The Tribune

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Virginia's Unwarranted Slight
(EDITORIAL)

Virginia's deliberate attempt to deny the recognition and honor justly due the Negroes invited to attend the greatly publicized dinner which is being held Friday, May 17, in connection with the Jamestown Festival, celebrating the founding of the first permanent English settlement in the new world is an unwarranted slight for which there is not the least justification.

It has been reliably reported that some six hundred distinguished native Virginians have been invited to attend this dinner. So far, it is reported that six of that number are Negroes. When this information reached the office of our chief executive, orders were issued for the withdrawal of all invitations which had been sent to Negroes. The criterion used by the committee for selecting the guests to be invited was that they must be native Virginians who have become famous by virtue of their outstanding service and accomplishments.

While we know that neither outstanding service, achievement, fame nor honor are restricted to the color of one's skin, yet, unfortunately, attempt is being made to deprive Virginia of paying tribute to some of her sons who have brought national and international fame to their native state simply because of their color.

Though Judge Dudley is a Negro, he proves to be a man of great stature. In his letter to Governor Stanley he points out that "since the invitations have been issued in the name of the Governor and the Commonwealth of Virginia. that makes it a public rather than a private function." It is no new thing for prominent Negroes to be included in private as well as public functions throughout the State. At a dinner of six hundred guests six Negroes would not have been even noticed. Unfortunately this is a clear case of "making a mountain out of a molehill."

Having been appointed and served as American Ambassador to Liberia (1948-53) Judge Dudley recalls that several white Virginians were included in his embassy staff and there was a mutual respect for all. Their sole aim was to get their job done and each man was judged upon his work-not on the color of his skin. That is further proof that Judge Dudley is too big to be influenced by racial prejudice.

In his letter to Governor Stanley, Judge Dudley makes it crystal clear that his letter is written "without rancor or irritation," but in protest to the unwarranted slight by the State of Virginia to former Virginians of color and to make it unequivocally clear that Negro Americans will never be content until discriminatory actions of all kinds based on color have been completely eradicated.

If the dinner is planned to honor a group of Virginia's outstanding citizens, it goes without saying that the committee made no "error" in addressing an invitation to Judge Dudley. Not only has he made history which has made him famous. but his book is not closed. Not only are Negro Virginians proud of Judge Edward R. Dudley, we feel safe in saying the State is proud of any of her sons whether white or Negro, whether in the past, present or future, whose records are as outstanding as Judge Dudley's. While all circumstances point toward a deliberate attempt to embarrass the Negroes whose invitations to the dinner were ordered withdrawn, we are forced to believe it was an error of the head (or ill advice) and not of the heart. The act was a disservice to the citizens of the State as well as to the individual parties concerned. It was certainly a blow to the inspiration and the aspiration of Virginia's youth.