Speech of Senator Harry S. Truman before the National Colored Democratic Association, Chicago, Illinois

ADDRESS OF HONORABLE HARRY S. TRUMAN before the National Colored Democratic Association Convention Chicago, July 14, 1940. There is much being said these days about the Negro and what should be done with him instead of what should be done for him. Much is written about his rights as a person, but it has been up to the present administration to take the problem in hand and provide necessary measures for his life, liberty, and pursuit of happiness. That the administration has already done much for the Negro is clearly evidenced by the results of recent elections in such cities as Kansas City, St. Louis, and Chicago. In these and other large citios, the Negro wards showed a much larger proportionate Democratic vote than in the white wards, and to my notion that is as it should be since the Negro race has received troatment at the hands of the presont administra- tion that should justify its continued support. Up until the time of the emancipation Negroos were in an entirely different status from their fellow mon in America. Besides the injustice of enslavement they were held far beneath the white population in almost every measure of modern civilization. This was anything but a roflection on the ability of the black men. With education positively forbidden to him and the fact that he was forced into a culture, civilization, and climate. absolutely new to him, is it any wonder that his progression has been at times a disturbed one? Can any of you picture yourselves planted suddenly in the wilds of Africa and forced to make your own way in a hostile society utterly different from anything you have ever known? That has been the problem of our Negro population. In the years before the Roosevelt administration, plotting poli- ticians attempted to defeat Negro suffrage which was gained only after the toil and heartbreak of three constitutional anendments. First of all they imposed a property qualification for the privilege of voting, but the colored people acquired property so rapidly that the politicians were temporarily baffled. It was necessary to resort to other measures. They required educational attainments, but for once the demand was reasonable. It was a double blessing to the Negro since it opened the way to the polls and inspired the colored peoplo to learn at least the primary requirements of education. It was a wise provision insofar as a certain amount of learning should becomo a requirement of any American citizen. Of course, this also supposes that the means of education shall be provided. No citizen can fulfill his mission at the ballot box unless he is able to read and write to inform himself about public men and measures. Naturally, the rule should apply to white and black aliko. Hore was the Negro's big chance to remove the last obstacle between hinsolf and the polls as woll as to advance in culture. Up to the time of the Emancipation, the Negro's slavery forbade him education and kopt him in a completoly dependent state. During the period of freedon, he was almost oqually handicappod. Being under servilo conditions for over 300 years, and naturally, unused to constructive think- ing, how could he be expected to have accomplished more than he has within a single generation? No one could hope that the Negro would become a lation-illuminating logal, industrial, or litorary light the day following the Enancipation Proclanation. Notwithstanding, the Negro has done amaz- ingly well. That old time slave ownor felt that an oducated Negro would be a menace. If the glave knew too nuch it was feared he would learn to revolt and become haughty. Wo all know that the old time slave owner was nistakon. The educated Negro learns quickly so that in ordor to protect himself, he must obey the law, not break it. He can only blunder in performing his civic duties if he does not understand thon Fear that Negro education may monace the white raco's conception of racial safety displays nothing more than a narrow conception of good citizenship and an anazing ignorance of Negro characteristics. Always, the it is the uneducated person, regardless of color, who is the dangerous citizen. It is. your ignorant class among the people that is the criminal class. In this light, lot us soe what the prosent adninistration has done for the Negro. As I have stated, it has given him $2,000,000 for improve- (OVER)