New-York tribune., 1922-10-08


that they undertake their obligations
seriously and that as installment buy.
gers of property they are entirely sat
isfactory. That banks were usually
unwilling to take mortgages on prop
erty bought by negroes, it was said
was due partly to Misrepresentation
and partly to tho fact that such prop.
erty was customariAr in section OF
the city where depreciation of values
had set in, as negroes could not afford
or were not permitted to buy else
where.
The information as TO negro deposits
was provided by seven trust and saw
ings banks, three state banks, two na-
tional banks and one trust company
One Of the banks had s1,500,0o0 on de-
posit for negroes, another $1,o00,000
Still another had 1000 negro deposit
ors. A state bank had s650,O00 on de-
posit for negroes, another $150000, and
one of the South Side banks $750,O0O.
''In general" remarks the report, ait
was found that the negroes are show
ing strong tendencies to open bank ae-
counts, that they are steadily improv-
ing in the amount of deposits made, in
the steadiness Of their accounts and in
thrift generally"
Not content with presenting these
facts Of achievement about tho negro,
the commission proceeds further In its
report in the same direction, testing
the popular beliefs in negro inferior
ity by making profound study Of
their origins. The results, which are
substantiated in every case by specific
instances, lead to the following con-
clusions:
"That in seeking advice and informa-
tion about negroes white persons, al
most without exception, fail to select
for their informants negroes who are
representative and can provide depend
able information.
"That negroes as groups are often
judged by the manners, conduct and
opinions Of servants In families or
other negroes whose general standing
and training do not qualify them to be
the spokesmen Of the group.
Traditional Opinions
influence Literature
"That the principal literature re-
garding negroes is based upon tradi-
tional opinions and does not always
portray accurately the present status
Of the group.
"Most Of the current beliefs con-
corning negroes are traditional, and
were acquired during an earlier period
when negroes were considerably less
Intelligent and responsible than now
Failure to change these opinions, In
spite of the great progress Of the
negro group, increases misunderstand-
ings and the difficulties Of mutual ad.
justment.
THAT the common disposition to re-
gard all negroes as belonging to one
homogeneous group Is as great a mise
take as to assume that all white per-
sons are Of the same class and kind.
THAT much of the current literature
and psuedo-scientific treatises concern
ing negroes are responsible for such
prevailing misconceptions as: that
negroes have inferior mentality; that
negroes have inferior morality; that
negroes are given to emotionalism:
that negroes have an innate tendency
to commit crimes, especially sex
crimes.
I'VE believe that such deviations
from recognized standards" further
adds the commission, "as have been
apparent among negroes, are due to
circumstances of position rather than
to distinct racial traits. We urge es-
pecially upon white persons to exert
their efforts toward discreditinp
stories and standing beliefs concerning
negroes, which have no basis in fact.
but which constantly serve to keep
alive spirit of mutual fear, distrust
and opposition
The next major premise set forth by
the commission after disavowing the
theory Of racial inferiority, as far as
general significance goes, Is the utter
rejection Of proposals such as the
deportation of 12,ooo,ooo negroes to
Africa, the establishment Of separate
negro state in the United States, com
plete separation and segregation from
the whites, with the establishment az a
caste system OF peasant class, or the
of solution in the hone
Of the negro race dying out.
So impracticable, indeed. are such
plans in the eyes Of the authorities on
the commission, that very little con-
sideration is given them except to dis
miss them, despite thu fact that they
Es