The Omaha guide., 1947-08-16

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faith that if people are exposed
to the inner truth of life of a part
ocular group, they will gradual
ly build up respect for and under.
standing of it,
The above quotation is taken
from the recent report Of the dis
tinguisheb Commission on Free.
dom OF the Press headed by Rob.
ert M. Hutchins, Chancellor, Uni
versity of Chicago. In the Com.
mission report 1t applied of
course, to be the publication, radio
and motion picture industries
with respect to faithful, factual,
and representative portrayals of
social and ethic groups. But even
out Of context this particular
statement has pertinent applica-
ton to the problems and respon-
sibilities Of the labor movement
in connection with religious and
racial tolerance.
We have spoken a lot Of gen.
eralities about racial prejudices
and religious intolerance in the
labor movement; some brave
words have been uttered; count
less resolutions have been passed;
here and there some progress has
been made. One cannot help but
wonder, however, how much, in
terms Of the practical, work-a
day world Of the trade union
members, it all means.
A Negro member of the JAW,
telling his story in the April 1947
issue of Ammunition, organ Of
the educational department Of
that union, thinks that workers,
when they go into the plant,
bring their prejudices with
them" But, he adds, Gin our IN
ion they learn" In his shop. he
felt, the program of the fair prac-
tees committee was taking hold,
down in the hearts of men and
women"
Is this a widespread or even
fairly frequent experience? I
doubt it. The organized LABOR
movement currently constitutes
about 16 per cent of the adult
population and it is reasonable
to assume that it carries within
it a replica of the pattern of
thinking which characterizes the
population as a whole. IF this is
true, then we do indeed bring our
prejudices with us not only into
our plants but into u stores, Of
fees, school rooms, and other
places of work. And the resolu-
tons, while they indicate the
fundamental decency and pro-
gresaivism of the labor moved
ment cannot alone fulfill their OBJ
jective.
We must implement the resolu-
tons with a painstaking and
workable program. We start with
one advantage: the character of
unions themselves. While union
members may be subject to the
many racial and religious pre-
JUDGES of the general adult popu-
lation: they meet regularly, they
r banded together for a COM
mon objective and purpose, they
too have the benefit of well-est-
ablished means of communication.
Labor Reports
I suggest only the board out
lines of a program which is fexi-
BILE enough to be adaptable to To-
cal needs. I start with the pre-
mise that no effort to combat
and eventually to eradicate racial
and religious prejudice in the
labor movement must be a part
of the general program for work
ers' education. Workers educa.
ton classes which present, oojec-
lively and accurately, interesting
lectures on the following general
subjects should be developed in
very locality:
l.. The contributions of various
religious and racial groups to the
American community and to the
labor movement itself.
2. The origin and development
of the races of mankind.
3. The origin and development
OF religions and religious groups.
4. A frank discussion of MYTHS
and ISLANDERS connected with rae.
ial and religious groups.
Such lectures could be followed