The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-03-24
IS THE RACE PROBLEM INSOLUBLE?

Despite some cynicism in high places, the great
majority of Negro Americans do not regard the So
called race problem in this country as insoluble.
Some students of the problem share with DR..
Mordecai Johnson of Howard University firm
conviction that we are closer to the solution of the
problem, worst aspects of it at least, than we
realize Their faith stems in part from the convic
ton that the universal drive for freedom and world
peace which is gathering strength each day will
ultimately force Americans to do something about
the great contradictions in our democracy which
have resulted from color prejudice.
Many of the optimists are convinced that the
leading white supremacists of the nation are fe-
verishy struggling today for cause that is already
lost The pre-war brand of white supremacy has
already been modified by the advancement of Ne
groes during this war and they argue, the effort
to freeze the Negro minority in rigdly subordi-
nate position in the society is bound to fail Too
many whites are beginning to discover that keep
ing the Negro in his place. is full time job and the
reward for their effort is getting smaller all the
time.
The current hysteria of white supremacists,
who are viewing with alarm and forever threaten
ing disaster is regarded by the desperation
of those who sense defeat. The white supremacists
are being driven into corner and they are putting
up a last-ditch fight. The old racial views can no
longer be squared with progressive social develop
ments in our own country nor in the world at largo
In the last few years the Negroes approach to
the solution of the American dilemma has under
gone an interesting development There is an in
creasing emphasis upon legislation and legal proc
esses. The theory upon which this approach is
based has been enunciated by Carey McWilllams
who contends that while you cannot legislate against
~,,>1ypa tJny
In other words no law can curb mans prejudice
but it can curb the effect upon society which this
prejudice may produce.
Further Mr. McWiams contends that the eX-
istence of discriminatory practices tends to promote
prejudces in the people and once the props are re-
moved some of the prejudces will fall OF their own
weight. Prejudices flourish, in other words, be-
cause they are sustained by discriminatory practices
When, therefore, acts of discrimination are out
lawed, the popular prejudices will subside for want
of overt expression.
For those who insist that education alone is the
answer to the problem, it must be pointed out that
the very struggle to put ant-discrmnatory egisla-
ton on the statute books is an educational process
The mobilizing of public opinion in support of a
liberal measure requires full public discussion OF
the issues involved and the populace is thereby en-
lightened Such activity is probably m1re educa-
tional than the classroom techniques which up to
now have not produced any startling results. Then
too no one is more reactionary than half-baked
educator
Whatever may be our view of the foregoing, it
cannot be denied that real progress is being made in
outlawing discrimination in the last few years. The
Supreme Court decisions affecting the white pr-
mary in Texas, the Southern railway workers, the
right of Negroes to higher education, all have been
important The abolition of the poll tax in Georgia
and the recent enactment Of Fair Employment