Evening star., 1952-10-25
segregation in the District

Segregation in the District
Segregation in the District" which
appeared in The Sunday Star, October
49,, In many ways an epochal event in
the history of Washington's self-exami-
nation OF an important issue. The very
appearance OF the article is in itself evil
dence of changing pattern stemmine
from multiplicity of advances. These
advances in the attainment of full citi-
zenship for all of our citizens in the Ma
tion's Capital have resulted not onlv
from the action of various Government
agencies but also from the voluntary
efforts of countless patriotic citizens as
individuals. Many Americans, how
ever who are comfortably apathetic be-
cause of indifference about civil rights
or who fear that gains are going too far
and too rapidly will learn much from an
objective appraisal of analyses such as
The Stars. The Stars review is a sig
nif1cant public service provided at time
when millions must consider and vote on
the issue of civil rights. Washing
tonians who objected that earlier studies
OF segregation in Washington were pre-
pared by outsiders lacking first-hand
knowledge of a complicated local situa-
tion have. in The Stars review. an an
alysis by Washington institution of
established standing. If the article
were to be discussed by religious, educa-
tlonal and civic groups. perhaps q
greater understanding of our democratic
goals and local shortcomings would fol-
low. What, for example, might result
from an objective examination and
study of this article by local citizens as
Sociations?
letter on such review as even the
detailed review itself. must leave much
unsald. Comment, however, upon few
salient points might be of some value
In the first place. although The Star
points out that any incident involving
the local race problem is "fit grist for
the national publicity MILL" its state
ment that racial segregation has been
enthusiastically exploited underesti-
mates. in my judgment, the existence
OF growing, genuine national concern
winch is, in many instances, completely
divorced from political exploitation
More and more Americans are becoming
aware OF our failure in this area and are
meeting with honest determination the
challenge offered by q dilemma which
embarrasses our country as a leading
democratic power. The statement that
campaign talk about what is going to
be done legislatively about segregation
In Washington is largely talk" does
not give sufficient recognition to this in
creaslng awareneSs Of the gravity of our
dilemma. Many of our most prominent
statesmen have been serious in their ef-
1orts to convince our citizens of the exi-
gency OF our dilemma, as phrased. for
example, by the anti Communist editor
OF the Arbeiter-Z -Zeitung: "One cannot
appear before the world as a fighter for
freedom and right when one is unable
10 eliminate injustice in ones own
house" A view that congressional ac-
tion will result only in talk fails to take
into consideration the seriousness of our
statesmen in these matters and the real
lty that these are not normal times but
times which require transcending "con-
gressional realities"
Although the voluntary aspects of
many local changes should not be un-
derestimated, the statement that most
OF -. Cthe changes seem) to have come
about through natural process of So
clal evolution needs qualifications, par
tlcularly in certain areas. It should not
be forgotten that advances in the schools.
for example. in too many instances were
gained only after constantly applied
pressure, after countless delays, after
double and even triple shifts in colored
schools while white schools remained
half empty. Nor should it be overlooked
that the Recreation Boards policy of
the progressive removal of segrega-
t1on," with the exception of the day
camps and the city-wide Recreation
Center, has all too often meant the
opening of Fairgrounds to all only after
nelghborhoods have become predomi-
nantly colored in composition. If the
recently adopted law relating to illegal
entry is applied to enforce a policy of
segregation in recreation, hitherto not
sanctioned by law, 1852 will be recorded
as the year in which segregation in rec
reation was legalized in our Nations
Capital.
Exception must be taken to the
statement that neither the Commits
sioners nor the board ever do anything
about the problem (of segregation in
education), for the simple reason that
there is nothing they can do"
Weighing our advances and our short
comings, the article concludes by point
ing out rightfully that, for all that has
happened to advance the Negro's cause
locally, "in hundred ways, every day
Che Negro), still is reminded that his
right to full citizenship in this COM
munity has yet to be established" The
record is good but it is not good enough
to be complacent about.
Frank M. SnOwden, Jr.
Chairman. Department of the Classics,
Howard University.