The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1922-08-12
Results Rather Than Prejudice
Hurtful

Negroes in these United States have ZIG news
papers. The great majority of them are dedi-
Gated to "racia interest" which means, in the
final analysis, warning against various forms of
American racial determinations and prejudice.
1t is evident, by the huge amount of energy, time
and money which is expended in combating
this evil, that this state of affairs is most keeny
felt. 1t seems, sometimes, that it is not so much
the prejudice but the results of prejudice which
are so hurtful. Physicians say that the easier
the diagnosis the harder the cure; the harder
the diagnosis the easier the cure. The cause Of
the patient's-most of the white race-distOrted
mind is hard to ascertain and, therefore, should
be comparatively easy to cure, once the cause is
found
Some maintain that economic considerations
are the basis of this policy of injecting into the
lives of the minority wanton dirregard of fair
treatment by the majority. They contend that
for one Negro who is treated with a reasonable
amount of decency in hotel and on the train
two white men will refuse to eat in the same
hotel or decline to travel in the same coach. They
say that with them it is a case of dollars and
when they lose the money they lose all. The sup
porters of the foregoing theory cite many in
stances to support their position. We have
all had cases such as they cite. Two such ex-
periences which l have had recently, follow:
Last week l was in one of the large department
stores down town and, being warm sought to
purchase an ice cream soda. | was promptly in
formed that | could not eat my cream at the
fountain which meant, for me, that | could not
eat it anywhere. | Immediately carried my case
to the manager, who, seeking to defend his pol
icy, said that if Negroes were served at the
fountain most of the white patrons would desert
his store. | asked him if the same customers
would desert if l should purchase yard of cloth
from the dry goods counter. He thought not
The fallacy of his argument was clear even to
him. The other case which is often used in prin-
cpe in the case of Negro in Washington who
owns Ia barber shops. He employs all negro
BARRIERS. No negroes are served there, however,
as all his shops are reserved for white patronage
These shops are not the cause of prejudice; they
thrive on prejudice. These cases are used to ex-
emplify the false rule as stated above. However
this condition exists here and elsewhere as
result and not cause of prejudice.
The root of this evil is deeply set into the
American way of doing everything. Public pol
icy perpetuates this thing. The public sentiment
which uphods this i'll treatment is the direct
result of tie school of white supremacy" which
has been in session since 1920 A. D., when our
ancestors came here. There is a great need for
a new and differnt school. Among the tutors
ought to be Our Political Pressure which would
assure us that our aldermen, congressman, ETC.,
would help outlaw these discriminatory laws. An
other valuable teacher would be our Economic
Force which would illustrate the propriety of
our having our own stores, banks, etc. The dean
of the school would be Applied Christianity,
which would answer the question What would
Christ do?" Have we not one Father? Hath not
one God created us all Why do we deal treach-
erously every man with his brother?" NAL
cachi 210).