Evening star., 1961-06-16


opportunity to thank you for
Haynes Johnson's series of
articles entitled, THE Negro
in Washington" I am an
education major at George
Washington University.
I, like so many of my
friends, know there is a Ne
gro problem, but here our
knowledge of what the prob
lem" is stops. Honest talking
about the future Of the Ne
gro in our republic has not
been done in our homes-thiS
topic has been avoided and
hushed. Mr.. Johnson'S ar
ticleS are a solution to in
forming citizens about what
is taking place below their
noses.
Objective writing charac-
terizeS these articles, and
with direct quotes from both
ends of the continuum on
every issue, no one can &C
cuse the author Of being
slanted in his opinions. After
reading each installment, I
felt that I wanted to do
something. I felt more ada
ment in my belief that every
individual should be recog-
nized according to his dig
nifty and worth, and I hope to
transfer this to my students.
Jane C. Davis.
These articles have made
me (and, I hope, others
more aware of the many
small incidents relative to
integration Cor segregation.
or human relations" to use
the current euphemism) that
are reported in your news
columns.
In The Star of June 4 there
was such a story from Chew
erly, Md, entitled "8 Ne
grOeS Rejected by Bows
Club"
Is this an occurrence of
which we can be proud?
Adele KravitZ.
The Star deserves acclaim
of all for presenting the
series, The Negro in Wash
ington," and to Haynes
Johnson, the staff writer, a
special commentator for
well done" on a tough as
signment.
The key to being a true
American citizen is respon-
siblity and a willingness to
accept it. If the Negro will
only act as. and accept the
responsibility Of being the
best type of American citi-
zen and decent person in his
community, then eventually
everything shall come to him.
But it's not going to come
tomorrow or the day after
for everybody.
White people have their
decent responsible citizens,
their dead beats, buns,
crooks and plain white trash.
1t is only natural to expect
that Negroes likewise must
also have the same range
from responsible citizens to
black trash. But by evolution
and education in this great
country. we all hope to in
crease the proportion of our
responsible citizens at the
expense of reducing our
trash"
The greatest stumbling
block to complete acceptance
of Negroes is the Negroes
own preponderant use of his
color as a shield or excuse
when he has erred or failed.
History is full of the white
mans failures. The Negroes
should shake off the failures
and keep plugging. AS has
been said in your conclusion,
the Negro must be ready to
take his Jumps" in this COM
petit4ve world Just like any,
body else. The item of color
must be forgotten. Once the
truly responsible Negro citi-
zen conducts all his actions
without regard or considera-
ton of his color, then he will
suddenly find that he is ac-
cepted by comparable white
people who by such un-
strained association are no
longer conscious of differ
enceS in skin color.
The Negro has every right
to be proud of his race and
should not be negatively sem
sitive about it.
Observer.
4
AS a native-born Negro, I
read your articles on THE
Negro in Washington" with
amused interest. The most