The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1944-09-07
-. n -
The South Hos No Roce Problem

been expected 70 IepuoihN nh oo''s~
|tions toward them as a race. Such wal
not the case. For many years, bied white
by the war, the people. of the South
were not able to take care Of themselves
in any decent manner, much less the
Negroes. As conditions improved, how
ever, better facilities were made avail
able for the Negroes and now on the
whole they have educational facilities
comparable to those of the white peo-
pie. Much better as a matter OF fact
thar the contributions Of the Negroes
toward the support Of these schools
would justify on a strictly financial
basis.
The people Of the South have not only
carried this yoke through a feeling OF
moral obligation but they realize that
the Negroes are here, that from all in
dications they are going to remain
largely in the South, that it is there
fore to the self-interest Of the South
that Negroes improve their financial
status to as large - extent as possible.
II IL well known fact that the per capita
wealth and per capita income Of the
south Is not much more than hall the
average for the nation. This In large
part IL accounted for by the fact that
he South lost most Of its invested
capital, q large part Of It's property and
much of its manpower during the Civil
War. 1t Is also due, however, in no
,mall part to the fact that one-third
Of the people Of the South are Negroes.
The Negro race has certain fine quail
les which no one is quicker to realize
than the Southerner, such as patience,
good humor and a native artistic tenn
permanent, particularly in music. But
among these good qualities of the Ne
gro race thrift and energy are rather
conspicuous by their absence. This is
not a condemnation; it is simply a
statement of fact. Anyone familiar with
the situation quickly realizes the effect
such a large percentage Of Negroes
would have on the average per capita
wealth and income of a region. In the
NO states of the South where the per-
,entage of Negroes is largest the per
,apita wealth and income of the people
$ lowest. The South is therefore anxi-
Gus to lave the Negro improve himself
financially in the full realization that
his improvement will resound to the
benefit of the whole South.
So far as social equality is concerned
he South has never considered this a
,roblem. 1t is simply u question that is
answered before 1t is even asked SO far
s the Southerner is concerned. People
n high places in other sections of the
ountry may fraternize with the Negroes
IN an equal social level, agitators may
propose social equality from evil or
motives, social reformers may
discuss tne question in sentimental
manner and at laborious length but the
of the South are not impressed.
The answer of the South always has
been and always will be Never" As
North probably feel the same way but
as a region they have not been honest
to say so.
Which is the more honest position to
. ihat VI IL "hNiS tiSy wv
not practice segregation and therefore
claim they have no discrimination, or
that of the Soutl where segregation is
an accepted principle and where it is
rot discrimination That of the North
Negroes are educated with the
whites and then frozen out of the use
Of their education or that of the South
where the Negroes are educated sep
and then allowed to put their
training to use among their own peo-
Pile?
have a higher regard for the Negroes
IS a race and get along better with
them than could any other group. The
of the South do not fear the Ne
gro. They do not fear what he may
claim. They do not fear what others
nay claim for him. The people of the
are thoroughly acquainted with
he situation and know how to handle
t. II is the agitators outside the South,
Who don't understand the situation and
know how to handle the situation,
o whom it therefore appears a prob
EN-. These people would do well to let
he South alone.
If we may judge from history, the
as a whole will continue to
the South their best home and
he Southerners their best friends.