The Topeka state journal. [volume] (Topeka, Kansas) 1892-1980, 1916-08-12

standards and ideals which are its
needs to measure up to and to inter
pref into life, conduct and progress
No Line of Contact.
A group arbitrarily and artificially
segregated is unable to develop within
itself those values which the history
of mankind has demonstrated to be
most worth while. The colored Amer
lean is thus forced outside the line OF
DEVELOPMENT, which comes through
contact. His girls and boys do not
always exhibit those qualities of poise
and culture which the girls and boys
of the other race more generally dis
play. The reason for this Is obvious.
The colored boy or girl is without the
line of contact He or she is not
hedged about by the restraints and eX-
amp1es which are necessary to the &C
QUESTION of those things which are the
legacy of the institutions of society to
the Individual He has been forced
outside the heritage of standards and
ideals. He has been banished to
position outside the laws of certain
states and communities. which states
and communities have laws and ord1-
nances regulating his contact with tho
other people. He is not considered an
organic part of his community or en-
vironment. All this makes II morally
and humanity impossible for the color
ed American to develop, as a group,
to the most nearly full extent, tho
factors resultant Of contact In the sew
eraI spheres of life, on an equal basis.
and judged only by the standards of
ability. character and strength of pur-
pose e
He Produces Results.
The wonderful part of the whole
elusive ininical propaganda, the color
ed American has produced many
splendid and adequate results. He
has scholars, professional men, auth
| kSzR~- IL
men, trained workers, who measure
up to the best of any other race. Of
course the numbers are not large, not
as large proportionally as those of the
other race; but there are sufficient of
them to make plain the intrinsic abil-
ity of the colored American as
group: and they point to the fact of
the inherent persistence in the
struggle to attain values, in the face of
seemingly impossible barriers.
In places where segregation does
not obtain to any great extent, the
colored American has made most pro-
gress. Segregation may force him to
have his own business concerns, his
such circumstances, these men are
ousted from positive contact with
other men of like interests and stand
ing. The standard of life cannot be
ethnically interpreted. save as race
may be accidentally attached to ex-
amples of high achievement.
Segregation Remedies.
The remedies for segregation may
be mentioned under the following
heads:
| (a9 Common sense. A good colored
person is as good as a good white per-
son. A bad or ignorant or careless
white person Is no better than a bad
or ignorant or careless colored person.
The utter righteousness of the whole
segregation situation is made manifest
when intelligent, clean, law-abiding
cclored citizens are barred from COM
nlercial, Industrial, and governmental
opportunities and public privileges to
which ignorant, unc1ean, and lawIess
white people-men of obvious inferi-
ority-are given not only opportunity
and accorded the utmost privilege, but
actually obtain recognition and con-
! troll.
OBJ Recognition of personal values
as basis of judgement. Men must
| win or lose in the race of life on their
merits alone. There is no inherent in
feriority or superiority in complexion
or facial contour, or texture of hair
Personal values are matters of fact,
net matters of race.
(cl Practical application of the
American spirit of fair play. It is
scarcely equity to deny a people the
! opportunity to make good, and then
| fault them for not making good.
(d) Readjustment of environment
People who are segregated from all
the opportunities and privileges of
| progressive life and contact, are not
able to produce in themselves the
| qualities and tendencies which are re-
sultant of opportunities and rights
An equal opportunity to work out SAL
walton is the only ground of real pro-
| gress. Isolated examples of breaking
through the iron ring of segregation
] mean nothing as far as the general
principle is concerned. Progress must
rise to the status of a generalization
in order to be counted progress at all.
| Artificial barriers must be broken
| down, and the constitutional and hu-
raanity rights accorded all persons, re-
gard1ess of race. or creed, or previous
/ condition, before state or national
| government may be said to have full
filled the purpose OF its being.
(e9 The co1ored American must
ever more fully conceive his absolute
| duty in preparing himself to demon
strate in his personal and intellectual
| life the higher values of achievement.
He must be dissatisfied with anything
| less than the highest standards Of
knowledge, industry, ability, and char
| acter. He must ever be watchful to
give the denial to all adverse opinion
\ of himself, by evineing in his life the
\ very best that is possible in his en-
vironment. Nay. more; he must seek
| to justify his demand, by producing
| high types of learning, skill, and in
tegrity. in such numbers will make
very plain the fact that color or
| previous history have none other than