SAT. PM%. 30, i«M nm nifm wlpi 9
THE CAROLIliA 11ITC •
North Carolina Reacts To Student Sit-DoWn
Cities Can Suppress Ijucii Activities By Passing New
Ordinances Says Attorney General Seawell
Exci'fjrts from Ilomarks by Attor-
Doy Gcnrral Sea well to newsmen:
“As & gcn'ral proposition citi
zens liavc the legal rii^ht to seek
to use the services of retail est-
iblishmeni i But private rel'i'
esfabliiihmcnts liavc a legal right
to operate their hiisineRS wKhout
bcinK inlcifcrrcci with, and to sell
or not to sell to customers as they
sec fit.
^ « 4 «
(Thr strikers) “have posed and
contiinie to pose a serious threat to
the pcace^and good order of th*
eommunities in which they occur.
t ♦
‘‘(MMiicipa|litiios hit by the strike,
can piis.s ordinances lo suppress ac-
tlvnict dc'trimentai to.ti>*3 neaith,
morals, safety convenience and wel
fare of tl)f Deopl«. (and tn main
tain) the peace ^ eo^. government
and welfare cf tbc dty. CCities
ihoul4) examipc their , present or-
dinancM- «nd> consider wfiether adr
ditional onUpaiwes. are needed
My staff will be glad to advise and
assist. . . .with respect to this mat
ter if roqucstnd to do to.
‘"fhe trustCi^s and wfficials of
cpllrecs ^and nnlvcrylties stand in
the position at, parents to students
in these institutions, and have the
perfect right, - probably ‘he
duty through, apprp{u1ate Action to
ptt>nit>ii at.y acnon on the part of
students which threaten or is pro
judicial to the peace ^nd welfare
of the community.
“Officials of the schools involv
ed should consider whether or not
the most oblig.ition rest with them.
“It seems apparent that these in
cidents have been promoted and
encoura"ed and ovon snnervised
by persons coming into North Caro
lina from other states. . . Such
trouble inakers are irresponsible
»nd their action can only result in
irreparable harm being done to
racial relations here in North
Carolina.
"We Have an Obligation to Support,
Says Organized Voice of Durtiam Negroes
ff
Follewing I* tht cotnplett text
•f • »latement by th» Durham
Commlftt* on N«t*'4 Affair*,'
■iop^•d of lt( meeting Th«r]-
day night, and released to new**
papers this week.
The stafement was also sent
to Oovrrnor Hodget, the State
Atlern«'y Crnerel and to pretl-
dl«nts of ail Negr* colleger, pri
vate and MaltV'tupporled, in
Nprih CareDna.
■‘Altlioush the Durham Commi'.-
tr* (Ml No;;ro AffHirs was unwarc,
DUiclally or imoITicially, of plans
on llic; part of North Carolina Col-
Ir-zp students to stage a ‘sit-'lown’
p r 11 (• s t a'lainst rliscrlmlrtatolT)
prneti'-'cs at the lunch counters in
^Vooiwnrlh and Kress stores, cer-
tian facts of this matter have
caused the committee to take the
po.Mition that, it entirely appco-
priiite for,4t to make a statement
in support of the orderly and di's-
nificd manner in which the.se stu-
(k'nln have solight to make &ur
Mitu iiiiiniiiffliff'fuii^ lymif-wir
pattern of discriminadori wKich
hinders the development of whole
some relations between the various
racial groups which compose the
American citizenry.
Obliged to Support
“The appropriateness of this
statement is heightened ’ by the
fact that portions of the daily
prnita, rortain public offlrialii and.
other highly placed persons withi
in the state have called upon the
responsible Negro leadership (in
cluding college presidents) to use
it.s influence to halt activities of
Negro students and their white
counterparts who have joined the
movement. It is our o|!>inion, that
instead of expressing disapproval,
we have an obligation to support
any peaceful movement which
seeks to remove from thn customs
of our beloved southland, those
unfair practices based upon race
and color which have for so long
a tiinc been, recognized as a stig
ma on our way of life and a stum-
bhng block to moral and economic
progress of the region.
. Pr«Htt^Neeus*rr
. "Apprailmttely' two yoars ago,
, Durtujit Ci»mnitt«e« on Negro
cWidictod;» survey of the
3 and .10 ccpts; stores locatcd in
TluFham. This'.Jwirvey Indicated that
between" 60 |nd «0 pet cent of
the persons entering the Kress,
Silvers .'Woelworth stores,
werft col(lre«l *pej>ple. OJb.yjously,
the stad^ihts’ protf»^i»riainj|j a
ijstem whkh so;j^ilii an«f accepts
the trade of- Ne^Jro patfons whifc
dcrj.Ttog them employment oppor-
tuhkies and the Use oA dinin; fa-
j;llitics yhiCh fre usifall^ offered
for .the 5**^^ of
'while ani^'fcreisa-^iJat*ojiiS. ffliis
protest »ppcar* Ift r^QiniM that
althou^hi^py' -'South-
erhoH practices tiube
morftlly wrong and econ^ically
Uhsdiiilid, the South ai » whole,
has nbt ychfevfejd nifhciitsnt ftiatu-
rlty to njbve v*rt«»t*rity toward
er^dtcatlnj: such' its tcing
•4s,any vocilt tegm^ pt tihe white
tlirtt. ^«*A«ni*es
th'e liistorlc ftUuW'and 'ftHistrition
of nnmelrou*' eUotts by Negro
troups to negOiirte cRanges in the
present'‘fatttni’ thrt»U8h persua
sion arid conference. This view is
adoquitely supported py a review
of the hnJ)«rtant-“idvaneCT which
haVe 'beeti madip In tt|^'field of
•jcitil TiS[ht, '»hich
hirve occorred lisalnet 'fhe back-
Orop of lUijgirtien sn(^ Jnass pro
test.
“Unfortunately, or fortunately,
Itegr* students Wrodghout our
* Und f ^ Uu^’ in both
l^ulbtic t{id’ prtvatie schools that
they ' hold » ^tltenshlp status
which is eqntl in- all retp^ti to
that of every other American. It
is coihmendable that in the face
at obvioua.attempts to indoctrinate
tllem to the contrary, they now
emerge at a Tital and strong group
of stalwart citizens whose image
of themselves • is such that they
are determined to accept no long
er the inferloi' status which the
State Officials, Press, Negro
Groups Respond to Movement
The state widf student protest fotmd himealf M«r Ifc* mtd tt
South still seeks to thrust upon
them.,
Hope for Negotiations
“The Ne^ro citizens of our com
munity hope for successful nego-
tiatinns be!ween student leaders
and representatives of the various
stores affectcd. We are also hope
ful that these ‘ negotiations will
lead to formation of fair employ-
m'nt practires anti an enlightened
policy providing for a cordial in
vitation to all patrons to use the
riinin? facilities without being
segregated according to race. It is
re;\sonablo to c.xpect that the giant,
cororations of our country will
find themselves in position to fur
nish leader.ship in matters of this
k^ind. In like manner, it is reason
able to expect that our State offi
cials will reco.'jnize that responsi
bility for having North Carolina
live up to its reputation of being
the enlightened, liberal and pro
gressive stale which our industry-
hunters have been representing it
torbcp InrtaMi » In
sary that we shall proVfe ourselves
to be, in' fact, what we have been
saying we are when talking to
those corporations which we have
invited to establish new factories
within our borders on grounds
that there is in North Carolina a
climate of racial tolerance and
understanding which will enable
personnel coming from other sec-
target—Thu pitture, taken at j
the height ,ef the itrottft st»ggd ;
in Durham last week by Narth ‘
Carolina College tiudeptt, thewi >
the front of th« Woolworlh store.
on downfWn main street. Crowd
milllHg around In front includes
some students, onlookers and
police. The Woolworth stcres
Ihroughowt the state were the
targat of protests against refusal
of the stow fj serve Nsgf-oes
at the lunch e9}tntors.—Photo by
Jordan. ' *"
tlons of the country to live in ah
atmosphere consistent with Ameri
can ideals of freedom and equality
for all.
“In' conclusion, we commend
these students for the dignified
manner in which they have dem
onstrated the kind of poise and
maturity which have enabled them
to smile while being cursed, show
ered with eggs, and threatened
with physical violence by irrespon
sible elements of our various N.
C. communities wlio would do well
to acqifire some of the qualities
of cooil citizenship and under
standing which have been shown
by those who protest.”
We Ask Your Company to Eliminate Bias, A&T
College Students Request Woolworth Stores
Following is a text of the letter
sent to the Woolworth stores by
the Greensboro students who start
ed the wave of sit-down strikes in
that city on Feb. 2. The letter is
signed by the,“Students Commit
tee for^jjnkice,” an organization
^sprang from the spontan
eous demonstration by A&T Col
lege, Bennett and Women’s Col
lege students.
I’rcsident
Woolworth 5 4 10 Cent Stores
Woolworth Building
New York, N. Y. ,
Dear Mr. President:
We the undersigned arc students
at the Negro College in the city
of Greensboro. Time and time
again we, have gone into Wool-
worth’s Stores of Greensboro, N.
C. Wc have bought thousands of
items at hundreds of the counters
in your store. Our money being
accepted without rancor or dis
crimination and with politeness
towards us. When at a long coun
ter just three feet away our money
is not acceptable because of the
I'olor of our skins. This letter is
nov being written with resentment
toward your company, but with a
ho|>« Ilf understanding of the
gross inequality and discrimina
tion placed upon one American
against «nothcr American who
happens, ky. lj>e will *f God, to l>c
of another colot and yet belong
to th^ same (lumgn race. How long
must these InjMstices continue?
How lon^ must our^ patience be
tried? Hpw cin a nation vyho pro
fesses t» ba a gr^at bulwark of
Christianity and demperacy be sol
hypocritical'an • matter of such
gross discrimhiatlon as denying
the rights o( an American citizen
while giving the tame rights to
other Americn«.
All we- are trying to convey to
you is that wa have arrived at the
crbssroad$ of world ftffairs being
brought £loser' and closer 'o home
because of our nation being on
trial in the eyes of the world. Wc
are enlisting students of all races
and creeds in our country to a
PMsive resistance movement to.
show that we as Americans must
arise to this cHsis and eliminate
this gross miscarriage - of justice.
We are asking that your company
take a firm stand to eliminate this
discriaiin^ftion. We firmly believe
that God will give courKKc and
guidance in the solving of this
problem. ,
Sincerely yours,
STUDENTS EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE
Ezell Blair, Jr.
David Price
Joseph McNeill
David Richmond
Franklin McCain
Technique
Condemned
The president of the Associa
tion for the Study of Negro Life
and History and an outstanding
scholar in American history. Dr.
Wesley scored the stereotype of
the Negro which has tieen formu
lated and maintained to justify
keeping him in an inferior posi
tion.
As means of eon)battin|' the con
cept of Negro inferiority, Dr. Wes
ley urged protests both organized
and individual to the concept, or
ganized activity to publish the
truth about Negroes, and a liigh
standard of acliieveiiieiil i'or tlii'
individual Negro. .
against the rt'fusai of downtown
variety store.s to serve .N'egro;s at:
thf lunch counters drew sharp re
actions from many quarters in its
wake.
Comments came from highly
piac.rd state offitiais and from the
ordinarv citizen. They ranged ail
the way from staunth segreuation
ist attitude which denianderf jail
j ing of the students lo a silent ap-
plaii.se from Nei^ro citizens.
Attorney General Malcolm Sea-
well set the tone for the state's
"get tough" |>olicy which has
already resulted in the arrest of
some 40 Shaw and St. Augus
tine's students when he issued a
statement sugqasting that the
movement could be stopped by
the enforcement of trespass and
passage of other restrictive laws.
The inov,etr'’nt may ha' e launch-
od a political campaign for at
least one candidate. f)r f Beverly
Lake, staunch segregationist whose'
'lest hope for the governor’s race
lies in a large anti-N'efero support.
Dr. Lake, announced during
the midst of the movemenf last
week that he would not make
the race fcr gcvernor, suddenly )
the wmIi wMi • iMNNb*r
p«rter> wfc* Mp
raise tti* MM* Dr. Lab* iOft
are (MCSMry h« b*>
com* a ean^idatm.
At the other en4 af tfce p*l».
the movement rewired slenl hut
enthusia.stic wpport tnm Negrv
residents of the citics affected. In
Durham, a woman wfco had fcltrn
wind of the d«mHHtratiMi ask*r|
as she walked in the back i«ar *f
Woolworth'*, “are ■ thty here?*
When she wa* answered ‘•tcs,’* she
replied. 'Praise the Lord ”
Most of the Tfwiiad
group, like the Durfcam
tee on N«gr» A#air*,- lacal NA '
ACP braneHot and l«««l mimi*-
terial AlliaiKCs, hav* iamad .
statements in m iwppart af Ilk*
movcntent, even Wtaagh H wa*
started withoot argaiiiaad IWIf.
Among the more ^jcctive analy
sis of the movement in Ibe white
daily press came from the Oreeiwi-
born, Charlote and Kaleieh moni'
ing dailies.
On this page are reprinted a
sample of some of tbe reaetioMs
from the officials, organized ]
am! the press.
Segregation "Undemocratic,
isibb", NCC Asserts
PEAfEFVL^jrhls picture, taken
at the S. H. ICress basamvnt
lunch feuntar, reflects the order-
finitM Was typical at the
beglnnhig of the demonstrations
throughevt. the state. However,
I as the protests mounted, eeme
instances of violence were report-
I ed.—>»hoto by Jordan.
The ftW tr'^t of the statement
rel‘>a.se;l hy iVo'-th (’a oii'ta Colleee
on the .«tiilent sit-down strike
a-’ainst sf:are-.:;;i;n in downtown
luncli ea'tnters is as follows:
"V/e b..li3V3 that whenever
difficulties arise between in
dividuals or groups of indivi
duals, a genuine effort should
be made to rpsoive thesu differ
ences through negotiation.
"We believe that a necessary
and desirrb'o outcome of negoti
ations i: lo develop and extend
ajtitjrdin of gcod will and ap-
pi^cTaWSr io>s the digntlhf and
vorth of every individual as a
human being. Our belief in the
value of negotiation is based
upon our faith in tfce principle*
of
democracy. Cansistent with
this faith is o«r c*n*icti«n that
to deny an individual becawse
of his racial id'«nlMv the
vllege of entayina service a»*d
courtesies that are extended fa
the general public ia an act that
is undemocratic, onchrlsHan. and
morally indefcnsiMe.
"Not only do we believe thaaa
principals, but we believe that
North Carolina CaHag* shattid
take the initiative in' practich**
them.
“We endorsiT^ind aunpt t*i
offer of the Human .JIalatinnB
Committee, made public an
ruary 10. 1*M, ta ‘’estaMMs
Press Comments on Movement
Not sLilliMlxins .
Move '
—^—from the Durtam SUN
Durham, ?s a community and
as a region of better than iivei'-
age relatiof’,, north or ^outh, has
been put “on the, spot.” Whatever
the outcome of the developments
of yesterday and today, Durham
is not going to be a happier city.
Undoubtedly, most of thpse who,
participated regard themselves
as. dedicated. Yet, whatever the
logic of their position, it is doubt
ful it thfe closings have advanced
any cause of the Negroes, have
contributed .inything constructive
to racial, relations in North Caro
lina, have inspired any interracial
friendship or have done anything
to bring whites and Negroes in
to any area of greater under
standing.
From the community stand
point whatever may be said for
the militant approach, it is un
likely that cr ic unity is being
served. Perhaps those most con
cerned with the performance may
regard it as beside the point, but
if any of them are of Durham
and have any stake in Durham
they can reflect that Durhani’s
reputation will not be brighten
ed.
A COMPLICATED CUSTOM
from the Raleigh NEWS
AND OBSERVER
Nothing is so clear as the inter
woven place of the South in
America. Some regret that. It
is a fact. And'nothing has so em
phasized that in reccnt Days as
the wave of sit-down of Negro
students at the lunch counters
of chain stores.
The situation which may result
in simple angers is highly com
plex. The Woolworth stores,
against which the firs* moves
were made to undertake to fol
low “local customs,” ye Wool-
worth is a name whicl makes
its mercantile appeal ii, every
section of America, in New York
as well as North Carolina. It has
2,000 stores across the nation,
200 ^f which are in the South.
Also, it is a chain of stotes which
by the very nature of it appeal
seeks the patronage of limited
means all over America, many of
whom are Negroes.
The “local custom” which has
been followed by these and other
stores in North Carolina eagerly
welcomes Negro trade at all
counters but one. Furthermore,
at that counter where food is
served, Negroes have been served
WHAT FOOLS WE MORTALS BE
' from the Greensboro
DAILY NEWS
North Carolina is fast appro
aching a major tizzy over stand
up and sit-down lunches in the
five-and-dime stores.
The issue, of course, is serious
But isn't it also a trifle ludicrous?
If some Man from Mars carac
•winging down and observed the
human race inflamed becausc
certain customers in dime stores
could get food sitting down and
others could get it only stand
ing up, he would think we were
stark loony. North Carolina has
too much common sense too ge
hot and bothered about such fool
lishness.
.lust consider, for a moment
what fools we ni)rtals Iw!
Until all the currenf hurrah
dies down, why don’t the variety
stores simply serve everybody
standing up and then gradually
provide five or 10 minute sitting
down periods, if somebodv gets
tired? Or. why not put removable
rope between certain sections,
with a little curtain .on it to
start things off, and later, when
all customers find they really
aren’t harmed quietly remove
it?
The sad truth about all this tur
moil is apparcnf; It could have
been avoided. If the management
had welcomed the handful (only
three or four) on the first day
and given them double portions
of everything, they would havej
departed hnppy. Their friends'
might have come but not en|
masse.
standing up, hut not sitting down.
The distinction may make sense
in "custom.’’
Perhaps the supposition was
that the Negro who purchased
standing up was bringing thc|
food to take to others. That gavej
clearance to his presence as a I
servant. But the Negro, sitting]
down and eating where he sat
assumed the position of a guesi.
But an odd “guest.” In effect, i
he was cordially invited to the!
liouse but definitely not ty the
table. And to say the least, this
was complicated hospitality. As
a very natural result, the action
of the Negroes has been embar
rassing to the stores which are
not merely ready but eager lo
serve Negroes in most stores but
not in southern ones. Serving Ne
groes, sitting down, in the South
will offend some white trade; not
serving them may result in the
loss of Negro trade elsewhere. In
deed, in stores which are south
ern in ownership and operation,
this furore in one department
raises the question as to whether
they want the business of Ne
groes in others. .
The whole business is an un
happy one, but it’s basic question
is one of mercantile policy, not
public policy. There is no li.w in
North Carolina ordering the se-l
gregation of lunch counters. In
the past the courts have held in
this state that a man in busi
ness could serve what customers
he pleased, but in this case the
cmbarra&ing customers were in
vited to the stores. And that pre-
sent.s a different situation from
that of a restuarant which sets
itself up to serve only one race
or another making clear its
choice.
This business is causing head
aches in New York and irrita
tions in North Carolina. And
somehow it resolves around the
old saying tj^at you can’t have
your chocolate cake and cat it
too.
THE SIT-DPWN i
^from tho Uurhaiu;
M0RN1.*,(|KHEKALD • |
Race rei.tions in Durham
reached a dangerous 'ow in thcj
si^down protest against the prac-|
lice of sonii? stores not to serve.
Negroes at their luncii counters.
Undoubtedly alert wati-hfulness'
by the city police prc\'Mtted a;
degeneration into violence. \
That possibility shoulo arouse |
Durham out of any co^ipacency I
it may have in the area of race
relations. It is particularly dis-1
lurbing in the light of the ac-|
ceptance of desegregation on the 1
urban buses, it is likewise dis |
lurbing in the light of the volun
tary move by tiie City Board of
Education in desegregating the
hitherto white senior and junior
high schools and the public ac
ceptance of the move.
■ And difficult as is the assign
ment. racial issues ought to be
resolved in good will, or the com
munity In wiiich both races must
live will be unnecessarily torn and
divided. The good of the whole,
which includes both races, ought
to be put uppermost.
A Problem
For the Stores
To Decide
from the Charlotte OB
SERVER
Athough no question of public
policy or individual legal rights
is involved, the issue posed by
Negro coHeg" students at a num
ber of lunch counters in the Caro-
linas is full of both irony and il-
logic.
In the absence of law^ on the
subject proprietors of private
eating establishments in North
Carolina are free lo serve or not
to serve udyonc who presents
himself.
Many .North Carolinians un
doubtwlly re';rct that Neiin> col-
munication
parties." The agency that will
act for North Caralina Calla«a
in this matter U a iaint can«-
mittee a# members al the Stu
dent Welfare CamamiH^a, Mr.
D. C. $am#a«n. Chahw*»: a«d
the Student Cavemmeat. Mr.
Robert Kame^y. ft aiid^nl.**
O
Three Tarheels
To Attend N. Y.
College Talks
Three delegates from North Ca
rolina will attend the ^fNCF Alum
ni Conference in Detroit. Feb. 27
and 28. They are Harlee if. Little,
president. General Alumni Asm-
ciation, Livingstone College (Salis
bury); Enoch P. Rochester, Living
stone student and president, UNCF
National Pre-Alumni Council; and
Moses S. Belton, alumni secretary,
Johnson C. Smith University (Char
lotte).
Martin S. Hayden, executiv*
editor of The Detroit News, will
be the principal speaker at the
Conference meeting, Sunday after
noon, Feb. 3S, Walter Washing
ton, president, UNCF National
Alumni Council, announced.
The 14th annual UNCF Alumni
Conference will be bcid in Dt-
troit, Feti. 27 and 28 at the Vti-
eran's Memorial Buildin£.
Itayden b noted as f Washing
ton political analyst Stt also baa
a d^inguisbcd record U a fonifA
correspondent.
lege stiidcM have, forced this
issue in sevwfl Tar Ueel cMm
at this particular period in Ik*
state’s hiatory ot aalcable ran
relations '
But there l» natbt— tkpt Ik*
stale oc tlie municipnitties IM «r
should do about it, eamift t» j
. serxeordH.
For this la c8«nUal^;i|
between i»dt«MiMlt
their
witt bav«^
as it ctwoM^ witik i
tbc tinkle ot