Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1922-04-24
PLEADS FOR KINDER.
|. RACE FEELING HERE
Writer Suggests Confer.
ences of Pastors and
Business Men.
To the Editor Of The Star:

Inc Ieellng between the white and
colored races in Washington is grow
ing less cordial and more antagonistic
every day. This is largely due to the
lack of helpful eontact between the
white and colored people here. We
fear or suspect what we do not know.
The races in this city have no true
understanding of each others aspira-
tons and difficulties and on that ac-
count they have little or no SYM
pathy and esteem one for the other
The interests and destiny Of both
races are the same. One set of people
cannot rise or fall without lifting up
or dragging down the other. Each
race must work for the good of all if
1T would avoid race hatred. We
cannot long have peace and good will
In community where one set of cit
liens suspects and hates the other set.
There occurs frequently in the daily
papers, III speeches, in Congress and
in addresses before public gatherings
much that intiames hatred between
the white and the black peoples of the
District of Columbia. Those who make
these speeches seem not to know that
they are adding fuel to the fire and
that they. are neither helping the
white people nor the colored people of
Washington. The colored people are
here to stay, just as are the white
people. Both have a right to live in
the capital if they behave themselves
and do their part as citizens to make
this the greatest capital in the world,
but neither white people nor black
people have a right to arouse DOR
mant evil passions or to set one race
against the other. There is too much
at stake here for any such foolish
action on the part of any one.
Active Effort Needed.
1t may be said that only few mem
bers of each race are guilty of the
above mentioned despicable conduct.
but it can also be said that not very
many people in this city of either race
are doing all in their power to cul-
tivate a more kindly feeling between
the white and colored citizens of the
District of Columbia. Sad to say,
most people here seem to feel that
this kind of an effort is not worth
while. In this respect Washns1 on
is behind Atlanta. Birmingham. Nash
VILE and many other southern cities
where it is usually thought that race
hatred runs rampant.
In the cities mentioned above white
and colored business men meet togeth
er frequently to talk over race rela-
tons, and white and colored pastors of
those cities meet together regularly
to talk about and pray for the com.
erhod and fair play on the part of
black, and white. Christians at least.
Notwithstanding these good examples
and the urgent need of cultivating
better. understanding and more
friendly relations between the white
and colored citizens of Washington.
Vet the white and colored pastors
here never meet together and we
know nothing of any business organi
CATIONS OF the twA1 races getting to-
gether, even occasionally, for a bet
ter understanding.
Believes This the Time.
Surely this is an oversight on the
part of the pastors and business men
of Washington, for we canot be-,
lieve that the preachers, bankers.
merchants. etc, of the District of
Columbia have any less of the milk
of human kindness in, their breasts
than the preachers and, business meU
of Atlanta, Birmingham. Nashville.
etc. IT. sinlp ys-needs somebodv-.to
take the iniHatiye, and We shall find 1
both raceS-in this city laboring for q
better understanding between white
and black citizens-in the capital
Is not this good time TO unffer-
Christian churches throughout our
city are thinking as never before
upon the life, sufferings and death
of Jesus Christ. the Saviour of men,
and many OF the business orSaniza-
tons of our city are pleading for a
higher state of morals on the part of
all and justice and honesty in BUSH
ness. Cannot at least one or two
leading pastors in both races get to
work with their respective pastors
and insist that the white. and colered
pastors of Washington meet and dis
cuss methods for bringing about a
better understanding and more
kindly feeling between the white and
black peoples of Washington, and
win not two or three of the out
standing Christian business men of
the two races in this city talk over
this matter to their fellows with a
view to having a joint meeting be-
tween the two races in the near fu- |
ture for the betterment of both?
T. MILTON WALDRON