Sunday Chicago bee. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1925-19??, 1946-10-13
By LESTER E. BROWN

-- We were just leaving meeting
in the Home room of Chicago's
International House when two
young white Southerners extend
ed an effervescent surprise greet
ing.
~ said when | left Selma, Ala
bama, to come here to the Stu
dent Federalist meeting at Inter
national House, that the first thing
/ was going to do was walk right
up to the first intelligent Negro
and shake his hand .. and
discuss what could be done to i'm
prove the feeling between Ne
groes and whites in the South"
Thus was | greeted by the first
young man, Sidney H. Metzger
Jr., who lives at 2O2 Lamar Court,
Selma, Alabama, student Of
the University Of Alabama.
The second greeting was sim
liar and it was extended by Will
liam Seattle who lives at 3542
Valley Drive Parkfairfax, Alex
andria, Virginia.
Metzger primarily absorbed my
interest, for his views were Of
fered with great avidity, because
his own life as he related it was
a Recommendation Of a personal
struggle to overcome the toxic
effects Of racialism.
He told me that often he has
entertained the idea of associat-
ing with Negroes in Selma, not
simply to straighten things out
down there, but simply to know
and mutually appreciate them on
common terms.
"The young Albanian related
how he had been derided as a
''nigger lover" when he dared to
speak on friendly terms with Ne
groes. And, also, when he attempt
ed to reason with young whites
in his home town, who on re-
cent occasion were organizing to
go about town molesting Negroes.
"This thing seems so hopeless
I don't know what can be done
now that will be effective" la
mented Metzger. 'FWhat do you
Think"
/ parried an answer until
learned one thing more. | asked
Metzger how in spite Of the wide
spread teaching and prevalence of
hatred for Negroes, even in his
own family how had he
managed to emancipate his think
ing?
The answer was, that this prev
alence Of race hate there didn't
make sense to him. His abstract
m1ral training; his study of the
social. sciences and his own sense
Of right and wrong all stirred and
worried his conscience.
Moreover, the young Alabama
University student was aware that
the logical end-results Of this kind
of racial pathology would be bit
ter large scale physical conflict,
economic and social degenera-
ton.
Both Metzger and Scaife took
keen note Of what | was saying
about things they could do.
First Of all, the point was en-
phasized that it was well that
they recognized that the germ Of
race hate land all that it stands
for) had been senselessly implant-
ed into their consciousness, and
that it was well for their own
mental sanity that they were a.
tempting to overcome its effects
I urged that they would indi-
cate in positive ways in CONVEX
sations, in church or organiza-
tional discussions, in letters to the
daily papers and in their school
papers: that hate teachments pro-
duce, when accepted, diseased
minds and often diseased bodies.
For hate-practices and thinking
have way Of upsetting the nor
NAL glandular functionings and
mental hygiene.
Psychologists and psychologists
can demonstrate this. And besides,
it is well documented.
On another level of action,
recommended their joining up
with progressive organizations
now at work nationally and in the
South-such as the Southern Con-
ference For Human Welfare,
NAACP, progressive church and
labor organizations.
In this way they could aid in
fighting fundamental causes Of the
present situation in the South in
stead Of merely the results.
For when poll taxes are abol-
ished and the Negro is accorded
political democracy in the South,
Southerners will have a bonafide
choice between liberal-progressive,
on one side and bourbon-klan can
didates on the other. This situa-
ton will give heart to liberal
thinking and political movements
in the South.
When fair employment prac-
tees are encouraged by joint
HAAnnc cnNG ~ YAnA