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Tags: civil rights

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A broadside with the Attention in bold bubble letters at the top of the sheet. The item reads<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Attention citizens of Greenwood and surrounding area<br /><br />
The revolutionary forces at work in this area have begun a boycott of certain business establishments in the city of Greenwood.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
This useless troublemaking agitation is being sponsored by a group of draft card burning disloyal pro communist riffraff known as the Mississippi freedom Democratic Party it’s local prime mover is a nigger preacher who runs a shoe repair business on Johnson Street. JD Collins has prospered in Greenwood and he is repaying this town for its goodness to him by trying to destroy it<br /><br />
<br /><br />
We have the manpower and the willpower to remove the scum from the streets but we do not wish to bring this type of trouble to the good name of our fair city. We will not stoop to the level of the trash who seek to promote chaos in our city.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
There are several things which we ask all good citizens both white and colored to do to counteract these troublemakers.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
They picked the time of the year when business is generally slow so as to impress their gullible followers with the success of their efforts. We should all make a special effort to be on the streets of downtown Greenwood as much as possible so as to put the lie to their claims of success. Law-enforcement officials and responsible private citizens will be on hand to see to it that everyone is protected on our city streets.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
The primary object of this so-called boycott is the liberty cash grocery owned by Mr. Sam Killebrew. Mr. Killebrew has been more tolerant with the colored element of his trade and almost any other businessman in town and some of them are rewarding him by trying to destroy his business. Neither he nor in any other businessman can meet the impossible demands of this nefarious group. We should all make a special effort to do some of our grocery buying at the store.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Any effort at intimidation by this sorry element against any citizen white or colored should be reported to the law or to any responsible citizen and appropriate action will be taken.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
This is communism in action the end justifies the means and they only succeed where ignorance and timidity prevail.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
We worn this group who is not only our enemy but the enemy of all good citizens of this area not to misinterpret our intentions. We are and will remain equipped and ready for any eventuality.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
You can help bust the boycott written printed distributed by a local Civic group

Flyer, Attention Citizens of Greenwood and Surrounding Area

Flyer accusing Mississippi Freedom Democratic Party of communist behavior.

The Religious Newsweekly<br /><br />
Editor<br /><br />
NANCY LAWRENCE<br /><br />
9RNW2/25/57<br /><br />
TUESDAY February 26<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Appeal for Aid to Interracial Community Heard by 1500<br /><br />
An appeal for new members to join a Christian interracial community in the Deep South was made by the Rev. C Conrad Browne before a throng of 1500 people who jammed a Brotherhood Week meeting in South Bend, Ind., last week. But he warned them that it wouldn't be easy. Twelve rounds of rifle fire have been pumped into his house, he said, narrowly missing his daughter, and bombing and burnings continue to plague Koinonia, the interracial community farm which he directs in Americus, Ga.<br /><br />
The Brotherhood Convocation, sponsored by the St. Joseph County Council of Churches, heard Rosa Page Welch, noted singer, and also witnessed a production of Thornton Wilder’s drama, "The Unerring Instinct.”<br /><br />
Mr. Browne reported on the wave of violence directed against the sixty-odd families living on the farm. On the advice of community project leaders, about one-third of the families have since moved away, he said.<br /><br />
Coupled with the violence came an economic boycott, said Mr. Browne. "No local market will buy our produce, feed salesmen will not sell to the farms, fuel dealers have discontinued deliveries, no one will process our cotton and insurance has become unavailable.” Although he did not appeal for funds personally, several ministerial associations, local and state church councils are sponsoring projects to aid the community.<br /><br />
Mr. Browne told his audience: “When our fuel was cut off, we got our own gas pumps but they became targets for shotgun blasts and we lost our supply of butane gas and building materials in fires. The problem of insurance is still not solved,” he said, adding, “one company after another has dropped our policies, including a New Zealand firm.”<br /><br />
Those remaining at Koinonia are determined to carry on, declared Mr. Browne, who also thanked local and state church councils for their sympathy and support.<br />

Appeal for Aid to Interracial Community Heard by 1500

Cover of a brochure published by the council of Federated organizations about their work-study project. In the top area there is a diagram of the state of Mississippi divided into five sections. The main picture of the brochure cover is a young African-American man with a hat reading the book the kings wish.

Brochure, Work-Study Project

Pamphlet with information about a work-study program coordinated by the Student Nonviolent Coordinating Committee (SNCC) and Tougaloo College, whereby…

Letter from Earl Johnston Junior to Honorable Herman Glazier, July 23, 1964, on Mississippi state sovereignty commission letterhead.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
The letterhead reads Mississippi state sovereignty commission, new capital building, Jackson, Mississippi governor Paul B. Johnson, chairman<br /><br />
<br /><br />
July 23, 1964<br /><br />
<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Memorandum<br /><br />
<br /><br />
To: Honorable Herman Glazier, administrative assistant, office of the governor<br /><br />
<br /><br />
From: director, sovereignty commission<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Subject: communism and race agitators<br /><br />
<br /><br />
We worked several days with mayor W. O. Williford of Drew helping him acting like accumulate information to be aired at a police court hearing. Mayor Willifordwas accumulating reports from Los Angeles and senator Eastlands office as well as the sovereignty commission.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Tuesday afternoon, over the phone, he advised he was ready and the case would be heard at 10 AM, Wednesday, July 22. We told him we would be responsible for getting press coverage. We called the commercial appeal and the Clarion ledger and told them of the impending hearing and asked that they send reporters. The news that came out of Drew, Thursday morning, perfectly timed with Senator Eastland‘s speech in Senate, dealt and effective blow against those racial agitators with communist backgrounds or associations.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
We would like to recommend again, even more particularly at this time, that Governor Johnson consider making the statement that the FBI should grow with the prestige and reputation of that office in exposing the names of all racial agitators know through FBI files to be associated directly or indirectly with communist organizations. Communism charges are now being heard in New York and Washington, as well as Mississippi. In a sense we would be putting the FBI on a serious spot. They cannot deny the existence of such files because of director who verse earlier statement that can communist have infiltrated the racial movement. If the FBI chooses to remain silent, it could be well consider that the Lyndon Johnson administration is muzzling FBI on purpose to avoid any further proof public proof that the racists Are being led by communist.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
We believe such a statement would be far more effective if issued by the governor; however, if the governor thinks otherwise, the sovereignty commission could issue a statement if he grants permission.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Signed Earl Johnston, Junior.

Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr. to Herman Glazier, July 23, 1964

This is the first page of a Mississippi state sovereignty commission report about Tugaloo college. It is from Earl Johnston Junior, the director of the Mississippi State College sovereignty commission. The memo is set to Governor Paul B Johnson, lieutenant governor Carol Garten, and the chairman of the state judiciary committee EK Collins. It was sent March 10, 1964.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
The memo reads as follows:<br /><br />
<br /><br />
One. The staff of the sovereignty commission has been engaged in extensive research complying with an order to assemble evidence which might be used as valid reasons for revoking the charter of two glue and or canceling it’s a credit Dacian by the Mississippi accrediting commission. This will be the first of a series of reports as information is developed and evaluated. The investigation is continuing.<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Two. Reference is made to Dr. AD Beittel<br /><br />
, President of Tugaloo college. And testimony before the general legislative investigating committee at 1962, Mr. JB Matthews of New York City, and outstanding authority and communism, testified under oath that there were two major propaganda groups operate in the south. He defined as “and infiltrated group” and a “communist front” the southern regional Council with main headquarters in Atlanta and the southern conference educational fund with headquarters in New Orleans. He lent these two directly with the southern conference for human welfare. Mr. Matthews identified Dr. AD Beittel as an active member of all three groups. He said Dr. Beittel and the other individuals identified with these groups were “a veteran supporters of communist causes and communist enterprises.“<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Three. We have in our files information that Dr. OR Paul has openly advocated to his class that speakers lecture on the campus in defense of communism. Dr. Powell, who is white, teachers sociology at Tugaloo. He has also conducted devotionals at the school. One of his topics as shown on a school program was “the heresy of the spirit.””<br /><br />
<br /><br />
For. There is ample evidence that to the loo has departed from its chartered responsibility of teaching liberal arts and related subjects. Classroom time as well as time after classes is being devoted to political discussions led by representatives of CORE, SNCC, and NAACP. The college publication the votes considerable space to these activities. The Mississippi student union, which is the youth organization of Council of Federated organizations,

Memo, Erle Johnston, Jr., to Paul B. Johnson, Carroll Gartin, and E.K. Collins; 10 March 1964.

Letter, Hazel Brannon Smith to Leslie W. Dunbar (Southern Regional Council)

Copy<br /><br />
ITEM NO. I<br /><br />
Since January 4, 1962, the Mississippi Citizens’ Council and the State Sovereignty Commission have conspired in an open attack upon me which has been well publicized in the state and national press. This attack came because I am printing a new newspaper for Negroes, the Mississippi Free Press, which is dedicated to working for Negro rights and freedom. <br /><br />
I am only the printer for this paper. I have no financial interest in it and no control over it. I am vitally interested in seeing it survive because it is badly needed. The men who have put their money into this paper, business and professional men of Jackson, have implicit confidence in me and are guided a great deal by what I tell them in the line of newspapering. I very much would like to be in a position financially where I could have the time to help more with this paper and make it into a quality paper of statewide distribution. This could be done if the money could be made available, I have the know-how and the willingness to do the job. <br /><br />
ITEM NO. II<br /><br />
THE BAPTIST OBSERVER, now a monthly but already with authority to go weekly when funds are available, is strictly a church and religious paper. But the Negro ministers sponsoring this paper are keenly aware of the need of promoting a greater participation for Negroes in the life, economy and government of our state. This paper will help ministers to develop leadership among themselves and their congregations to the end that some day they can speak with one voice. This they desire to do-but naturally it will take time. They must get their own people together. We have in mind that some day The Observer will go into every Baptist home in the state. Adequate financing could make this a reality NOW. <br /><br />
ITEM NO. III<br /><br />
Organized labor is viewed with suspicion in Mississippi by the Governor on down. This is an attitude deliberately fostered by the top officials as labor leaders know. Labor needs a better press in Mississippi and better public relations. It has no paper of its own at the present time-although it once did. A statewide weekly newspaper which would report labor news fairly, honestly and accurately could be of great assistance in educating Mississippians about the facts of life on labor-about which they know very little at the present time. If Mississippi is to grow and progress industrially our attitude toward organized labor is going to have to change. <br /><br />
In our Jackson suburban paper, the Northside Reporter, we have a paper that already has a good following in Jackson. It could be enlarged and extended citywide first and then statewide-if my husband (Walter D. Smith) and I had enough financial backing. We are able and what’s more important, willing to do this job. We feel it would be making a contribution to the growth and development of our state and I have some definite ideas about how this could be done if anyone is interested. <br /><br />
ITEM NO. IV<br /><br />
We need money NOW. $1,400.00 for past due taxes and insurance, now critical,<br /><br />
2,000.00 on $6,200 loan from 1st National Bank of G’ville<br /><br />
-also now critical. Entire loan must <br /><br />
be liquidated soon. <br /><br />
1,000 must pay on paper bill, (Now $4,500.) <br /><br />
2,000.00 for assorted miscellaneous accounts including a <br /><br />
partial payment on $1,800 engraving bill.<br /><br />
ALL OF ABOVE DESPERATELY NEEDED NOW. <br /><br />
(We still have the $20,000.00 note to be repaid <br /><br />
to Mr. Harrison-not worrying about it now.<br /><br />
(Note: If we could get our hands on $15,000 it would get rid of the one big note that is ono our backs as well as the past due bills-leaving us still the $16,200.00 note in Jackson on which we pay 6 per cent and $200,00 monthly-when we have it)<br />

Overview of the publications that Hazel Brannon Smith publishes, attacks she faces from segregationist groups, and a budget of the money she needs to run her businesses

Statement by Koinonia Farm

Koinonia Farm Products

BROTHER TO A DRAGONFLY<br /><br />
(a civil rights story)<br /><br />
<br /><br />
By Neal Bell and <br /><br />
Dick Cusack<br /><br />
<br /><br />
Based on the National Book Club<br /><br />
Award winning biography<br /><br />
By<br /><br />
Will D. Campbell<br /><br />
<br /><br />
2nd Draft<br /><br />
Cusack Productions Inc. <br /><br />
405 North Wabash St., Suite 1111<br /><br />
Chicago, Ill 60611<br /><br />
312 923-9010<br />

Screenplay for cinematic treatment of Brother to a Dragonfly

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