The Detroit tribune., 1945-09-29
CURRENT
NOTES
-- BY
cLosTER B. CURRENT
What Price Liberalism

| to weather uuldNoIdoie NilAlNiNAh
and still come out sold on their
fundamental program OF equality
they are tried and true liberals
When they fail. they become more
dangerous to the Negro's cause
than Bilbo and the Southern die
hards
Let me explain what | mean.
To secure a position OF trust and
confidence in the Negro commune
tv is no mean achievement.
There are few white officials
who are accorded respect and
honor by Negro organizations
and leaders. The test OF accep-
iance is when the Negro group
is willing 10 let its hair down
in front OF white person and
appraise each others programs:
criticise each others activity:
talk about white folks" and col
cred relations.
Only trade unions leaders who
are on fraternal terms with nm
ion members. some social work
ers, and a few government Of
ficials in Detroit, really know
the Detroit Negro and what he
Is thinking These good white
people sometimes. however get
the idea that they are saviors
of mankind and become exalt-
ingly psternalistic in their
thoughts about the Negro. This
happens. ! believe. because they
occupy an enviahle position in
their own community They be-
come known either as person
who knows and understands the
Negro or a Niger lover" They
become white authorities on the
Negro in Detroit. and in many
instances that is very profitable.
The mistake these liberals often
make is the same mistake made
ly white people unfriendly 10
the Negro cause They lump all
Of the race together when ap-
rraising the Negro and base their
knowledge on limited experience
with Negro leaders and organiza-
tions. The dominant white COM
munity is always willing to listen
10 the white racial experts" be-
cause II pleases their vanity:
u is much easier to hear what
so-calIed objective person SAYS
about what the Negro thinks and
wants % hear II from the lips
Of black representatives who
somtimes use very strong terms
in describing conditions and de-
sires
When seeking paid personnel for
race relations agencies. tho trend
las been TO employ white per-
sons rather than Negroes. Partic-
nlarly Is this true in govern
ment The answer given by some
is that a white person Is less
apt to antagonize white people on
son Is less apt to over state the
Negro position and can work
letter with all elements in the
community
think that basically this IS
fallacious reasoning. In the first
place, there are few white people
~ America who are rs capable
as Negroes in presenting the
cause of Negro advancement De-
spite knowledge gained of con
eitions and attitudesc through
dealing with Negroes. the white
race relations expert Is sul
white and after closing his office
for the day. returns 10 the white
community where he ia accepted
as an equal and has all advan-
tages open 20 him.
II has been my experience that !
white race relations experts are
less qualified. have les. desire
to do something about the prob-
lem affecting the group. They |
talk in platitudes. they contin-
uallv hunt the facts presumably
hoping for a basis on which 10
proceed. but once they secure
them are still wont 10 act for
various reasons. In this busi- |
moss OF attacking the status quo. |
there are very few whites. ii
charge. who are Interested
enough 10 become martyrs for
Tho cause. OF course John Brown /
and the early abolitionists did.
nut today's abolliionIsts are
afraid and to them a $1,000 iob
Is more important than n real
honest TO goodness crusade
The experience OF Urban Lear-
ues and NAACP's throughout the
country give the lie to what
white leadership and direction
can do better than Negro leader.
ship II has been Negro leaders
such as Walter White. Dubois
'ranger. Charles Johnson and
others who laid the basis for the
present climate Of favorable race
opinion in this country. They
continued 10 secure the facts
end worked with indefatigable
energy to bring about better I'M
oers'anding- The Negro leader
crusades while the white profess
Sional expert f. asleep. II is
necessarily 80 for the Negro must
'a'e The mores Of his community
a1er he leaves the office. The