Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1944-01-29
How The South Feels

In the January issue of the Atlantic Monthly one of
the higher types of the nations leading magazines, conrl
bued to, and widely read by the nations neegens Mr.
David L. Cohn writing upon the subject, How The South
Feels gives highly interesting and thought provok
ing views the Negro Problem in the south
native Mississppan educated at Yale, Mr.. Conn
deals with the condition existing in the south because of
patterns relations and the resulting problems and
makes his views simple and comprehensive for his readers
probably because of the knowledge gained from
made first hand in his native state made tace by ed
cation and study Yale Mr. COINS article should be read
and by everyone who is concerned about the race
problem in the south and III the nation.
After reviewing the conditions arising out Of rel
ations south Mr. Coin finally arrives at the most
delicate of discussion of the problem and of race
relations the issue of marriage social equality ply
steal relations between the opposite OF each race after
discussion of which, he reaches the conclusion that be-
cause the existence these provocative and sensitive
the problem in the south and in the nation IS
insoube After reaching this conclusion W.T. conn states
at is useless to tell Southerners that their fears
are ororndless: that NEGROES thew d" not want
Social Equality" ntermarriage with Whites log
ica'lv the Southerner that if NEGROES do not
seek inter-marriage then from their point of view
they FOOLS because if they should ever achieve 1t
the repressions of which thew COMPLAIN would be re-
moved bv whites ont of familiar self-interest Instinct
tvelv the Souherner argues that sex IS the core OIL
life that il is one OF the profound instincts or de-
sres that animate the human body. and that it is cap
able of evoking primitive tears and demonac pas
sons''
In pointing out certain fact which gives rise to the
constant slowly mongrezation of the races IN the
south Mr. COIN refers to historic conditions Such as al
WAYS occurred everywhere where there has been te eS
ence of master and slave relationship between races
With equal historic authority to support the concus
ion it can be also pointed out that wherever races i've
together on basis of autonomy, they have always mann
tanned their racial Identity that in society OF basic ra
al autonomy the "ethnic pull is far stronger than aTtf
cav created social IDEAS conventonaities and crcum
stances
In spite of the conclusion Mr. Cohn with regard to
the matter the Negro of the south is not seeking nte
MARRIAGE social equality, and social mtermlnglng, WIN
white people, under the interpretations and lmpcauons
his article It is perhaps OF the tragedes OF present
av race relations in the SOUTH that of those who
seek to deal with the problem find impossible to reach
different conclusion condition which may also De tne re-
suit of the master slave relationship between the races
In pointing out what would be rational approach to
ihe nroblem an approach which would rule out the emo
tonal and irrational Mr. Cohn points out with admlrape
clarity desires hopes and ambitions OF the southern
Negro To make this approach Mr.. Cohp says:
This would mean giving him his civic rights: Inc
right to Justice the COURTS the right to security IN
his person and property; the right to air snare "
The distribution tax for purposes OF educa-
tion health and public improvement III Wouiu mean
oivinc him the RIGHT to living, to he paid ac-
cording to his worth and not his Color to be project
ed in the practice of the professions and skiIls Ana
not less important. it would mean that ne would pe
asked TO assume his fair share of taxes and other
burdens of the community
How the south feels with respect to these honest
homes desires and ambitions of the southern Negro WIN
determine whether will march forward and take us
r;ohtful place in new of economic ana nduStisu u
veopment that will in the post war Woro' OF wie'
er # will continue to strange itself with the emotional ana
irrational approach to It's grea1est piooeh' NJ W I'm
ton that the problem is insoube