The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1950-10-26

who must be reached, ii we ar
Mr.. Rowland E. Wolseley
writing in I h Commonweal
discusses the Vanishing Negro
Press with what appears to be
sincere interest in the subject
which has plagued so many OF
us in the past.
There is one criticism, how.
ever, which seems to justly lie
against the Wolseley argument
It consists of rejecting his in,
sistence Of identity between
the Negro Press of the United
States and the publications OF
South Africa.
/ regret that | am unable to
go along with Mr.. Wolseley on
this proposition. 1t occurs to me
that the Negro Press of the
United States occupies an envi-
able position in American jour
nalism. There is an immense
field for service, and our white
friends want the Negro Press to
expand its effort, and more
clearly define the wants of the
Negro.
There is a genuine feeling of
identity between the interests
of the white population and
those of the Negro in most
American cities and rural COM
munities This should be fostered
and expanded until it wipes
out whatever remains of preju-
dice in any group.
l am definitely of the opinion
that the Negro Press of the
United States is an agency of
service. In my own state of
Washington, at the North
western tip of the United States
we have a splendid Negro news
paper-The Northwest Enter
prise. 1t is published exclusively
by Negroes, and is devoted to
Negro interest news. / am quite
positive this newspaper has
rendered distinguished service
in bringing about better under
standing between the Negroes
and white population of Seattle.
We may be headed for that
Utopian ideal of nationalism,
where races will no longer be
recognized, but the time is not
yet. Pending the arrival of
that happy solution of present
misunderstanding, let the Negro
Press continue to wage the
brave fight it has conducted
in the past. | am sure it is
being well received by our
white friends, and | am quite
positive that it. fills a great
need among Negroes.
As for the admitted failure
of the Negro Press to reach the
influential white people with
whom we must find community
interest, | think | am in accord
with this criticism. However, /
do not know Of any method
by which this seeming handicap
can be eliminated. Perhaps it
will come with the passing of
time. Pending some more happy
solution of this one difficulty,
let us go along with the cour-
ageous men and women of the
Negro Press. Let's encourage
them with our loyal support
and let not try to uproot
something which, at the very
worst, is a sincere effort to
serve fourteen million American
citizens.
While I never have found
anything quite perfect, except
the gospel of Christ, | have
long since abandoned the wild
ambitions of the iconoclast. 1t
is quite easy to sit in the
scorner's seat and look down
disdainfully upon the work of
our fellowmen 1t is far more
generous, however, to give the
other fellow credit for SINGER
ETY. and approve this element
of his effort.
Without passing upon the
editorial opinions Of the men
and women who publish the
Negro magazines and news
papers of the United States, !
feel constrained to say they are
engaged in a noble profession,
and I applaud their broad pur-