New York Amsterdam News — 1963-08-28
1963
2 pages
✓ Indexed
It • W, Y AM8TERDAM NEWS, Sat., Sept. T, lttt
AmsterSamNetos
C B. POWELL
President tc Editor
P. M. H. Savory, Jecy-Trexi. » J. L. Hicks, Exmiliw Editor
W- ■•<• OmrfHRin K- A. WWIT'-HIWMm DfrarMri B. M. J
RMMTi J. B. WlttM. CM? Batter i J. «
rt U
Published weekly by the PoweU-Bavory Corporation at 2340
Eighth Ave., N. T. Telephone Academy 2-fsoo Brooklyn
office, 1351 Bedford Avenue. Telephone VLater 7-2900.
r • - «
MO
Editorials
The Finest Hoar
August 28, 1963 was the finest hour of the Negro’s
one hundred year march toward freedom. And since
it was the finest hour for Negro Americans, it also
becomes one of the finest hours in the history of
America.
For the March on Washington by so many Ne
groes, side by tide with so many whites, made it
crystal clear to the world that the Negro, once look
ed Upon as America’s problem, is definitely now a
1 of the solution.
This Nation under God got a new birth of freedom
lugust 28th.
’ —
-■
/
Our Leadership
When more than 200,000 Americans, both black
and white, marched down Constitution Avenue last
Wednesday to the Lincoln Memorial under the lead
ership of six Negro men, they spelled out to the
world in bold handwriting that there is unity
among the black people of America and that Negro
leadership has come of age.
And, this newspaper feels that this proof of
that Negro unity and this proof of that Negro
leadership is the roost important demonstration
to come out of the inspiring March On Washing
ton, not only to Negroes, but all of America.
We therefore, feel that we are acting in the
best interests, not only of the Negro, but in the
best interests of all Americans when we appeal to
the Negro u we do now to preserve and maintain
that unity and* leadership which came of age on
August 28th.
We cannot stress, too much, how important
this new unity and thia new leadership is among
Negroes.
For more years than many like to re
member, it has been a classic statement that Ne
groes could never get together on anything. For
more years than we like to remember, it has been
true that the Negro has been held back by the old
rule of, “divide and conquer.”
The statement so often became a fact, and
that rule, so often was proved true that Negroes,
themselves began to erroneously believe that they
“never could get together on anything.”
Thus, it was, that even as the March on Wash
ington was being planned, there were the “doubt
ing Thomases” who questioned whether any large
crowd of Americans would follow Negro leadership
to Washington. And there were others who asked
“if the trip was necessary,” and still others who
forthrightly predicted that such a march would
fail.
What say these critics now after the march
of the 200,000?
To this newspaper it is not so much what
these critics say noiv as what Is said to them.
We feel that the new leadership within the
ranks of the Negro is so important that Instead of
saying to these people, “Oh ye of little faith!” and
condemning them as outsiders In this march of
Negro Americans, we should say instead “Come
walk with us — come walk with us and 200,000
others—come walk with us and 200 million others
—-far we are walking into the sun of a greater
America.”
And it Is in this sense that we appeal for contin
ued unity In the ranks of Negro leadership of Dr.
Martin Luther King, Roy Wilkins, A. Philip Ran
dolph, James Farmer, Whitney Young, and John
Lewis.
*
We herewith, salute these men and we formal
ly accept them as our leaders. And as we accept
them, we urge others to do the same.
In these six men, we have the flower of a
great people. They are the best of our breed.
We do not need more. We should not accept
less.
‘
What is needed now Is for all of us to get be
hind them and walk with them into a reality of
the great American dream.
Missing Pet
Sir:
Ob August 20th my only child's
pet dog. Bozo, "disappeared
He was last seen about 5 PM
headed toward 7th Ave. on ll»th
St. Since then my daughter hasn’t
had 4 restful night's sleep, and
•he cries most of the day. She
won't eat «od I know it won't
he long before she becomes seri
ously IB.
Please. If anyone has any In
formation concerning Boio, won't
you contact ma. or any tenant
at the address at the end of this
ktter, or the -A.I.P.C.A
TR. 07790. 441 B. «nd St., NYC
Boso la a mixture of breeds,
•tout JJ to 20 Inches tall; his
red-broWn hair (similar to an
Irish setter's) Is growing back as
• result of a home-type summer
haircut f and he was wearing a
ehoker style cotter with 3
licensee, the 1163-4 number being
M-19839.
Dee Netsoa
Morch Coverage
Sir: On behalf of the Board,
the staff and the youth- of the
Vocational Guidance and Work
shop Center, I thank you for the
assistance that you and your
good paper have given in sup-
tort ef the service through your
coverage of the various pro
grams. This favorable publicity
enables a community to evalu
ate and become more aware of
the need for the Guidance Serv.
Ices the Center offers.
We congratulate you upon your
coverage and fodthright report-
Ing, which comes only from
dedicated and fearless leader in
terested in meeting the grave
needs of nil. You, Mrs. Norford,
Miss Slack and Mr Walker have
been kind and cooperative In an
nouneing the various activitiaa
We are deeply grateful, and
can assure you of our continued
strong support of your paper and
ts forthright policy.
May God bteaa you.
. Kate J, Hicks
Vocational Guidance
MS«. n9ta it
NYC 28. NY
NY
From Every Walk Of Life
Heroes Of Emancipation
DKNMAJUt VESEY
According to hiatory, Denmark
Veeey was born about 1788 on
the Island of Santo Domingo. He
has been described aa a hand
some an intelligent young man
who was subject to epileptic aei
sures. He Uved in the Weet In-
dies until the age of 14, at which
time he became the favorite ser
vant of a Charleston, SC, slaver
who traded between the Islands
of 8t. Thomae and 8t. Domini
que.
For twenty years Denmark
Veeey sailed with his maater'a
slave ship until 1800 when be
won 81,300 in a lottery whioh he
used to purchase his freedom
From 1800 until 1122, Veeey work
ed aa a carpenter la Charles
ton. SC. During this time he be
came a well known A M I Church
lay tender who was able, as i
free Negro, to carry his anti
slavery measagea to plantations
scattered over a hundred-mSe
area.
was a ship carpenter It wss
Poyaa who volunteered for the
most dangerous assignment of
the plan whioh was to surprise
and capture the main guardhouee.
In a tense the story ot the Veeey
insurrection was also Peter Poy-
as* story, as Veeey recognised
Poyaa’ talents and placed him in
charge of organising the recruits.
List of RecruMs
Veaey and Poyas planned a
cell-like organisation. Each lead
er had a list of the recruits as
well as their specific assignment.
Only the leaders, however, knew
the details of the plot. The avwr-
age recruit knew nothing except
the name of '.tis leader and what
his particular Job was. During
this time weapons were construc
ted and dligulses were designed.
It is said that approximately 9,000
slaves were finally recruited.
The day of July 18, 1823 was
chosen. However, stout two
weeks before this day y house
servant betrayed the insurrec
It la said that Veeey was well
tionists. He was only able, how
educated and spoke several lan
ever. to supply them with minor
guages. He used his abilities to
details. As a result, during the
arouse Negro slaves and encour
next two weeks the Mayor and
age them to insurrection. During
other city officials worked des
these years la Charleston Veeey
perately to get the informs tian
nurtured a deep hatred for ala
needed to put down the uprising,
very and slaveholders. He believ-
ed that slavery was evil and that I At the same time, Vesey and
no man was meant to be a slave his aides were working to spring
-4. ! their trap despite this betrayal.
for another.
They continued their plans up to
tlte last day when another slave
who knew the names of 6ome
of their leaders went over to the
enemy.
Planned S Years
Finally, about 1117, Vesey con
ceived the idea of his insurrec
tion. For the next five years he
planned, plotted and fanned the
flames among the slaves. He
was given to quotations from the
Bible, from well-known Abolition
ists and Toussaint L’Ouverture
was his guiding patron One of
hia favorite quotations was the
words of Joshua: “and they ut
terly destroyed all that were in
the city, both men and women,
both young and old. and ox and
sheep and ass with the edge of
a sword "
Vesey preached that it was
necessary to strike the first blow
and warned that God helped only
those that helped themselves. If
he saw a Negro bowing to a
white man on the streets he would
rebuke Mm. Gradually he cap
tured the minds of the Negroes
in Charleston and many slaves
feared him much more than
they feared their masters
Finally, around Christmas time
in 1821, he selected leaders for
his insurrection. He enlisted slave
artisans and class leaders of the
Methodist church. His chief as
sistant was Peter Poyas. who
Armed with this information,
the authorities called in the
guard and alerted the militia.
As a result, Vesey and some 35
of his men were captured and
subsequently hanged. Out 8f the
group only one leader confessed.
According to the official report
of the execution, Vesey and Peter-
Poyas were proud, jjj, their de
feat. Poyas spurned test minute
pleas for information. He admon
ished the other leaders: "Do not
open your lips. Die as you shall
see me de.”
In the words of Archibald Grim-
ke, ’’such statements, consider
ing the circumstances under
which they wererspoken. were
worthy of a son of Sparta or
of Rome, when Sparta and Rome
were at their highest levete as
breeders of iron meh.”
Thus, Denmark Veseg repre
sents a type which belies the
philosophy that Negroe* are in
nately docile as a race and were
content with slavery. On the con
trary, he represents our Jeffer
sonian heritage of independence.
Letter Of The Week
Boycott Posiibility?
The-Mexican War. 1848 to 1U«,
the Compromise of 1850, the Kan
sas-Nebraska act of 1854. the now
infamous Dred Scott Decision in
1857, and John Brown's raid on
Harpers Ferry in 1850
These are just a few of the
events that ultimately led to the
freeing of the Negro slaves.
There are many’ more events,
perhaps not as important in
scope, that I can not mention
here because of a shortage of
space in this paper.
Sir: In the future there may
be other Freedom Marches on
other cities or on Washington.
D.C., but I doubt if any could
possibly he more orderly or
svmbolle than the one held Au
gust 28. 1983. It was so orderly
that during the entire day I did
not hear one word spoken in
anger. It was truly a day of
love and mutual respect. It was
symbolic of the dream that Dr.
King so eloquently referred to in
Finally, there is no doubt In
his speech at the Lincoln Mem- my mjnj tkat the omnipotent and
oriel.
I omnipresent hand of Providence
To my mind the most poignant hovered over the entire March
memories I have of The Free- from beginning to end. From the
dom March are, 1) The feeling moment the first bus or train or
of humility that engulfed me as privately driven car left their de-
I strode resolutely down Con- pprture point until it returned
stitution Ave., singing "We Shall from the March, the hand of
Overcome." 2.) When the dele- God was there to steady the hand
gation from Jackson, Miss.,
of the bus driver or the engineer
marched toward the Lincoln Me
at the throttle or the driver of
morial, black and white holding
a car.
hands, for a brief moment in
history, living as one. 3.) That
magie moment in Dr. Kings'
speech when the multitudes pick
ed up the chant of "I Have A
Dream”. I assure you that there
were not many pairs of dry eyes
at the conclusion of his speech
As Abraham Lincoln said in his
now revered historical speech,
the Gettysburg Address, "The
world will little note or long re
member what we say here, but
it can never forget what they did
here." It can also be said that
when the words said by the many
illustrious figures that spoke at
the Lincoln Memorial have been
lost in history, the scene of over
200,000 Americans listening with
rapt expressions on their faees
will forever live in the memory
of anyone who was an aetual
participant in this historical oc
casion.
As the incomparable master of
ceremonies said at the conclu
sion of the march, it Is now up to
each individual to return to his
home, whether in a big city or in
a hamlet and renew his efforts
to arouse his fellow men to a
new pitch of determination to ex
tirpate discrimination and pre
judice wherever it might be
found and annihilate it.
But by and large the final as
sault on the formidable bastions
of segregation will be waged by
the churches. If they fail then
we are really in trouble. I don't
know just how many people at
tend churches in Harlem every
Sunday or during the course of
a year, but I do know that ac
cording to figures released by
the Harlem branch of the
NAACP, if we can't support at
least one of our major civil
rights organizations any better
than this, then perhaps we de
serve anything we get.
, There are some people who
doubt the efficacy of the Free
dom March, whether it will pro
duce immediate changes long de
manded by the Negroes. It Is
difficult for me to Imagine any
one so naive as to think that this
Freedom March will be a pana
cea for the many injustices In
flicted upon the American Ne
gro. Any one with even a limited
awareness of history Is eogitsant
of the fact that no single Inci
dent brought about the Civil War
and the subsequent signing of
the Emancipation Proclama
tion. Certainly the firing on
Fort Sumter was the final event
that brought about the exploring
of the bomb of hate that had
hovered over the United States
for so many yearn and as a re
sult we are still suffering from
the fallout effects of that explo
sion.
History will toll us that the
events that inexorably set the
stage for the Ctvtl War probably
began with the first slave up
rising led by Gabriel Prosser ta
Virginia around the turn of the
(9th century, another slave up
rising lad by Denmark Vesey in
South Carolina in 1821, Tha Mis
souri Compromise of 1838. The
Nat Turner rebellion in 1131, by
far the largest and moat success
ful slave uprising of all limes,
'toorge W. Javis
Amsterdam Ave. NYC
Morch Recording
Sir: I am sure millions of
Americans would like to have a
recording of tha history making
events of the August 28th, march
on Washington. Is it possible to
interest the major record com
panies in this, with a share of
the proceeds going to the fight
for freedom and equality, via,
the NAACP, SCLC, CORE, etc?
J. Urquhart
Elmont, L.I., N.V.
Likes Left an
Sir; I have been re diag the
Amsterdam News for a number
of years, and I realty enjoy your
"Pulse of New York's Publle.’*
Tha letter by Calvin I. Gra
ham, which appeared la your Au
gust 24 Issue, should ho reprinted
at a later date.
I feel that every citizen in our
community would profit from
reading!
this letter.
Sylvester Whittington
New York
> ? *
Along The Way
The Greatest Day!
By ROY WILKINS
It was the greatest day!
When the old Fifteenth New
York came home from France
after World War I, its battle and
regimental flags bearing the
Croix de Guerre, its officers and
men stepping down
Fifth Avenue to the
music of the immor
tal James Reese
Europe and his
band that was a
day.
But it was a day
for New Yorkers'
only, a time which
touched others far WILKINS
away by its symbolism only.
Hearts were fair to bursting then
with joy and pride (as they were
at the March) and tears came
easily and unashamedly.
A whole race had been slander
ed and smeared by the military
establishment of its own govern
ment. Its fighting men had been
scorned.
The French took them gladly In
to Foch’s army and the black men
from Harlem and Chicago’s South
Side piled glory onto glory, vindi
cating their manhood and the hon
or of their race.
By ROY WILKINS
They came home, not on United
States battleships as did some
white regiments (some admirals
did not want black soldiers on
their lily-white ships), but they
•came home. That was a day!
But Wednesday, August 28, was
another kind of great day. It was
the people's day. It was not a day
of speeches, although they were
good — and short. It was not a
day of music, although that was
the joy-giving, foot-patting kind.
(Who can forget Mahalia Jackson
pouring out her heart to 200,000
before her and to millions more
in front of television screens? Or
the deep-voiced Eva Jessye choir's
Freedom song?)
It was a great day because of
the people themselves — more
than 200,000 of them 'who came to
Washington from every corner of
this nation and from, overseas.
They came, white and black, to
say to the nation’s capital and to
the world that freedom must ring
throughout the land, in Mississip
pi as well as in Minnesota.
They came to tell the Congress
of the United States that the leg
islative branch of our government
must make real for American
minorities the promises in the
Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence.
They talked plainly about the
racial discrimination in jobs and
voting and schools and housing
and public accommodations and
law enforcement. They recited
their beatings while demonstra
ting in a hundred towns back
home.
They recounted the judgments
and fines and high bonds and lad
ings for just asking for their
rights. They told of their shock
and anger at the "hands-off” pol
icy of the Federal government.
They said they were sick of ex
cuses and rules and traditions and
red tape that hold the system of
oppression together. They want a
breakthrough like August 28 when
men and women and the youth of
both races and of all points of the
compass, of ail types of organiza
tions, of all religious faiths, brush
ed aside all the old artificialities,
got down to human bedrock and
spoke aloud in one voice for free
dom.
Louis Lomax joined Senator
Stennis of Mississippi in criticiz
ing the March. But despite Lomax
and Stennis. it was the greatest
day!
Pulse Of New York’s Public
Tht Amsterdam News welcomes letters on either side of any subject. It is preferred that letters not exceed 25d words and they
must be signed. Names will be withheld on request. No Utters can be returned. AU must be addressed to the Fdit.or.
Show of Courage
Dear Brother: I should
written you this letter a long
time ago but I procrastinated
late to generate • thought in
your mind and perhaps even stim-
have ulate a conversation, in which
case it shall not have been written
In vain.
Sir: In the early morning hours,
the weather here in New York
was perfect Arriving In Washing-
You and I know the things we ton at noontime, we likewise
” Sir: While down in Washington
for that momentous occasion
this week, tnese few lines came
to me I couldn't help but write
say to ourselves and to each found perfect Washington weath- them down and foiward same to
March Roviow
Met My Brother
until I ran do so no longer. I
address you as "Brother” be
cause you are a so-called "Ne
gro” and like me and millions
of other people ef color, you find
yourself in this struggle for equal
ity under law.
other and we know that the time
has.come when we must change
this. It la common knowledge
that many persona walk around
under a spell of self-induced hyp
nosis from the things they tell
Permit me to express my ad-{themselves. If this be true let
miration'for your courage and,us then talk and think the words
spirit in making thlssjpurncv to of the slogan "A Promotion For
Washington to demonstrate your One Is A Promotion For All.”
belief In the rights of American- Thanks for the t’me taken to
rcad this and may the miracu-
ism.
This note is to suggest that '"'“s change < • some portions of
Pteee while you still are
you go with a slogan, one that has
a philosophical message, one ihatien^ry‘n^ on earth
suggests a way of thinking, a
slogan that everyone can carry
on a banner with dignity, whether Hosoitdl Piekdtina
’
he be Muslem, Christian, NAACP, K
or CORE member.
Sir During the time that moat
You and I know that the prob- of our Negro leaders had ple-
lem with the so-called Negro Is kets SPt up at th Down,tate
within himself, it started with M ..
‘e
the "word" and if it is to be Medlcfll CpntCT in Brooklyn, why
Sydney Llewellyn
——
c.rad, It must be done with the 1 they also picket the Kings
Scanty Hospital to see that the
"word”.
Let me remind you that Jesus name Negro, white stop being
put on birth certificates and Just
put American color of skin black,
Christ said, "You must be born
•gain In the realization of the
word". In the Epistle of John,
first Chapter, first verse, it is
written, "In the beginning was
the word, the word was with God
and the word was God”. A fam
ous dictator once said, "Repeat
a lie often enough you will be
lieve It yourself.” I could go on
and oa without belaboring this
point too strongly.
The point of this letter ts to
suggest this slogan until we can
come up with a better one. "A
Promotion For One Is A Pro
•ram For All". When the indiv
idual Negro reeds this, and hears
this, and talks this he will begin
to think this, and when even a
small ratio of the millions stnrt
thinking in terms of promoting
hia fellow man, the mapfest.i-
'.(on will be miraculous, not only
tere in the United States hut ail
tver the werld.
My brother, this pote may
reach you too late to print a
hanaer for year marn. to Wash
ngton, but surely It is not too
white, brown, or yellow?
I also think that this should
be done in every state, county,
and district in America. In win
ning this goal everyone bom In
America would have the honor
to picket, fight, and die for
America, and not fight and go to
J3il for a minority group. If th*
Negroes win their goal fifty per
cent as Negroes they would still
be Negroes by birth and not
Americans
I also feel that our children
should be born as Americans
and not a percentage What I'm
trying to say is that Negroes
Should not only fight lor Negro
rights but birth rights also, As
you eery well know that the place
to start is in our hospitals, health
department and In this way put
an end to the word minority And
• beautiful beginning — to the
words A meet eg the beautiful.
Lloyd Negro Minority Meehs
Brooklyn, NY
er.
- - (you:
The restraint and dignity of I nw?t WX brother in the nation's
the vast assemblage (according
to estimates reported on the
radio to be two hundred and ten
thousand) was matched by the
eloquence of Dr. Martin Luther
Ki
1 ,
An
Captial, Washington, DC
He wasn't hanging from a tree,
Just standing by and talking
About his being free.
I met my sister In the aation s
capital, Washington. D.C
“i»She wasn't down there on her
1963 talk is the 1887 widely quot- knpes
ed Booker T. Washington »Peech.l Just standing with my brother
Let us hope that Dr. Martin jn qui£t dignity.
Luther King s leadership in our
day may accomplish what Book
er T. Washington a leadership
accomplished In his day.
My religion la a vary simple
one I believe; "God takes a
hand in the destiny of men and
nations.” It was with mixed emo
tions that I learned that one of
the "God etothes Charlies of the
Ku Klux Elan,” with an extra
heavy plane load of bed sheets
and old fashioned night shirts,
crashed.
The Ku Klux Kian Charley was
enroute to Washington to make
trouble for us. It saddened me
that the pilot went to bis death
It la too bad that It couldn't
have been the other way around
Let us hope that that airplane
disaster may put an end to the
non sense ef the tod sheets end
the nightshirts.
The readers of the Amsterdam
News have the finest sense of
jumor In the world. Let us gee
to It that this humor la put to
work.
I truly believe that the Ku Klux
Kian can be toughed out of ex
iatence by the readers of the
Amsterdam Newt.
I would like to thank all of
you for your kindness to Dorothy
as well as myself Wednesday
. Tt was truly • wonderful group
of people with wham wa were
privileged la travel ea a most
memorable occaalon.
Joseph Cart Thomson
(Attorney Joseph Carl Thomson
and wife roda an the Amater
dam Newa’ chartered bus In the
March on Washington >
I met 200.000 people In the
Capital, Washington, D.C.
August 28. 1988.
Black and white Joining voices
Foe equality.
A voice cried, "Judgment's come
to the capital, Washington,
D. C.
Let all America see.
Laws, my country can surely
make.
But God. a man makes free.
Claude M. Vincent,
N. Y. C.
Wo Are For You
Sir: I with to thank you for
the wonderful support that the
Amsterdam News has given my
candidacy for the open position
of Deputy Fire Commissioner,
and for the recant editorial de-
aouncing the throwing of stones
and other objects at our eity
firemen.
With regard to the eolleetteo
of signatures on petitions asking
the Mayor to appoint me as
Deputy Fire Commissioner, these
unusual young mao in the Vul
can Society have collected more
then 15,000 signatures. They are
now seeking an appointment with
the Mayor la order to present
them.
The Negro community is in
teed fortunate to have a fear
leas and uncompromising aa«e
opper, the New York Amsterdar
News, leading them ia their
fight far Full Equality Now.
Robert 0. Lowery
President
Vulcan Society, Inc., N.Y
Untitled Document file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/hello.html2/18/2007 11:01:03 AMThomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069 www.fultonhistory.com
--- PAGE BREAK ---
#•
JV—
M • N. Y-AMSTERDAM NEWS.Set.Scpt.jr, 1MW
From Every Walk Of Life
AmsterSatnNetos
C B. POWELL
President it Editor
P. M. H. Savonv, &ecy-Trees. • J. L Hicks. Ernestine Editor
” “
etaeMert K A. Watt. Adverttataa toracuri B. M. Ji
r« 8. a Wirtr, CNr ■“*! J. W. »*,
**
n a
PuWUhed weekly by the PoweU-Bavory Corporation at 2340
Eighth Aye., N. T. Telephone ACademy 2-7800 Brooklyn
office. 1281 Bedford Avenuq. Telephone ULater 7-2800.
ratal; l mi re - s ««.. HW
Editorials
The Finest Hour
August 28, 1963 was the finest hour of the Negro’s
one hundred year march toward freedom. And since
it was the finest hour for Negro Americans, it also
becomes one of the finest hours in the history of
America.
For the March on Washington by so many Ne
groes, side by aide with so many whites, made it
crystal clear to the world that the Negro, once look
ed upon as America's problem, is definitely now a
part of the solution.
This Nation under God got a new birth of freedom
4.
August 28th.
■ I
'
Our Leadership
When more than 200,000 Americans, both black
and white, marched down Constitution Avenue last
Wednesday to the Lincoln Memorial under the lead
ership of six Negro men, they spelled out to the
world in bold handwriting that there is unity
among the black people of America and that Negro
leadership has eome of age.
And this newspaper feels that this proof of
that Negro unity and this proof of that Negro
leadership is the roost important demonstration
to come out of the inspiring March On Washing
ton, not only to Negroes, but all of America.
We therefore, feel that we are acting in the
best interests, not only of the Negro, but in the
best interests of all Americans when we appeal to
the Negro as we do now to preserve and maintain
that unity and leadership which came of age on
August 28th.
We cannot stress, too much, how important
this new unity and thia new leadership la among
Negroes.
For more years than many like to re
member, it has been a classic statement that Ne
groes could never get together on anything. For
more years than we like to remember, it has been
true that the Negro has been held back by the old
rule of, “divide and conquer.” f «
The statement so often became a fact, and
that rule, so often was proved true that Negroes,
themselves began to erroneously believe that they
“never could get together on anything.”
Thus, it wai, that even as the March on Wash
ington was being planned, there were the “doubt
ing Thomases” who questioned whether any large
crowd of Americans would follow Negro leadership
to Washington. And there were others who asked
“if the trip was necessary,” and still others who
forthrightly predicted that such a march would
fail.
What say these critics now after the march
of the 200,000?
To this -newspaper it is not so much what
these critics say now as what is said to them.
We feel that the new leadership within the
ranks of the Negro is so important that instead of
saying to these people, “Oh ye of little faith!” and
condemning them as outsiders in this march of
Negro Americans, we should say Instead “Come
walk with us — come walk with us and 200,000
others—come walk with us and 200 million others
—for we are walking into the sun of a greater
America.”
And It is in this sense that we appeal for contin
ued unity in the ranks of Negro leadership of Dr.
Martin Luther Ring, Hoy Wilkins, A. Philip Ran
dolph, James Farmer, Whitney Young, and John
Lewis.
We herewith, salute these men and we formal
ly accept them as our leaders. And as we accept
them, we urge others to do the same.
In these six men, we have the flower of a
great people. They are the best of our breed.
We do not need more. We should not accept
less.
What is needed now is for all of us to get be
hind them and walk with them into a reality of
the great American dream.
t
Missing Pet
Sir:
On August 20th my only child's
pet dog, Bozo, "disappeared.”
He was last seen about 5 PM
headed toward 7th Ave. on 118th
St. Since then my daughter hasn’t
had 4 restful night's sleep, and
she cries most of the day. She
won’t eat and I know It won’t
be long before she becomes seri
eualy W
Please, If anyone has any in
formation concerning Boto, won’t
you contact me. or any tenant
at tiie address at the end of this
letter, or the -A.IPCA.,
TR. 4-7T00. 441 1. find St„ NYC
28-
Bobo Is a mixture of breeds,
•bent 15 to 20 Inches tall; his
red brow’n hair (similar la l
Irish setter's) is growing back as
S result of a home-type summer
balrcutf and he was wearing a
ehoker style collar with 3
licensee, the 1963-4 number being
Dee Nelson
MS W. llSth St
NYC 28, NY
March Coverage
Sir: On behalf of the Board,
tha staff and the youth- of the
Vocational Guidance and Work
shop Center, I thank you for the
assistance that you and your
good paper have given in sup-
tort of the service through your
coverage of the various pro
trams. This favorable publicity
enables a community to evalu
ate and become more aware of
tha need (or the Guidance Serv
ices the Center offers.
We congratulate you upon your
coverage and fodthright report
ing, which comes only from a
dedicated and fearless leader In
terested in meeting the grave
needs of all. You, Mrs. Norford,
Miss Slack and Mr Walker have
been kind and cooperative in an
nouncing the various acLivitias
We are deeply grateful, and
can assure you of our continued
s:rong support of your paper and
ts forthright policy.
May God bless you.
Kate J. Hick*
Vocatlenal Guidance
NY
Along The Way
The Greatest Day!
By ROY WILKINS
It was the greatest day!
When the old Fifteenth New
York came home from France
after World War I. its battle and
regimental flags bearing the
Croix de Guerre, its officers and
men stepping down
Fifth Avenue to the
music of the immor
tal James Reese
Europe and his
band that was a
day.
But it was a day
for New Yorkers
only, a time which
touched ' others far WILKINS
away by its symbolism only.
Hearts were fair to bursting then
with joy and pride (as they were
at the March) and tears came
easily and unashamedly.
A whole race had been slander
ed and smeared bv the military
establishment of its own govern
ment. Its fighting men had been
scorned.
The French took them gladly in
to Foch’s army and the black men
from Harlem and Chicago’s South
Side piled glory onto glory, vindi
cating their manhood and the hon
or of their race.
By ROY WILKINS
They came home, not on United
States battleships as did some
white regiments (some admirals
did not want black soldiers on
their iiiy-white ships), but they
•came home. That was a day!
But Wednesday, August 28, was
another kind of great day. It was
the people's day. It was not a day
of speeches, although they were
good — and short. It was not a
day of music, although that was
the joy-giving, foot-patting kind.
(Who can forget Mahalia Jackson
pouring out hor heart to 200,000
before her and to millions more
in front of television screens? Or
the deep-voiced Eva Jessye choir's
Freedom song?)
It was a great day because of
the people themselves — more
than 200,000 of them who came to
Washington from every corner of
this nation and from overseas.
They came, white and black, to
say to the nation’s capital and to
the world that freedom must ring
throughout the land, in Mississip
pi as well as in Minnesota.
They came to tell the Congress
of the United States that the leg
islative branch of our government
must make real for American
minorities the promises in the
Constitution and the Declaration
of Independence.
They talked plainly about the
racial discrimination in jobs and
voting and schools and housing
and public accommodations and
law enforcement. They recited
their beatings while demonstra
ting in a hundred towns back
home.
They recounted the judgments
and fines and high bonds and jail-
lags for just asking for their
rights, They told of their shock
and anger at the "hands-off” pol
icy of the Federal government.
They said they were sick of ex
cuses and rules and traditions and
red tape that hold the system of
oppression together. They want a
breakthrough like August 28 when
men and women and the youth of
both races and of all points of the
compass, of all types of organiza
tions, of all religious faiths, brush
ed aside all the old artificialities,
got down to human bedrock and
spoke aloud in one voice for free
dom
Louis Lomax joined Senator
Stennis of Mississippi in criticiz
ing the March. But despite Lomax
and Stennis, it was the greatest
day!
Pulse Of New York’s Public
The Amsterdam News weton-mrs letters on either side of any subject. It is preferred that let tert not exceed 35(1 words and they
must be signed. Names will be withheld a n request. No letters can be returned. AU must be addressed to the editor.
Show of Courage
Jiio u wv
,ate t0
Vour mind and pert^ps even stim.
• °'ou<ht ln March Review
>Mel My Brother
Dear Brother: T should have ulato a conversation, ln which Sir: In the early morning hours."
"•’* wrtl,“ «* w«lh" ,h«
Sir: While down in Washington
for that momentous occasion
this week, tneae few lines came
to me B couldn't help but write
and to each found perfect Washington weath- them down and forward seme to
-
was perfect. Arriving In Washing-
wp ton at noontime, we likewise
. u. .i •
“ ’
written von thi. letter > lonj ««
. . .
, in vain.
kBOW
tima ago but I procrastinated Y(ju
until I can do so no longer. I say to
address yoe aa "Brother" be-1 other and we know that the time *r. -' -
cause you are a totalled "Ne has come when we must change The restraint and dignity of »
gro” and like me and millions this. It la common knowledge the vast assemblage (according
to estimates reported on the
of other people of color, you find that many persons walk around
yourself in this struggle for equal
radio to be two hundred and ten
under a spell of self-Induced hyp
ity under law.
thousand) was matched by the
nosis from the things they tell
themselves. If this be true let eloquence of Dr. Martin Luther
Permit me to express my ad
miration for your courage and,us then talk and think the words King.
spirit in making this journey to of the slogan "A Promotion For' An interesting parallel to this
Washington to demonstrate your One Is A Promotion For Ail." 196J talk is the 1887 widely quot-
belief in the rights of Amer!can-| Thanks for the time taken to ed Booker T. Washington speech,
ism. ”
yead this and may the miracu- ut us hope that Dr. Martin
This note is to suggest that "us change < snme portions of|Luther King's leadership in our
pl,Pe while you still areiday may accomplish whet Book-
, er y Washington's leadership
you go with a slogan, one that has
a philosophical message, one that enJcyins on earth
suggests a way of thinking, a
'Sydney Llewellyn arcompUshed in his day.
slogan that everyone can carry,
on a banner with dignity, whether Hospital Pickgtina
he be Muslem, Christian, NAACP,
or CORE member.
Sir: During the time that most
You and I know that the prob- of our Negro leaders had plc-
lem with the so-called Negro h kels set up at the Downstate
within himself. It started with
the "word" and if it is to be
c.red, it must be done with tie
'word'’.
didn't they also picket the Kings
C unty Hospital to see that the
--------- | My religion is a very simple
one. I believe; “Opd takes a
band in the destiny of men and
nations.” It waa with mixed emo
tions that I learned that one of
the "God clothes Charlies of the
Ku Klux Klao," with aa extra
heavy plane lead of bed sheets
and old fashioned night shirts,
crashed.
Medical Center In Brooklyn, why
white, brown, or yellow?
I also think that this should
put on birth certificates and Just
put American color of skin black,
nome Negro, white stop being
Let me remind you that Jesus
Christ said, “You must be born
again in the realization of the
word", In the Epistle of John,
first Chapter, first verse, it is
written, "In the beginning was
the word, the word was with God
be done in every state, county,
and the word was God”. A fam
and district in America. In win
ous dictator once said, "Repeal
ning this goal everyone born in
a lie often enough you will be
America would have the honor
lieve It yourtelf.” I could go on
to picket, fight, and die for
and on without belaboring this;America, and not fight and go to
Jail for a minority group If the
point too strongly.
Negrons wia their goal fifty per
coot aa Negroes they would still
be Negroes by birth and not
Americans
The point of this letter is to
suggest this slogan until we can
come up with a better one, "A
Promotion For One la A Pro
•ram For All". When the Indiv
idual Negro roads thia, and hears
thia, and talks this he will begin
to think this, and when even a
small ratio of the millions atsrt
thinking in terms of promoting
Ma fellow man, the mep'festn-
lon will be mlraculoua, not only
?ere in the United States hut all
iver the world.
My brother, this pole may
reach you too late to print a
mmoot for your march to Wash-
ngton, but surely it is not too
I also feel that our children
should he bora as Americans
and not a percentage What I'm
trying to say is that Negroes
should not only fight for Negro
rights but birth rights also As
you very well know that the place
to start ia ia our hospital*, health
department and in this way put
ap and to the word minority And
a beautiful beginning - to the
words America tha beautiful
Lloyd Negro Minority Meehs
Brooklyn, NY
The Ku Klux Kian Charley was
enroute to Washington to make
trouble for ua. It saddened me
that the pilot went to hl* death
It la toe bad that It couldn’t
have been the other way around
Let us hope that that airplane
disaster may put an end to the
nonsense of the bed sheets and
the nightshirts
The readers of the Amsterdam
Maws have the finest sense of
tumor In the world. Let us see
to It that this humor la put to
work.
I truly believe that the KuKlux
Kian can be laughed out el ex
istence hy the readers of the
Amsterdam News.
I would like to thank all of
you for your kindness to Dorothy
as well aa myself Wednesday
. Tt was truly a wonderful group
of people with whom we were
privileged to travel on a most
memorable occasion.
Joseph Cart Thomson
Altorney Joseph Cnri Thomson
,ad wife rode ea the Amater
dan* Newa’ ehartered bus In the
March on Washington )
Captial, Washington, DC
He wasn’t hanging from a tree,
Just standing by and talking
About his being free.
s
I met my sisteT in the nation's
captial. Washington. D.C.
She wasn’t down there on her
knees,
Just standing with my brother
In quidt dignity.
I met 200.800 people in the
Capital, Washington. D.C.
August 28. IMS
Black and white Joining voices
For equality.
A voice cried, "Judgment’s come
to the capital, Washington,
D. C.
Let all America see,
Laws, my country can surely
make.
But God, a man makes free.
Claude M. Vincent,
X. Y. C.
We Are For You \
Sir: I wish to thank you for
the wonderful support that the
Amsterdam News has given my
candidacy for the open position
of Deputy Fire Cemmlsetener.
and for the reoent editorial de-
uouaciag the throwing of stones
and other objects at our city
firemen.
With regard to the collection
of signatures on petitions asking
the Mayor to appoint me i
Deputy Fire Commissioner, these
unusual young men In the Vul
can Society have collected more
than 15,010 signatures. They are
now seeking an appointment with
the Mayor la order to present
them.
The Negro community in In
?eed fortunate to have a faar
lees and uncompromising uews-
naper, the New York Amatardar
News, leading them in their
fight ter Full Equality Now.
Robert O. Lowery
President
Vulcan Society, Inc., N.Y
Heroes Of Emancipation
DENMARK VESEY
According to hietory, Denmark
Va^y was born about 17SS on
tha Wand of Santo Domingo. He
h«i been described am a hand-
*<una aa intoUtgaot young man
who wai subject to epileptic aei-
iurea, Ha lived in the Weet In
dies until the age of 14, at which
time ha became the favorite ser
rant of a Charleston. SC., slaver
who traded between the Island*
of St. Thornes and St. Domini
que.
For twenty years Denmark
Veaey sailed with hi« master's
slave ship until 1800 when he
won >1,500 in a lottery which he
used to purchase his freedom
From 1800 until 1822, Veaey work
ad ss a carpenter in Chanlee-
ton, S C During this time he be
came a wall known A.M.E. Church
lay leader who was able, as a
free Negro, to carry his anti
slavery meesages to plantations
scattered over a hundred-mile
area.
_ag a ship carpenter. It wu
Poyas who volunteered for the
moat dangerous assignment of
the plan which waa to surprlae
and capture the main guardhouae.
In a sente the story of the Veaey
insurrection was also Peter Poy-
ss' story, as Vesey recognised
Poyas' talents and jslaoed him in
charge of organlabg the recruits.
List of JUcruMa
Veaey and Poyaa planned a
cell-llke organitailon. Each lead
er had a list of the recruits as
well ss their specific assignment.
Only the leaders, however, knew
tha details of the plot. The aver
age recruit knew nothing except
the name ol hit leader and what
his particular Job was. During
this time weapons were construc
ted and diagulasa were designed.
It is said that approximately 9,000
slaves were finally recruited.
Planned 5 Years
The day of July IS, 1812 was
chosen. However, about two
weeks before this day a house
servant betrayed the insurrec
11 is said that Veaey was well
tionists. He was only able, bow-
educated and spoke several lan
ever, to supply them with minor
guages. He used his abilities to
details. As a result, during the
arouse Negro slaves and encour
nest two weeks the Mayor and
age them to insurrection. During
other city officials worked des
these years la Charleston, Veaey
perately to get the information
nurtured a deep hatred for sla
needed to put down the uprising.
very and slaveholders. He believ
At the same time. Veaey and
ed that slavery was evil and that
no man was meant to be a slave his aides were Working to spring
.their trap despite this betrayal.
for another.
They continued tfteir plans up to
the last day When another slave
who knew the names of some
of their leaders went over to the
enemy.
Finally, about 1817, Vesey con
ceived the idea of his insurrec
tion. For the next five years he
planned, plotted and fanned the
flames among the slaves. He
was given to quotations from the
Bible, from well-known Abolition
ists and Toussaint L’Ouverture
was hie guiding patron. One of
his favorite quotations wee the
words of Joshua: "and they ut
terly destroyed ail that were in
the city, both men and women,
both young and old. and ox and
sheep and aas with the edge of
a sword."
Armed with this information,
the authorities called in the
guard and alerted the militia.
As a result, Vesey and some 35
of bis men were captured and
subsequently hanged- Out 8f the
group only one leader confessed
According to the official report
of the execution, Vesey and Deter
Poyas were proud in their de
feat. Poyaa spumed last minute
plea* for information. He admon
ished the other leaders: “Do not
Vesey preached that It was open your lips. Die as you shall
necessary to strike the first blow
and warned that God helped only
those that helped themselves. If
he saw a Negro bowing to a
wbife man on the streets he would
rebuke Mm. Gradually he cap
tured the minds of the Negroes
in Charleston and m$ny slaves
feared him much more than
they feared their masters.
Finally, arouno Christmas time
in 1821, he selected leaders for
his insurrection. He enlisted aiit*
artisans and class leaden of the
Methodist church. His chief as
sistant was Peter Poyas, who
see me do.”
In the words of Archibald Grim-
ke, “such statements, consider
ing the circumstances under
which they were spoken, were
worthy of a son of Sparta or
of Rome, when Sparta and Home
were at their highest levels as
breeders of iron men."
Thus, Denmark Veteg- repre
sents a type which belles the
philosophy that Negroes are in
nately docile as a race and were
content with slavery. On the con
trary. he represents our Jeffer
sonian heritage of independence.
Letter Of The Week
The Mexican War. 1848 to 1848.
the Compromise of 1850. the Kan
sas-Nebraska act of 1854. the now
infamous Dred Scott Decision in
1857, and John Brown’s raid an
Harpers Ferry in 1850.
Boycott Possibility?
Sir: In the future there may
be other Freedom Marches on
other cities or on Washington,
D.C., but I doubt If any could
possibly be more orderly or
symbolic than the one held Au
gust 21. 1863. It was so orderly
that during the entire day \ did
These are just a few of the
events that ultimately led to the
freeing of the Negro slaves.
There are many more event*,
perhaps not as important in
scope, that I can not mention
here because of a shortage of
space in this paper.
not hear one word spoke* in
anger. It was truly a day of
love and mutual respect. It was
symbolic of the dream that Dr.
King so eloquently referred to in
i Finally, there is no doubt In
his speech at the Lincoln Mem- wy mind that the omnipotent and
omnipresent hand of Providence
®r4al-
To my mind the most poignant hovered over the entire March
memories I have of The Free- from beginning to end. From the
dom March are. 1) The feeling moment the first bus or train or
of humility that engulfed me as
privately driven car .left their de
I strode resolutely down Con
parture point until it returned
stitution Ave., singing "We Shall
from the March, the hand of
Overcome." 2.) When the dele- God was there to steady the hand
gation from Jackson. Miss., of the bus driver or the engineer
marched toward the Lincoln Me- at the throttle or the driver of
mortal, black and white holding a car.
hands, for a brief moment in the incomparable master of
history, living as one, 3.) That
ceremonies said at the conclu
magic moment in Dr. Kings'
sion of the inarch, it is now up to
speech when the multitudes pick- each individual to return to his
ed up the chant of "I Have A
Dream”. I assure you that there
were not many pairs of dry eyes
at the conclusion of his speech
As Abraham Lincoln said in his
now revered historical speech,
the Gettysburg Address. "The
world will little note or long re
member what we say here, but
it can never forget what they did
here." It can also be said that
when tbe words said by the many
illustrious figures that spoke at
the Lincoln Memorial have been
lost in history, the scene of over
200,000 Americans listening with
rapt expressions on their faces
will forever live in the memory
of anyone who waa an actual
participant in thia historical oc
caslan.
But by and large the final as
sault on the formidable bastions
of segregation will be waged by
the churches. If they fail then
we are really in trouble. I don t
know just how many people at
tend churches in Harlem every
Sunday or during tha course of
a year, but 1 do know that ac
cording to figures released by
the Harlsm branch of the
NAACP, If we can't support at
least one of our major civil
rights organizations any better
than this, then perhaps we de
serve anylhing we get.
home, whether in a big city or in
a hamlet and renew his effort*
to arouse his fellow men to a
new pitch of determination to ex
tirpate discrimination and pre
judice wherever it might be
found and .annihilate it.
, There are some people who
doubt the efficacy of the Free
dom March, whether it will pro
duce Immediate changes long de
manded by the Negroes. It Is
difficult for me to Imagine any
one so naive as to think that this
Freedom March will be a pana
cea for the many Injustices ta-
Hieted upon the American Ne
gro. Any one with even a limited
awareness of history is cognisant
of the fact that no single Inci
dent brought about the Civil War
and the subsequent signing of
the Emancipation Proclama
tion. Certainly the firing on
Fort Sumter was the final event
that brought about the exploring
of the bomb of hate that had
hovered over the United States
for so many yearn and as a re
sult we are still suffering from
the fallout effects of that explo
sion
History will toll us that the
events that inexorably set the
stage for the Ctvtl War probably
began with the first slave up
rising- led by Gabriel Prosser ia
Virginia around the turn of tha
>9th century, another slave up
rising led by Denmark Vesey in
South Caroline in IS81, The Mis
souri Compromise of 1830. Tha
Net Turner rebellion in 1131, by
far the largeet and moat success
ful slave uprisieg of all lima*.
George W. Javis
Amsterdam Ave. NYC
March Recording
Sir: I am sure milliena of
Americana would like to have a
recording of the history making
events of the August 28th, march
on Washington. Is it possible to
interest the major record com
panies In this, with a share of
the proceeds going to the fight
for freedom and equality, via,
the NAACP, SCLC, CORE, etc’
J. Urquhert
Elmont. L.I., N.Y.
Likes Leffen
Sir: I have b4cn rs'dtag the
Amsterdam News for a number
of yeara, and I realty enjoy your
"Pulse of New Yark’a Fublle.”
The letter by Calvin I. Gra
ham. which appeared la your Au-
Must 24 iuua, should be reprinted
at a latar date.
1 feel that every citizen ln eur
community would profit from
reeding this letter.
Sylvester Whittington
New York
Untitled Document file:///C|/Documents%20and%20Settings/Administrator/Desktop/hello.html2/18/2007 11:01:03 AMThomas M. Tryniski 309 South 4th Street Fulton New York 13069 www.fultonhistory.com