Evening star., 1946-11-06
Letters to The Star
r eaders Continue Their Debate
of Race Discrimination

Readers Continue lhelr DEBATE
of Race Determination
To the Editor Of The Star:
Robert E. Sherwood should be con-
graduated on his criticism Of the dis
eliminating policy practiced in the
theaters in Washington.
With A. D. G., who answers Mr.. Sher-
wood in The Star of October 81, agree
that 1t is shame that intelligent Ne
groes cannot be included in an audience
where they would be . credit.
However, do not agree with the
writer who believes that the democratic
policy of allowing all citizens to attend
the theater regardless Of race would
bring in the noisy, beliigerent, inferior
class of Negroes. The type Of enter
tainment that the legitimate theater
offers has no appeal To the uncouth.
ignorant, noisy individual, be he white
(and there are many Of Negro.
To those Of us who love the theater
and who appreciate the great contribu-
ton 1t makes to tn. cultural and edu-
cational life of the Scommunity, the
policy practiced in Washington is de-
plorable. It Is undeniocratic and
reflection on the intelligence of the
citizens of the NationS Capital.
ELSIE 3. WIGGINs.
To the Editor Of The Star:
Regarding A. D. G.'s letter In The
Star of October 81, did he consider in
Z, ,1ro nLo nar aySs~ nd
Mr.. Sherwood's resentment Of the nom
colored policy in the theaters Of the
Nations Capital, that there Is no dis
elimination against the NOISY, bel
ligerent, inferior class" Of white persons,
of whom there are many? Does he be-
lieve that the intelligent, well-bred
Negro should suffer from the practice Of
undemocratic principles, while this class
of white persons can enjoy the privi-
leges of the most eminent white person.
regardless Of his educational, economic
or social background?
In cities where democratic practices
exist, 1t has been my observation that
the noisy. belligerent person. regardless
OF race, is very rarely seen in places of
high culture; and If he does attend, In
most cases, he acts appropriately.
To Miss Bergman, Mr.. Sherwood and
others like them should 60 congratula-
tions for their outspoken interest in
wanting to make their fleld of endeavor
democratic throughout the Nation. and
especially in our Capital. There should
be more people like them in all other
fields. To A. D. G. I say, as the bobby
soxers would, get hep, but quick!
D. o. @.
To the Editor Of The Star:
This forcing of the Negro issue ansnt
Lisner Hall Is becoming serious threat
to our civil liberties. Philosophers long
since have pointed out that you can
not have both liberty and equality. Ger
tainiy the compulsion Of the latter
whether social, governmental or eccle-
siastical by the liberal or the dogmatic
churches Is, at once, its denial and its
negation. CHARLES A. CARRICE.
To the Editor Of The Star:
The policy Of Washington Some days
ago read In the papers OF q Washing-
ton university refusing Negroes to its
auditorium because 1t was following the
policy Of Washington. Thinking 1t over,
I wondered If the people Of Washington.
with their many fine institutions Of
learning ana Christianity, had not really
outgrown this policy. wondered If .
majority Of white people here really
cared as much about the color of the
individuals skin who sat next to him
in a public building as he cared about
the type OF citizen who sat next to him.
Somehow I can't believe that the aver
age person, who sees 90 many big, worth
while events happening each day here
in the Nations Capital, would clutter
his mind with q policy3of this kind.
G. D. WHLIAAds.
To the Editor Of The start:
On Thursday AFTERNOON, October 81, .
Negro girl sat through the matinee per
Torrance of Joan of Lorraine" in Hsner
Hall, the new national shrine Of white
supremacy. was TINT girl. sat In row
M. seat IL.
was admitted not because the man
ayers of the hall suddenly had relented
and become Christians or practitioners
of democracy. but only because they
failed to recognize me As being one OF
q prescribed race. NY darker brothers,
more easily recognized than I. were not
admitted, yet am ~ much = Negro as
they are. fa
Ia Negro-sat Id this lily white audi
ence, but-wonder Of wonders!-the
world around me did not crumble. :
TO the Editor Of The Dtses
It is encouraging TO me that In spite
Of sometimes '1oaded" propaganda to
the contrary, numerous persons are
brave enough 10 protest against break
ing down entirely tho few practices Of
segregation in this: area. TO my mind,
segregation should be practiced more
and not less. y
White people do not object to segresa-
ton. Why should Negroes object7
Isn't it as broad d 1t is long? Are the
Negroes ashamed iof being Negroes? I
know Of no reason why they should be.
"Jim Crowism' Is evil whether its
victims be white Of colored. But ap-
proximate segregation. segregation
applied both ways. is not Jim Crowism." ."
To my mind, bcth races should con-
denim the latter while approving the