The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1927-10-04
Harvard Discusses "The Negro Problem"

Nowhere does he evidence an. APP
probation Of the desperate position
of Negro masses in America today
To him, the absorption Of the Negro
means only the acceptance of the cul-
tured elite.
"Biracial Development
Mr.. Stoddard is brutally, yet withal,
delightfully."- (this term is used adj
visedly) frank. In substance, he
hlusteringly says Negroes and whites
differ, as consequence of which
there must ever remain, in America,
a system based upon the color line;
within their racial group, let Negro
life be as full as it may, there will
be no attempt at absorption, (here
we are tempted to wink slyly at Mr..
Stoddard, and whisper "save at night
eh Lothrop old topper?") The value
Of biracial development is his key
note, and he plays a sad song with
this one strain. Declaring biracialism
to be separation but not discEimina-
ton; that it implies neither superior
ity nor inferiority, but is recognition
of the difference" existing between
the race groups, he offers it as the
solution of the race problem. Of this
difference which he makes SO much,
he offers no description, gives no
definite information, proffers no
scientific data. Verify, these two
men have dealt wisely with weighty
question.
We are as strangely moved by a
desire to know why any black man in
America, who aspires to the leader
ship of this heterogeneous mass of
human beings which has been legis-
lated into some semblance of a racial
group, should advocate the elevation
of a favored few to social equality,
and remand the great majority COM
posed of workers and peasants to
eternal servitude, with its consequent
economic oppression and exploitation,
even though he so naievely suggests
that the favored few be granted some
sort of mandate over these prole-
tartan and peasant elements, as we
are intrigued by a biracial program
of development which vigorously
emphasizes the possibilities of full
and equal progress within separate
racial lines, neither group attaining
dominance over the other, and vet
for the one, mentions only social and
economic development, very carefully
refraining, from speaking of their
need for political expression if thew
are to retain this nebulous equality
which they secure through their de-
velopment within their own race lines
100000 Mulattoes.
Probably Mr.. Locke's defenders
will tell US absorption must neces-
sarily be piece meal and the most ac-
ceptable portions will always be taken
first; and the Stoddardian champions
will argue assuredly the Negro is diff
ferent, if not inferior, and he is not
a fit ingredient for the melting pot.
To which after visualizing the four
millions of mulattoes in these United
States we sadly refrain from making
a reply.
OF course it is not true that the
refusal of cultural recognition to the
intelligentsia will throw them back
upon the masses in such manner as
to threaten class war, nor is it
true that such a struggle could pos
sibly be avoided by the acceptance
of this cultured elite AS a matter
of fact to those who have any con-
ception of the objective conditions
necessary to the development of
strong revolutionary movement, Mr..
Locke's argument is pure rot. Nor is