The northwestern bulletin., 1922-04-15
WE DO NOT NEED 1T

A playground for COl0red children. what
Yes, that is what the block bounded by Western
st. Anthony and Virginia avenues and ROndo st.
according to the announcement is to be used for
playground for Colored children in Saint
Paul is absolutely unnecessary and uncalled for
Our intelligence fails to permit us to any vir-
tuous motive underlying the action of the Wei
come Hall committee in this respect The specifi-
cation that the play ground is for Colored children
greatly arouses our suspicion and criticism. In
the first place, we do not need playground es-
pecially for Colored children and in the second
place. we wish to inform the promoters of such
a project that the presentation of a playground,
especially by private interests, to the Colored
children of Saint Paul means the presentation of
circumstance every intelligent black man in this
country is fighting against
We concede that playground in any COM
munjty means a recreational resort for the child
rem of that community, but We fail to understand
why playground in a district where there is more
white children than Colored children should be
advertised as recreational center for Colored
children simply because it happens to come under
the direct supervision of Negro institution which
after all is almost solely supported by white peo
pie. We can only term such action nothing more
nor less than purely move of segregation or that
the white money" has been misnformed in re-
gard to what the Colored people of Saint Paul
seek, if it be playground they seek. And in the
latter statement, we believe we are showing some
leniency for only last year the local branch of the
National Association for the Advancement of Col
ored People adopted resolutions condemning any
such institution and the promoters thereof. Have
the promoters of this playground for Colored
children been deaf in recognizing the voice of the
Colored people of Saint Paul. Quite impossible
Then we desire to know the other motive for the
establishment of playground for Colored children
if ours is not right. We desire to know why the
property in question which has been used as a
skating rink during the winter months, should be
termed playground for COlored children" when
it was patronized by ten times as many white child
rem as COlored children We desire to know why a
playground should be established specifically for
Colored children in district where white residents
are more numerous than Colored residents. We
desire to know why it was not announced that the
playground was for all children We shall feel
grateful for this information for we believe if both
white and black children are to be allowed to use
the playground as they have been allowed to, the
announcement that the playground is for Colored
children is absolutely false and unfounded, jim
crow propaganda and the beginning of unpleasant
relations.
We are here to oppose segregation and dis
elimination. We are here to brand some of the
nckelplated black men who labor without regard
for the problems which confront our race but for
personal glory We are here to serve the best inter-
est of the people we represent, therefore, we are
here awaiting the Presbytery of Zion Presbyterian
Church to announce that the playground in uues-
ton is for all children who wish to patronize it
and not for the Colored children as has been an
nounced or it remains for the Colored people of
this city to refuse to accept this jm-crow gift.
We do not need it.