The Omaha guide., 1947-08-09
Somethingto Think About
BY BLANCHE ALICE RICH

Is the any simple way Of breaking down race prejudice?
Some unknown writer SAID there seems to be a remedy fo- ever
human ailment ! tept prejudice.
d.. nol believe mere is an.t4.c., more evil II Inc wor'G t,m
race prejudice. My Interpretation Of sin against God is race pre-
JUDGE. When we hate people because their skin is dark, we are
committing a sin. We are condemning man for being exactly as God
made him.
If we would only stop and think how much harm we do, not
only to ourselves, but others, VIC would realize that hating is COM
pletely stupid. Hate goes much deeper than any surface act or WORD.
Hate goes to the very roots of our life.
Hate is a communicable disease. A person who carries hate in
his heart is emotionally diseased Tie proper function of organism
is a standard for health. If our organism is not functioning correctly
there is no health. The best methods to attack these germs is to
eradicate them from our bodies. We can best eradicate these harm
full germs and apply correct treatment by inward examination of
our soul. But if we fail to cope with the disease it may spread. We
can check its spread by preventing the poison being spread from
one individual to another. Careless remarks are like invisible germs
they spread the virus of hate prejudice.
People who make insulting remarks are disease carriers.
We can take positive action against the spread Of hate BY being
on the alert. We can lend a helping hand to members Of the
minority group whenever the opportunity arises. There ae oppor
tunities every day.
| am going to give an example OF an illustration OF which many
people are guilty every day.
The other day while | was riding a street car, a lady boarded
and sat with me. "The reason sat with you" she said, is when
we get farther down the line the colorcd people begin to get on and
l don't want any of them to sit next to me-"
Well, had heard such expressions several times and they soon
become like bits of gravel which somehow get into ones shoe and
which, though they may be small in themselves, yet set up such
irritation and discomfort IS not only to make the journey unpleasant
but to give me the feeling that maybe | can write something which
will help enlighter the minds of he people who make those kiaS of
remarks. Somehow, some white people have the idea that the Negro
above every thing else likes to associate with the white people.
Nothing is further from the truth. The Negro has suffered 50 much
at the hands Of the white man, that except as his economic needs
demand it, he is far happier to be out Of the presence of the white
man than to be in it. The Label white" is not and never has been
sufficient to. command his respect in and for itself. The Negro
wants Justice. 1t is hard enough for any race under the most
favorable conditions to climb the rough road Of success. Equality
Of opportunity is what the Negro wants and he should have it.
We believe many things about people who are different from
ourselves, many of which are not tue. There be but two races IN
this world so far, the good, the bad. and they be everywhere"
Where there is segregation between the white" and the color
ed" instead it should be, segregation between good and bad.
Think about that a while)
The price of race prejudice is high. If the total of sum the
cost of racial prejudice were clearly and widely known-we Amer
leans would stop and pause awhile.
If there is any hate in any of US let us AL take the same pre-
scription, that S by cooperation and understanding. We would
then shed or prejudices and become better citizens.
Each Of us has a role to play in the development of Democracy
Every day individual Negroes face CALLING insults and uncertainties
1t is too late to keep THE Negroes, in their place" If we wanted
to do that we should never have drawn them into the armed foces
or war production.
The Negro seeks only citizenship ard a place to stand in Amer
lea.
Those Of you who r guilty Of such prejudice, try dissecti1p
your reasons. Make yourself learn all about the standing
members of the group againsa which you are prejudice.
Stop awhile and think about this.