Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1952-10-04
RAIGHT
AHEAD"


relations is big business 1t is also
an effective prestige-builder.
Millions of dollars are spent an
nually for the improvement of race
relations and experts of both races
crop up in the oldest places. A
most insignificant white person
will suddenly find himself getting
national publicity, and being wide
ly acclaimed if he so much as
makes a statement that he believes
Negroes are not inferior to white
people. Also, the most talked
about Negroes are those who work
with inter-racial organizations.
Both Negroes and whites find
race relations rs means of win
ming public esteem. The reason
for this seems to be that the Ne
gro is the conscience of America
and is the basis for a moral issue,
especially in politics.
The late Wendell L. Willkie, for
example, aid not become nation
ally 'adored until after his Chicago
speech in which he challenged the
United States to give the Negro
square deal and did not become
world famous until he declared
for zone World" with fairness for
all peoples.
In recent years the race prob
lem has provided an opportunity
for scores of Negroes and whites
to earn thousands of dollars for
speeches, books and pamphlets.
Lillian Smith was little known ma
tionally until after the publication
Of her book, Strange Fruit" and
Bucklin Moon jumped into the ma
tlonal spotlight with his excellent
book, Darker Brother" There
are many other instances.
This is not to question the sim
cerity of all these persons who
have written or spoken against the
evils of race segregation, bigotry,
and discrimination. Undoubtedly.
many of them are earnest. Some.
on the other hand, have been
merely opportunistic. 1t is diff
cult to separate the wheat from
the chaff. The Negro, therefore.
has had to accept as bona fide, all
those who have claimed to be his
friends.
Even in the South, the men and
women with real national stature
and prestige are those who have
shown the most liberal attitude
toward the Negro. Few men have
ever gained truly great prominence
in public life nationally, who did
not have or at least claim a rea-
sonably good record of fairness on
the Negro question.
In spite of the millions of dol
lars spent annually for the inn
provement of race relations in the
United States, and despite the
great honors that have come to
those who work for this improve
ment, the process moves very
slowly.
One of the reasons given for
the slow improvement of race re-
lations is that so much of the
money is mis-spent and so many
of the persons are either misguid-
ed or hypocritical. Another rea-
son progress is slow is that all
the persons in the field of race re-
lations are not working toward the
same objective. Many of the peo-
pie with their sights cast on diff
ferent goals, are working in the
same organizations. Negroes and
whites are equally confused.
For example, there are hundreds
of white persons sincerely working
to improve racial understanding,
but have no thought at all about
giving the Negro equal status witt
whites in American life. These
people actually abhor the treat
ment Negroes suffer, but thew
merely want conditions ameliorat-
ed. There is an equally large
number of Negroes who do not
believe the fight is for complete
emancipation of the Negro. Some
believe that the Negro must build
his life within the white society.
but not necessarily an integrated
part of it. 1t would be interesting
to know just how many white per-
sons would remain active in the
held of race relations if they had
to declare themselves for the COM
plete breakdown of racial barriers
IN every phase of life.
In working toward the estab-
Ishment of a true democracy in
This country, we should see to il
that the millions of dollars spent
Tor the purpose, are not souan-
dered.