Evening star., 1952-10-23
RocioI Relations Report

Ruciul Relations Report
The Star, and especially the writer
regation in the District in The Sunday
Star of October 19 deserve high COM
mendation. In my opinion the article
sis the most complete, the fairest, and
the most enlightening that has ever
appeared in the Washington press.
May we have a continuation of articles
that thus convey such sound facts for
the shaping of public opinion?
Eleanore Robey.
Your lengthy recital in Sundays
Star concerning the rapid progress
which has been made in this community
in the field of human relations is de-
serving of much praise for it's objectiv-
ity, accuracy and timeliness. However,
1t is regrettable that you have added
to the common misconception that the
school authorities have no power
whatever to make any progress toward
integration "by gradual, evolutionary
program" Even if it were true land
there is much reason to conclude that
it is not) that the local laws require
segregation in the physical plant" Of
the school system, it is certain that
many things might have been done,
and might still be done, by the board
to help toward better understanding on
the part of both white and colored
children of each other. For example, it
required the most fantastic distortion
of any of the local statutes to conclude,
as the board did two years ago, that
mixed cast could not present scenes
from the sesquicentennial celebration
or that there was some reason why
visiting foreign teachers could not take
part in the programs of all the schools
regardless of whether they were for
white or for colored children.
Similarly, if the board were char
acterized by progressive attitude, many
opportunities might be made for a
gradual exchange Of information and
understanding. There might on occa-
sion be joint assembly meetings; there
might be spelling bees or other inter-
mural academic or athletic competition.
Plays might be produced and presented
by mixed cast or at least to mixed au-
diences, even, if necessary, at meet
ing place outside of the school system.
In other words, in many extracurric-
ular respects. the board might demon
strate that it's present day practices are
not governed by taboos based upon ira
ditional prejudices. More Importantly
it should understand that such taboos,
and their illogical extensions. cannot
conditionally be incorporated into law.
S. Walter Shine.
Thank you very much for that
very excellent article on racial segre-
CATION in the District. Give us more
of such for our enlightenment and
encouragement.
Father George Joyce.
St. Augustine's Rectory.
X
I commend The Sunday Star of Oc-
tober 10 for its lucid and fairly compre-
hensive story of the progress in race re-
lations mace in the Capital. 1t is also
commendable that in the closing para.
graph The Star points out that, I'm
hundred ways, every day, the colored
citizen still is reminded that his right to
full citizenship in this community has
yet to be established
Despite the fact that the sons of col
ored parents are still making the supreme
sacrifice on battleflelds, these citizens
are yet daily Inundated and denied the
rights of free citizens by the processes
of segregation and discrimination.
The Stars recital does not impress
upon the reader the fact that none of
this progress came about, even gradu-
ally, by leaving the happenings to time
alone and natural social phenomena. In
almost every instance the changes in
practice or attitudes came as a result Of
militant action coupled with appeals to
reason and fair play.
E. B. Henderson,
President. The Washington Fellowship.