beauty of the soul. It is the key to soul health and mind power. Why? For he who has it is in tune with the mighty life-and healtl^-giving powers of God. What is a cheerful heart anyway? It is that inner state of mind that results when we live in har mony with God and man.... “The downcast spirit dries up the bones ...” Why? It is not in tune with the spiritual blessedness that inakes lor health. Let us cultivate a heart ol cheerlulness and have released in us spiritual powers lor good. And let us go about helping others to find this great truth..“A CHEERFUL HEART IS GOOD Micni. CINE." Letter To The Editor Dear Sir: Many ol us young people, Negro and white, have lelt that this is a “grown-ups’ world.” But in recent months. History has suddenly called upon us to play a major role in helping bring real demo cracy into practice In the south. In wide sections now lor the first time, colored and white students have been go ing to school together-in Maryland, West Virginia, Mis souri, Arkansas, and Texas, In the nation’s capitol in Wash ington, in government pro jects in Tennessee and in Ar my Camps in North Carolina. Students have been proving that, in spite ol years ol pre judice and segregation, our American young people, south ern, too, know what democra cy is and have the courage and understanding to make it be gin to Uve--lf we have the chance. The tragic lynching ol Em mett Louis Till in Iklississlppl and the bombings and mob threats in the Carollnas—show us that students, too, are in a Iront-llne struggle lor lull Ireedom in our beloved coun try. We young people do not advocate hate and terror and violence in return, although we are not alraid to delend ourselves 11 necessary. We know that, it we the youth are given a chance to work out our problems without outside prejudice butting in, 11 the lull resources ol our government are made available to protect and enlorce the United States Constitution in all the comers of our land, we young people will do our part and will show the world that we can make brotherhood a living practice. But lest those who advocate segregation, those whose be- liel in white supremacy would cripple and maim the spirits ol Negro and white children alike—lest such people think we are dreamers, we must show ourselves willing and able to join together in the NAACP and in our student and church organizations, in every brotherly way that we can, to work and push and stand up and speak out. We must do this until all discrimi nation in America is gone and we will' never need apologies lor the South again. We young people, both Negro and white, can make it work. Let’s show the grown-ups that, even H some people have been kid ding about democracy lor over 100 years, we are serious and will not stop until we win. Sincerely, Thomas L. Jones, Presi dent, Youth Council, NAACP, Winston Salem Capital Close-Up B7 CONSTANqt DAMIKLS Help for Haiti News ol the Haitian Cabinet reshuHle reached the Capital while this column was check ing United States assistance to relieve reported starvation in the Caribbean republic, where lood shortages have lollowed as an aftermath ol the crop destruction caused by last year’s hurricanes. We were unable to leam, from, the Haitian Embassy, how serious the food shortage was, what further help was needed, or whether the Cabi net changes were in any way related to the lood situation. State Department Report - The State Department’s Hai tian desk reported that it had been advised that the million 300,000 dollars In help currently sent, togeth^ with $25,000 in Red Cross assistance and SO tons ol cheese Irom the World Church Service organization were ample to meet the emer gency, which was being very closely watched’ by the Ameri can Ambassador to Haiti, Roy Tasco Davis. It was also learn ed that the Army’s oiler to send assistance by helicopter had been declined. It appeared likely that the Cabinet changes were due to a periodic shilt, rather than that they resulted Irom dis tressed lood conditions among the peasantry. International Cooperation Re port International Cooperation.... Administration (lormerly For eign Operations) reported that it is presently supplying 6,077 tons ol basic lood stulls to Haiti to help meet the current emergency. Foods shipped in cluded cottonseed oil (cooking oil), beans and rice-- agricul tural surplus commodities. Immediately lollowlng last year’s hurricane, in the midst ol which Ambassador Lager’s telephoned appeal lor aid was (Continued on Page Seven
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