The Omaha guide., 1935-09-14

fFrom the Catholic Worker)

EOR THE past two months we have had an inter
IL esting time with both colored and white children
at the country place we rented for a garden com
mune. There were children from Harlem and child
rem from the lower west side, and Greeks, Irish
and colored got along with perfect accord. There
was no race consciousness of any kind, and they all
played together and cooperated together IN the
work Of getting meals and cleaning up after them
selves.
We had one big attic room with two little al
coves and eight could fit themselves and their toys
into the room with neatness and dispatch.
It was a delight to run up in the evening after
they had gone to bed to see them tucked in On thun-
derry nights they doubled up two in a bed to make
it more coy and little black fades and little white
faces peered out at Lora, the sixteen-yearold col
ored girl who liked to tell stories, long stsories
which put them all to sleep, including herself.
It has always been the contention Of those
conversant with the problem that racial cooperation
and understanding came naturally to children. At
titudes Of contempt or superiority had to be instill-
ed into them by some adult whose attitude was cor
roded by bitterness, a bitterness which had grown
UP obsecurely away back somewhere in between
that period Of innocent childhood, and economically
and socially conscious adolescence.
luSL year a NOuI- Cullld q NlclIAlz Us
in the office at the same time DR.. Fails, our
Chicago correspondent, a cOlored physician, was our
guest. In joining a discussion on interracial atti-
tudes, he paused to wonder at the fact that never
had he come into contact with the problem, never
had it entered his mind. His suggested solution was
the Negro schools, Negro churches, a Negro prienst-
hood and sisterhood be sought And when we point
ed out that segregation only perpetuated the mis-
understanding and bitterness he said thoughtfuly:
~ true that we never come into direct con-
tact with them. We never met them in our schools
as children nor in our organizations as adults. We
will have to seek each other out and get together. F."
We remind our readers that while they are
reading all these editorials and notices in the Cath
Ole diocesan papers about sending their children
to Catholic schools SO that they will not Lose their
faith, many Of our Catholic parochial schools are
closed to Negro children for fear that the parents
of the white children will object and cease to sup
port the church and school. In New York and
Chicago, as well as in many other northern cities,
Negro and white sections are adjacent, and the
children sit together in the public schools. Let Us
use our influence to bring colored children into out
Catholic schools in order that we may complement
this physical contact by spiritual contact and build
up the understanding Of the dogma Of the Mystical
Body.
1--WE are all members one of another.
Our readers and cooperators will be glad to
hear Of a novena which the children made before
the east Of the Absorption. Methodist, Greek Cath
Ole and Roman Catholic k1elt together to recite
Ollie and Roman Catholic knelt together to recite
for none days that long and beautiful and very com
plete prayer which is usually said for thirty days to
the Blessed Virgin Everything is included in that
prayer, nothing is left out, and it is a pleasure We
are sure, for you to know thatMasy and TOmmie,
LOra and Cora and Yetta, Georgia and Helen and
Teresa, remembered all our fellow workers for those
nine days.
We hope that you viii remember them, and the
problem their parents present, and see what you too
can do to bring ALL men to Christ.