The Omaha guide., 1935-10-05
(For The Associated Negro Press)
BY / E MCGEE

Editors Note-Miss MCGEE is n
Of three St. Louis school teachers
who spent this summers vacation in
the Orient, principally in Japan. She
was educated at the University of
Illinois and the University of Chi
cago. She is teacher Of geography in
the Vashon High School. Miss MCGEE
is a member Of Pi Gamma Mu, hon
orary social science society, the Ma
tional Educational association, the
National Geographic Society, and was
for three years national secretary Of
Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority. The
two teachers who accompanied Miss
MCGEE were, Miss L. NJ. Turner and
Miss Isabel Dickson
/ found the japanese the most
kindly, courteous people I have ever
known. / have travelled in nearly ev-
cry state in the United States, in
Canada, Mexico, the West Indies, the
north coast countries of South Ameri-
ca, the PHILIPPINES, Hawaii and China
and nowhere have I found a more
kind-hearted people than the Japan
csc, nor a group which showed more
friendliness to me-.
Before going to Japan, I had hoped
that the knowledge of the condition
Of the Negro in the United States
might excite.the sympathy of the Jap
anese people but j was utterly unpre-
pared for the profound feeling they
showed, once they learned something
Of the nature of the problems of n
other ~dark-skinned group.
There must be two Japans-one
the Japan of daring, ruthless mill
tary conquests, designed to establish
the dignity and prestige of the ma
ton, the other, the Japan of home
makers, the friendly, pious, indus
trious natives, the friendliest, clean
est, politest people I have ever
known.
Whether SO willed or not, an
American Negro, man or woman,
who escapes temporarily from Ameri-
can white prejudice, is a furtive OBJ
server of its possible existence else
where. | confess, / vas prepared to
find racial prejudice in Japan. | did
not. Not against the Negro. If there
was any prejudice, it was shown
against the white man The Japanese
bitterly resent white Americas
treatment of Japanese. They do not
go so far as to treat whites discour-
teously. That would be against the
Japanese sense of what is right. They
treat whites with politeness because
it is a duty to do so, but toward US,
as colored Americans, they were ev-
en- finer. They treated Us as brothers
and sisters.
On every occasion, no matter how
suspicious, where japanese, whites
and we colored women were assembl-
ed, the Japanese singled Us out for
posts Of honor. We seemed to be the
ones they were the most proud to
have with them.
I was particularly impressed by
their treatment of US during the ses- !
'sions of the Pan-Pacific New Edu-
cational Conference held in Toxic,
August l. 8, and attracting delegates
from all countries bordering on the
Pacific Ocean. More than three hum
dred delegates attended Miss Isabel
Dickson, critic teacher in the Sim
mons Demonstration School IN st.
Louis, and I, attended as visitors
from America and were the only Ne
groes present.
We attended all Of the various SEES
sions and were treated as though we
were the most highly honored guests.
At no time did we meet with any dis
elimination on the part Of the Japan
csc and If the people were prejudiced
it was certainly in our favor. Only
the white Americans showed their
prejudices. This they did on more
than one occasions We were receiv-
ed most cordially everywhere by the
japanese. / was asked to give a word
OF welcome at the opening meeting.
Miss Dickson led a discussion group
on problems relating to teacher train
ing and later spoke on Soroban, the
Japanese method of calculation. as
compared with our methods of COM
putation-
A high spot Of the conference for
me was the farewell luncheon At
this luncheon it was our privilege
to be seated at the honor table with