The Farmville herald. (Farmville, Va.) 1957-current, 1961-06-06
BY w. d. WORKMAN, Guest
COlumnist, Columbia, S, C.

bS w. -. NORAfiAl<s 0uCSt
COlumnist, Columbia, S. c.
The most tragic casualties OF
the continuing cold war over race
relations in the South are the
hosts Of Negroes who ask moth
ing more than a chance to live in
peace, with a reasonable chance
for improving their lot.
They are caught in an uncom-
Portable squeeze between the
militant agitators Of their own
race and the counteraction of
their white neighbors. There are
literally millions of Southern Ne
groes who seek no trouble and
want no trouble, yet who are
having troubles thrust upon them
chiefly by other Negroes.
This is not to suggest that
these undemonStrative Negroes
are fully satisfied with their lot,
or that considerable numbers of
them would not favor the re-
moval of barriers which separate
the races in SO many fields of en-
deavor. Yet they are not eager to
upset the relative tranquility
which marks race relations in
most Southern communities.
1t is that reluctance to force
themselves into white circles that
has brought them to their pres
ent unhappy state. They are I'M
der strong. unrelenting, and fire.
quently vicious pressure from
Negro agitators to join in the pro-
tests, demonstrations, and boy
colts which are the current wea-
ponS aimed against segregation
This situation has been agra
waited by the spread of sit-in dem
onstrations and picketing which
afflicts many Southern stores.
Negroes are warned not to pa
tronize certain stores. They are
derided if they ignore those
warnings and they run the risk of
having their purchases snatched
from their hands when they
emerge from black-listed place
of business.
They find no peace at church,
for politico-social harangues on
Indignation have displaced ortho-
doX sermons for many a Negro
congregation over a period of
years.
They are prodded on the one
hand by the National Association
for the Advancement of Colored
People, which has enough mean.
ness and muscle, back of its IA
cade of pious legality. to make
its weight felt.
On the other hand, they are
spurred and spurned by the Ne
gro youth elements which are be
ginning to take the bit III theil
own teeth.
Undoubtedly there are man,
Negro parents who aid and abe
their youngsters in the anti-seg
regation movements. But there
are also hosts of dedicated Negr,
mothers and fathers who are sad
dened by needless students VIII,
have turned their backs on tn,
homefolks, in favor of striking on
on what they conceive to be ;
crusade for mixing the races.
| Not yet have these youngster
come to realize that they mus
live in some degree of harmon.
with their white neighbors,
they are to remain and prospe
in the South. Nor do those VIII
are planning to become teacher
understand that their being con
victed of law violations now vii
later impede or prevent their oh
tanning jobs from white board
of trustees.
Unfortunately, far too man,
white Southerners are prone t.
damn the entire Negro race 70
the agitations of only few. Her
is a need for consideration, TO
understanding, and for just plail
horse sense.
Measured in terms of number
alone, these Negro "disturbers o
the peace" amount to mer,
handful when total numbers ar
considered. The white Southerne
should stop and think that al
though the II states of the Soutl
contain almost 10000, 900 Negroes
only tiny fraction of that mum
Der are engaged in civil com