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About The voice. (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1946-195? | View Entire Issue (Dec. 4, 1947)
Published Weekly “Dedicated to the promotion of the cultural, social and spiritual life of a great people”_ Rev. Melvin L. Shakespeare Publisher and Owner Business Address 2225 S Street Phone 5-6491 Rubie W. Shakespeare Advertising & Business Manager Roberta Molden Associate Editor 1966 U Street 2-1407 Mrs. Joe Green Circulation Mgr. Member of the Associated Negro Press Subscription rate 12.00 per year 10c per copy Entered as Second Class Matter, June 9, 1947 at the Post Office at Lincoln, Nebraska under the Act of March 3, 1879. No Attempt to Justify It may well be said that the University of Nebraska is taking the lead in the fight to erase racial discrimination in conference ath letics. The fight started a few years ago. Students began to speak their opinions in class groups before members of the faculty. I recall that in one of my speech classes as many as five speeches were given denouncing the practice and how the student body could work together for its elimination. I believe that now with the forming of a permanent commit tee from five of the Big Six con ference universities an under standing will be reached and the Negro will be given his just rights as a citizen. I can think of many individual Negroes who have quietly and ef ficiently made important places for themselves, not because they were Negroes but because they were individuals with a contribu tion to make to American institu tions. How7 many persons have been denied this privilege because of the practice of barring Negro athletics in the Big Six conference may never be known. I am sure wre voice the senti ment of all Negro America by saying that we enjoy the confi dence and good will of those who have been chosen to lead the fight on this vital racial issue. We have faith in Nebraska and the Big Six. It w7as gratifying to note that not one of the representatives made an attempt to justify the present practice, but simply recognized the stupidity of the whole thing and was determined to put forth every eYfort in its elimination. For this stand, we ex tend hearty congratulations. Guest Editorial (Continued from last week.) By Obbie Brown. We in America believe that all government should represent the best thoughts and efforts of the governed. Under this type of government wre believe that human rights should reign su preme. We believe that there are no second rate citizens, that a man’s skin color, religious beliefs, and race stands as no barrier to his success or well being. We be lieve in equality, justice, the four freedoms and an impartial creator. Too often we find too little cour age to support our convictions. Hence, these fundamental beliefs that are so very essential to our democracy are taken for granted. Our sincere beliefs and convictions necessarily suggest a responsibility equal to and a function of these beliefs and convictions. Our “Common Sense” seem to suggest the easiest way out, that is, letting time evolve the solutions to our problems. This greatest of all human weaknesses, procrasti nation, is robbing us of our fond est dreams and unduly delaying the democracy of our ideal. It is this procrastination and com mon sense that has twice neces sitated taking up arms to preserve our way of life. Opportunities for personal gain, an evil not inherent in democracy itself, produce too great a strain on the character and integrity of the wouldbe leaders of men. Our “Common Sense” suggest the ac cepting of material goods at the expense of those who would be served. Hence, races, religious groups, and creeds hav^ been played upon, denied and perse cuted for the sake of personal gain. The founders when laying the foundations upon which this great nation was to be built stood guard against such weaknesses. They were building a democracy. When we ignore these fundamen tal principles, we are tearing down a democracy. The greatest challenge to de mocracy is not Russian communi ism but the failure to resume the responsibility necessary to its own perpetuation. A democracy that will tolerate racial, religious, and color bar riers, is sure to lose moral force in world affairs. Can three fourths of the world’s population believe in a democracy that makes second rate citizens of people of color? (To be continued.) Our Children BY MRS. W. B. DAVIS Know Your Child Through His Play Play is the mirror of a young child’s life. Watch and discover a great deal about your child, his nature and his needs. Mimi spank ed -the doll. She hit her hard. “You can’t eat with dirty hands. You’ll wash them. You know what will happen? You’ll get very sick.” With a final slap, she set the doll down hard, upon the bench and concluded, “You’ll get three double-deck ammonia and you’ll go to heaven and you’ll be I sorry.” Jane stood nearby and watched. Her soft young face cast off its fascinated, anxious ex pression as she blurted out, “You’re a bad mommy, Mimi. I’m a mommy who likes her baby.” She wrapped a cloth about her worn doll, nuzzled her and held her close as she walked off. Each little girl was five years old and in kindergarten. They were play ing and their play had meaning to the adults who observed them engaging in it. We constantly search for magic lens with which to see the inner lives of our chil dren. And we respond to the stories of Mark Twain, Kenneth Grahame and Katherine Mans field whose genius recaptures some of the child’s feelings. Yet all around us our own children daily show us the stories of them selves in their play. We have only to look carefully to find meaning in it. Play is a mirror of a young child’s life. In it he shows the world story of himself, what he thinks and feels about his fam ily. His expressions of ideas, the way he handles children, toys and materials reflect his ever-chang ing personality. In play the nat ural idiom of all children, he spontaneously unfolds his abili ties, ambitions, fears, feelings about his family and social atti tudes. The Sports Front —..... B, i Howard “Smoky” « Molden JK • . -Ok Louis Ready for Walcott POMPTON LAKES, N. J. (ANP).—Joe Louis, heavyweight champion of the world, is literally straining at the bit for his Dec. 5 title defense against Jersey Joe Walcott in Madison Square Gar den here. In three two-round matchs with sparring mates, Joe | displayed excellent form, and guessed his present weight to be about 214 pounds. “I’m in excellent condition,” he I told reporters. “My condition to i [ day is better than it was for either i the Conn or Mauriello fights last year, principally because I’ve got those two fights under my belt. I needed them to sharpen me and get me used to the ring again.” Colorado U. Bans Racial Clauses j BOULDER, Col. (ANP)—Pro fessional and honorary fraterni ties must remove all clauses that discriminate against racial minor ities or face revocation of chart ers, the board of regents of the University of Colorado ruled last week. The groups were given five years to comply, but meanwhile no new charter will be granted any organization with such a clause, said the board. The de cision followed a report by the ethnic minorities committee head ed by Dean Edward U. King of the law school. The report said Blue Key, a men’s national honorary group, had sought to obtain a charter altho its constitution stipulated that “all members shall be male citizens of the Caucasian race.” Activities BY MRS. PANSY BEARD. Monday evening a group of ladies were organized under the title of the Urban League Guild. The purpose is to acquaint the newcomers with the Urban League Activities and the com munity at large. Mrs. Pansy Beard was chosen president and Mrs. Dorothy Lewis, secretary. A committee was appointed by the president, Mrs. Beard, to seek other members who would be in terested in the organization. Wm. Valentine field worker from the national office of the Urban League was in charge of the meeting. Saturday evening the Urban League was host to student coun cil representatives from the Big Six Conference universities who were directing their fight against “racial Discrimination,” in con ference athletics. A buffet lunch was served. The Independents played a basket ball game on Wednesday. XMAS CARDS Specials for Relatives and Kid dies. Also 40 different Boxed Assortments. Goldenrod Stationery Store 218 No. 14 Open Thar. Until 9 THE EVANS CLEANERS — LAUNDERERS Save Money Use our Cash and Carry Plan 333 No. 12th St. Dial 2-6961 STAR VAN Wishes THE VOICE Continued Success For Everything in HARDWARE Baker Hardware 101 No. 9th 2-3710 EARL WOOD'S DAIRY 15 Stores All over Lincoln -;.r;—. > Christmas can be practical with rugged GIFT TOGS for boys and girls * • for outdoor action * 9 It's EASY to find gift togs to take man-sized punishment day after day... in Sears new Christmas catalog. Come in to Sears Catalog Sales Dept, today. See the wide assortments of well-styled clothes for active youngsters—all ages, all sizes. Count the money you can save on your Christmas shopping the convenient catalog way. Practical, welcome gifts for young folks and for everyone .. j at Segrs Catalog Sales Dept. Y YOUR ONE STOP SHOPPING CENTER 13TH AND N
