The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-05-19

United States as contrasted with
other racial issues of comparable
size is due in no small degree TO
the fact that the majority OF our
racial wars have been fought in the
court room rather than in the mar
ket place. This is what is called the
legalistic appoach, and has been the
distinguishing characteristic OF the
NATIONAL Association for the
Advancement of Colored People.
What has all that have said To
do with the Y. w. &. A. and
better approached to race rela-
tons? | ASH you to approach this
question both from an organiza-
tional standpoint and from an in
dividual standpoint as outstanding
and respected citizens OF your sew
eral communities. / ask you to
, take the question out OF the realm
OF distractions and to restate 1t in
terms of human relationships.
Then whatever you do either as
an organization or as individuals
will depend upon the end result
you are attempting to achieve.
We are not attempting TO push
you to the point of destruction.
But we do emphasize that leader
ship in tiele of stress inevitably
involves certain amount of ex-
| perimentation and risk And the
only way you can remain potent
social force In you communities
| IA. Ion
and risk that incorruptible. cour-
ageous leadership brings. But we
do ask you to move forward TO
free white America from its
senselcss phobias ard its con
temptuous arrogance toward all
people Of non-Nordic stock. You
J can make your generation open its
eyes and realize when IL Is cutting
off its own nose to spit its face,
as the South is doing when II
squeezes Negro wages and in con-
sequence cuts down his consuming
power in the community. We do
expect you to throw out all your
energies twenty-four hours day
in fight for elemental justice
without regard to race, class or
creed.
] say nothing about the extrava-
gance. the duplication, the waste
OF bi-racial system. II you really
want a bi-racial system, and are
willing to pay the price TO have an
honest. equitable one, so far as
am concerned you are welcome to
| nstA Il that
petuate bi-racial system. II you
are interested in the so called
purity OF your racial stock, II yor
are anxious to keep mulattos ant
octoroons from passing for white
and living and marrying amont
you as they are now doing. then al
matter of self-protection 20,
should make 1t so easy for Negro
to live full. free and advantag
eous life on his own side OF Thu
line that there would be no ad
vantage In his passing for white
= Remove all his handicaps ant
there will be no point In his deny
: ing his racial identity.
young America from the blight o
race prejudice. DO not bind TN
children within the narrow circle
: OF your own lives. Teach them L
: hear the song without hating tn
? singer. Make them understan
J that It is just a question o. recon
/, Cling the wants and desires O
: different human beings, eac
I equally entitled TO life, and Iiber
I ~ and the pursuit OF happiness.
II does not lie with me TO In
A out for you program of wny
9 and means. II I can assist you :
Q proper attitude, you will I'm
: the ways and means out OF you
own wisdom and experience T
!. my mind the proper attitude
3 the concrete human approach
h When black and white both real
!. lie that the race Issue is just
> question between different huma
beings, half the difficulty will
0 over. And each of us In his wa
!, and her way will be making hi
; and her contribution to a Unite
States OF America which will n
} nally DO united. Christian ant
J. freel