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