The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-04-28

problem that faces US is not a
cnoice between segregation ana no
segregation, between compulsory
interferences with human inter-
course and complete liberty OF con-
tact; the thing that faces us Is CIV
en- varying degrees OF segregation.
How shall we conduct ourselves so
that in the end human differences
will not be emphasized at the ex-
pense of human advance.
1t Is perfectly certain that, not
only shall we be compelled to sub
nit to much segregation, but that
sometimes IL will be necessary TO
our survival and step toward the
ultimate breaking down OF bar
riers, TO increase by voluntary &C
ton our separation from our fell
| lowmen.
When my roommate gets too
noisy and dirty, ] leave him
when my neighbors get too annoy
ing and insulting seek another
h ONE; when white Ameri.
cans refuse to treat me as a man
L will cut my intercourse with
white Americans TO the minimum
demanded by decent living.
1t may be and often has been
true that oppression and in
suit have become so intense
and so unremitting that there is
no alternative left to self respect
ing men but to herd together In
self-defense, until the attitude OF
the world changes. II happens that
today is peculiarly a day when
such voluntary union for self ex-
preston and self-defense is forced
upon large numbers of people. We
may rail against this. We may say
that IL Is not our fault, and IL
certainly is not. Nevertheless, to
do nothing in the face OF It; to
accept opposition without united
counter opposition is the program
of fools.
Moreover II association and con-
tact with Negroes is distasteful to
you, what is IL to white people
Remember that the white people
OF America will certainly never
want us until we want ourselves.
We excuse ourselves in this case
and say we do not hate Negroes
but we do hate their condition, and
Immediately the answer is thrown
back on us In the very words.
Whose job is 1t to change that con-
dition? The job of the white peo-
pie or the job OF the black people
themselves, and especially OF their
uplifted classes?
Ethics In Education
A puzzling POLLEN of ethics has
arisen in one OF the largest Negro
universities. A graduate student OF
unblemished character and ex-
cellent scholarship sent letter Ia
the public press condemning GER
tain occurrences In the University
The University Immediately asked
this student to withdraw.
There comes now the nice ques-
ton as to why he was asked 70
withdraw? Was II because what he
said in the letter was untrue, OF
was IL because Il was true? III il
was untrue. would not sufficient
answer have been publ
cation OF the exact truth, and then
perhaps an investigation as to how
far the student had deliberately
lied or had been mistaken. II
seems. however. fortunately or un-
fortunately, that the student
charge was true, certainly In its
essential particulars. and that he
was compelled TO withdraw be-
cause this expenditure was bad
publicity" for the institution. This
raises n very grave question of
ethics In an institution OF learning
for Negro youth. III the truth about
situation In a university Is bad
publicity. the way TO attack II is
10 change that truth and reform
or not repeat the facts upon which
IL Is based. But II Is certainly an
extraordinary thing to try to de-
fend an institution by Furnishing
good student for telling what the
university knows Is true. Under
such circumstances. the student
who has been made to suffer ought
to receive welcome and sufficient
scholarship funds to pursue his
work in every Negro university
worth a name. not to mention
white schools.