The Omaha guide., 1946-04-20
PLAIN TALK by John NJ. Lee
Race Relations, Big Business Now
Negro Problem Pays Off Well

The most highly organized activity in the United States is
the business of building better race relations. Jumping
the sincere reformer, the idealist, the agitator, and the ever
present racketeer together, you get the greatest mass Of in
dividuals occupied in the promotion of a single idea that
can be found in any single pursuit. Ostensibly preoccup-
led with the same program, it will be difficult to find any
two agreeing on methods of procedure or a final satisfact-
DRY goal.
Appearing on the surface to be a self camp.
align Of human and social justice, the promotion Of better
race relations concerns itself with millions of dollars every
year, most of it coming in from good will offerings of
small amounts, and annual dues paid to one or more of the
many organizations in the field. Much of the money is
spent for investigations and propaganda, but a good slice
of it pays the salaries of executives and field directors. and
other personnel.
Because good race relations is a commodity that can not
be taken home and put on the pantry shelf, no one can say
just what it is we buy when we contribute our pennies, dim
es and dollars; one thing is certain, the need for improving
race relations is greater today than eevr, and new organic.
ahons with that objective are springing up almost daily.
The confusion that exists in this field indicates that it is
a healthy COW that everyone wants a crack at milking. The
bitterness that results when two different schools of thought
tackle the same problem proves that no one is as much in.
terested in getting the whole problem solved as he is in get
ting credit for Strengthening out a fractional part of it.
Negro America is the fertile field where most of the seed
is planted. American Negroes are bling promoted into e.
quality from the left, and they are being elevated into equal
ly tror the right, but no one has gone into business to show
him how to walk into equality on his own by hard work,
serious study, and great preparation. The essence Of this
thought is that the Negro of today must build himself into
a DETER man so that the next generation will have better
stock on which to build. 1t is a slow process, but it offers
more In the long run than does sitting down waiting for
someone else to do YOUR Job.
How much dishonesty there is concealed in the motives
OF some of the organized groups working for a better place
In the sun for the Negro, it is hard to say. but events have
proven time and again that there is far too much for COM
fort. 1t has often been said that the Negro is the most. if
not the best, organized group in the world. For anyone
who has in mind the purpose of creating mass unrest and
disorder, this is the pot to stir.
Recently, in Montgomery, Alabama, the president Of the
ruling whites), could work out their problem with the Ne.
stop interfering. Here again was someone representing a
make no mistake about it, he had plenty of followers. The
man doesn't cost the Negro one penny. All he has to do is
stay in his place and don't ask too many questions about his
wages. In return he is allowed to exist in a condition one
decent burial when he dies. .n~az.
aradOxIcany, the Negro is told on the one hand not to be
too nationalstc in his attitudes, while on the other hand.
problem on a highly nationalistic basis. Even the leader
10 remind him that he is an underprivileged Negro, by plac
ing socalled white Negroes in the forefront of the organ
izatiOn.
Organized race relations among Negroes, are by and
Large a racket, with the very incest connotation that the
word can imply. Now this does not mean that the people