The Durant news. (Durant, Miss.) 1882-1985, 1944-09-07
Director Of Research. Southern States
Industrial Cosneil, Nashville Tenn.
in the Manufacturers Record
~ THURMAN SENSING

Director Of Research. Southern states
Industrial CosHeil, Nashville. Tenn.
in the Manufacturers Record
The South has no problem In connec-
tion with it's race relations. The South
has o race situation but no race prob
lem. To say that the South has a prob
lem would indicate that the South has
not yet decided the best way to handle
its relationship with the Negro. This Is
not the case. There has never been any
question in the mind of the South as
to the best way to handle 1t.
The South at one time did have a
slavery problem. That problem was set
tied at Appomattox. Before this prob
lem reached a state Of war there was
strong national sentiment to settle it by
freeing the slaves and having the gov
eminent reimburse the owners for the
value.
The paradox Of the Civil War, how
ever, was that while the South was
forced to free It's slaves yet the South
was left with the Negro race as a yoke
around its neck. The slaves were free
but the South was not. The Negroes
were unable to take care Of themselves;
certainly not in the traditional way that
Americans have been expected to take
care Of themselves. 1t must be said to
the credit Of the South that they did
no worse than relegate the Negro race
TO q subordinate position in the life OF
che Southern people. Other dominating
races in other countries at other times
have done much less. II may be doubt
ed that the Negroes would have Jared
SO we'll outside the South even in our
own country.
Let's consider that a moment. The
South has been accused of being unjust
to the Negro and discriminating against
him whereas the rest Of the country
was not doing so. Why, then, haven't
the Negroes during the past so years
left that part Of the country where they
have been . badly treated and gone
those other parts Of the country where
they are received on equal terms!
The proof Of the pudding is in the
eating thereof" Taking the South as a
whole approximately 33 1I3 per cent of
its population are Negro whereas for
the nation as a whole only 10 per cent
are Negro and for the area outside of
the South only 81 per cent are Negro.
These percentages have remained SO
nearly constant over all these years
by anyone, white or black, that the Ne
gro receives better treatment outside Of
the South thar he does in the South.
How does the South treat the Me-
groes? By the only way under natural
laws they can be t~reated-by segrega-
ton. The Negro race did not come to
America of it's own free will. The Ne
groes did not come here as immigrants.
If no Negroes were in this country at
the present time, it is to be doubted
that under our immigration laws any
would be allowed to enter. The sensible
people of both races realize that segre-
cation is the only sound way to handle
the situation. Segregation is not dis
elimination, a fact that many people are
prone to overlook. Segregation is best
for both peoples. II permits the develop
ment Of pride of race, without which
40 people can hope to progress. This
principle does not apply to the Negro
race alone. II would apply to any race.
The Negro race having been brought
to this country by force and then hav-
ing been made free people by force were
more Of a situation to be handled than
.l = -.l rhz CaL L..
simply been honest about the matter
while the rest of the country has not.
The South handled the problem by Sc
gregation without any claim of grant
ing equality while the rest of the coun-
try claimed to grant equality and non
discrimination but has failed to practice
it.
Let us assume for a moment the at
titude of the people outside the South
the Negro. They do not segre-
gate him or at least they make an ap- /
of not doing SO and therefore
him. As a matter of fact they o segre-
cato the Negro in many places, such as
hotels, restaurants, and so on, but not in
the schools and churches and on the
trains and in public c%onveyanees as is
done down South. But are the Negroes
really welcome in these places? They
are not. Their presence is resented
Their association is endured.
The Negro children struggle along in
school seated beside the white children
where their presence is usually esented
or at best tolerated. After they finally
secure their diplomas these Negroes,
regardless of their qualifications, are
.relegated as a rule to ~unimportant, I'M
desirable work. The training of these
Negroes has been such that they are
acceptable in the South for the fill
ing of such positions among the Negroes
Of the South. Their attitudes are such
they just do not fit in.
On the other hand in the South
through the practice of segregation,
Negroes are trained for the professions
or trades after the training is finished.
They are able to rise In their profess
sions and thus they are able to main
n