The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-07-21
The White Christian And His Conscience

.ood-that make it grow Some
times We need 10 remember that
not only does the body need vita
Minis: the personality must have
vitamins also Seif-esteem, belief
IN ones importance as person.
dignity. emotional security no
child can do without
These vitamins can be given no
child. white or colored, Christian
or Jew. in a segregated culture. 1t
isn't only the Negro child, the
Jewish child, the Mexican child,
who suffers: the white Christian
child i injured also. For we
know we'll today that 10 hate tears
up the heart and mind as much as
10 be hated: Ia be blind TO human
dignity. 10 be callous 10 human
need. WarpS personality as much
as shame and suffering. We know
that 70 feel superior is as harmful
20 a child 5 growth as To feel infe-
rior. 10 Segregate is as injurious
as 20 be segregated A child's per-
sonality grows by reaching out 10
other human beings. by feeling
lutslAllltu Win NllNlli. W dNhAip
edging the common dignity of all
human beings.
As we look across the earth
today we are shocked by the
deep chasms between people.
some Of these have been dug by
war itself: some nv long years
of poverty and unemployment:
others by ignorance. by disease,
nv distance. But the deepest
chaSms on earth today have
been dug by the white man. He
has dug Them with the sharp
tool Of his belief that his skin
color gives him priority over
other human beings. and their
rights to feel at home on this
earth where they were born.
They are chasms deep and wide
into which all love OF mankind.
the dignity, the worth OF the hu-
man being. is drained away. leav-
lnS hate and fear and arrogance
and terrible cruelty behind, max
Ing Of the earth no place for chill
-Gren- SroN.-no- place lender
ness 10 flourish. for faith and Shar-
Ing ami esteem.
These chaSnS must be filed up.
Y is true that bridges can oe built
across them slso-and quickly.
Bridges such as group efforts TO
create jobs, 10 get rid Of poverty.
20 give civil rights 70 citizens. But
nothing can fill up the chaSm ex-
ccpt-to f,l il, And this is pri-
marilv the white mans job And
primarily the white Christians
job. Il Is MS 100 70 dump INTO
that chaSm his need 10 hate. his
need 10 feel superior 10 others. his
need 20 worship his own image.
There Are Things to Do
There are things 20 do But MOTH
Ing IS more important than for
White Christians 10 face them =
selves. 20 look into the mirror OF
Chr.StS teachings, and see their
maze reflected there We must
learn tina; We are human beings
not white semi gods, not strange
exalted creatures above the rest Of
mankind. bat JuSt part Of God s
human family We must face the
great harm that We have done 70
our children oy believing in white
SUPREMACY bv teaching these chill
iren arrogance and blindness and
hardness Of heart We must rec
ognize the feeling Of superiority
as a danger slsnsl warning us that
something is wrong with our emo
iional health. something is sick
within oar own soul.
And Negroes: There is much
dumping for Negroes 10 do
also. 4 human being cannot he
summed Disseminated against,
looked down upon without great
injury 10 his personality. A life
full Of social shame and social
stunning breeds feelings OF hate,
despair. Illustration. that even
the strongest. the healthiest per-
sonality, the NEST stable nerves