Description
Football Disturbance. - - A finale of the football game last Friday night between Plattsburg and Platte City was a very disturbing encounter of certain fans and some players.
It seems Plattsburg has some Negro players on its team and at the close of the game these players were refused by self-appointed adult authorities to use the showers to take the usual wash-up. Officers of the law had to be called in and finally the visiting team was escorted by the “law” to their bus and left town. No members of the football squads participated in the disagreement.
A lot of conversation over the affair, which is regrettable in many ways, has been going the rounds— some correct, some growing as it is repeated and some wrong. The matter is so controversial and so many things involved that could lead to more unrest, we refuse to editorially comment except to say we feel the incident was uncalled for and poorly timed.
No one dislikes the integration forced upon us more than The Landmark editor (Maxfield Jones), but the Supreme Court has spoken and segregation especially regarding schools is banned by Federal Law, based upon the Constitution of the U. S., which we all love and should honor.
Those who took action Friday night should have shown their displeasure earlier and prevented, if possible, the Negroes playing at all. But if they saw the game played, saw Platte City win—that should have been the end.
Though we will have to come to integration in our schools sooner or later, for some time it is going to be a hard dose to take. Separation of the races is born in most Platte County born people. They have been taught there’s a difference, raised that way, know nothing else. The Negroes born here and who have lived here, feel much the same way, have “kept their place,” generally lived well and treated kindly.
Of course, some have strayed from the straight and narrow path, and likewise, we have had some mighty “ornery” disreputable white folks. However, we have all gotten along together pretty good and here’s hoping we will continue to do—each going his way in peace and happiness.
(Researcher's note: On September 24, 1954, Maxfield Jones was the Editor and Proprietor of The Landmark newspaper, Platte City, Missouri.)Date(s) of Creation
9/24/1954
