The Omaha guide., 1947-11-01
THE PRICE WE PAY
FOR PREJUDICE
By Blanche Alice Rich

Tic 1NCSlO III Odl NOa
fered more gravely than any other
group. 1t is often suggested that the
Negro should lift himself by his own
bootstraps, but it is usually forgotten
that his feet are set in concrete.
Many of us want sincerely to eradi-
cate the problem of racism in our
country.
Race prejudice is not only a sha-
dow over the colored-it is a shadow
over all of us, and the shadow is
darkest over those who feel it least
and allow its evil effects to go on.
1t is the white people who are en-
dangered most by race prejudice. We
annot grow in strength and eader-
ship for democracy as ong as this
problem exists, for as surely as night
follows day, our country will fail in
its democracy because Of race pre-
JUDGE unless we root it out.
We are endangered in the world
where there are many millions more
Of colored people than Of white. The
world will close down on us some
day if race prejudice goes on divid-
ing us.
Misunderstanding rather thai
| meaness. make men unjust to each
! other. Ignorance and prejudice feed
upon each other. The ignorant are al
! ways p~rejudiced, and the ~prejudlced
are always ignorant.
Our attitudes, our prejudices and
s~egrepation are more harmful 10
America as a whole than to Negroes
or n minority group. Our racial pat
terns are hurting our economy and
handicapping US. 1t is keeping us
from full use Of Negroes and break
ing the morale Of millions who make
I'D the minority groups.
Hate must never be permitted to
s~trangle America. If it does our nation
will be a SEX nation. 1t will even
eventually die. The disease Of hate is
a disease to which people have moi
vet become immune. 1t is a disease
of the human mind which people have
not vet learned to control. To under
stand it and keep it from spreading
we must attach it the same as We
would attach any disease of the body.
All of us realize that racism IS pre-
valent. But, too often, we are all
responsible. We must open our eyes
and ears. We must see what is hap
pening to people against whom pre-
iudice is directed and to people who
holds prejudice in their minds, how
prejudice is attaching both the tor
mented and the tormentors. W. must
recognize its growth and spead. We
must know what harm prejudice is
doing everywhere.
The highest wisdom is to know tn,
truth, the highest virtue is to d.
right. One should have either the
brains to lead or the faith to follow
. ~
To be willing to live the truth is :
greater virtue than to be willing Il
die for ones opinions.
Justice and liberty are for all O.
for none. Injustice cannot linger il
a land that is really bright with free
dom's holy light. An individual o
people cannot long remain both Jek
yll and Hyde, for one character o
the other viii eventually triumph
A race cannot be persistently unjus
and dishonest to another race and b
permanently either honest or just t.
itself. Kindness never degraded any
one. A vlrtuous man is an asset Il
his communicated a vicious man j
a deficit-regardless Of race identity
Let all the friends Of humanity
bend every energy to increase til
Negroes respect and patience. Encou
rage Negroes in professions and busi
ness. It will help every body.
And this should be the Christian
duty and patriotic obligation Of ever
true American.
1T we all set our eyes on iustic,
Tor all men, the momentum of right
eousness will overcome all obstacles
even the race question"