Evening star., 1948-12-03
A Theory of Equality

To the Editor of The Star:
The Star on November published a letter
to the Editor under the heading, Forced
Equality" the real subject of the letter being
civil rights, and more particularly the civil
rights program of the President But the letter,
in an apparent attempt to simplify for dis
cussion the proposition of civil rights, restates
it in these words: Can racial equality be
legislated?"
This restatement of the proposition Is
glaring misconception of the true intent of
the civil rights program. On its face 1t
clumsily changes the subject of civil rights to
racial equality; then by strong implication sets
up the false premise that the black man, be-
cause of his race is unequal to the white; then
asks whether racial equality can be created by
legislation This change of subject, false as
sumption and absurd logic are apparent and not
misleading to minds free from prejudice toward
the black race, but unfortunately there still
exists in the minds of some perfectly sincere
people an unconscious prejudice which tends 10
obscure to themselves the true intent of the
civil rights program.
Here is why there is no such thing as racial
inequality; why there should be no prejudice
against any race; and why the proposed civil
rights legislation is merely declaratory OF
rights which the Negro citizens Of this country
already have under our supreme law but
which, because Of unfounded but unconscious
prejudice, they have not been permitted to ex-
ercise in some places:
Once upon a time the white man and black
man both were savages, and 1t therefore is un-
becoming for either to say much against the
other on that score.
Evolution of Civilization.
In large areas of the earth the white savage
lived in caves, crushed with club the heads
of men and beasts, ate raw MEAT and kicked
aside the bones to clear his way. He lived
mostly in latitudes where his most deadly Zoe
was winter, when nature suspended the pro-
duction of food and he had to devise means
against starvation and cold He was COM
pelled to look forward to recurring seasons
of adversity and exercise brain and hand TO
provide more food, warmer clothing and bet
ter shelter. Bare necessity developed mental
conception and manual training which started
him on his way toward civilization and kept
him going that way.
The black savage, on the other hand, IN the
shade of his warm African jungle, had little
need for clothing. Nature in the wild pro-
vided a generous supply Of food the year round.
He could arise from sleep and pick prepared
breakfast from tree. In this setting he was
satisfied, felt no necessity for improvement.
He ate slept and enjoyed himself while the
white savage under the whip Of adversely,
struggled along toward civilization. And the
white one probably would have done the same
thing as the black under the same conditions
There came a time when things began to
happen. The white man, enlightened, edu-
Gated and polished in appearance and manner,
grew conceited enough to think that he had
reached perfection. He did not realize that
beneath his veneer of enlightenment he still
had his old savage instincts, prone to take
whatever he wanted-not with his old skull
crushing club, because he would become en-
tangled in the meshes of law. Then eyes OF
greed, cunning and deceit, spiritually blind but
materialistically keen, turned upon the con-
tented defenseless black man of Africa, and
hard work, greater production and ease and
luxury BY trickery the black savage was
captured, sold into slavery.
But the black man regained freedom and
caught up in the progress toward civilization
in comparatively short time, because he
was aided by direct contact with education
and culture; and many individuals of his race
have reached positions of honor, trust and
responsibility, proving conclusively that race
has nothing to do with rising from savagery
to civilization. Races, we see, may differ
widely, but there Is no such thing as racial
inequality, because the divine spark of true
civilization is inherent in every human breast.
If we claim to be truly civilized, let each
one Danish prejudice.
HERBERT A. WRENN,
A White Citizen.