RIOT RUMORS EXPLODED IN RICHMOND: Baptist Ministers' Confab Puts Lie To July 4th Plot, p. 4
Dublin Core
Title
RIOT RUMORS EXPLODED IN RICHMOND: Baptist Ministers' Confab Puts Lie To July 4th Plot, p. 4
Description
"RICHMOND, Va. – Rumors that widespread race riots are being planned for July Fourth were branded as “erroneous” at a meeting of the Baptist Ministers’ conference of Richmond, here last week.
The group of 120 Baptist ministers, representing approximately 35,000 church members took the time to discredit the report that plans are being made to stage a race riot on Independence Day, which, in itself, would make a mockery of the celebration.
The statement of the committee declared:
“The originator of such a rumor was not a friend to either racial group. Only an enemy could have sown such a seed. And in such a rumor are two damaging implications.
“For one thing, it is not at all helpful to the cause of Negroes to have it considering any form of illegal violence. They are not foolish enough to hope to gain any advantage by such methods. Negroes are too devoted to the principles of fair-play and public tranquility.
Two Bad Influences
The damaging influence of such a rumor can be seen all the more clearly when it is remembered that the chief instrument by which the race is to gain a full measure of citizenship rights is good will, and not illegal violence.
This fact takes on added importance in view of the prevailing practice of using the law itself as a means of depriving Negroes of their just and well deserved portion in American life. Anything which disrupts and retards the progressive development of the spirit good will prove disastrous to their best interest.’
“The second damaging result of such a rumor is to be seen in the state of apprehension into which it has set our white neighbors. There is not enough tolerance for the good intentions of Negroes. And to release reports which are designed to increase the already-existing hatred, and call into being plans for using force against these loyal and suffering people is a crime the gravity of which it is difficult to measure.”"
The group of 120 Baptist ministers, representing approximately 35,000 church members took the time to discredit the report that plans are being made to stage a race riot on Independence Day, which, in itself, would make a mockery of the celebration.
The statement of the committee declared:
“The originator of such a rumor was not a friend to either racial group. Only an enemy could have sown such a seed. And in such a rumor are two damaging implications.
“For one thing, it is not at all helpful to the cause of Negroes to have it considering any form of illegal violence. They are not foolish enough to hope to gain any advantage by such methods. Negroes are too devoted to the principles of fair-play and public tranquility.
Two Bad Influences
The damaging influence of such a rumor can be seen all the more clearly when it is remembered that the chief instrument by which the race is to gain a full measure of citizenship rights is good will, and not illegal violence.
This fact takes on added importance in view of the prevailing practice of using the law itself as a means of depriving Negroes of their just and well deserved portion in American life. Anything which disrupts and retards the progressive development of the spirit good will prove disastrous to their best interest.’
“The second damaging result of such a rumor is to be seen in the state of apprehension into which it has set our white neighbors. There is not enough tolerance for the good intentions of Negroes. And to release reports which are designed to increase the already-existing hatred, and call into being plans for using force against these loyal and suffering people is a crime the gravity of which it is difficult to measure.”"
Creator
N/A
Publisher
The Chicago Defender
Date
1943-7-10
Collection
Citation
N/A, “RIOT RUMORS EXPLODED IN RICHMOND: Baptist Ministers' Confab Puts Lie To July 4th Plot, p. 4,” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 29, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/70.