The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-03
RACIAL
MINISTERS IN
TUSKEGEE Meet
ID e m ocracy Is Two
Way Street.
Man Says


is two-way street." said President
F. D. Patterson in opening the
Inter UNCONVENTIONAL Interracial
Ministers alliance which met here
Wednesday. ut frees the individ-
ual from restraints and, thus freed,
he is able to make greater spirit
ual and material contributions to
his country"
DR.. Patterson referred to two
present-day trends which indicate
the nations thinking towards fuller
expression OF democratic processes:
one is that in recent years there
have been many measures before
Congress such as health. housing.
poll tav lynching and many others
which deal with basic human
rights: the other trend is indi-
Gated in the number of books and
magazine articles which deal con-
structively with problems to Ne
groes and other minority groups.
In outlining some Of the current
tensions. DR.. Patterson cited ele-
vators in many southern office
buildings which set aside one seq
regated elevator on which Negroes
may ride. THE fact that white
people NAV and do ride on this seq
regated elevator emphasizes how
unnecessary it is. and its only jus.
tifcation is to remind Negroes that
the whites consider Negroes as in
ferior That is not Christianity and
we can never have democracy I'M
less Christianity is its basis con-
cluded DR.. Patterson.
DR.. D. J. Calvin Reid. leading
white clergyman from Columbus.
Ga. discussed tensions" from the
southern white viewpoint There
is much tension between liberal
and conservative whites as to how
far and how fast the South proceed
in the matter of race relations"
said Dr. Reid, and for that reason
he advocated evolution rather than
revolution" in seeking a reduction
in the existing racial tensions.
DR.. Reid urged the Negro church
leadership to initiate local cam
paigns to reduce coarse public be-
havior of Negroes and to encour-
age punctuality. honesty and re-
liability in labor relations.
In the days discussion, Negro
ministers called attention to dis
courtesies and discomforts which
Negro passengers experience in
train and bus travel. DR.. Reid
responded by suggesting that 'in
such conferences as these, why not
invite some officials of the bus
and railroad companies to attend,
because no relief can be expected
from bus drivers"
In the matter of police brutality
towards Negroes in small towns,
another white minister stated that,
"in the small towns, the court house
politicians determine the police at
titude towards Negroes. The pay
for the policemen is so low that
ii appeals only to the element a
mong our people where the degree
of prejudice against Negroes is
highest"
DR.. r. Nathaniel Dett addressed
the group on the value of COM
munity singing as factor in i'm
proving race relations.
DR.. Austin W. Curtis Jr, successor
to the late DR.. Carver, addressed
the group on DR.. Carver's advocacy
Of strong relationship between
science and religion.
ALBION L. Holsey recommended
that the white ministers seek to en-
courage their local daily papers to
present a fair Interpretation and
presentation of news relating, to
Negroes and especially to crimes
involving both Negroes and whites.
Mr.. Holsey called attention to sue
cessful experiments in Macon. Ca.
and Little Rock. Ark, in using
Negro law enforcement officers in
Negro sections OF the cities.
Chaplain II. v. Richardson OF
Tuskegee and founder and execu-
tive secretary OF the inter-racial
alliance, summed up the recon-
mendations Of the conference for
lessening the tensions and an
nounced that committee will put
them into concrete form for dis
tribution.
There is no speed limit" said
Rev. Richardson. for Fastening the
coming OF the Kingdom of God on
this earth, and we hope that the
seventy or more ministers gathered
here today have heard discussion
and recommendations which they
may take back to their communities