Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1955-01-15
See Gains 80.
Continued from Page One)

of the South in the past few years.
Traditionally, the use Of Negro
labor in the South has been con-
fined in large part to agriculture,
domestic service, and certain in
dustries such as lumber, tobacco,
and furniture. There are two
basic rules generally followed in
the employment pattern.
One is that Negroes do not hold
jobs wherein they supervise or
command white workers. The Sec
ond is that they do not generally
hold jobs where they must work
side by side at the same task with
white workers, although some de-
Walton from this la,.er rule is be-
ginning to be reported in isolated
instances.
There are those who, like DR..
Donald Dewey, Duke University
economist, state that the situation
must inevitably change, even I'M
der the retention in some degree
of present segregation patterns,
since the improving education and
self-confidence of the minority race
will continued to reduce its COM
petitive handicap.
Presenting the results of his re-
search recently in the Journal of
Political Economy, DR.. Dewey con-
cludes that the South suffers a
! continuing loss of above average
Negro labor to other regions and
says this is the costliest conse-
quence of the southern pattern.
In some southern industries Ne
groes are employed exclusively in
certain departments, but not at
all in others. In single job OPEN
ings, the Negro frequently is thus
deprived of opportunity. More
over, there is nearly always high
rate of replacement in the white
labor force. Most skills are de-
veloped by on-the-job experience
which the Negro ordinarily does
not acquire.
Little Wage Variance
Various available studies indi-
cate there is no particular vari-
ance In wage rates between the
races for the same type of work.
The employer seldom finds it nee
essary to replace an entire work
group or department at one time.
And When such occasions do arise,
trained or partly trained white
workers are usually available.
DIR. Dewey points out that Ne
gro work groups are more likely
to be accepted in new plants, new
divisions of plants, and in new
jobs created by technical progress.
He believes, too, that the first
really impressive Negro gains will
be in white collar" jobs where
skills are acquired by formal
schooling, rather than in the skilled
trades and organized factory en-
ployment.
The fact that there is an in
creased amount of southern re-
search on the problem of the eco
nomic opportunity of the minority
race, even though such research
is considered inadequate, is prob
ably as significant, within itself
as some of the facts and trends
that it is uncovering. And such
research findings reach a wide
audience through ready accept
ance by virtually all southern
media.
Progress Conceded
These things reflect a rapidly
changing outlook. This area of
human relations is hardly as sem
sitive as it was q decade ago. A
point of view found quite often in
the South not many years ago con-
sidered it undesirable to unearth
or to present statistical data re-
speeding employment along racial
lines.
Still another point of view-and
it still persists to some extent, no
doubts that greater improve
ment can be made in racial rela-
tions by concealing progress that
is made. since revelation of any
deviation from the traditional pat
tern only serves to increase self
consciousness and tension.
Researchers report they have en-
cOuntered such attitudes. For in
stance, the director Of large pub
lie hospital is quoted as having
expressed this viewpoint in the
following words:
Il have been steadily widening
the fields. and the levels at which
Negro personnel is employed in
this hospital. We have had graft
flying public acceptance of this de-
velopment Everyone has benefit
ted from it
IF had announced that l was
going to do it, If 4 had tried to ar
L.