Thomas Jefferson High School - Aurora Yearbook (Brooklyn, NY)

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Dear Seniors: What can anyone say to you today, that will have any meaning for you? Perhaps I should tell you what you already know. And then offer you a suggestion. Life IS cruel. I do not refer now to the bestial savagery and the lust for murder among the Axis leaders and so many millions of their blood- thirsty followers. That is another story too gruesome to mention. But I do refer to the countless minor cruelties each of us encounters in his normal, daily life-the injustices, the discriminations, and the other wrongs that cast so many shadows upon what might well be a pleasant, cheerful existence. You, who are about to leave the sheltered life of Jefferson-what will you do when you encounter such inequalities in your own lives? Will you give way to cynicism, anger, hatred toward the world? Or will you try to emulate George Washington Carver? Who is George Washington Carver? Born a slave. Self-educated. Great scientist and public benefactor. Instead of making millions of dol- lars for himself by copyrighting his discoveries and inventions, Dr. Carver has given all those discoveries and inventions to the American people, free. llc has been conhdential adviser to other great people in many fields of endeavor. So fine a man is he, that the Herald Tribune, in a recent editorial. used the word usaintlyl' to describe his character. Just the other day, Senator Truman, of Missouri, and Representative Short, of the same state, introduced a remarkable hill in Congress. It would make the Missouri farm on which this great Negro was horn a Federal memorial. Mind you, this honor is scheduled for Carver while he is still alive. Does this mean anything to you, especially in these days? Or will you, who are about to pass through the gates to a broader life, scoff at such encouraging signs of greater fellowship and good will between races and religions? I know that a war is going on. I know that hatreds are being engen- dered and that love and respect for one,s neighbors are being put to the supreme test. But I warn you that unless you begin, here and now, to train your minds and your hearts to look for the tie that binds us to our fellow- man. even in this day of carnage and murder, your own lives will be the poorer and of small value to humanity. George Washington Carver must have had innumerable occasions to hate mankind. How often must his blood have boiled and his heart shriv- elled at rank injustice and blind intolerance? But he never permitted such thoughts and feelings to tarnish his life-work or to blacken his outlook.

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Seniors of Jeiterson-go from strength to strength on the high road that the Lord has stretched out before you. Take the right road. There lies your usefuhiess to your Country. to your loyed ones. to yourselves. And reineniher the ex-slaye who. now nearing the end of his earthly journey can face eternity with a sniile in his heart for a life well iiyed. Your friend. H. A. HARRISON