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KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”—John viii:32.
CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, JUNE 30, 1938.
THE MINORITY PROBLEM IN THE UNITED
STATES
' Cultural Pluralism and Education Suggested As Solutions
“Cultural pluralism/' not the
“melting pot;” education, not
subjection; equality of oppor
tunity, not disabilities and dis
criminations; respect for the
religious and cultural values ol
each minority group, not the
suppression of those values nor
the reduction of all groups to
a standardized, American mold;
jealously and vigilantly safe
guarding the civic rights, po
litical privileges and economic
opportunities of every citizen,
no matter to what racial or na
tional group he may belong; ex
tension of the cooperative
movement and a reorientation
of our education—these are
some of the solutions offered
for the “adjustment and har
monization of cultural and so
cial values of racial minorities
in the United States and its
outlying possessions and terri
tories.”
m an kssay Competition on
the subject of minority prob
lems in the United States, con
ducted by The New Society of
. New York, 182 Contestants par
ticipated, representing 42 States
and the Philippine Islands. The
promotion of cultural plural
ism is advocated by almost ev
ery Essayist; the specific val
ues of each group contributing
to the grand symphony of the
New Americanism, is envi
saged by them all. And educa
, tion, the pragmatic gospel of
the American people, is empha
sized by one and all^as the chief
instrumentality in accomplish^
ing the end desired.
“In the United States ethnic
groups take the place of the ec
— onomic classes “Pf" European
countries.” And each ethnic
group has a “Sacred Bundle,”
a talisman of the group, not
unlike the Sacred Bundle con
taining the skulls of two Thun
- der Birds which was recently
restored to the Gros Ventre In
dians of North Dakota by the
Museum of New York City.
Each racial and national immi
grant group brings its own
talisman—in the past, in our
zest for Americanization we did
violence to this cherished treas
ure-trove of our minorities. It
is high time that we began to
respect the cultural values of
each group and graft the cul
tural heritage of our immi
grants onto the evolving civili
zation of our land.
‘ The melting pot,” says one
of the Contestants, “sounds
to the newcomer something
like “Everlasting Hell Fire!”
The comparatively large inci
dence of delinquency and crime
among the second generation of
Americans is viewed as the re
sult of our failure to harmon
ize the values of minorities and
the majority. Here is a neat
definition of the second genera
tion complex: “Superiority
complex at home plus inferior
ity complex among American
circles equals the Second Gen
eration Complex.”
A member of the dominant
majority from the South advo
cates the raising of the stand
ard of living among Negroes.
The relatively low standard of
living of the whites as .well as
the Negroes in the South is
traced to the denial of oppor
tunity for economic advance
ment of the Negro. The im
provement of the condition of
the minority will spell an all
round improvement, argue
many Essayists. And as one
Contestant neatly puts it: “Hu
man beings can be segregated,
but bacteria refuse to be seg
regated.”
By some the playground and
recreation are regarded almost
as valuable as the campus and
schooling in . the promotion of
fellowship and brotherhood. A
plea is made by all Essayists
for the removal of segregation
and “jim-crowism,” for mixed
schools and teachers. Hawaii
is offered as an excellent labo
ratory example where harmoir
ization, of race and culture
groups may be studied profits
bly by the people of continent
al United States.
A revision of Oriental Exclu
sion laws is advocated by a ma
jority of the writers. At least
five Essayists look forward to
interracial marriage as the best
answer to the minority prob
lem.
The WPA programs of adult
education and folk dancing, etc.,
are praised by some as whole
some tendencies in the right
direction.
A generalized conclusion of
all the Papers may be stated
thus: The present socio-eco
nomic setup in America cannot
be changed overnight nor is
such an attempt worthwhile.
The fundamental rights, guar
anteed by the Declaration of
Independence and the Consti
tution, must be safeguarded—
more vigilantly now than ever
before. The prevalence of race
prejudices , must be recognized
as a fact. That our American
ization programs in the past
tended to create emotional and
psychic disturbances in our im
migrant groups must be admit
ted. We must combat race pre
judice and we must put a new
content into Americanism. This
must be accomplished by educa
tion and by the slow but sure
methods of our democratic pro
cedure. Thus and thus alone
shall our minority problem be
solved and our liberties and
democratic institutions be safe
guarded.
VARIOUS RACES TO PAR
TICIPATE IN INTERNA
TIONAL CHURCH
” -UONYRNTTON- - —•
_'J__ .r- l'?j •
New York, June 24.—Lead
ers from minority races in the
United States—Negro, Indian,
Mexican and Oriental—will dis
cuss with white leaders their
experiences in dealing with ra
cial conflict on a Christian ba
sis, and also constructive pro
jects for education and Chris
tian attitudes at the forth-com-l
ing Quadrennial Convention of
the International Council of
Religious Education, to be held
at Columbus, Ohio, June 28
July 3, with headquarters at
the Fort Hayes Hotel.
Four sectional conferences
will deal with this particular
subject under the direction of
Dr. George E. Haynes, Execu
tive Secretary, Department of
Race Relations, Federal Coun
cil of Churches. There will also
be held two interracial lunch
eons and a large interracial
dinner.
Said Dr. Haynes: “Leaders
in these meetings will under
take to summarize the experi
ences of Church and religious
groups during the past ten
years in seeking methods of
applying Christian ideals to
the problems of the relations
of these racial groups in the
United States with their white
neighbors. We believe that the
idea of revolution, war ok any
other form of violence cannot
help to settle conflicts and ten
sions between races. Such con
flict can only be helped by ed
ucational processes which can
be most effectively applied
when representatives of differ
ent races in America confer
together about their mutual
misunderstandings and under
take to work together on things
of jmutual interest. Such things
come in the fields of industry,
agriculture, government, in
art, music and other elements
of culture.”
Included among the leaders
of the discussions in the va
rious sessions will be Mrs. Ruth
M. Bronson of the U. S. Indian
Rights Bureau; Rev. Ramon
Cabrera, a Mexican minister of
Chicago; Rev. Philip Yung Lee,
a Chinese pastor of Chicago.
At the interracial dinner Dean
Luther A. Weigle, of Yale Di
vinity School, and Dean Benja
min E. Mays, of Howard Uni
versity, will be the speakers.
Other Negro and white partici
pants will include the Rev. Will
iam H. Peck of Detroit; T. M.
Campbell of Tuskegee; James
H. Robinson of Wilberforce
University; Charles H. Hous
ton of the National Association
for the Advancement of Col
ored People; J, L. Reddix of
Gary; Mrs. Josephine H. Kyles
of Winston-Salem, N. C.; Dr.
J. Henry Carpenter, Brooklyn;
Dr. James A. Crain, Indianapo
lis; Mrs. Elsie Lineweaver, Chi
cago; G. Barrett Rich, III; Dr.
Henry S. Leiper, Secretary of
the Federal Council of Church
es and the World Council of
Churches; Dean H. Shelton
Smith of Duke University.
Presiding over the various
sections will be such leaders in
Church work as Dr. B. Julian
Smith, Colored Methodist Epis
copal; Dr. S. S. Morris, Afri
can Methodist Episcopal; Dr.
William H. Jernagin and Dr.
M. A. Talley of the National
Baptist Convention; Dr. James
W. Eichelberger, Jr., African
Methodist Episcopal Zion; and
Bishop Robert E. Jones, Meth
odist Episcopal Church.
RELIGIOUS EXHIBITS AT
THE GENERAL ASSEMBLY
Something new in religious
exhibits was the Christian ed
ucation display at the Hall of
Fellowship at the General As
sembly of the Presbyterian
Church in the U. S. A.,
which^onvened in Philadelphia,
Pa., Wbm May 26 to June 1,
1938. Prepared by a company
which specializes in commercial
exhibits, the display was one
of the most vital ever shown
in the Church field.
For the most part, the ex
hibit was devoted to the need
for undergirding the religious
life of Presbyterian students.
It demonstrated through a va
riety of methods the way in
'whkh the $10,000,000 Sesqui
centennial Fund for Christian
Education will help to develop
Christiaff leaders for tomorrow.
Outstanding among the pan
els and individual features
were the following:
(1) A panel of questions.
Answers to seven questions re
garding students and religion
were secured by pressing seven
buttons.
(2) Four mechanicalized men,
representing the tailor, the col
lege newspaper man, the class
advisor, and the fraternity
inember who extend a welcom
ing hand to the freshman when
he arrives at college. “But
where is the Church on the stu
dent’s first day or even first
month?” was the question on
which the panel ended.
(6) A table display using
electric trains. A circle track
with a one-car-train represent
ed 300,000 soldiers mobilized
in 1918.\ A larger track with
a stream-line train with a bag
gage car and four coaches rep
resented 1,275,000 students in
college. A placard read: “They
sent Chaplains with the troops.
There are four times as many
students. . What about them?”
From 3,000 to 4,000 persons
visited the display. Some were
so interested that they copied
facts and figures presented,
asked questions, and made
notes of the answers. Five hun
dred asked to have additional
information regarding Chris
tian education, especially Chris
tian education in colleges and
universities, and the Sesqui
centennial Fund sent to them.
Among the guides at the
Christian Education exhibit
were students from the West
minster Foundation of the Uni
versity of Pennsylvania, one of
the 52 Presbyterian centers at
State-supported universities
throughout the United States.
These centers as well as 153
Presbyterian colleges are par
ticipating in the $10,000,000
Sesquicentennial Fund. Stabil
izing the financial condition of
the , college and university cen
ters where the Presbyterian
Church maintains pastors, the
fund will help to make the
Christian religion an integral
part of the education of Pres
byterian students.
All our progress comes over
the protests of those who can
not change their minds.—Sel.
WHY HOWARD IS CALLED THE NATIONAL
UNIVERSITY FOR THE HIGHER EDUCATION
OF THE NEGRO RACE
By DR. KELLY MILLER
Its location at the National
Capital and generous support
by the Federal Government
constitute its chief claim to
that title.
: My recent proposal for the
Establishment of a National
Negro Museum would go far
towards fulfilling a National
function which is nowhere pro
vided for in the educational
scheme of the nation. Howard
has sent out ten thousand grad
uates and as many more some
time students who have shared
the partial benefits of its cours
es. These are scattered
throughout the length and
breadth of the land devoting
themselves to the uplift and
better life of the Negro race.
In this respect it maybe ^truly
said to be fulfilling a national
I function. However, all other
Negro colleges and universities
nave duplicated such National
service to the extent and de
gree of their facilities and ca
pacities. Thanks to the gener
osity of the Federal Govern
ment, Howard is the largest,
best supported, and best equip
ped of all Negro schools and
colleges; and as a seat of high
er learning, it has assembled
the largest student body and
faculty pursuing the various
branches of collegiate and pro
fessional courses to be found
anywhere in the nation, or,
for that matter, in the world.
I have some times called my
Alma Mater, “The Premier Ne
gro University.” This premier
ship, however, consists rather
4%,4he range and extension of
curricula' thah ih acknowledged
superiority in any specific phase
of its work.
It is not without apprehen
sion, however, that Howard
University is now turning out
anuually fewer professional
graduates in medicine, law and
theology than it did forty years
ago and thus seems to be laps
ing in its function.
It must also be noted that
for excellence in collegiate and
graduate work its rank is no
whit superior to that of Fisk
and Atlanta, according to the
appraisal of Mr. Edwin C. Em
bree, President of the Rosen
wald Foundation.
In the average of distinction
and reputation of its graduates,
Howard can scarcely be said to
outrank Lincoln or Fisk. The
National Negro University can
not depend merely upon the lo
cation or the physical plant or
mere extension of its curricula,
but must justify its claim by
its performance. The Nation
al Negro University which
justifies its claims must pos
sess a spirit which quickens
and energizes the intellectual
and moral spirit of the race.
As an institution must depend
upon altruistic support and
statesmanship, its watchword
anu raiiymg cry must De pa
triotism and philanthropy.
Howard University unques
tionably possesses the unique
and strategic opportunity to
fill the function of a National
Negro University. I have been
vitally concerned and intimate
ly related to Howard Universi
ty and the higher education of
the Negro race for the past
fifty years. I became convinced
twenty-five years ago when I
made the original suggestion
for the establishment of a Ne
gro Americana, that such an en
terprise was best calculated to
secure for Howard University
its coveted place in the Educa
tional Sun by making it the
center of research in this im
portant field of social inquiry.
The intervening quarter of a
century of close-up and long
observation and study strength
ens this conviction.
We are either His friends or
His foes. We have no right to
call ourselves His friends un
less we do His commandments.
Many followed him for the
“loaves and fishes.”—Sel.
SENATOR WAGNER TELLS
N. A. A. C. P. CONFERENCE
AMERICA MUST SET EX
AMPLE AGAINST
BARBARISM
Columbus, Ohio, June 28.—
America must set the world an
example against a “tragic tide
of barbarism” now sweeping
across the world, Senator Rob
ert F. Wagner declared to
night in a speech at the open
ing meeting of the 29th annual
conference of the N. A. A. C. P.
in Shiloh Baptist church.
America can best set this
example, the New York Sena
tor declared, by strengthening
democratic institutions, pro
moting democracy in the eco
nomic order, and fortifying it
as a way of life; specifically,
with reference to the Negro,
by passing a federal anti-lynch
ing law, by wiping out discrim
ination in employment and in
labor legislation, and by pro
viding decent low-cost housing.
After reviewing briefly the
^aiupaigii iui passage ui a icu
eral anti-lynching bill and pay
ing tribute to the work of the
N. A. A. C. P., Senator Wagner
declared:
“In face of this record, we
cannot afford, we dare not at
tempt to give up the fight as
won. The spirit of the mob has
not been quenched. The States
which should do the most con
tinue to be in position to do the
least. Need I recall to mind the
blow-torch lynching of a year
ago? Need X tell yon thatXfrst.
July, two human beings were
taken from a jailhouse by a
lynching mob within a stone’s
throw of a State capitol, with
no State action thus far except
the statement of a high official
that ‘it looks like a lot of care
lessness here by somebody’ ?
Need I recount how nine
months ago another human be
ing was shot to death with the
pistol taken from the officer
supposed to guard his life,
while the mob shouted: ‘To
hell with the law?’ Need I re
mind you that not a single ar
rest, prosecution or conviction
is recorded for any of the eight
lynchings last year?
“For myself, I renew the
pledge I made on the Senate
[floor last February:
i Deneve in tms cause; 1 De
lieve it is righteous, and I
know that eventually we will
succeed. . . The fight will go on,
so far as I am concerned—and
I know I speak for the others
interested—until we ultimately
carry out our point, because a
righteous cause, while it may
be temporarily defeated, will
eventually prevail.’ ”
In discussing the handicaps
of Negroes in seeking employ
ment and economic security,
Senator Wagner cited the pick
eting of a Washington, D. C.,
grocery store because it did no1
employ Negroes although it en
joyed a large trade from the
colored neighborhoods. Paying
tribute to the U. S. Supreme
Court opinion which sustained
the picketers, the Senatoi
said:
“This pronouncement gives
the Negro an avenue of digni
fied protest; it does not in it
self make available the jobs
denied solely because of th<
color of his skin. . . .
“Sound vocational training
and patient education of pub
lie opinion, to put the Negro 01
an equality in his struggle foi
a livelihood; minimum wag<
and maximum hour legislation
to maintain basic living stand
ards for white and Negrp «)ik<
—these are the obvious re
quirements for the long pull.’
Senator Wagner asserted tha
Negro housing conditions wer<
“indescribable” and “undoubt
edly the most vicious conse
quences of the economic force
which grind the Negro dowl
and the, , community taboo
which prevent his every effor
' \
at escape.” He told of the ef
forts of the government,
through the U. S. housing act,
to alleviate some of the worst
conditions of Negro housing.
“I want to see the day when,
for the twelve million Ameri*
cans of the Negro race a$ for
the rest of our citizens, civil
and political rights will be
transformed from words in the
Federal Constitution to the
living fabric of our national
life; when the doors of econom
ic opportunity now closed will
be opened ; when ‘Equal Justice
Under Law* will be a reality^
instead of an empty slogan.
When that day comes, this Na
tion, in the words of the im
mortal Lincoln, will have a ‘new
birth of freedom.’ ”
SPIRITUAL EMPHASIS
By Mrs. M. E. McNair,
Ingleside-Fee Institute
My dear Missionary Friends:
' I am sure our lives have
been enriched as we have laid
special emphasis on definite
prayer as individuals in our
Christian homes, and in our
church auxiliaries. Since we
have practiced spiritual em
phasis, many of the societies
have reported that it has been
easier for them to carry on the
work and even meet their ap
portionments.
When any organization is
under-girded with prayer, we
expect success. Does not this
strengthen us as we keep in
mind that challenging Biblical
passage, “Seek ye first the
Kingdom of God and His
righteousness: and all these
things shall be added unto
you?” *
Deepening the prayer life
may be accomplished as fol
lows; Roalizo that
sential for a Christian life, ana
realize, how spiritual power
may be increased through
prayer. The importance of the
family, the church, and our or
ganizations is to be a prayer
center. By this time you have
realized the importance of
special group auxiliaries for
participation in prayer.
We do not mean to say that
prayer can move every ob
stacle, every difficulty, and re
move the mountains. But we
do say prayer plus work and ^
faith can accomplish what al
most seems to be impossible. I
am appealing to all of you to
back your prayers by work and
faith, and watch the results.
My dear missionary women,
the meeting of our quotas and
apportionments is very necessa
ry and essential, but it does
not take care of everything.
Have you stopped to think this
is something we can do if we
work hard enough and if we
don't put it off until the last
moment, or if we don’t say,
“There is time enough to work
for our goal?” This is our duty.
Too many are saying, “I’ll wait
until tomorrow” for - what
should be done today. Tomor
row may get you in the habit
of waiting for another day. The
time to work is now, today.
Nothing takes the pf&ce of
Christianizing an individual
ana a nation, mere are mul
titudes who are longing for
some power of uplift. They are
hungry for the love of God,
but do not know how to pray.
The power that the world
stands most in need of today
is prayer. The Christians have
| found that prayer is the solu
‘ tion to all problems.
An orphan young woman
r who had recently lost her aunt,
’ her only dependent, came to
l me with tears in her eyes. She
. told me that she was not con
; cerned about living, for she
f was. educated for a special vo
! cation. But she said, “I shall '
, miss the prayers of this
! devout Christian. I have been
’ strengthened by them day by
. day. I wonder if there will be
' others who will be praying for
' me?” I said, “Oh, yes, the
world is full of people who will
’ be praying for you, and you
can develop your prayer life.”
} The face of the young woman
(CoBtiamd on Page 9)