The Catholic times. [volume] (Columbus, Ohio) 1951-current, 1958-12-12
JOSEPH BREIC-
Can We Solve
Race Problems?

This astonishing nation of ours has solved
countless problems in human relations, but the great.
est challenge that has ever faced us In tnat Heiu
faces us still.
We have fallen into a kind of habit of thinking
that the Negro question belongs to the South, not
to the North, East or West; but in truth it becomes
more national every moment.
The bishops of the u. S., at their 1858 general
meeting IN Washington, were not exaggeraung 10 the
least when they said: "It is vital that we act now
and act decisively.'
The bishops were entirely correct, too, in saying
that the heart of the matter is moral and religious
las indeed the heart of every important human
matter ultimately is. ~
IF IN SEEKING solutions we are governed by
the great Christian law of love of neighbor and
respect for his rights said the bishops, we can
meet the challenge successfully.
But If our hearts are poisoned by hatred, or
even by indifference toward the welfare and rights
of our f%ellowmen, then our nation faces a grave
internal crisis" the bishops said.
They were stating simple truth Pride, demagogo-
query, tub-thumping, name-calling, ostlnacy these
low things are the deadly enemy of the peace and
progress OF our country.
The true American, the valuable patriot, the
citizen, is the person who will act in ac-
cordance with the law Of love of ~neighbor and re-
Spect for his rights"
he WHO WILL NOT so act is an enemy of
America, or at least a dead weight, no matter how
he wraps himself in the flag and shouts Fourth of
July orations to the skies.
Out of hearts motivated by love of %neighbor,
said the bishops, can come tremendously, "the tech
niques for making legal, educational, economic and
social adjustments"
showed their realism. The Negro-white problem is
precisely that-a problem; and it will need brains
as well as good will for solution.
1t is a problem of great completely. It involves
deep human psychology and long accustomed ways
OF living as well as law and Justice.
SEPARATE BUT EQUAL the false notion
that was struck down by the US. Supreme Court,
with respect to public schools-can almost be called
the tOuchStOne OF error in the thing. Ar
The southerners want, by and large, to give the
Negro separate but equal" schools, swimming pools,
parks, rail and bus Accommodations, and so on.
The northerners, by and large, want the Negro
to live in separate areas, equal or not. They are will
ing to share public Accommodations, but not to reside
on the same streets. IF
In each case, what is wrong is the notion that the
Negro must be kept apart from the whites-sepa.
rated-but this is a foolish mistake.
SOONER OR LATER, we must come to recognize
that segregatlng a man merely because of the color
OF his skin is like segregating him because of the
color of his hair or eyes.
Sooner or later, also, we must realize that COOP
Grafton and understanding cannot grow out of separa-
ton. People must know one another if they are to
work together for the common good. ~
Somehow, we Americans must manage to get
back to the deep, indestructable principle which
underhes all that America is-the principle that what
counts is what man is spiritually.
What counts is goodness, honesty, integrity,
purity, good will, helpfulness, humility, trustworthi-
ness, MISUNDERSTANDING that goes to make up
a good man.
KNOW that this problem Of Negro and white
In America will not disappear in a month or a year.
What is necessary is that we begin to act to diminish
ito white it down to size.
AS the bishop said, we must not take refuge in
,"graduaLsm which is merely a cloak for inaction'-
but neither must we move in trash impetuosity
in ill-timed, ill-considered ventures"
We inherit problems, they said, "rooted in CEN
turtles of custom and cultural patterns" We must
begin to act quietly, courageously and prayerfully,
before it is too late"
No greater service can be done for America in
cacy toward a new day in Negro-white relationshin
do not pretend to know the answers. But | do
know that Americans will find them if Americans will
begin prudently to seek them. AS the bishops said,
1t is vital that we act-now.