The Omaha guide., 1946-07-06
| OUR
GUEST
Column
Edited by Terno p. Harris
BY Lester b. Granger, Exc
cutive Sec'y National Ur-
ban League.
Edited by Verna p. Harris

CuuVc OeCy Or-
ban League.
Antisemitism is a mean and
ugly manifestation by any racial
or religious group. Whether it is
formally preached by a Charles
Coughlin Or Gerald l.. K. Smith,
or whether it is displayed in aim
less remarks or half-educated in
dividuals, it is a revelation of
base qualities too often found in
American life.
When manifested by Negro spo-
kesmen, however, anti-semitism
is the last word in doltish and bru-
fish bigotry. That Negro who art
'culates anti-semitism attitudes
Ind seeks to stir up hatred again
st Jews as a racial group auto
matically forfiets any right to pro-
test against wrongs practiced
against Negroes.
1t is disturbing to note that
during the last several years there
has been an increase in anti-semi-
tic remarks in Negro gatherings;
sometimes made by rabble-rous-
ers, but sometimes made. also. by
,suave, college bred professionals.
This situation car be explained,
of course, by referring to the re-
cent hysteria which was felt oy
Negroes as keenly as by whites.
Hitler did a thorough job, and
though we defeated his armies we
are still struggling against the
tide of his propaganda which con
tinues to roll on.
There is another explanation
for anti-semitism, however, esPe-
cially in the crowded urban cen
tiers of Negro populations. 1t is
a result of the presence of Jewish
small shopkeepers in the Negro
neighborhood and of Jewish rent
ing agents for white landlords who
may themselves be Jews but IRE
more apt to be Christians. The
Negro customer in neighborhood
stores who pays more than CELL
ing prices, or the Negro tenant in
a crowded apartment section who
pays more than a fair rental is
apt to blame the Jewish shopkeep-
er or renting agent for extortion,
rather than the forces which act
ually control these little business
men.
A third reason lies in the fact
that certain Jews themselves pra-
ctice discrimination against the
Negroes. and certain Negroes are
blinded by their own racial ex-
perience and insecurity to be glac
to lash out at some other min
GRITTY group.
Whatever the reasons, this quiet
growth of anti-semitism among
Negroes is a real threat to racial
progress of our own group. 1t Ne
gro Americans are to succeed in
pushing aside the barriers that
restrict and hamper them in find
ing the good life, they will do so
only through the help of millions
of white Americans of different
religious and economic back
grounds. Any attitude carried by
Negroes which discourages white
supporters from rallying to our
cause. or which further h~andicaps
members of other disadvantaged
minority groups, is bound to re-
act disastrously against Negroes
themselves.
This is why the National Urban
League and local leagues all over
the country have struck out
against anti-semitism on every
possible occasion Our Board and
staff members have written and
spoken on the subject and we have
followed up these public express
sions by actively organizing act
ivities which bring Jews, Negroes
and white Christians together in
working partnership Every Urban
League Board or working commit
tee is an example of this policy.
} Some Leagues have been able
to go a good deal further. For in
stance, when two or three years
ago the Christian Frontiers of
Boston initiated a campaign OF
violence against Jewish families,
the executive secretary of the
Boston Urban League was the
secretary and spark plug of a CT
items committee organized to
break up this anti-semitic cam
paign. The Chicago Urban Lea
que similarly joined, a few years
ago, in a city-wide movement
aimed at stopping the spread of
anti-semitic agitation in that city.
These are only a few examples
of how one organization primarily
interested in Negro welfare finds
itself obligated to work for Jew
ish welfare in order to protect the
interests of Negroes. Our race
leaders throughout the country
would do well to address their at
tention to this urgent problem,
for unless the Jews place in Am
erican life is protected and i'm
proved, there is slight hope for
Negroes or for members of any
other disadvantaged minority
group.