Evening star., 1962-11-26

ton. Those not used tDiH be
returned only tDhen accom-
panied By self addressed,
stamped envelopes.
Negro, turn down such a pro-
posal on the belief that We
cannot cope with rowdyism.
But I definitely would oppose
a game held under the same
circumstances. In these par
ticular areas, ] see short
comings:
l. Any such championship
games between public and
Catholic schools in the near
future, at least, will be a
game of white VS.. Negro.
Face it. Consider the en-
rollment. But as Americans.
why can't we work together
to make the game a success?
However, under such unique
conditions, I feel the game
program should be geared to
goodwill, rather than racial
competition.
Why can't the game spon-
sors establish such an atmos-
phere, even If it takes the
presence of Bobby Mitchell Of
the Redskins, or Hinton Of
the ball club, to appearP Why
can't the schools which fea-
ture the athletic teams stress
craftsmanship and m axe
every student who sells a
ticket aware Of the RESPONSE
bilities Of the theme?
But even in it's ugliness,
this uprising wasn't entirely
racial. A majority of Negroes
opposed the misconduct, many
were hurt trying to defend
whites.
2. Somehow, the school au-
thorities and the police de-
partm e mt completely mis-
judged the ingredients for
potential violence. There was
little protection for the sports
fan, and his kids. There was
little police manpower as a
deterrent a ainst violence
and the little was too inef-
fective.
In the school system, some
authority should have had a
better idea of how to handle
mass psychology. In the pro-
motion, there could have been
projects for racial goodwill
and during the game. the use
OF the microphone could have
been used advantageously to
cool off" paSsioned elements.
The police department
showed a lack of awareness of
the danger, which is hard to
understand since the game
the biggest in local history
was sold out in advance.
Would not an effective race
relations detail been aware of
such a violent possibility?
3. Negro leadership in
Washington has a RESPONSE
bility to tackle this problem
OF rowdyism and juvenile de-
linquency-not by excuses or
statements but planned COM
munity = wide programs. We
cannot ignore it. We must
face it. Being closer to the
offenders, we can do much
more than the institutions or
the agencies.
We must begin to develop
citizenship programs among
our youngsters. Segregation
or discrimination may be an
excuse but it is not enough.
1ntegration demands respon-
sible citizens, and we must
take the first step.
Eating Thanksgiving din
ner with my kids, I had to an
swer the question, Dad, why
did they beat up those st.
John people?"
1t was a probing question
and I answered, Son, this
game should always be a re-
minder to you. Play hard but
II you lose, congratulate the
winner. A sportsman doesn't
use his fists to show a su-
periority." That was the ma
Jority viewpoint on Thanks
giving Day but unfortunately
there were those who didn't
subscribe to this rule of
sportsmanship to make the
day a bleak holiday.
Simeon Booker,
Chief, Washington Bureau.
Johnson Publishing Co.
Ebony, Tan, Jet.
Washington.
$50
The disgraceful aftermath
OF the city championship
football game makes highly
advisable a suspension of the
event and a searching study
OF several of its basic as
poets.
In the first place, high