The guardian., 1943-12-04
soUTH's SEGREGATION MODEL

Confirming scattered reports that inerracal relations
improving in the South editorial in the Richmond
TmesDispach influential daily edited by Vrginius Dab
ney argues for the repeal of Virginia segregation laws for
crostown troleys and buses Segregation of the races
railway trains and crosScountry bus lines has been
abandoned considerable degree both in Virginia and
other Southern States Editor Dabney declares and It
definitely on the way out We have heard OF no
unfortunate results. Why then should the segre
CATION laws for cross-town troleys and buses be ein
ated? The fact is that they should be- and without
delay
Actually, under existing conditions, they the segre
cation lawsl have the opposite effect, and they are
constant rrant. Hundreds if thousands, OF times
day. these regulations throw the races into
closer contact than ever and at the time wound
the feelings OF coored people.
The laws result in closer, interracial contact than
would otherwise be the case because whereas white and
colored passengers usually sit in separate seats the IN
varaby crowded condition in the asles Of cars and
buses at rush hours throws the together as never
before Coore passengers who get crowded cars or
buses have TO push their TO the through dense
mass Of white people and in the case Of onean cars
they must force theirway back 10 the front again It
would be preferable the the colore dpassengers were
allowed stand sit IN the car bus wherever they
could find roo thus avoiding the push through the pack
ed aisles
1T is this push which causes most OF the trouble"
The Times-Dispatch statement while telling Of de-
II uaFeA segregation seems indicate
willingness abandon or modify the segregation
model which in the opinion OF many enlightened obser7
has contributed much keep the South tagging be-
hind other sections Of the country. IS perhaps the first
instance Of Southern daily newspaper demanding the
repeal OF any segregation law OF importance is the fact
that Editor Dabney bases his opposition on putty
ball sentiment bur realistic grounds The segrega-
tlon laws instead OF essenng actually increase inter
racial friction, he points ont Coming just at this NOM
ent IS happy illustration Of what Mrs. Roosevelt meant
By the statement which was termed objectionable BIZ
the president Of the ST. Paul branch Of the NAACP The
First Lady N reply expainde: In the sentence would
not do TOO much demanding. perhaps / did not make
clear that thought coored people quite right in
stating the things they wanted and 70 ask for them but
that when Il the work Of really fighting for them
they would probably get further the white people who
believe as they do urged do Of the fighting
and demanding. Il possible, the South II should
always be done BY Southeers themselves because they
take It much better than they do from Northerner
Although nobody can gainsay the ressonableness Of
Editor Dabneys plea his proposal seems doomed 10 fall
from the The Southern mind has been stepped
IN colorprejudce long that racehatred has become
second nature hardened by ignorance and deliberately
1ostered by Dixes army Of demagogues It Is ite; Of
course 10 that the only solution education never
theess therein lies the remedy for most Of the ills from
which the South suffers