The monitor., 1927-11-25
THREE Negroes Are Chosen As City Dads
E d | T O R | A L

custom
None or at least very few will willingly admit it. but it is
fact fac nevertheiess @ very small minority among
eoWmen governed by reason unnfuenced by custom
Custom is common and established usage manner prac
ce fashion, or way of looking at regarding
things Custom in the tradition
which transmitted or handed oown from
sire to from ancestor to posery by oral wordo
mouth communication of written documents
It is claimed that tradition strongest among savage
semcvized peoples and is marked orientals
than among occdentas But in opinion this be
toned unless the tenacious tradition found Caucasans
as a n nd Or n
be evidence of the standardization which learned
western bishop boldly asserts lies just beneath the skin of
Chranized commercialized Americans Europeans
True the Arab raversng the desert continues to pitch his
the traditional spot that stous pitched
his and cannot be forced or paid pass that spot
thousand years ago But in what particular does this act
who stubborny refuses to ability give opportunity of
development to certain vareties In what
stubborny them against those who
differ from him in religion like the Roman Catholic the
the traditional site of unmndfu of
In our American life perhaps no better illustration can be
found of the slavery of than in the dealing of white
of justice and right and of splendid ideals with Negro
poyees Custom American has decreed that Negroes
in the various fields of employment AS matter of fact
sense which is generally attached to it. that servile de-
based, low. servant for that is what the word
is snobbery which regards badge mark of inferior
ity degradation. The Divine said I among
he that menal that serveh But that not
the high in which it is commonly regarded There
certain dparagement attaching though wrongfuly,
tain classes of work Custom have sad largely
confines Negroes to this class of work.
For example, coored girl of excellent appearance educa
ton and ability quite competent clerical position
saleswOman, apply for position let
department Under the bondage of
the proprietor believes that he give other
oymen than that Of maid duster Of furniture Promo
ton advancement transfer other line of work.
garded less menia" is to be thought Of Why? Gus
hath decreed tradition declared that this people must
always occupy SERVILE menia" places Otherwise the
status of the nnaey and dviney appointed superior
will be Our fathers pitched their
thousand years ago.
Or again, welmannered well-educated Negro youth
plies for job The proprietor pleased with his appearance
and honestly believes he has good stuff in him. He believes
that he might become good shipping clerk Custom he
must be employed janitor And he is employed Sub
sequenty he be used shipping clerk but still called
twenty twentyfiv become quite familiar with the
various branches of the business and most loyal and trust
worthy employee He helps train others and them
noted while he is still janitor perhaps with slight ad
vance in pay, but that is ALL
Enlarged opportunities withheld because the
emnenty chafes under his commercial bondagebut
the domination of custom and does not feel
enough to break the bonds of tradition.
This however being DONE here and there by
who do find it extremely difficult after all. I'm
fortunately the number of such pioneers yet quite SMALL but
young people must prepare themselves CONSCIENTIOUSY
and THOROUGHLY to take their places those fields of
for which they prepared when the opportunity calls
later will Nor must there be any disparage
ment of those who in occupations called menal