Evening star., 1951-04-22

MUCH OF the l6QS1Ou ClaL 81
readjustment Of the races that in.
habit the earth. Scientists Sa,
that when great land masses ol
the earth's surface readjust them
selves, the movement creates {
phenomenon known as earthquake
Such great upheayals are usually
preceded by rumblings and trern.
ors. It Is Natures advance warn.
ing Of things to come. The worlc
waits to see whether the restless
stirring of the Oriental. Arab and
African people presage a majol
adjustment Of human masses that
will reach earthquake proportion
American Problem Small
Americas racial problem. i'm
portant as it seems here, is in
finitesimal when contrasted with
the great racial adjustments still
awaiting settlement in other parts
of the world. In this country
there are no barriers of language
or custom to surmount, no reset
tlement of landed estates, no clash
of religions or cultures to resolve
In fact, there are those who be-
lieve that Americas race problem
could be settled overnight by the
enactment of legislation to pro-
hibit racial segregation and dis
elimination in the United States
or its Territories. 1t is claimed
that this is all that the minority
groups in this country are con-
tending for. There are some
Americans who feel that such ar
adjustment would cause too mucE
inconvenience to their accustomed
- way of life. and therefore oppose
action of this nature.
because the United States has
assumed world leadership in ad-
yancing the cause of free men as
opposed to an ideology in which
the state is supreme and men are
subiugated to its will. this coun-
try cannot escape the rigid scru-
tiny of its own actions In regard
to the causes of racial tensions
in this and other parts OF the
world. Since Washington is the
Nations Capital and the seat OF
the Government, rightly OF
wrongly, race relations here rep
resent a standard by Which all
America is judged.
Non-whites constitute approx
imately one third of the entire
population of the City Of Wash
ington. mo other American city
of it's size and Importance shows
such a high percentage of nom
white residents. Without fear OF
contradiction it can be said that
this minority group here enjoys q
better per capita standard OF lv-
ing than any similar group in aIlg
other American city. Washington
fairly abounds with schools arc
other educational institutions open
to colored persons. Employmenl
opportunities for minority group
workers in the Government service
are unparalleled. There is 9
larger percentage Of home owners
among them than is to be found
in any other community. Hundreds
of their professional men enjoy
splendid practice and handsome
incomes. Businessmen carry OF
q thriving trade with well over 6
quarter of million of their owr
people. Among them are to be
found scientists, musicians. schol'
ars. writer's and artists, many o.
whom are recognized leaders II
their respective fields.
Since the beginning of the post
war period in Washington race
relations in many areas of con
tact have undergone change
some for better, some for worse
Gains in Employment
In the field of employment non
whites in Washington have mad
substantial gains during the post
war period. This progress ha
been the continuation of a Tren'
which began with the all-ou
mobilization Of World War I
Minority group workers are find
ing less difficulty in obtainin
Government employment com
mensurate with their skills an
abilities. Administration polio
for fair employment has bee
largely responsible for this de
velopmenr. In private industry
the progress has been less pro
nounced. but even there, appre
ciable gains have been made wit.
public acceptance. Department
stores, grocery chains and man
other commercial establishment
have given employment to minor
ity-group workers in categorie
hitherto considered impossible
The chief point Of severe tensio
still remaining in the area OF EN-
ployment is the refusal Cor tn
inability of doing so without pre-
cipitating other labor difficulties
of the transit company to hir
non-whites as platform worker
Housing at one time was tn
source of greatest tension. Amer
leans, however, are law-ahidin
people. When the Supreme Coul
oatlawed the enforcement OF re
strictive property covenants base
on race or religion, tensions ease
off appreciably. There was n
rush on the part of non-White
to buy property in section
hitherto closed to them. Nor We
there any stampede by propert
owners to take advantage OF tn
situation by selling into the ne
market at fancy prices. Whit
owners have not become panick
over the sale Of property in the
neighborhoods to non-Whites an
have not Historically put the
own property up for sale. TIL
fact was brought out in a receI
panel discussion Of prominel
Washington real estate men.
y Il