The Pittsburgh Press (February 26, 1946)
Stokes: Negro leadership
By Thomas L. Stokes
ATLANTA – Negro participation in the recent special election in the Fifth Congressional District of this Deep South state was much more significant than indicated by the bare facts.
In a way, because of the size of the vote and its influence on the result, it was a break with tradition.
As already reported, Negroes contributed the margin of victory for Mrs. Helen Douglas Mankin, who has taken her seat in the House of Representatives. This is important as a matter of politics.
But beyond that, exploration of the background of this particular election reveals a most encouraging recognition by the many intelligent Negroes here of the responsibility of citizenship.
It explodes some old myths, removes some old phobias, anu points out the path for gradual extension of the franchise to Negroes in the South which responsible white leaders now accept as certain. Practical politicians have become conscious of this inevitable trend.
This election experience followed a thorough course of preparation by the intelligent Negro leadership which is taking its obligations seriously. They recognize their opportunity and want nothing to happen that will mar it or set back progress toward full citizenship.
Hold Sunday evening forums
Leaders in Atlanta’s several Negro colleges and universities have emphasized the obligations and responsibilities of citizenship, so that keen interest has been aroused among the students.
On a much broader basis, Negro ministers and churches have been active. Sunday evening forums on public affairs have become a regular part of church activity. Both the Negro YMCA and YWCA are holding regular public discussions.
Emphasis is on careful study of issues and education in citizenship. Negroes are urged to think for themselves, and to vote as individuals.
The leaders, for example, were careful in the recent election here to stress such individual responsibility. Though Mrs. Mankin received a large proportion of the Negro vote, not a single Negro organization endorsed her candidacy.
White civic leaders have been impressed. They point to it as a fine example for white citizenship. The recent election offered a nice moral, for only 25,000 votes were cast out of a possible 125,000 in this district.
The big Negro vote was in B precinct of the Third Ward, a community which includes two Negro housing projects and some of the Negro university area. Some 2,000 Negroes were registered there. About 1,000 voted. The polls were manned by Negro election officials.
Mrs. Mankin received 956 votes in that precinct with only a handful for her leading opponent, Thomas L. Camp. She won by 770 votes.
Much has been made of this precinct voting last. But the facts are there was a heavy vote toward the end of the day when the Negroes got off from work and when the doors of the polling place were closed many waiting inside had to be taken care of, so the counting was delayed. Two long lines still waiting outside could not vote.
Real test comes in primary
This was a general election, and Negroes are entitled to vote in general elections, though not many usually do. The real test comes in the primary in September when Mrs. Mankin will be up for re-election, along with other members of Congress.
A test case on Negro participation in Georgia primaries now is pending in a Circuit Court of Appeals at New Orleans. Georgia Federal Court upheld the right of Negroes to participate in primaries. The test case ultimately will go to the Supreme Court which already has decided for Negro participation in primaries in a Texas case.
Whether the final decision comes before September or not, it is believed that the ice is broken in Georgia. A new day for the Negroes as citizens seems in sight, though there will be efforts to restrict and limit the franchise in one way or another.