Ruby Hurley Urges Negroes Help Whites in South

Rough copy of a Jet Magazine article

The second page of a rough Jet Magazine article (click to turn photo)

        Ruby Hurley is very clear in a Jet magazine article with how Negroes can “walk with dignity in order to help White people free themselves of guilt and to live democratically like Christians.” This article shows Ruby Hurley making a concrete list of plans for the general public to follow in order to help the fight to end segregation sooner. Hurley wanted people to go out in their communities, notice the injustices going on and start fighting for equality. Hurley’s activism shows again by her inability to take no for an answer. She mentions that “Negroes have to end segregation or it will never end.” This quote shows how persistent Hurley could be. This article was published in 1958 in the midst of the civil rights era. It is also abnormal at this time for a woman to take a profound stance against injustices publicly, as this could put her in danger. Because Hurley was radical in thought, she would do anything to end segregation, including telling citizens to “stop thinking like you’re in slavery and … renew their minds.” The way Hurley made plans for justice in this article allowed her to exert her radical views to help make a change for the Black community.