Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1944-02-11

as a whole spends $S0.26 per
child; the South s49.30 per white
child, AS long as this paueity of
funds maintains, Negro educa-
ton will suffer most.
With hardly adequate money to
operate one thoroughly equipped
system of education, transporta-
ton, health facilities, and other
necessities for livelihood, the
South has the tremendous double
burden fcarrying two of each,
and those for the minority group
naturally suffer. Thus, to be sure
that the majority race will be
guaranteed survival and advant
age in the terrific economic COM
petition, the Negroes economic,
civil and political rights are overt
ly denied him in many instances.
This selfishness, rather than be-
ing a mark of mere meanness and
ruthlessness of the white race,
is natural to human beings ire
spective Of race.
Thus, in consequence, the re-
sulting majority attitudes, and his
own traditional lack Of experience
and preparation, have heaped up
on the Negro for the most part
severe economic penalties and
channeled him into certain pro-
seribed inferior categories regard
less of his preparation or eff
cheney. Even during the tremen-
dous skilled labor shortage of the
war, 100000 Negroes are large
ly canalized into unskilled, semi
skilled and non-essential jobs;
upgrading is slow; the FEPC is
not respected. This pattern is
similar to that of pre-war days,
during which the average family
income of whites in rural areas
was $1,100.00 and Negroes $780,
90. In urban areas even of the
North $1,720.00 to $1,095.00. But
the same prices were paid by all
for their purchases.
Before the war traditional Ne
gro jobs were disappearing. After
the war they will continue to do
so. The post war world of tele-
vision, electronics, air transporta
ton, air conditioning, mechanical
farming, etc. will demand train
ed people who can read instru-
ment panels and operate and
manipulate machinery. Life will
be made extremely easy and con-
venient through synthetic develop
ment SO much so as to reduce
sharply the need even for cooks,
janitors, maids, farm hands, most
of which in the past have been
monopolized by Negroes. As this
way of life develops, Negroes are
going to be used less and less, if
they are not prepared to COM
pete for jobs. Unless their educa
ton is stepped up at a rapid and
thorough pace, their future is
gloomy today in America Goo
600 Negro adults cannot read
and write; 100000 have not gone
beyond the fourth grade and g.
100000 more have not reached
the eighth grade. A proportionate
lack of education and training in
the post war world will render
them incompetent of maintaining
the swift pace necessary for Sc
curitv, If such should develop,
the Negroes will be doomed to
poverty and squalor or become
wards Of the government Poor
housing will be the order of the
day, and the resulting epidemic
chaos will champion tuberculosis,
venercal diseases, prostitution,
juvenile delinquency, crime and
ignorance.
Let us impassionately admit
cold truth: In the post war per
iod, Negroes must have equality
Of job opportunity commensurate
with their competence, absolute
equality Of educational opportuni-
ty as far as humanity possible,
and equal political, civil and judi
cial rights. They must have sound
commercial entertainment, play
grounds, public parks, beaches,
community centers, schools, gym
nasiums and Libraries. And these
| things come, the Negro should be
| ready to take full advantage of
| them.
The first step in the direction
Of achieving this desirable racial
| adjustment and mutual regard in
| America is the abandonment of
| fear: Fear Of the Negro by the
whites and fear and mistrust of
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