Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-05-23
The Southern
Viewpoint
nv ROBERT DUR

Orleans, and other large urban cen
ters all over the United States.
Did you ever notice the general
department Of the masses on street
ears. sidewalks, In thsaters--ths
loud talk and filthy language with
in the hearing Of the mOst respect
able and sensitive people?
Have you noted how often you
have been disturbed in church or
the theater by some folks who come
late 10 some important meeting and
carry on conversations while the
meeting is going on? What about
the women who bring bowling kids
to meetingsH Can these be made TO
realize that no baby has the right
TO make It impossible for a house
full Of people to enjoy u sermon or
"a shown
And We have 10 do something
about our Kids who hog the side
walks a. they 20 10 and from school.
What are we going to do about
those who eat and wallOw on front
pOTChes. lOiteT on the streets and
make indecent cracks at women and
girls they do not knO~7
Those folks are holding a whole
Negro race down. They do more to
fortify and justify Jim Crow than
the color Of ones skin ever could
do. We are going TO have a hard
time getting anywhere as long as
We have them with US. They are
the ones by which we all are judged.
They tell me some white people
who want to give visitors, who
do not know and understand that
Negroes are different" n true"
picture Of colored people take them
on an automobile cruise through
the Harlem" section Of large cities
Ia the evenings.
II you have ever been on Fourth
Avenue In Birmingham and similar
colored thoroughfares In other
cities, into which hundreds Of thou
sands Of colored people are jammed,
when Bear Mash, BuEzard Roost,
Ten Commandment and Helrs Half
Acre folks come to town, you know
what they make the whole race
look like. It's awful.
All, white and black, are re-
spUnsible. A "n----r" Is something
you make by neglect, bad housing,
lack Of adequate educational and
rccreational facilities, and race
discrimination and segregation. I'm
provement Of the situation lies in
our recognizing the Importance Of
making life and living more attrRc-
tive to those fortunate enough to
acquire education and character
cvolyement To the end they they
will want to migrate to and stay
In the South and wrestle with the
task " improving our people.
As It stands today. most Of the
most capable people come TO the
point where, because Of low. bad
educational and rccTeational envir.
onment, they feel that they just
can't stand Il, and move away or
are constantly In the process Of
preparing To move to sections where
conditions are not so depressing,
constantly insulting and conducive
10 backwRTdness.
Some sort Of uplift organization
should dedicate itself TO the task
Of helping the big m0uthed. un-
cOuth, ill.mAnncred and what have
you among our people see them
selves a. they are seen by others.
The facilities " the motion pic,
tuTe, posters and sent public places,
advertisement in newspapers and
magazines, and well. worded appeals
over the radio and through
churches would help a great deal
Il has been said that FIVE aver
age colorcd children on n play.
ground In some sections Of the
country keep more noise than as
many IA one hundred white chill
dren.
know Of an exception 20 this.
| found II at Gilbert Academy in
New Orleans, This institution is
situated right In the heart " an
aristocratiC white community. And
you have 20 get inside before you
know all the students are colored--
they are 50 quiet Upon a visit TO
Bethune- Goodman College recent
~, encountered a similar cNper.
fence.
There Is really no place in Amer
lea, or the world for that matter.
for a people whose thinking. ac-
tons, and general conduct are out
Of line OF different from that which
is the best.
II our people can he brought TO
make themselves ahsCrbable into
the general cultural stream u the
best, doors will be opened which
no man can shut. Fifty per cent
Of our effort to progress should
bV directed toward making the
masses 81 our people make the
best possible impression Ut none
at all.