St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-06-22
U Professor
Speaks On Racisrn
At NAACP Meet

4SoSAoAA opPA1SS W pC4oO WIN
feel that they are superior and
show this by prejudice!" declared
Herbert McClosky, guest speaker
at the Minneapolis NAACP meet
ing held Sunday, June II, at Phyllis
Wheatley House.
"Racism has different meaning
than that of race and does not
apply to physiological differences
between people"
McClosky, University professor
of Political Science, pointed out
that, "Racism has been in existence
since the Middle Ages. 1t has
been associated with the national
state in America, and began early
with the Puritans, who prosecuted
other people who did not believe as
they did"
Because racism takes the form of
fear, we have organizations coming
into being such as: American Pro-
tective Society or the Ku Klux
Klan. It also grows out of strange
ness. Anyone who is different must
be kept apart. This causes in
breeding on cultural level. When
people stay in the same group or
live in a ghetto it is bad because
they take on characteristics
peculiar to their own group. "Ne-
groes must try to move out and
mingle with other people and avoid
this inbreeding of IDEAS" Mr.. Nc
Closky declared.
While our country was growing
it could better afford racism than
now because there was plenty of
employment and opportunity. Since
World War l it can not afford
racism.
McClosky felt that it was ironic
for him to point out the significance
of racism to the NAACP. But as
an example he mentioned how
racism had denied Negroes the right
to vote in the South. Because of
this Negroes did not have adequate
schools or equal appropriations for
education on par with white
people, because he could not fix re-
sponsibility on the public officials,
because he could not voice his dis
approval in voting. The people
were, therefore, caught in vicious
circle.
"Racism destroys the political
health of a nation because it is not
based on anything RATIONAL" Nc
Closky said. at also creates in
stability and is morally degrading.
One can not commit a degrading
act without being degraded himself.
This degrades democracy, because
it destroys the practise of democ-
racy."
Racism tends to produce dictator
ships. It also leads to isolationism
because it would set US apart from
everything.
In a city, racism brings about
political bosses who capitalize on
those held in poverty. The sig
nificance of the Negro or any other
minority group is tied up with his
political Importance.
What to do about racism?
McClosky suggested the follow
ing:
/. The NAACP can not afford
to think of their problems as
separate from the total of eco
nomic, social and political problems
of the day. Any effective legisla-
ton which would raise standards
for everyone must be the concern
of the NAACP.
2. There must be complete as
similation on the cultural level.
People must take each other as
complete social equals and cut out
all barriers, if they expect to live
with each other peacefully. They
should have the right to inter-
marry if they so desire it.
8. The Negro should be tolerant
and not be corrupted by his enc
mics. He must not fall into the
habit of fighting fascism with
fascism.
McClosky praised the NAACP