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Letter to Editor
March 8, 1938
Atlanta Daily World
Atlanta, Fulton County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Walter White expresses thanks to the Negro press for supporting the Anti-Lynching Bill, credits it for pressuring Congress, urges Negro Americans to organize against defeatism, and calls for indignation to force Senate action on lynching.
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May I be permitted to express unqualified appreciation to you and the editors of the Negro press generally for the editorial support and the news space given to the fight for the Anti-Lynching Bill.
To the Negro press more than any other single agency is due credit for the extraordinary pressure on Congress in behalf of the Bill. Whenever any group can tie up completely the United States Senate for as long a period as this Bill has done, we may be sure that that group is coming of age politically and in other ways.
There is one most important lesson which Negro Americans can learn from this fight. It is this: Instead of spending so much time bemoaning our fate, "talking at the big gate" about how hard life is for us colored people, and, in general, assuming a defeatist attitude, we can learn from the latest round of the battle that if we organize intelligently, unselfishly, and effectively, we can go forward.
The far flung Negro press can do more than any other agency towards the inculcation of this spirit of hope and determination to replace the timidity and lack of faith which have held us back in the past.
It is true that the Bill has not yet passed the Senate. But we have moved nearer that goal than ever before. Nothing can stop us if we do not lose heart. Never before has Congress been so conscious of the potential power of the Negro. Not the least tribute to that power has been the denunciation of the Negro by such senators as Bilbo, Ellender, "Cotton Ed" Smith, Connally and Borah.
The politicians of both parties are worried. They are watching to see the reaction to the sidetracking of the Bill. If Negroes and their friends remain quiet, then the politicians are going to be happy because they will believe that they have nothing to worry about.
But if we make ourselves heard in a great wave of indignation against the sidetracking of the Bill, and are insistent enough on action, the politicians in the United States Senate will be afraid to let Congress adjourn without taking some definite action against lynching.
Ever sincerely,
WALTER WHITE,
Secretary.
To the Negro press more than any other single agency is due credit for the extraordinary pressure on Congress in behalf of the Bill. Whenever any group can tie up completely the United States Senate for as long a period as this Bill has done, we may be sure that that group is coming of age politically and in other ways.
There is one most important lesson which Negro Americans can learn from this fight. It is this: Instead of spending so much time bemoaning our fate, "talking at the big gate" about how hard life is for us colored people, and, in general, assuming a defeatist attitude, we can learn from the latest round of the battle that if we organize intelligently, unselfishly, and effectively, we can go forward.
The far flung Negro press can do more than any other agency towards the inculcation of this spirit of hope and determination to replace the timidity and lack of faith which have held us back in the past.
It is true that the Bill has not yet passed the Senate. But we have moved nearer that goal than ever before. Nothing can stop us if we do not lose heart. Never before has Congress been so conscious of the potential power of the Negro. Not the least tribute to that power has been the denunciation of the Negro by such senators as Bilbo, Ellender, "Cotton Ed" Smith, Connally and Borah.
The politicians of both parties are worried. They are watching to see the reaction to the sidetracking of the Bill. If Negroes and their friends remain quiet, then the politicians are going to be happy because they will believe that they have nothing to worry about.
But if we make ourselves heard in a great wave of indignation against the sidetracking of the Bill, and are insistent enough on action, the politicians in the United States Senate will be afraid to let Congress adjourn without taking some definite action against lynching.
Ever sincerely,
WALTER WHITE,
Secretary.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Political
Ethical Moral
What themes does it cover?
Crime Punishment
Politics
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Anti Lynching Bill
Negro Press
Congress Pressure
Senate Filibuster
Racial Organization
Political Power
Defeatism Critique
Lynching Opposition
What entities or persons were involved?
Walter White, Secretary
You And The Editors Of The Negro Press
Letter to Editor Details
Author
Walter White, Secretary
Recipient
You And The Editors Of The Negro Press
Main Argument
the negro press deserves credit for pressuring congress on the anti-lynching bill; negro americans should learn to organize intelligently and unselfishly instead of adopting a defeatist attitude, and continue exerting pressure to ensure the bill passes the senate.
Notable Details
Denunciation By Senators Bilbo, Ellender, "Cotton Ed" Smith, Connally, Borah
Senate Sidetracking Of The Bill
Growing Consciousness Of Negro Political Power