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MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS it The Truth Shall Make You Free •' ^ Volume One — Number One Jackson, Mississippi — Saturday, December 16, 1961 10 Cents Per L'o§3>J Announces For Congress A Newspaper Is Born Never in the history of journalism, as we know it in the State of Mississippi, has any newspaper from its inception had such bold aims and purity of purpose as the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS. This is a Mississippi paper and a free paper. Let it be clearly understood from the very beginning that this paper is incorporated in Mississippi by Mississippians for Mississippians — All Mississippians! We intend that it will be Uhe Peoples' Paper. We know that Mississippi needs such a newspaper and the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS is determined to fulfill that need. This newspaper holds certain beliefs tb?t are characteristic •f free Americans. We believe that all men should be free i— no man a slave. We believe in freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, and freedom from intimidation. These, among others, are the rights of all Mississippians, regardless of creed, color, or religion. The MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS dedicates itself to helping to maintain these freedoms. But even more important the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS makes A pledge of helping to secure these rights for those Mississippians who have been denied them. This newspaper will at all times champion the cause of Justice. It will fight injustice. It will take no backward steps. Much will be written in the future in the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS about the problems of this State — and we have many. We will not hesitate in offering constructive criticism. We very definitely will have our say about our state's fiscal policies, about our schools, about. teachers salaries, about reapportionment, about voting and registration, and about desegregation. We will be interested in the various communities and their problems. We turn our attention now to one of these communilies end one of its problems. The community is Jackson, Mississippi. The problem is an economic one, as well as a moral issue — a question of right and wrong. For years, the Negro population of Jackson has spent its money with the merchants of Jackson. Most merchants readily accept this Negro business. But many times the Negro has not been given the same courtesy and appreciation as is extended to whites. Too mrmy times he has heard himself called, "Sam", 'Sally', 'John', 'preacher', 'boy', or 'girl'. The Negro as a group has remained patient but will not remain patient indefinitely. The Negro wants the same courtesy that is extended to others. He wants the same opportunity of employment in these stores as whites. This desire has been conveyed to members of the (Continued on Page Two) R. L. T. Smith Will Be First Negro To Run In 20th Century It was announced today that Mr. R. L. T. Smith of Jackson will run for United States Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Mississippi. Smith will presumably oppose the incumbent Congressman, Honorable Jonn Bell Williams of Raymond in the Democratic primary of June 5, 1982. Mr. Smith, so far as the FREE PRESS can determine, will be the first Negro candidate from Mississippi for' a major office in the 20th century. The announcement of Mr. Smith's candidacy was made by his campaign manager, Dr. A. B. Brit- ton of Jackson in an exclusive release to the FREE PRESS. Dr. Britton further said that a press conference will be held at 3:00 p. m. on Saturday, December 16, 1961, in. the Masonic Temple building at 1072 Lynch Street. He added that full scale campaign plans were underway and that a headquarters office would be opened in a matter of days. The campaign manager stated that Mr. Smith would wage a vigorous and large scale effort throughout the district and into all sections of the 13- county area. Mr. Smith is a prominent Jackson businessman, a former mail carrier and a Baptist minister who has pnstored in and around the Jnckson area for more than 25 years. He is one of the leading citizens of Jackson. Watch next week's Free Press for a feature story on Mr. Smith. R. L SMITH Jackson Negroes Asked: "Slay Off Capitol Street' Seven Clarksdaie Negroes Writ Be Trie! \ For''Conspiring To Withhold Trade" f i" In a December 9th statement, NAACP leader Med gar W. Evers called on the Negro community to "stay off Capitol Street." Mr. Evers said in a prepared <-'tatement: "For many years now, Negroes have lined Capitol Street in Jackson, Mississippi, ipeHding their money where they couid neither be employed as Bales clerks, cat at lunch counters, nor be given courtesy titles as 'Mr.'. 'Mrs.' or 'Miss.' These indignities have, in a number of instances, been harsh ind brutal, as well as humiliating. "I am reminded here of an undent which ocrured recently to a prominent Negro woman, ■vho was accused of taking articles from a Capitol Street mer- nhmt This lady was searched and humiliated before numerous pre*''tors. As it turned out, the (Continued on Back Page) A hearing for seven Clarksdaie Negroes charged with "conspiring to withhold trade from downtown merchants" has been set for next Tuesday, Dec. 19th, at 10 a. m. Judge Rodney Brooks will preside at the trial to be held ut the County Courthouse in Clarksdaie with County Attorney Thomas H. (Babe) Pearson prosecuting. Jack .Young will represent the defendants who are Aaron Henry, president of 1he State NAACP, Mrs. Vera 1'igee, Rev. Theodore Trammcll, Laboyd Keys. R. L. Drew, John C. Mel- choc and Walter Wright. The arrests of ihe seven j Clacks-ale citizens came after a conference which was called by the County A-llorncy of Con- hotna County, with the Rev. lore Trammel), Mr. R. L. Drew, and Mr. Aaron E. Henry, had h< r n held. These three 'eadera were asked to use iheir nfluence to call off the down- 'ov.n CJnrksdale boycott which cepoi telly has been 95 per cent •'fcr-tive. The men refused to cad olf the boycott. Piioj ',r> the arrests, it was dc- ■ ed in a meeting of the Coa- -orn;i County federated Council A Organizations that the down town merchant* would be givnj_ the opportunity to cog-to Slo- gro patronage, if they -wanted it. "We asked them to begin employing Negroes in other than menial positions, in stains desiring Negro trade. \We feel Ihey should be given jobs as clerks etc., also, just as white citizens, that Negroes should bfc ' vtended courtesy titles such M Mr.' and 'Mrs.', said Mn. Voi- M. Pigee, spokesman for th« rroup. Can't Parado November 3rd 1961, was Ihw Annu.'il Homf coming day for Coahoma Junior College. Everf year for the past twelve years the Homecoming Parade kaa marched through the downtown frets of the city. Ibis year Chief of Police Ben Collins end "iayor W. S. Kincade refused to ,(rmit them to pared* at nil Brd the Homecoming fcstivilic«t had to be camelled Invitation Is Withdrawn—- A Slap In Th* Fate Bark in October, 1961, (he Chamber of Commerce extended to both the Coiihoma Junior College and the Higgins High School an invitation to paHiei- prife in the Christmas prirvdr. This has tx en 'he custom of i*be city and 1he Chamber of CV.nri- (Continucd on Back Page.) k s ft I ' < / i i
Object Description
Title | Mississippi free press |
Folder Description | The Mississippi Free Press was a social and civil rights weekly newspaper written by Medgar Evers and John Salter, among others, and later edited by Henry J. Kirksey in Hinds County. The Free Press was printed in Holmes County by Mrs. Hazel Brannon Smith and shipped to Jackson for distribution. Police often harassed newsboys who sold the paper. The paper was published from December 1961 through August 1964. |
State | Mississippi |
Place | Jackson; Hinds County |
Subject | African Americans; civil rights |
Event Date | 1961-1964 |
Year | 1961-1964 |
Language | English |
Source | Historical Society Library, Microforms Room, Micro film P70-964; Pamphlet Collection 10-1224 Super oversize |
Format | text; image |
Publisher-Electronic | Wisconsin Historical Society |
Publication Date-Electronic | 2015 |
Rights | Copyright to these documents belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. The principal organizations have been defunct for many years and copyright to their unpublished records is uncertain. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. We have attempted to contact individuals who created personal papers of significant length or importance. Nearly all have generously permitted us to include their work. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited. |
Digital Format | XML |
Digital Identifier | fsMississippiFreePress000 |
Type | Text; Image |
Description
Title | p. 1 |
Page Text | MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS it The Truth Shall Make You Free •' ^ Volume One — Number One Jackson, Mississippi — Saturday, December 16, 1961 10 Cents Per L'o§3>J Announces For Congress A Newspaper Is Born Never in the history of journalism, as we know it in the State of Mississippi, has any newspaper from its inception had such bold aims and purity of purpose as the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS. This is a Mississippi paper and a free paper. Let it be clearly understood from the very beginning that this paper is incorporated in Mississippi by Mississippians for Mississippians — All Mississippians! We intend that it will be Uhe Peoples' Paper. We know that Mississippi needs such a newspaper and the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS is determined to fulfill that need. This newspaper holds certain beliefs tb?t are characteristic •f free Americans. We believe that all men should be free i— no man a slave. We believe in freedom of speech, freedom of worship, freedom of movement, and freedom from intimidation. These, among others, are the rights of all Mississippians, regardless of creed, color, or religion. The MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS dedicates itself to helping to maintain these freedoms. But even more important the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS makes A pledge of helping to secure these rights for those Mississippians who have been denied them. This newspaper will at all times champion the cause of Justice. It will fight injustice. It will take no backward steps. Much will be written in the future in the MISSISSIPPI FREE PRESS about the problems of this State — and we have many. We will not hesitate in offering constructive criticism. We very definitely will have our say about our state's fiscal policies, about our schools, about. teachers salaries, about reapportionment, about voting and registration, and about desegregation. We will be interested in the various communities and their problems. We turn our attention now to one of these communilies end one of its problems. The community is Jackson, Mississippi. The problem is an economic one, as well as a moral issue — a question of right and wrong. For years, the Negro population of Jackson has spent its money with the merchants of Jackson. Most merchants readily accept this Negro business. But many times the Negro has not been given the same courtesy and appreciation as is extended to whites. Too mrmy times he has heard himself called, "Sam", 'Sally', 'John', 'preacher', 'boy', or 'girl'. The Negro as a group has remained patient but will not remain patient indefinitely. The Negro wants the same courtesy that is extended to others. He wants the same opportunity of employment in these stores as whites. This desire has been conveyed to members of the (Continued on Page Two) R. L. T. Smith Will Be First Negro To Run In 20th Century It was announced today that Mr. R. L. T. Smith of Jackson will run for United States Representative from the 4th Congressional District of Mississippi. Smith will presumably oppose the incumbent Congressman, Honorable Jonn Bell Williams of Raymond in the Democratic primary of June 5, 1982. Mr. Smith, so far as the FREE PRESS can determine, will be the first Negro candidate from Mississippi for' a major office in the 20th century. The announcement of Mr. Smith's candidacy was made by his campaign manager, Dr. A. B. Brit- ton of Jackson in an exclusive release to the FREE PRESS. Dr. Britton further said that a press conference will be held at 3:00 p. m. on Saturday, December 16, 1961, in. the Masonic Temple building at 1072 Lynch Street. He added that full scale campaign plans were underway and that a headquarters office would be opened in a matter of days. The campaign manager stated that Mr. Smith would wage a vigorous and large scale effort throughout the district and into all sections of the 13- county area. Mr. Smith is a prominent Jackson businessman, a former mail carrier and a Baptist minister who has pnstored in and around the Jnckson area for more than 25 years. He is one of the leading citizens of Jackson. Watch next week's Free Press for a feature story on Mr. Smith. R. L SMITH Jackson Negroes Asked: "Slay Off Capitol Street' Seven Clarksdaie Negroes Writ Be Trie! \ For''Conspiring To Withhold Trade" f i" In a December 9th statement, NAACP leader Med gar W. Evers called on the Negro community to "stay off Capitol Street." Mr. Evers said in a prepared <-'tatement: "For many years now, Negroes have lined Capitol Street in Jackson, Mississippi, ipeHding their money where they couid neither be employed as Bales clerks, cat at lunch counters, nor be given courtesy titles as 'Mr.'. 'Mrs.' or 'Miss.' These indignities have, in a number of instances, been harsh ind brutal, as well as humiliating. "I am reminded here of an undent which ocrured recently to a prominent Negro woman, ■vho was accused of taking articles from a Capitol Street mer- nhmt This lady was searched and humiliated before numerous pre*''tors. As it turned out, the (Continued on Back Page) A hearing for seven Clarksdaie Negroes charged with "conspiring to withhold trade from downtown merchants" has been set for next Tuesday, Dec. 19th, at 10 a. m. Judge Rodney Brooks will preside at the trial to be held ut the County Courthouse in Clarksdaie with County Attorney Thomas H. (Babe) Pearson prosecuting. Jack .Young will represent the defendants who are Aaron Henry, president of 1he State NAACP, Mrs. Vera 1'igee, Rev. Theodore Trammcll, Laboyd Keys. R. L. Drew, John C. Mel- choc and Walter Wright. The arrests of ihe seven j Clacks-ale citizens came after a conference which was called by the County A-llorncy of Con- hotna County, with the Rev. lore Trammel), Mr. R. L. Drew, and Mr. Aaron E. Henry, had h< r n held. These three 'eadera were asked to use iheir nfluence to call off the down- 'ov.n CJnrksdale boycott which cepoi telly has been 95 per cent •'fcr-tive. The men refused to cad olf the boycott. Piioj ',r> the arrests, it was dc- ■ ed in a meeting of the Coa- -orn;i County federated Council A Organizations that the down town merchant* would be givnj_ the opportunity to cog-to Slo- gro patronage, if they -wanted it. "We asked them to begin employing Negroes in other than menial positions, in stains desiring Negro trade. \We feel Ihey should be given jobs as clerks etc., also, just as white citizens, that Negroes should bfc ' vtended courtesy titles such M Mr.' and 'Mrs.', said Mn. Voi- M. Pigee, spokesman for th« rroup. Can't Parado November 3rd 1961, was Ihw Annu.'il Homf coming day for Coahoma Junior College. Everf year for the past twelve years the Homecoming Parade kaa marched through the downtown frets of the city. Ibis year Chief of Police Ben Collins end "iayor W. S. Kincade refused to ,(rmit them to pared* at nil Brd the Homecoming fcstivilic«t had to be camelled Invitation Is Withdrawn—- A Slap In Th* Fate Bark in October, 1961, (he Chamber of Commerce extended to both the Coiihoma Junior College and the Higgins High School an invitation to paHiei- prife in the Christmas prirvdr. This has tx en 'he custom of i*be city and 1he Chamber of CV.nri- (Continucd on Back Page.) k s ft I ' < / i i |
Language | English |
Format | text; image |
Publisher-Electronic | Wisconsin Historical Society |
Publication Date-Electronic | 2015 |
Rights | Copyright to these documents belongs to the individuals who created them or the organizations for which they worked. The principal organizations have been defunct for many years and copyright to their unpublished records is uncertain. We share them here strictly for non-profit educational purposes. We have attempted to contact individuals who created personal papers of significant length or importance. Nearly all have generously permitted us to include their work. If you believe that you possess copyright to material included here, please contact us at asklibrary@wisconsinhistory.org. Under the fair use provisions of the U.S. copyright law, teachers and students are free to reproduce any document for nonprofit classroom use. Commercial use of copyright-protected material is generally prohibited. |
Digital Format | JPEG2000 |
Digital Identifier | gray00001 |