The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-03-25
THE FACTS
IN OUR NEWS
ey HoRAcEA, WHITE

Eroes do as uniformed whites.
Sensitive" Is hardly the word
perhaps foolish" and blaming" are
better words. II uneducated Negroes
talk loudly and are generally prob
lens on jobs and In public places,
Negro -intcllectuals have no more
right TO place on their shoulders
1.-THE Negroes) the future of the Ne
gro people, than . white person has
to place on the shoulders Of one
Negro. the responsibility for the
whole Negro race because that Ne
gro was undesirable. One frustrated
and emotionally disturbed Negro
should not be made TO weigh more
in the minds Of Negroes than one
frustrated and emotionally dis
turbed white person.
Emotionally disturbed people are
emotionally disturbed people. what
ever their race and nationality
Unless Negro teachers, preachers
and other responsible people under
stand this one fact, there will be
little that they can do in the way
of real Interpretation. For ex-
ample: There is large office down
town where many Negro girls work
as typists, clerks and messengers,
Generally. they are doing good
job. On the other hand, complaints
are being expressed every day,
about their Negro girls) stubborn
ness, loudness and defensive man.
ncr. Certainly all of these COM
plants are possibly true-Yes. they
are true among the white girls also
an objective observer would have
to admit that there is more OF it
among the Negro girls. Why would
that not be the case? II would be
unnatural were it otherwise. The
Negro observer. a person OF re-
sponsibility. does not decry the sit
uation and start blaming or feeling
sensitive about the Negro girls,
Such is subjective response with
the inferiority feelings of,the Negro
observer in saddle. The only re-
spouse that such an observer could
make would be a defensive ono for
the girls, and a blaming one at the
girls.
The answer TO the NEGRO conduct
problem" Is the same for the intel
lectual Negro as 1t Is for the whites
coming in contact with an increas-
ing number of Negroes. The prob
lem Is to understand some of the
causes behind behavior In individ-
uals. This Is, of course, no easy task
for anyone. II must be done how
ever!
Why do Negroes get together In
groups. talk and laugh loudly? A
frightened Negro observer will an
Swer Negroes are just loud and
noisy" Not SO at all! Negroes, as
white people, are loud when they
have a lot Of inferiority feeling to
handle. Take the Negro girls in
the large downtown office: these
girls have been made 10 feel in
ferior by their very environment.
This environment includes Negroes
who do not understand, and white
people who are ignorant and fright
ened. They have been rejected by
the large white employer so often,
until now they have deep resent
ment to handle. The loudness and
stubbornness is an uniformed way
of handling inferiority feeling.
The stubbornness Is their method
Of handling the resentment toward
what has been meted out to them
over the years-denial Of the OppOr-
tunity to use their skills just be-
cause they are colored. The way for
Negro leaders to handle this prob
lem of conduct Is to first under
stand II. Understand II In them
selves. We are want to preach at
Negroes about behaving as il a few
we'll chosen words will remove the
cause of aggressive and overt be-
Preaching at Negroes about
good conduct" is as useless as yell
ing" at baby to stop crying when
the screams are the result of hun
ger. A direct blast at Negroes for
talking loudly and aggressive be-
havior simply increases the need,
on the part Of the individual. to
be more loud and aggressive.
Negro young people have to be
given some emotional security. This
thing we call emotional security is
very powerful. The basis for emo
iional security is simply accepting
a person. 1t is the process OF with
ness"
The modern parent, both Negro
md white, have lost this witness
in relationship to their children. At
Dne time. in the history Of the Ne
gro mother, she possessed this pow
er Of acceptance to remarkable
legree. She has lost II . little
while" now.
II you watch closely, you will
see that southern whites who re-
Gently came into the North, show
deep resentment TO their new sur
even to the point Of
to destroy the new sur
These people are hand
ling deep inferiority feelings and
resentment, too. Why would not
they show their resentment? They
are made fun of and referred TO as
hill billies" and poor white trash"
Haven't you noticed that their man
Of insecurity and feel
ings of Illustration are almost iden-
teal with those Of the neglected
Negro population?
Negro leaders need very much to
form relationships with young peo-
pie that give them sense OF well
being" inside. Once you help a
person to develop sense of well
being" he can be given some insight
into his own actions-without CIV
ing q person some little real insight
into his motivations he can make
little Improvement In his feelings
and conduct. Children OF course,
will do most OF the things you want
them TO do il you allow them to
feel that you really love them and
want them for what they are-your
children.