Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-01-02
Negro Pan-Americanism

for American teachers ana medlca
missionaries to work among them
Inter-American relations should be
cemented between Negroes. A first
step could be in our coloreC
churches and colleges. The neeC
for doctors and teachers is great in
our own South. But if a good start
were made in sending a few as
emissaries of good neighbOrliness
support might be obtained from the
Rosenwald, Rockefeller, and othel
foundations and even from oul
Governments inter-American pro.
gram to help train young men and
women. This would be no one-way
process, however. Americans have
much to offer Brazilian Negroes
and, in turn, have so much to learn
from Brazil in how diverse races
and cultures can live together in
harmony and contribute jointly to
the development of a new civiliza-
ton rich in its production of the
arts and the things of the spirit.
The Catholic Contribution
American Catholicism has a con-
tributiOn to make to the Negro in
both lands. How splendid it would
be for Brazilian-American under
standing if dozens of AfrO-Brazil-
ian candidates for the priesthood
and teaching orders could study in
our excellent Catholic colleges and
They could teach us
much and return to Brazil able to
spread good will between the two
largest American nations. Ameri-
can Catholicism might then gain a
larger following here among Ne
grOes. 1t might be very good for
both Professionalism and CathOh-
ism throughout the New World to
engage in friendly and constructive
for religious, educational,
and social betterment. Certainly
the Negro would benefit.
The Greatest Latin Nation
History is not clear as to the
extent in ancient times of racial
and cultural blending comparable
% that among the 100000 Bra
zilians. But it is probable that in
he ancient high cultures of Egypt
and the Mediterranean Basin, and
possibly in Asia, that Negro vigor
and creativeness were major fac
tors. Brazil is now the largest
oart-Negro nation, and may short
y be the greatest and most popu-
Gus land of Latin culture as
France and Italy follow Spain into
postwar decay. In Brazips new
5ynthesis of culture, the contribu-
ton of the Negro is very great and
carries vast promise of a rich flow
ering of civilization in the Amer
cas-.
Books on Brazil's Negroes
Probably the best volume in Eng
ish is the Negro in Brazil, by
Arthur Ramos, translated by Rich
ard Patee of our Department of
State, and published in Washing
on by the Associated Publishers,
n 1889. DR.. Pattee contributed a
inc fOrewOrd. The brief bibliOgra-
,hy is good. DIR. Ramos numerous
volumes in Portuguese are to be
strongly recommended. He is a
foremost living authority and is
till actively productive.
This is also true of Gilberto
Nreyre, eminent Brazilian sociolo-
yist and former student of Prof.
Franz Boas. Professor Freyre edit
ID a splendid series of scholarly
studies on race and culture in Bra
I'll. His own monumental works
richly deserve to be translated into
English. Their publication here
would be a signal contribution to
United States Brazilian under
standing. DR.. Freyre's study of the
great house and slave quarters and
the vast influence of the Negro in
the plantation region of Brazils
has gone into several edi-
tons under the title, casa Grande
e Senzala." Northeast Brazil has
produced many other works on the
Negro which might be published in
the United States in translation as
part of the program of the Office
of Coordination of Inter-American
Affairs. These works are cited in
the books of Ramos and Freyre
Nearly all of them as Brazilian
classics have been republished BY
the great Brazilian publishing
house, Companhia Editora Nacion
al, of Rio de Janeiro and Sac Paulo
The Nazis for years have paid trib
ute to Brazilian scholarship by pub
fishing Brazilian classics in Ger
man. Brazil is our best friend il
Latin America and the Unitet
States should at least eUual If NO