The Savannah Tribune

"I AM AN AMERICAN" DAY

Throughout the land Sunday was observed as "I Am An American" day. All classes of citizens celebrated it in some sort of loyalty observance. In the midst of the festivities, however, various thoughts must have run through the minds of the celebrants, some wondering, no doubt, whether or not this sentiment meant all to them that it should, did it express their feeling that they are enjoying all the privileges of full fledged citizens of this glorious land of ours? The Negro in particular could not have entered into the spirit of the occasion without asking himself how much of this great American life is he really privileged to indulge in. He has given his all to make this land what it should be and yet he is circumscribed, discriminated against and denied in many instances the chance to make a decent living. Mingled thoughts had to permeate the thinking Negro's mind on this day as on all other such occasions. In speaking of this phase of "I Am An American" day the St. Louis Argus impressively says:

The celebration of "I Am An American" Day which is to be held throughout the nation Sunday, May 18, carries a special appeal to us, because, like many other coined phrases, it appeals to our imagination. Somehow we think that if all the people of America will on this particular day emphasize what it means to be an American citizen, such a concerted action would broaden our concept of the phrase, "an American citizen." The citizen enjoys a distinctive and peculiar right in his country - a right which the alien does not enjoy. But all citizens are supposed to enjoy the same rights with special privileges to none. In America, citizenship is not based upon race, creed or color, and the words "I Am An American" can only mean "I am an American citizen," not a half citizen. Aliens enjoy a limited citizenship but the citizens have full rights.

In this day of celebration we wish to speak for the American Negro youths who are just reaching their majority. They represent one tenth of that vast majority which is becoming of voting age. These youths have grievances against their government. They complain that they are denied the rights of citizenship under this, our boasted democracy. They knock at the doors of industries but are denied entrance. They argue that they are American citizens but the industries say no. Over in another section the Negro youths knock at the doors of the institutions of learning that they may be better prepared to serve their country, but the answer from within is, no. They apply to the army, the navy and to the other departments of the armed forces of the United States for admittance, but the voice from within says no. Disillusioned, these youths appeal to Uncle Sam, the President and the Congress of the United States for protection of their rights as "American citizens," but Uncle Sam disclaims the power to change these conditions, saying his arms are too short to reach their case. Thus the youths of our race are asking why all this celebration about "I Am An American" when it doesn't mean them? They are wont to ask what they have done or failed to do that they must be deprived of these rights as citizens. They say "We were born here; we have no hyphens in our names; our fathers never betrayed the American flag: they were loyal to every trust imposed in them. They felled the forests, dug the ditches and built the railroads that have made this nation great. They have descended into the bowels of the earth and delivered the coal that has moved the factories of the nation and made this the greatest industrial center of all the world. Our fathers did all these things—then why can't we as their children enjoy all of the rights of American citizens? What is it that we have done or what is it we have not done?"

The above are some of the facts that should be considered by the "I Am An American" Day celebrants. If it doesn't mean every "I" surely it doesn't mean one. "I Am An American" doesn't mean the little "I" or the big "you" or a special class, but it means "I."