The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1960-02-19

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really exist. but the policy of
many Northern publications, in
Guiding especially the Times,
was founded on the principle that
the problem of racial intermix-
ture existed only in the South.
AS late as school opening time
in September, the Times and
other metropolitan papers buried
on inside pages small stories of
white parents who threatened
boycott of integrated schools in
Greater New York. Time Maya
zine. ever vigilant in tracking
down isolated incidents relating
to school troubles over integra-
ton in the South. made no men
ton of the school that did not
open on schedule in Queens.
Then why did the Times take
the lead in discarding the myth
it helped promote? Why did the
publication Of one book end the
self righteousness of the Phara-
see with his pious, Thank God,
! am not as other men,?
Study Revealing
One element in the reversal
was the nature of the supporters
of the study and the purposes
behind it. A voluntary organiza-
ion. called the Regional Plan
Association, concerned for the
future Of the metropolitan area,
obtained 5000, 900 in grants to
underwrite Harvard in making
a detailed. objective and schol-
arly survey of the problems con-
fronting the region in the next
twenty-five years. DR.. Handlin S
book covered this one facet of
the comprehensive program. His
cold, unbiased presentation of the
facts confronting a composite
community. the size of several
Southern states combined, would
indicate that the problem of
racial intermixture where the
density of colored population was
on the increase looked consider
ably different at home from
what it did at distance.
Faced for the first time with
a potential percentage of 20 per
cent density Of colored popula-
ton, the responsible persons evil
IDENTIFY feel they can no longer
afford the luxury of enlightened
liberalism" DR.. Handlin's book,
The Newcomers" removed the
subject from the aura of myth
and liberal attitudes" and have
instead some very discouraging
facts On the rise of 'laWlessness
and social disorder drug ad-
diction and sexual disorders and
irregularities - and the ten
dency of the new arrival to
strike back at a hostile society
to which he remains a stranger. ;"
Unless there is "a reduction of
prejudice there is a genuine
and ominous possibility that they
tthe colored people, will remain
so IL the. future. If they do. the
people of the New York metro
politan region will have to meet
the calamitOus social costs Gre
ated by the actual and patential
delinquency of a large part of
the population.
Here, then, is a recognition of
society hostile to colored new
corners, and the acknowledge
ment of this hostility as an ele-
ment in creating social disorder.
Handlin's objectivity suggests
that the disorders result from a
hostility which is not supposed
TO exist - in communities. to re-
peat. "unequipped by tradition
or history to deal with such ques-
TORS" Clearly this implies that
social disorders are prevented in
societies which are equipped by
custom to dealing with such
questions, and in which a basic
factor is the traditional accep-
farce of the existence of a prob
lem.
This brings the New Yorker to
the other element behind the
Times reversal of its stand of
moral superiority The social dis
orders in his society threaten to
become profibitive in cost.
Already Greater New York has
experienced a steady exodus of
its population and its industries.
AS of now, the ingenious people
have managed to replace indus
tries without serious dislocauon,
but in the population shift the
100000 olored population.
which has replaced the white
fugitiveS. has caused an admitted
dislocation in the social order:
and. as this new population
spreads in the wake OF the re-
located whites. further and more
far-reaching dislocations can be
expected. This makes front-page
news even if through a book.
Economic Influences
When the abolitionists were
acting as the enlightened liberals
Of their day, these lunatic mes
siahs were supported by poll