Evening star., 1948-12-22

the temple. Unlike the commercially minded
that sought to accumulate money, at the ex-
pense of their brethren, the Master Christian
knew that the golden rule must supersede the
rule OF gold If civilization hopes to survive.
Today the world is gripped with greed. Sell
fish, self-seeking men that hope to find happi-
ness by trampling on the rights of others are
destined to be sadly disiliusioned.
Were it not folly, spiderlike to spin,
''The thread of present life way to win
What for ourselves who know not If we shall,
breathe out. the very breath we now breathe
in" EDMUND K GOLDSBOROUGH.
Segregation Report Defended
TO the Editor Of The star:
Fhe proponents of segregation or of racial
discrimination are basing their opposition To
the report of the National Committee Against
Segregation in the Nations Capital upon every
technical mistake or minor error to Justify
the Hitlerian philosophy which actuates many
of their practices There are few minor
errors, but defy any one to produce proof that
the major allegations and the evidences of
racial discrimination are at odds with the
facts. For example, it was the practice of the
Recreation Department in the conduct of city
marble tournaments to satisfy the colored boy
winner with local medal but permitted the
white 10y to go to the national tournaments,
and not the AAU as stated in the report.
1t is true that the Recreation Department
segregates Negroes in practically all phases of
its programs and by its rules fcrbids the
white people to attend or participate in ac-
tivities when these are conducted in colored
center. 1t is true that if Negroes desire to
seek recreation in areas under the jurisdiction
of the Department of Interior there are no
official barriers set up. This is true even Of
the swimming pools, If Negroes desired to
enter.
It is true that peoples and nations all over
the world are learning, If they don't already
know that some of the worst practices of
racial fascism exist right here in the Capital
of the United States
1t is true that Negroes have been handi-
capped, if not prevented, from moving out Of
the ghettoes by operation Of covenants and
the Vaccinations of planning bodies, financial
controls and the policy of many of the real
estate groups
1t is true that education in segregated
schools develops the philosophy of superiority
or nferiority of racial groups and causes
thousands Of children of the colored group
to become frustrated and disguised with the
teaching of Americanism that is so out of
line with observable practices. The very fact
of segregated schools coupled with inferior
facilities and conditions may account for
retardation and much of the dropping out OF
secondary school by colored children.
Color Bars in Education.
1t Is true that much of vocational education
goes for naught when children taking courses
in salesmanship and business training realize
that their color bars them from seeking jobs
in the larger business centers. 1t is true that
colored boys are denied apprenticeship OPP
portunities which are prerequisite to many
trades. 1t is true that Negroes have little
chance to secure local employment in the Dis
trict of Columbia government except in
menial capacity. It is true that Negroes can
not be employed as bus or street car operators
either because the Capital Transit Company or
the union will not permit them to train or
work. even though the riding public suffers for
lack Of operators.
It is true that the presence Of known and
proven segregationists on public boards nulli-
fies the efforts of colored representatives and
liberal thinking citizens to correct or remedy
social ills.
It Is true that although the records show
large amount Of Negro crime and delinquency,
yet there is only one police boys club for Negro
boys while nearly q dozen clubs of one kind or
another operate for white boys. One half OF the
elementary school children in the public schools
are colored children, and only one boys club.
1t is true that although alien enemies or SYM
pathizers or subversives who are OF a foreign
race or are white could enter theaters and other
public places, even during the war. no native
born colored American citizen could enter the
door of downtown theater or buy cup OF
coffee seated at a counter
1t is true that the facilities in Negro schools
are only two-thirds as adequate on the whole
as white schools. OF eight white high schools
each has an athletic field and an ample gym
nasium, whereas there is only one sub-standard
athletic field for all the colored high schools
and no gymnasium in any one colored high
school is as good as the poorest in one OF the
eight white high schools. 1t is true that no
white high school team meets a colored high
school team. yet the press heralds the winner
of the white school championship as the city
champion.
It is true that with minor exceptions Negro
sick people are denied treatment in white hos
pitas, or segregated in some, called by their
first names and denied attendance by their
own physicians
Few Colored Police Promotions.
What the report says about the limitations
placed upon employment of much needed fire.
men is true. No Negro policeman of the
nearly $50 employed wears chevrons. One,
lieutenant, was appointed several years ago.
When qualified as corporals or sergeants they
are put in plain clothes and operate as de-
tectives.
When the full report Of the committee Is
released to the Nation the document with Its
horrible examples of racial fascism will astound
the world 1t will be replete with illustrations
of how democracy fails with one third OF the
people who live in the Nations Capital. In
stead of finding or looking for insignificant
errors in the report it would be better for
the people of good will, and those truly in
terested in furthering world peace, to unite
forces to oppose the advocates and prac-
titioners of racial cruelty here in Washington.
E. B. HENDERSON,
Vice President, Committee of Civil Rights in