The monitor., 1928-11-16
RACE RELATIONS
DISCUSSION TOPIC
OF SOCIAL WORKERS
Eugene Kinckle Jones, Urban League
Executive, Delivers Address at
Annual Conference. Opens
the Discussion
LOCAL WORKERS ON PROGRAM
Various Aspects of Social Problems
Affecting Race and Community
Frankly and Practically
Presented

That the rights of the Negro in the
| United States are to be secured not
by physical force but by the force
of the spirit and that this is gradu-
ally being brought to pass, was the
message delivered by Eugene Kinckle
Jones of New York, national execu-
tive secretary of the Urban league,
speaking before the annual meeting
of the Nebraska Conference for So
cial Work at the Jewish Community
Center, Monday night, on ''The Ne
gro's Opportunity" Judge L. B.
Day, recently elected to the supreme
bench, president of the conference,
presided. ]. Harvey Kerns, secre-
tary of the Omaha Urban league, in
troduced the speaker. A large mixed
audience was present.
Mr.. Jones called attention to the
fact that the Negro problem is no
longer a sectional problem. The
masses, it is true, are in the south,
and will remain there, but migration
has brought large numbers into the
north. The attitude of each section
differs. The south is gradually COM
ing to see that it's methods have been
wrong and is admitting that it must
change its method. There must be
cooperation and understanding.
The curve of progress during the
past sixty years has been upward.
There has been improvement in the
health of the race. In the last eleven
years the Negro has reduced his death
rate rs per cent. More than one
fourth of race families are home
owners. The old fallacy that the
Negro is mentally inferior and in
capable of doing anything but So
called mental labor has been dis
proved by the diversity of occupa-
lions in which he is engaged. A sur
vey in New York City showed that
there are 321 different occupations
and in BIC of these Negroes are en-
ployed. There are 500 teachers in
the public schools of that city, rs of
the number being high school teach
ers. Diversity of occupations in
which Negroes are making good
proves the contention of leading in
vestigators that there is no funda-
mental difference in the native ca
pacity of the people of the world.
The speaker cited specific illustra-
tons in support of his thesis that the
Negro is demonstrating his ability as
skilled worker and in the literary,
scientific, artistic and cultural field,
to contribute generously to the life
and progress of America.
To the white race of the United
States, he said, is given the opportu-
nifty to show the world how two races
differing in color, temperament, and
traditions, can live together harmon
iously and with profit to both.
'The race question has ceased to
be sectional problem in this coun-
try" he asserted. "The Negro is the
mystery race of the world. What its
future will be depends largely OF the
encouragement given by the white
race in the United States to the Me-
gro's efforts to advance economically
and culturally. Solution of the prob
lem will be made much easier by the
development of competent Negro
leaders.
Here lies the white mans oppor-
tunity. Cooperation between the
races has advanced greatly. The
time will come in this country when
men and women will be judged by
their abilities alone, with no thought
of their color"
At the Tuesday morning session of
the conference, Mr.. Jones opened the
discussion on Grace Relations"
stressing the fact that mental ply
steal, moral and industrial develop
ment is a community and not Ne
gro problem. Populations cse inter-
dependent. Truth is essential in ap-
preaching the question of race rela-
tons. Antimarriage laws promote
rather than prevent the admixture of
blood which is Americas nightmare.
Admixture is notorious where the un-
protected colored girl is the victim of
the lustful white man who is permit
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