The coastland times. [volume] (Mnateo [i.e. Manteo], N.C.) 1947-1959, 1956-04-06
EI5f1iiS
WASHINGTON, D. C. NEGRO
EDUCATOR AIRS VIEWS

EDUCATOR AIRS VIEWS
Some weeks ago we published
an article written by one Davis
Lee, negro newspaperman of
New Jersey, in which he talked
commonsense to his race. From
those negroes we have heard from,
this article met with disapproval.
All join in a chorus of. "he's no
good" AS has often been said be-
fore, commonsense is a diet that
appeals to few, and particularly
Negro agitators and agitators of
the Negro. They do not want
sound nourishing meat, but prefer
wind and pabulum, free loading
and false promises.
Here is a sample of Negro re-
action to this article, and this
comes from a man who is a strong
champion of his race, has studied
both at Howard and Harvard and
has written a book called "The
Negro inn Sports" He has been
head of the department of Health,
Physical Education and Safety in
the Negro schools of Washington,
D. c., for 80 years:
To The Editor:
l was handed a copy of the
Coastland Times by a subscriber
and my attention was called to an
article by one Davis Lee, publisher
of the Newark, N. j. Telegram.
l should like to comment upon it.
In the first place this man is
considered by great many
Negroes as a typical renegade. He
has never made good with reliable
Negro publications. In fact if you
seek his record you will find that
he has an unsavory reputation.
The court records will verify this.
He speaks of "paid agitators
and pressure groups. If he means
efforts of the NAACP in your
state and elsewhere thru the south,
he is mistaken because except for
a few state officers the rank and
file of officers of the NAACP are
voluntary workers. 1t is true the
south uses more Negro teachers
than in the north, largely because
there are more Negroes in segre-
gated schools and it has been the
practice not to employ any but
colored teachers for these schools.
In the north because there are
more jobs for college graduates
than in the south many Negroes
do not prefer teaching. Many color
ed college trained people elect
teaching for it is perhaps the only
field in the white collar class in
which they can get employment
in the south. w
Davis is right in saying that
the present movement to end seq
gregation in the schools is the be-
ginning of a well laid plan to end
segregation in everything in the
SOUTH" He is correct if he means
getting rid of segregation in pub
lie places and public affairs. He
is right in saying the Negro will
be challenged by open competi-
ton. Many Negro businesses live
only because they are protected by
segregation. Often their standards
in serving the Negro population
for the same cost are far inferior
to standards set for white con-
sumers. In travelling to Tuskegee
recently / could not find a single
eating place run by Negroes in
several large South and North
Carolina cities which would have
satisfied my desire for a meal.
Most of them were beer drinking
or unclean establishments. Here in
Washington, D. C. Negro establish
ments meeting the competition of
businesses formerly serving only
white trade have had to give equal
service under equal conditions to
attract Negro and white trade.
Mr.. Davis lauds the white mans
friendship for and treatment of the
Negro in the south. In general
this is true but only if the Negro
knows and "keeps in his place..
When he attempts to maintain his
human dignity and resents humilia-
ton forced on him because of his
color or race, he is considered an
"agitator".
Davis refers to the fact that
Negroes resisted having white
teachers teaching in Negro schools
and usually being in charge. Yes,
they did, since Negro teachers
were not permitted to teach. white
children. l fought using white Off
Gals in athletic games but now
since and many other Negroes
in our area are used as officials
in games where both Negro and
white boys compete l do not OBJ
ject to white officials working