The Omaha guide., 1933-09-09
Editorial
The Intimidation Theory In Our
Racial Attitudes

L1OH thS cunningham NEWS, aug
ust 26. 1933-The IL prominent citi.
zens Of Birmingham who Thursday
published a statement depIoring "the
injury done the cause Of law and or
der" by the shooting of three Negroes
taken from the custody Of Tuscaloosa
deputies are to be congratulated upon
Ithe clarity Of their vision and their
eagerness to place in full view the
attitude Of the right minded citizens
Of Alabama
This group of IL men, representing
as it does the ministry, industry, fin
ance the law business and higher
education, offers no revelation Of a
surprising state Of mind Citizens Of
the type composing his group for
generations in the South have felt
virtually the anne way about racial
problems. 1t is OF that they have just
this moment come to a sane attitude
the recent outrages in our state
At a polar extreme from the points
Of view held by he signers of Thurs
days statement is the feeling, which
also has been cherished for genera
tons, held by quite another level of
citizenship In Alabama, as well as
throughout most of the South. 1t is
this attitude toward the Negro which
represents the kind Of anarchy which
now and then breaks forth around the
lynching tree
Before we can get very far in any
constructive action toward bringing
this outlaw element into harmony
with the elements of civilization, it is
necessary that we face the nature of
tn philosophy which motivates them.
These people have been fed the wild
medicine Of white supremacy" in
such large doses and wei such long
period by loud political leaders that
their original antagonism toward the
Negro-which developed first during
slavery days-has been famed into a
white heat at almost every popular
election held in Alabama during the
last 20 years. Should the final tabu-
~lations of guilt in the recent outrages
ever be assembled, it probably will be
found that the thoughtless politicians
who have periodically stirred the
deepest passions and most terrible
hatred Of some of our people ought to
be credited with no little of the re-
sponsibility ~
In Alabama, as elsewhere in the
! South, the will to lynch springs from
the deep, black wells of the philoso-
ply that the Negro must be Control
led,' and that the only way to achieve
this end is through intimidation. Be-
tween the class Of people represented
by the signers of the Birmingham
statement and the class of people who
would glory in the deed so solemnly
deplored, there exists a tremendous
gulf, which has appeared to grow
ever wider through the years as en-
vironment and inheritance on one side
have become increasingly separated
from environment and inheritance on
the other.
Until this gulf is bridged through
the extension Of sympathetic intelli-
gence, it win do little good for hu-
manitarians in the South and in the
North to cast the hot lightning of
condemnation across the chasm. For
the people who consider Alabama's
recent lynchings as a victory for
white supremacy" have been accus-
toned to condemnation all these MANY
years. They thrive upon condemna-
ton; it strengthens the arm of their
determination.
Like members of the communistic
international Labor Defense they
have been suppressed by i'll fortune
are famed by a favorable wind, they
break into flame. They make a fur.
lous onslaught upon the vested inter,
ests Of the Notwithstanding theil
rights" with a vengeance.
Before we can ever be sure that
these ~outbursts viii not recur in Ala.
bama, 1t will be necessary to provide
people with a leadership Of in.
tegrity, which viii teach them tina.
the Negro is not really their enemy
and that they may attain self respect
IN better ways than BY a ~querulous
lnsistence upon white control. ? The
lndomitable passion and strength OF
will with which they have tried K
maintain their present beliefs would
be contributed by them to any cause
pictured to them as worthy by :
leader whom they respect.
1t is, therefore, significant that
these IL strong men of Birmingham
have asserted themselves. Let us hope
that their action marks the begin.
ming Of a trustworthy leadership Of
racial attitudes in Alabama
LfNCHING IN PINE Riff
DUANrCa