The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-06-23
THE ONENESS OF MANKIND.

Gems From Professor William Pieksns'
New York Address, April 20.
The annual health week campaign
conducted in Greater New York under
the auspices Of the National League
on Urban Conditions Among Colored
People was brought to a successful
close on Sunday, April 20. Professor
William Pickens, dean Of Morgan col
iege. Baltimore, was the orator Of the
day. Dean Pickens' subject was 1.-THE
Negro and Health" and he said in
part:
The American Negro has been. so often
discussed a. II he differed from other men
In his relation to the laws Of society, that
some have grown bold enough to imply
that he differs from other men even In his
relation to the laws Of nature. That ef-
fort to DO consistent II natural. The Ques-
ton OF the Negroes health, however, 10
not 20 much q "race question" as 1t is a
question OF environment. 1t may be called
class question. for 1t IL closely connected
with his economic and social status. In
brief, the Negro Is not sick or we'll be-
cause Of the color Of his skin or because
Of the shape Of his nose or feet. There
may be certain diseases which more read
lily attack his constitution, but that Is
true Of all races In reference to some dis
ease or other. and perhaps the explana-
ton II historical.
Man was scattered over the earth and
lived In more or less isolated groups for q
long period Of time. It happened there
fore. that one group had to battle with q
certain disease moro than did the others.
This group developed constitutional re-
sistance to this disease. or We might say
that the disease weeded out from this
group those elements which were peculiar
ly subject to its attack. It may be that
the white man Of the past was more sub
jsctsd to tuberculosis and became In .
degree immunized SO that now tubercular
bacilh attack the Negroes constitution
moro readily, and It may be that the Ne
gro Of the past suffered from hookworm.
% that now hookworms attack the white
man moro successfully.
But, be that as 1t may. 1t II plain that
environment il the chief factor and 10 the
point Of attack for science. For these
evils are preventable. Tuberculosis may
b worse for the Negro when he has It,
but It n not necessary for him to have
IT. Hookworm may be worse for the white
man when he has 1t, but It IL not neces-
sary for him to have It. The black man
cannot escape tuberculosis by becoming
white; the white man cannot escape
hookworm by becoming black. The race
question cannot help either, but an i'm
provement Of economic conditions will
help both. II the black man can have .
better Job 50 that he can have better food
and more rest and air and sanitary
house he will have less tuberculosis II
the poor white man can have better pay
and instruction 30 that he will possess
the means and the knowledge to simply
shun the hookworm he need not have
that disease at all. :
conditions is often spoken Of as II It indi-
Gated that he IL not human like other
men, but on the contrary 1t proves that
he II exactly human like other men. II
the Negro, living as he now lives died no
faster than the white man living as the
white man now lives. It would prove that
the Negro 10 not human like the white
man. Another thing-the Psychology OF
the matter. We have learned that the
mind helps to kill or to make alive. "Wor-
ry IL more wearing than work." The
lower economic status bears on the Negro
the harder and Injuries him the faster In
proportion - he feels and knows that 1t
n chiefly the result OF social injustice
rather than Of natural causes. The "jim
crow car kills him not only with its filth
and germs, but also with the state OF mind
which It induces In him. ..>
The Negro IL often spoken of as happy
60 lucky race that never worries. This ID
a half truth. He may be SUMMER In ma
turs and inclination than the white race.
and for that very reason period OF de-
preston may have more terrible effects
on him. A more phlegmatic temperament
might be less affected by either Joy or
sorrow. The Negro who can laugh most
loudly in the sun may also weep most
bitterly in the shadow Of despair. In q
segregated and neglected city district,
where the slums are thrust at his very
door and the saloon Is placed under the
very caves of the schoolhouse Of his chill
dren. he will be gradually done to death,
not only by the filthy streets. the ac-
cumulating garbage and the lack Of sew
ers, but also by the mental and moral de-
preston which his normally sunny dis
position Is compelled to support. -.....5-
The more intelligent he is the more he
will suffer. The man who does not know
that disease germs exist does not worry
about them. Does this not partly explain
the fact that the more intelligent Negro
of today will die quicker under conditions
In which the less intelligent Negro OF two
generations ago lived? Another indication
that the cause Is environmenta1 rather
than racial Is the testimony of the mis-
sionaries to the remarkable physical well
being OF the African NeSTO Auu Gu-
ropean scientists say that the physically
most perfect type Of man 10 the Zulu Ne
gro. ..
since the principal cause IL the environ
ment tho remedy II science and social
Justice. Lot us consider how closely bound
up IL the question Of health with the ques-
ton Of wealth. They are mutually cause
and effect. The better health, the better
business success and economic progress,
and the more success In business the bet
ter advantages for preserving health and
especially for endowing the succeeding
generation with health. Tho United States
census department found out that the
Negro's death rate figure grows smaller
an his home ownership figure grows larger.
The reason IL evident. The man who
owns q house will be prouder Of 1t. He
will keep It in better repair and cleaner,
he will cut a new window for light and
air, he will put In panes promptly, he
WIN engage the plumber without delay,
he win install sanitary fixtures ana con-
venisnces, and, being freed from the bond
arc of rent, he will have more money for
recreation, decent amusement and needed
medical care This il what makes the Ma
tional League on Urban Conditions Among
Negroes one Of the most useful organiza-
lions In the whole land They realize that
tha n,,estion Of physical, Intellectual and