The Colorado statesman., 1920-01-03
Virginia College Professor Says
More White People Should
Read Negro Newspapers

~HICAGO, m.-Have heart. good
people. The house is divided
against itself. 1t is written, That
q house divided against itself cannot
stand" While Congressman Burns IS
of the opinion that many race news
napers are doing harm, DR.. Robert l.
Kerlin. professor of English of the Nir-
.,inio Military Institute Lexington, Va,
makes the exclusive statement to the
Associated Negro Press concerning
newspapers. Startling in its frankness
and complimentary to the last degree,
DR. Kerlin says:
81 am reading Negro newspapers
reading them by the dozen, reading
them by the score, from all parts OF the
cotrnrly. from half the states OF the
union. papers of every kind, secular
religious. fraternal, institutional. Let
me tell you some of my impressions
the impressions of n white man.
aFirst of all. I am profoundly i'm
nressed by the unanimity of these pa
pers in their expression of the wrongs
the determinations, and lnJustices
nracticed against the colored people D.!
their white neighbOrs and fellow-citl-
Zens. Never, think, did so many mn.
lions of people constituting raciu'
unit exhibit such a solid front, suci'
7nanimity of feeling and purpose
rCheir reaction to lynchings ana tile
riots of which they have been victims
10 the shame of white Amerlca-ii'S
been that of one outraged ana tortured
soul heroic in forbearance ana Ill SUI
fering
"Then I am impressed by the force
and resoluteness of the colored peo'
ple's contention-also put torth WIZ"
absolute unanimity for justice, ior op
nortunitv and constitutional rights anu
for all that as human begins anu p''
riotic Americans and loyal citiZehs'
they are entitled to. 20
"Such are my Impressions not "
nroceed further in stating them, tha'
I wish the white people OF Amer ''''
generally might go to readihs so",
papers and do so with Il serious i,'''i.
to get YOUR point of view, TO learn i.o"
Won think and feel on the subjects ti'a'
so vitally concerns us, to kho" "n".
measures you have to propose 10 pi.ns
about better racial relations anu an iii'
Droyement of conditions WIN pie'e
tion of mob violence and lawlesshese
uCpul1 fpTldiiliy
spring a better understanding "'oi'A7
svmnothy. saner and surer co-opei"
ton. The question of questions lor u7
as nation today is rectal adJuslineA''
The nresent condition of distrust aiio
hostile feeling, i'll disguised IL not op.e
and violent, is intolerable 10 All scr
respecting and human-hearted peopio
1t is utterly opposed to Aherie"'ii',., ,-1
and to Christianity 1, for one taN.
my stand for justice, for humahl's' any
for square deal Simply because :.
is right and following the promptihs'
of my own heart.
"Anotber thing wanted to say
about vour papers is that they display
no little editorial ability. anu rene
credit upon the race. Their eui'oi i.'i'
are often worthy of the ablest "iii''
papers-cogent in reasoning teinpei -, ~
though resolute in tone, uncomproin,7
ing vet dignified in, their deh'aiiu'
tbronehout showing intellectual
strength and moral conviction. oo,
"A general reading of the pest 81, ~,
ored weeklies could not but srenu.! ss,'a.
benefit the white people ann piouu-'
good results for all America.