The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1917-05-19
THE ONENESS OF MANKIND.
Gems From Professor William Picksns'
New York Address, April 20.

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
lege, Baltimore, was the orator Of the
day. Dean Pickens' subject was "The
Negro and Health" and he said in
part:
The American Negro has been 30 often
discussed as 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 Of
fort to be consistent Is natural. The ques-
ton Of the Negroes health, however, Is
not 30 much q race question" as It is a
question OF environment. 1t may be called
class question. for 1t Is closely connected
with his economic and social status. In
brief, the Negro is not sick or well 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 mcre or less isolated groups for q
long period Of time. 1t happened, there
fore, that one group had to battle with
certain disease more than did the others
This group developed q 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 moro SUBJ
jscted to tuberculosis and became in .
degree immunized SO that now tubsrcular
baoilli attack the Negroes constitution
more readily, and 1t may be that the Ne
gro Of the past suffered from hookworm.
30 that now hookworms attack the white
man moro successfully.
But, be that as 1t may. It II plain that
environment Is the chief factor and 10 the
point Of attack for science. For these
evils are preventable. Tuberculosis may
DO worse for the Negro when he has 1t,
but It IL not necessary for him to have
Il. Hookworm may be worse for the white
man when he has 1t, but 1t is not neces-
sary for him to have 1t. 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
better Job so 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 so that he will possess
tho means and the knowledge to simply
shun the hookworm he need not have
that disease at all.
The Negroes death rate under present
conditions is often spoken Of as II 1t indi-
ia khAA he to v0t hpyYr, Nfh
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, 1t would prove that
the Negro Is 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 Is more wearing than work" The
lower economic status bears on the Negro
the harder and Injuries him the faster In
proportion AZ he feels and knows that It
10 chiefly tho result Of social injustice
rather than Of natural causes. The Jim
crow car kills him not only with it's filth
and germs but also with the state OF mind
which 1t induces in him.
The Negro is often spoken Of as a happy
go lucky race that never worries. This Is
a half truth. He may be SUMMER in ma
and for that very reason a 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
segregated and neglected city district
where the slums are thrust at his very
door and the saloon Is placed under the
- xhn nf il-
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.
The more intelligent he Is the more ne
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 condi,' ons
in which the less intelligent Negro OF two
generations ago lived? Another indication
that the cause Is environmental rather
than racial Is the testimony Of the mis-
sionaries to the remarkable physical wen
being of the African Negro. And Eu-
ropean scientists say that the physically
most perfect type Of man Is the Zulu Ne
gro.
SINCE the prHlCIpdl CducC 10 thS CAvhOh
ment the remedy Is science and social
Justice. Let 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. The United States
census department found out that the
Negroes death rate figure grows smaller
as his home ownership figure grows larger
The reason Is evident. The man who
owns q house will be prouder Of 1t. He
will keep 1t in better repair and cleaner.
he will cut new window for light and
air, he will put In panes promptly, he
will engage the plumber without delay,
he will install sanitary fixtures and con-
veniences, and, being freed from the bond
age Of rent, he will have more money Tor
recreation. decent amusement and needed
medical care This Is what makes the Ma
tional League on Urban Conditions Among
Negroes one Of the most useful organiza-
tons in the whole land They realize that
the question Of physical, intellectual and
moral health Ia closely connected with the
question Of Industrial opportunity and
economic condition. The league endeavors
A. -~< a voop into better lob and his