The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1949-05-25

provement.
PULPIT AND PEW
j Portland churches have been
great allies In our battle against
bigotry. Many churches are max
ing a determined effort to achieve
interracial congregations. This is
difficult because of established
patterns of religious segregation
and because of brick and mortar
interest in churches which have
been traditionally segregated. How
ever, the amount of interracial
teaching and encouragement for
social action that has come from
Portland churches has been of
Unreasonable assistance. TIL e
church is unquestionably the
bearer of moral vlues in our SOC
iety. Recently Portlnd churches
have been active in developing
conscience about race rela-
tions." The absence of this "con-
science" in the past has been a
moral deficienty in our national
character. This deficienty has been
a distinct deterrent to progress.
THE HOW or ACHIEVEMENT
The actual how" of this
achievement process is so simple
that it hardly seems worthwhile
recording. 1t wuld not be worth
recording except that to many
practitioners in the field of race
and group relations, the obvious
and easy approach is overlooked
and the elaborate and impossible
used.
Improvement in race relations
In Portland began with the estab-
lishment of the Urban League of
Portland. Let me say parenthetic-
ally, at this point, that my own
Identification with the Urban
League and personal modesty
should not permit this revelation
= but my training in social
science dictates complete object
ivity.
The steps in the program that
have led to partial accomplish
ment of our goals are these:
l. Public Education.
2. Continuing efforts to broad
en- our circle of friends.
8. Community organization-con-
slant cooperation with other ag-
encies, churches and groups.
4. Demonstration.
s. Capitalization in action,
codes of procedure policy and
law, gains accomplished and ac-
cepted.
6. vigilantly watchiny and con-
stantly guarding each progressive
step
PUBLIC EDUCATION
The initiation of our program
here was based on the following
fundamental beliefs.
/. There is gross ignorance,
INSTRUMENTATION and superstition
accepted by intelligent people,
about race.
2. Most Caucasians in the North
west were not bigots; they were
bewildered, not malicious, blu mis-
informed.
3. Conditions under which Ne
groes were forced to live, work,
play, and worship were not widely
known to most persons whose
lives were untouched by Negroes
and who were, therefore, uncon-
cerned about them.
A. Most Americans are a part
of the great army of ''bystand-
ers". They are neither part
of the small forward looking citi-
zens. nor of the reactionaries.
The bystanders are overwhelm-
ingly possessed with inertia and
are likely to be governed by tradi
ton rather than by CONJUNCTION.
s. Most business men, politi-
clans, and others in responsible
positions believe all Caucasians
are racists unless they have de-
clared themselves otherwise.
6. Most decisions related to
race made by persons in policy
making positions, are based on
the crude premise that you'll
boiler when you're hurt" and the
absence of a complaint indicates
consensus.
z. To most community leaders
the public" excludes Negroes and