Phoenix tribune., 1919-11-01
RACE JOURNALS IF
READ BY Whites CAN
PRODUCE GOOD result

Chicago, ILL.,, Nov 1.-Have a heart,
good people. The house is divided
against itself again. 1t is written,
THAT house divided against itself
cannot stand" While Congressman
Burns is of the opinion that many race
newspapers are doing harm, Dr. Rob-
ert T. Kerlin, professor of English Of
the Virginia Military Institute, Lexing-
ton, Va, makes the exclusive state
ment to the Associated Negro Press
concerning newspapers. Startling in
its frankness and complimentary to
the last degree, DR.. Kerlin says:
Il am reading Negro newspapers
reading them by the dozen, reading
them by the score, from all parts OF
the country, from half the states in
the Union, papers of every kind, sec
ular, religious, fraternal institutional.
Let me tell you some of my impress
sions-the impressions of white
, man.
First of all, am profoundly i'm
pressed by the unanimity of these pa
pers in their expression of the wrongs,
the determinations, and injustices
practiced against the Colored people
By their white neighbors and fellow
citizens. Never, think, did so many
millions Of people constituting a ra-
cial unit exhibit such solid front,
such unanimity of feeling and pur-
pose. Their reaction to lynchings and
the riots Of which they have been
the victims-to the shame of white
America-has been that of one out
ragged and tortured soul, heroic In
| forebearance and in suffering.
"Then am impressed by the force
and resoluteness of the Colored peo-
pies contention-also put forth with
absolute unanimity-for justice. for
opportunity, for constitutional rights,
and for all that as human beings and
patriotic Americans and loyal citizens.
they are entitled to.
"Such are my impression, not to
proceed further in stating them, that
wish the white people Of America
generally might go to reading your pa
pers, and do so with a serious mind
to get your point of view, to learn
how you think and feel on the sub.
jects that SO vitally concern US, to
know what measures you have to
propose to bring about better racial
relations and an improvement of con-
ditions with prevention Of mob VIC.
lence and lawlessness. Out of such
reading would certainly spring a bet
ter understanding, atoning sympathy,
question of questions for US as a ma
tion today Is racial adjustment. The
present condition of distrust and hos
tile feeling, i'll disguised II not open
and violent, is intolersble to all self
respecting and human hearted people
T. is utterly opposed to Americanism
and to Christianity. I, for one, take
my stand for justice, for humanity.
and for square deal. Simply be-
cause it is right and following the
promptings of my own heart.
Another thing wanted to say
about your papers is that they dis
play no little editorial ability, and re-
fleet credit upon the race. Their edi-
torials are often worthy of the ablest
white papers-cogent in reasoning.
temperate though resolute in tone,
uncompromising yet dignified In their
demands. throughout showing intel
lectual strength and moral conviction,
"a general reading Of the best Col.
ored weeklies could not but greatly
benefit the white people and produce
good results for all America"