The Birmingham age-herald., 1920-04-03

every community meeting with you and talking face to face. A beginning in this direction has already been made.
 ITS PROGRESS
 The colored race has made wonder full progress in the past few years, and we have many reasons for thankfulness but almost parallel with the progress that the negro race has made along the lines development has been the pro- gress in the changed attitude of white people toward him. I am positive that there never was, not only friendly attitude toward the negro, but there never were so many white people right here in the south who are not merely desirous that the negro shall be fairly and justly dealt with, but who are de- termined that he shall have fair chance. Right here fin Birmingham and in every county in Alabama a s well as throughout the south, there are groups of people representing all walks of life, who have set their faces like flint against most of the things that annoy, harass and disturb the mental and nor al we'll being of the negro race.
 COMPULSORY EDUCATION
 Alabama and most of the southern states have on their statute books at least compulsory education laws. Ala bama and all other southern states are rapidly increasing each year their appropriations for negro education. In every section of the south groups of white and colored people are meeting and discussing the problems of mutual concern. The colored people are telling white people how they feel and why. can tell you that the white south IS stirred up as never before on this ques- tion. Some people will say. I know, that it is an epidemic movement; that the southern white man wants the negro labor and therefore is interested. l dare say that the economic aspect en- ters into it, but knowing personally many of the people who are leaders in these forward movements, l cannot be- lieve that their attitude is due entirely to economic reasons. I believe they are largely educated by the spirit Of jus tice and democracy, the spirit or hu- manity, because the negro is human being and an American citizen.
 TALK IT OVER
 T hope this body of teachers, as well as individual teachers-here in Ala bama-will go directly to white peo- pIe and talk with them regarding the matters that disturb us rather than talking about them, and I hope white people will do the same with us, and believe they will listen: indeed they are listening, and I know we will listen  as we already are.
 NO nation in all the world has greater chance and greater responsi- bility than America, and no part of America a greater opportunity than the south to set the example for Germany and Russia, and for Turkey, Of law and order and to show them that people even though they differ in color and perhaps in religion, can live peacefully and harmoniously and that absolute and exact justice can be meted out to all citizens alike that an absolutely equal chance for development is given to every citizen without regard to race or color. and that il can be done witb- out causing any embarrassment and without the loss of self-respect on the part of either, and that we can work the black and the white-each in his own way for the good of our state and country and to the glory of God"