Word: mississippis
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Dates: during 1950-1959
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There are several other rather one-sided aspects of Mr. Halberstam's article on which we would like to comment. First, we would like to agree with (his) statement that there is a double standard of justice in Mississippi particularly and in the South generally. However, his implication that this double standard of justice operates to the advantage of the Negroes is quite misleading...
Another aspect of Mr. Halberstam's article on which we would like to comment is his statement that the Mississippi Negro "has found the last remaining way to beat Twentieth Century Responsibility." On the question of taxes, it is true that in certain parts of the South Negroes pay lower taxes than whites. However this has little to do with a desire among Southern Negroes to beat the so-called "Twentieth Century Responsibility." It is rather a result of the Southern Negro's low and depressed economic status...
...question of common-law marriages, we think that Mr. Halberstam has twisted historical facts in order to picture the Mississippi Negro as a person attempting to beat the so-called Twentieth Century Responsibility. Common-law marriages are not a means used by some Southern Negroes to avoid financial and legal responsibilities. Such marriages have their roots in the old slave society of the South and can be understood only in their proper historical context...
...more than they should make the mistake that I endorse them. They are here, and they must be dealt with. It is all very well to be in Cambridge and say, "Segregation is bad: end it," but I assure you that it does absolutely no good for progress in Mississippi, and that whether you like it or not, you must work within the racial framework already existing here, and created long before the Court even considered discarding "separate but equal...
...since it clashes with the general belief down here that I may well be the radical left winger that they have heard so much about.) I would like to be sanctimonious as well and suggest that the critics, if they still don't believe me, come down to Mississippi and contribute to the Democratic process. If they are not able to travel South but still feel obligated to help the racial situation (an obligation which I share) they should form a committee and investigate the ratio of Negro teachers as to Negro pupils in the Boston schools...