Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1943-08-13

scarcely a community anywhere in
the country where the two peoples
would not live, work, associate and
worship together if it were not for
the law, the police and the pillars
of society" who control the media
of information, instruction and
government. Indeed, large num-
bers have always done so sur
reptitiously, as indicated by the
progressive tightening of the Ne
gro's complexion down through
the years.
In America and elsewhere no
effort of Importance has been made
to weaken the social inhibitions
against determination by counter
acting white supremacy indoctrina-
ton through wholesome recondi-
tioning of the white mass mind.
AS a result of this lack of educa-
ton, the average white person has
no information beyond that sup
piled from sources poisoned by
learned charlatans. How can he ac-
cept the colored citizen as an
equal when he has been taught
from the cradle that the Negro is
diseased, sub-human, inferior and
incapable of being entrusted with
manhood rights and privileges?
Thus, the educational problem is
not one of reconditioning the few
who control and administer the
state, but of going over their
heads directly to the masses
upon whom they live and depend.
If the average white person were
told what he should be told about
colored people, his attitude would
undergo a profound change. He
would become far less sure that he
was right; and wherever doubt
enters there is a good chance for
tolerance and brotherhood to enter
in due time.
The government, which is an in
strument of the ruling class, does
not favor such a program. So it
is up to the millions of men and
women of good will in all classes
to initiate, support and expand such
an educational program. The means
of doing so are at hand. The
media of transit advertising, bill
boards, newspaper displays, motion
pictures, radio and cheap pam
phlets are available. The informa-
ton has been collected and experts
in preparing it for mass-consump-
ton can be easily secured. More
over, war time prosperity increases
the number of liberal donors with
sufficient funds to support it.
Realizing the necessity for such
a program of white mass education
to bypass reactionism, a group of
colored and white citizens or
ganized six months ago, at the
writer's call, the Association for
Tolerance in America. It's purpose
is to present the facts about colored
people in simple word and picture
in order to counterfeit vicious pro-
paganda by circulating truth. 1t
seeks to foster real National unity
through national understanding. In
essence it is a public relations
bureau designed to "sell" the Negro
to his white neighbor and thus
lessen prejudice and tension among
the masses, and ultimately elimi-
nate both. 1t wastes no time in con-
ferences and debate over the
obvious but concentrates on such
mass education projects as it can
afford.
The first simple experimental
project was initiated in June. An
11-inch by 28-inch bus card in
black and red showing a helmeted
colored soldiers head, with the
legend, 100000 of these lads are
fighting for you. Let them and
theirs share in our democracy"
was executed by Elton C. Fax,
young colored Brooklyn, N. Y.
artist. On June Is, this card was
placed in the 100 street cars and
buses of Gary, Ind, an industrial
city with 100000 whites and 10000
Negroes. The cards appeared for
two weeks. The results were in
teresting and instructive. There
were only two or three cases of
mutilation of the cards. Many
passengers were openly approving
and several were enthusiastic.
There were a few complaints from
Ku Klux elements, but all in all
the experiment proved that this
sort of mass education of white
people can be done locally and
nationally through existing media
without difficulty.
This insignificant beginning was
financed by some 200 associates. 1t
can, with increased funds, be ex-
banded to include displays in news
papers and magazines, shorts over
the radio, movies and inexpensive
pamphlets widely distributed. By
stressing a single idea, making the
appeal attractive with illustrations
and a few well-chosen words, it
can be hammered home to millions
within a short time. Such a mass
educational program will unques-
tionably alter white public opinion
in the direction of oreatay. tnlar-