Clark Atlanta University

A Chronicle of Race Relations Author(s): W. E. B. Du Bois Source: Phylon (1940-1956), Vol. 3, No. 1 (1st Qtr., 1942), pp. 66-86 Published by: Clark Atlanta University Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/272546 Accessed: 21/08/2010 03:56

Your use of the JSTOR archive indicates your acceptance of JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use, available at http://www.jstor.org/page/info/about/policies/terms.jsp. JSTOR's Terms and Conditions of Use provides, in part, that unless you have obtained prior permission, you may not download an entire issue of a journal or multiple copies of articles, and you may use content in the JSTOR archive only for your personal, non-commercial use.

Please contact the publisher regarding any further use of this work. Publisher contact information may be obtained at http://www.jstor.org/action/showPublisher?publisherCode=cau.

Each copy of any part of a JSTOR transmission must contain the same copyright notice that appears on the screen or printed page of such transmission.

JSTOR is a not-for-profit service that helps scholars, researchers, and students discover, use, and build upon a wide range of content in a trusted digital archive. We use information technology and tools to increase productivity and facilitate new forms of scholarship. For more information about JSTOR, please contact [email protected].

Clark Atlanta University is collaborating with JSTOR to digitize, preserve and extend access to Phylon (1940- 1956).

http://www.jstor.org A Chronicle of Race Relations

Arranged by W. E. B. DU BOIS

WAR THE CUBAN PLATICA * War like every other human ailment * The attempt to hold in a series tends to leave the body politic folded of conversations among intellectuals along ancient creases and festering in covering the present state of the world, old sores. The first World War did not was an excellent idea imperfectly car- sink far into racial hatred, although ried out. The meeting was held in there were some signs of it when Asia Havana the latter part of November, and Africa were brought into the pic- after the more official meeting of the ture. This second World War is more Intercultural Commissions. It was con- ominous in this respect: first came the ceived of as a smaller and more inti- Ethiopian incident when some of the mate series of conversations among in- best minds of the world argued that tellectuals. However, it had not been since black folk could not civilize them- planned with sufficient forethought. It selves, it was best to let Italy have is hard for persons to be sufficiently Ethiopia even at the cost of sabotage internationally minded to remember the to the League of Nations. Then quite vast hindrance and disadvantage of the unexpectedly came the sudden brutal use of many tongues. In Havana we had outburst of anti-Semitism in Germany to speak in Spanish, French and Eng- which set a distinct racial tinge to the lish and we at times used Portuguese, conflict. Now comes the war between Italian and German. To follow com- the leading nation of Asia and the lead- pletely the statements and discussions, ing nation of America. No greater a good knowledge of two or three of calamity to race relations could easily these languages was necessary. It would be conceived. No matter what the out- have been excellent, therefore, if the come, the prospect exists of a revival main statements of a series of distin- of the yellow man's hatred for the guished participants had been prepared white man and of the white man's con- beforehand, translated and printed al- tempt for the yellow man. though not publicized. This was the For such reasons it is all the more method used at the celebrated Races in 1911 in London. necessary that now even before there Congress Afterward, under these is any outlook for peace we should be- the shorter speeches-and circumstances could ha v e been stir ourselves for a worldwide fight they short-could have been translated against race hatred and racial propa- kept by word of mouth. ganda in the days of peace which may sometime come. * Even failing of systematic transla- [66] A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 67 tion, here was a most interesting oppor- edy,-tragedy which came to be vocal tunity. One could sense the streams of in the protests of Laugier. Kelsen, for- interest represented: the woman who merly of the University of Vienna and represented defeated Spain and was Raestad, former Foreign Minister of teaching in ; the French- Norway, spoke with strength and feel- men of letters, Romains, Laugier and ing. the Italian Sfor- Focillon; expatriates, * Back of this came the za and and Ortiz Fernan- public opinion Borgese; y of South America and that was more dez, the Cuban master. The Negroes had difficult to measure, since it was not a strong, well-thought of and forceful fully developed in any single case. The advocate in Dantes Bellegarde. urbanity of the presiding officer, Al- In numbers, of Cuba was in course, fonso Reyes, Mexican diplomat and pro- and and majority naturally thought fessor, gave limited knowledge of his talked of her internal problems against deeper thought. Brazil had two repre- the of American investment background sentatives, and and Chile one and culture. European Nevertheless, each, but they spoke with reserve and outside of their words did not Ortiz, briefly. Bellegarde spoke two or three command because whether great respect times clearly and forcefully, emphasiz- it was fair or not were translated they ing the fact that America had not lived into local The leader of the politics. up to her promises made at Lima and Communist was a Party magnificent other Pan-American congresses. looking man with a fine voice; but his hearers were not convinced of his sin- * The American delegation was not cerity. On the other hand, Jorge Ma- strong and the basis of its choosing was nash, professor of philosophy, argued apparently knowledge of languages for intellectual detachment from polit- more than anything else. The univer- ical life and brought down a storm sities were especially weak in their rep- upon his head. In other ways, local resentation. There was Louis Adamic Cuban politics, stirred as they are by who gave an impression of sincerity, a strong government which gets its sup- and it was too bad that Shotwell had port from the disinherited masses and to leave so early. For the most part, the yet keeps peace with American invest- American delegation was rather domi- ment, made itself felt and at times dom- nated by the Nation group and, under inated the Platica. the leadership of Freda Kirchwey, they But surging up through this was the were wild for war. They seemed to look attitude of the refugees. They were with upon fighting as a final cure for ill; one exception calm and well-bred men, and Krutch of Columbia University es- but they were examples and terrible pecially voiced in word and mien a examples of what had happened in the fine and traditional disdain for Latins. world. One could not look upon the Yet with all this by way of criticism, pleasant but slightly sad countenance of it was an inspiring and promising meet- Romains or upon the perfect self-con- ing. If in the future these nations could trol of Sforza without a sense of trag- overcome more completely the language 68 PHYLON difficulties and get to something like the point is we do think so. We in- real interchange of ideas, we might habitants of the United States are so revolutionize this Western sure of this that the color of one's Hemisphere skin is one of our social and with it the world. It is to major prob- sincerely lems and we have become missiona- be that the Platica idea will not hoped ries of color prejudice to all the be dropped. Americas, so that color is not the least * The writer spoke once and on short of the Cuban problems. I am told notice. What he said evoked applause that you are not unconscious of color but no other nor and in other parts of America. response argument I should be then if the it seemed to him so much a matter happier yet problems of millions of Negroes and of prime importancethat it is introduced Indians on the American continent here were more openly and frankly rep- I should like to emphasize in the resented here as part and parcel of minds of this conference, one thought. the present world situation and not It has always been the easily made more or less unsuccessfully concealed mistake of the group which at any as merely class or national problems. time happens to be in leadership of In general I have been repeatedly current culture, to consider them- disturbed in these awful years be- selves as representing the world and cause, in nearly none of our plans of their particular interests and prob- peace and reconstruction, have we lems as the only essential problems included Africa; we envisage Asia of the universe. Thus Europe has re- often only insofar as we fear that peatedly sat in conference to discuss Asia as a field of exploitation may European problems and thus solve pass out of white control. all problems of the earth. Today in I therefore trust that this confer- such conferences we are including ence both in its written word and America, not simply North but South unwritten conviction will not forget America and the West Indies. But that the overwhelming majority of even this I submit is not sufficient,for the people of this earth belong to the earth consists not simply of Eu- the colored races; and their interest, rope and America, but also of Asia their wishes, their cultural freedom, and Africa; and not simply of the must be considered in any Peace Plan interests which the white world has for the world-else there can be no in the colored world, but the inter- peace. ests which colored folk have in them- The final resolution adopted had selves-their own cultures, their own one reference to race and that not freedoms, their own of only right develop- as as of us ment and purposive action. broadly expressed many Even insofar as we consider our- wished. It offered fraternal sympathy selves as an American Conference, I "for all those who are at present being am uneasy, because so large an ele- persecuted on grounds of race or of po- in is so in- ment American Culture litical, or ideals." here. philosophic religious adequately represented Perhaps This had in mind the of in a shade of skin and transient curl evidently Jews and not the of the of the hair the Negro and Indian have Germany Negroes some attention in this group; and United States or of Africa. after all there is little of perhaps ENGLAND essential importance in skin-color and hair texture, unless one thinks so; * A professor in a prominent Northern A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 69 college writes one of our editors as fol- that development toward democratic lows: government has suffered grievously at There are probably not many peo- the hands of the British Empire, so ple who have fought more consist- far as colored folk are concerned, is ently [than I have] for the equality defensible and can be supported by tes- of all races, and especially for the from sources. Note the solution of the terrible of timony English problems articles on and the West Indies the colonial peoples. But I doubt Ethiopia below. whether the way in which the chron- icle of race relations views the issue * The Labour Discussion Notes of the is helpful. There is some hope that Social Clarity Group has this word con- if loses the Germany war the prob- cerning Japan and the following of lems of Africa will be nearer brought democracy in the British Empire to some kind of better situation; when wins, Africa will be divided Japanese propaganda surpasses any Germany other in tricks of armed up between direct German control disguising and the control of the South African conquest under high-sounding phrases, National Socialists. The situation but the Japanese case was once put will then be worse than it is frankly by a Japanese in argument infinitely with an "You have an today and without any hope of rem- Englishman: in conceivable future. As empire; why shouldn't we?" It is edy any this of the situation which strange, in view of what Japan has aspect done for in must be faced squarely by socialists. thirty-five years Korea, The us as is a defense of Japanese imperialism. Japanese certainly regard But sometimes the statements become hypocrites when we condemn their comic. So it is said on 396 that invasion of China while we continue page to rule over India and nor Dr. Norman Leys has published a Malaya, new book and that "news of this has can they understand why their right to govern Indo-China should be leaked through Britsh censorship." What does that mean? There is no weaker than that of the French sim- it British of that kind. The ply because the French conquered censorship in the book Dr. has been first. If, therefore, our policy by Leys published of in London in 1941 the Far East is to be a matter princi- by Hogarth a defence of Press which as know to ple and not merely belongs you it must be made Mr. Leonard Woolf. The book was "British interests," anti-imperialist. As so- reviewed in leading British publica- consistently tions. cialists we must combine support for independent countries resisting ag- It is true that our reference to British gression with a steady advocacy of censorship was wrong. The reference dissolution of existing colonial em- which the writer intended was to the pires, conceding independence to na- tional to form fact that news from India, and groups large enough Africa, states and some form of in- British devising colonies elsewhere gets to us in ternational administration or control attenuated and distorted form, if at all. for areas still in the tribal state of On the other hand, books published in social and political development. The England are not subject to censorship British Empire is preferable to the and and Norman Leys' book is being re- empires which Germany Japan to build in so as viewed in this issue of PHYLON. are trying just far Britain has already conceded various * Nevertheless, the g e n e r a 1 thesis degrees of self-government to its col- 70 PHYLON

onies and can be expected to go on ETHIOPIA with the process of the liquidation of * There is still grave doubt as to the imperialism. We believe as socialists future attitude of the British that the world can be Empire internationally toward In Mr. Church- organized through free association Ethiopia. May, ill addressed the as follows of self-governing nations; if we do Emperor not believe this, we have no ground Your Majesty was the first of the except purely national self-interest lawful sovereigns to be driven from for trying to prevent Germany and his throne and country by the Fas- Japan from creating new colonial cist and Nazi criminals, and now is empires. For this reason we must link the first to return in triumph. together in thinking and propaganda Nevertheless, six months later the cor- the independence of China and the respondent of the London Times writes independence of India. from Addis Ababa JAPAN The Emperor is plainly chafing * There is no reason to doubt the sin- at the delay which prevents him from as the in- cerity of the following by being formally recognized published his So Tamon on the of the dependent ruler of people. long Mayeda closing as the remains unconclud- Institute in New York agreement Japan ed he feels that he is being kept in It is heartbreakingfor me to aban- leading strings, and is inclined to don a work which I love so deeply resent it. For their part, many of the and which I confidently believe con- British officials who are due to enter tributes so greatly to the promotion Ethiopian service are uncomfortable of human understanding. The past because they, too, have no formal en- three years were a period of founda- gagement. They are the Emperor's tion building. We had only prepared servants without having been ap- ourselves to participate more fully pointed by him, and can make only a in the development of Japanese stud- moral appeal to his authority. It is ies in this country. in the interests of both parties that Our one source of happiness in this an end should be put to this ambigu- trying period is the fact that the ous state of affairs. Library of Columbia University has * Pankhurst sets down in her consented to house our Sylvia graciously Neivs the essential Library of twelve thousand volumes Ethiopia following intact on their shelves until such time demands of Ethiopia as we are able to return and, once That Ethiopia shall no longer be again, take up our work. treated as enemy territory, but recog- In terminating my work here, I nized as an ally on whose soil allied sincerely hope only temporarily, I troops are guests. assure you that I will devote the re- That recognition of the Italian con- mainder of my life to the promotion quest and of the Italian King as Em- of productive intercultural relations peror of Ethiopia must be annulled. between the United States and Japan. That Ethiopian independence shall This resolution will be strengthened be recognized and diplomatic rela- by the rich and fond memories of tions be reopened, with a British Min- many kindly and understanding peo- ister in Addis Ababa and an Ethio- ple who have been the pillars of our pian Minister in London. Institute and who have contributed That the Ethiopian Government so generously of their friendship, en- shall have liberty to accept or reject couragement and inspiration. any advisers, military or civilian, A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 71

recommended by the British Govern- .. . Speaking quite bluntly and ment to the Ethiopian Government, frankly, I maintain that if the colo- and if accepted by the Ethiopian Gov- nial point of view is adopted the ernment they shall be subject to the future of Abyssinia from the British authority of the Ethiopian Govern- point of view will be disastrous, for ment so long as they remain in Ethio- it means one thing, and one only, pian employ. the racial issue, which nobody really That an Anglo-Ethiopian Treaty of wants to face. Nevertheless, it will Alliance and friendship shall be con- serve no real purpose in these days to cluded. try to gloss over unpleasant facts or to use terms for That a British loan for develop- pleasant unpleas- ment and reconstruction shall be ant realities. We are witnessing the war in The granted to the Ethiopian State on greatest history. Emperor to be in his telegram enumeratedthe troops equitable terms, expended by -African and Asiatic as well as the Ethiopian Government as it may think fit. British and Dominion-alongside of whom the Ethiopian Patriots were * Sir Sidney Barton, who for ten years fighting, and here I would say that was English Minister Plenipotentiary to those patriots have never for one mo- ment ceased to since the war Ethiopia, said in a speech before the fight with on 1st 1935. in Italy began October, Royal Empire Society September, That is one of the facts which does 1941 not fit into the colonial theory, and Abyssinia has never been a colo- therefore is not spoken of oftener nial territory. Indeed, when one con- than is absolutely necessary ... siders its history it is unthinkable, Abyssinia is a country in which the certainly in this twentieth century, people have been living subject to that anyone could have dreamed of Christian influence far longer than turning Abyssinia into a colonial we have in Great Britain. Again, property. Only those capable of the Abyssinia has never been conquered errors committed by the Fascist re- at any time in the world's history. gime could have tried to put such a It is true the country was over-run by theory into practice . . . the Italians, but never completely con- The colonial view held by some in quered. A very little knowledge of Great Britain may be of importance what took place from 1934 to 1936 in that attention is paid to it in other is sufficient to convince one that they parts of the Empire and it has a bear- never could and never will make a ing on the various races which com- colony out of such a country . . . pose the British Empire. The colonial We know that during the war in view has its roots in the partition of Abyssinia there was not one single Africa in 1891 . . . nationalist organization in Asia or It can truly be said that we and the Africa which was unrepresented in Germans were foremost in the scram- Addis Ababa. Those representatives ble for Africa in 1891 and 1894, and were there to watch what? One we signed an agreement in 1891 thing, and one only--white versus whereby we allotted a certain portion coloured and the reactions of Great of Abyssinia to Italy. That was not Britain. Those watchers were bewild- done without objections being raised. ered, and I emphasize that they came And then what happened? On 1st to Abyssinia not only from Africa, March, 1896, the Abyssinians drove but from Asia. Nationalism in Af- the Italians out of their country. rica is, we know, much younger and 72 PHYLON

less developed than nationalism in * Assessing the advantages and disad- Asia, but do not assume that nation- vantages of the Italian occupation, the alism has not to be reckoned with in London Times notes that the Italians Africa. In of there no spite being have built a number of fine roads ra- Press, no written language, there are from the and it what may be termed personal apos- diating capital linking tles of African nationalism, who with the most important provincial cen- wander across the vast distances of ters. With these are telegraph lines and Africa and talk with the people. wireless. There has been building con- * On the other hand, and within the struction in many of the towns and British Empire, there is still the as- some of them have small industrial sumption that Ethiopia has been recon- plants. Mining was started, especially quered in order that it may be annexed lignite, gold, platinum and mica. There to the British Empire and ruled through was some intensive agriculture to raise the predominant influence of the white cotton and vegetable fibre. On the other people in Kenya and South Africa. For hand, the occupation has broken the ties instance, the Nairobi, (Kenya, East Af- of the central government with many rica) Standard says of the provinces and stimulated law- Are we to look to O.E.T.A. for a lessness and disorder. It is going to far-seeing economic policy or merely take a long time to overcome these dif- for Colonial Office political supervis- ficulties. ion? If it is not its job to deal with the practical issues of trade commerce THE WEST INDIES and then we shall have production, * A good view of the general economic to set up an organization competent to do so. condition of the West Indies is con- tained in the Research Series No. 44 of Put briefly, the position is this: Suddenly we have had a very large the English Fabian Society addition to our African Empire. These Nearly four thousand miles across new countries have to be administered the Atlantic lies a beautiful chain of and serviced by us. They will want islands forming a crescent from Flor- goods, they will have produce to sell. ida in the United States to Venezuela Goods are not too plentiful, shipping in South America, and enclosing the is short, produce is a drug on most blue waters of the Caribbean Sea. markets. Great Britain is too busy, Though the British public seldom and London is too distant, to be hears of them, the British West Indies worried about the details of the gov- are among the oldest and were once ernment of these ex-enemy countries. the most highly prized of British do- We in East Africa have the exper- mains. ience to govern them till the war is Since Columbus stumbled across ended, but it is doubtful whether as them in his search for a westerly pas- yet we have the proper machinery, sage to India, the islands have had a or at least the right outlook. And do chequered history. After Columbus, not let us forget that South Africa came settlers from Europe, seeking played an important part in the con- with the help of black slave labour quest of some of these large areas and to make their fortunes in cocoa, cof- will therefore be interested in what fee, cotton, tobacco and, above all, we are doing with them. We ought to sugar. For two centuries the islands be getting together. were a scene of great prosperity, but A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 73 in the nineteenth century that pros- lation-eighty per cent or more- perity vanished; the islands faded are of African descent, the children into obscurity and ceased to be a of slaves introduced from Africa in turbulent concern of European poli- the 17th and 18th centuries, and tics . . . Just over 2,500,000 people emancipated in 1834. They have lost live in the British colonies. Half of most of their African heritage, assim- them live in (1,150,000), ilating the ideas of their white rulers the biggest of the other units being and adapting themselves to European Trinidad (450,000) and British Gui- institutions. English is spoken uni- ana-a South American colony us- versally (though there are remnants ually grouped with the islands- of a French patois) and Christianity (340,000). Barbados is a tiny island has replaced the African religions. with a population of 190,000. For Census returns show that some fifty administrative purposes the remain- per cent of the population is engaged ing islands are in two groups, the directly in agriculture. Of these the "Windward Islands," of which Gre- bulk are landless agricultural labour- nada with 90,000 has the largest popu- ers, but there are some peasants, es- lation, and the "Leeward Islands," pecially in Jamaica, where the peas- whose largest unit, Dominica, has 50,- ant class is of great social signifi- 000. From this it will be seen that the cance. colonies are all small and scattered, The other cent is and these two factors are of fifty per engaged great po- in the towns, in commerce, litical mainly significance. transport, light industries and domes- This two and a half million in- tic service. The class structure of the cludes many races: Europeans, Ne- West Indian town differs little from groes, East Indians and Chinese being that of an English town of correspond- the main groups. The white popula- ing size. At the top of the coloured tion is relatively small, averaging ladder, challenging the white aristoc- about three per cent of the total, this racy on every front, come coloured being exceeded only in the exclusively "Society," Negro, Mulatto, East In- sugar plantation islands of Barbados' dian, and Chinese. "In one sentence," seven per cent, St. Kitts' six per cent, a keen observer has written and four cent. But this Antigua's per "one might say that the net tiny white element dominates every result of British in of West Indian life. Econom- policy Jamaica aspect in the last fifty years is that without ically and politically the white man the of the is he owns the changing position peasant supreme; biggest plan- it has created a Jamaican bour- tations, stores and banks controlling geosie." directly or indirectly the entire eco- This nomic life of the community. It is he "bourgeoisie" is a small but whom the Governor most often nomi- important element. It consists of col- oured men - nates to his councils, and for his sons professional lawyers, that the best Government are doctors, secondary school teachers, jobs and other reserved. the whites in engineers university grad- Socially, gen- uates; and of a small number of eral constitute the peo- aristocracy. They ple who have to become run their own clubs from which non- managed large landowners, either with funds and it is whites are excluded, they earned abroad, or through using pro- who constitute the "Court" life of fessional earnings to buy land, or by "His Majesty's Representative," the inheritance from some S c o t c h or Governor ... The bulk of the popu- French ancestor who in the distant 74 PHYLON past married or associated with a yaller" despising the brown, and the Negro woman. And finally it consists brown despising the black. Such per- of a sprinkling of men who have sons do their best to cut themselves made big money in business. off from all contact with the masses; This element of society includes become often more reactionary than those educationally most fitted to the whites; and in positions of au- lead the West Indies. Undoubtedly, thority often act with a harshness the factor most important in mould- which makes many West Indians pre- ing the political attitude of this class, fer a white master to a black. We is white supremacy. The West Indies have here a problem which can only have a most deserved reputation for be solved by destroying its root- freedom from racial antagonism. the deliberate maintenance of white There is no racial legislation; white supremacy. same and black go to the schools, Others react in the opposite way. play in the same teams and so on. They ally themselves with the masses, Yet one is conscious of the every form trade unions and political par- effort of white people to maintain ties, and seek to secure for coloured their and their supremacy privileges. people a higher social dignity. This reveal themselves in These things is not by any means the only reason in offi- many ways-in social clubs, why some of the intelligentsia are to cial functions, in church, etc.--but be found in the Labour Movement; the form which is most resented is it is simply a factor which forms the the reservation of certain appoint- background of much of the political ments, both by the state and by pri- agitation in these colonies in the last vate concerns, for white men. Every twenty years. West Indian knows that the Governor This has the most unfor- of West Indian island of disunity the French tunate results. It on the one a black but means, Guadeloupe is man; he that the Government can al- that so as current hand, knows too long find coloured men to do British there can never ways willing policy persists its most and on the other a Governor of Trinidad or dirty work, be black that there are who refuse of Barbados. Col- hand, many a black Bishop to associate themselves even with the oured "Society" feels these things most official for it is not praiseworthy enterprise. most, culturally merely There is still room for edu- to white political equal but superior society, cation of the middle classes. being so much better educated. There are far more highly educated col- * An interesting "Declaration of Rights oured men of university standing in of the Caribbean to Self-Deter- West Indian than there Peoples any colony mination a n d Self-Government" h a s are white, since while the coloured been issued the West people go so largely into the profes- by Indian National sions, the whites for the most part Emergency Committeewhose seat of op- remain in agriculture and business. erations is probably , The effect is as we should expect; although it seems to have close connec- some rebel, while others seek to con- tion with the islands form. Many West Indians react by trying to identify themselves with the There comes a time in the affairs ruling classes. They try to marry of every people when it becomes white, or to marry some fair person, imperative for them to examine their and thus much importance is attached conditions of existence and to take to lightness of complexion, the "high such steps as they deem necessary for A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 75 the protection of their vital interests any sale, transfer, mandate, trustee- and for the enjoyment of their un- ship, or change of sovereignty of alienable rights to "life, liberty and these peoples without the exercise of the pursuit of happiness." their inalienable human and demo- Such a time has arrived in the his- cratic right of self-determination . . . tory of the people who have for cen- It is unquestionable, furthermore, turies inhabited the Caribbean colo- that any refusal to recognize and to nies of Britain, France, and the Neth- respect the national aspirations of erlands. These peoples, whose total the Caribbean peoples would be a aggregate is over three and a half clear denial and an unmistakable re- million and who occupy territories pudiation of the very principles of approximating 231,314 square miles democracy and the rights of small are specifically designated in an ap- nations for which the sympathies of pendix to this declaration. the American and Latin American The war now in has peoples are being solicited in the raging Europe crisis. This crisis in brought to the fore the question of present grave basic and economic world affairs only raises most sharp- political adjust- the basic of self-determi- ments for the peoples of the West ly question Indies and of both American conti- nation; and self-government which nents. This situation has com- had already been raised by peoples grave of these territories. pelled the democratic and peace-lov- nations of the Western Hemis- The West Indies National Emer- ing Committee the im- phere seriously to consider the best gency recognizes collective measures for their minent probability of changes of possible in colonial territories in mutual defense, security, and wel- sovereignty fare. the New World and presents its case for the of the whose The existence of sit- rights peoples, strategically just cause it advocates, to autono- uated and economically important mous national existence. The Com- European colonies in the New World mittee draws attention to the fact that and will consti- constitutes, always every nation in the New World de- tute, a basis for and a aggression veloped from the status of a colony threat to the security of the nations or colonies to its as of Pan-America . . . The Committee present position an independent nation and declares identifies itself with and whole-heart- that this historical circumstance edly supports every effort honestly should render Pan-Amer- directed towards the conti- justly every keeping ican nation sympathetic to the aspi- nents of America out of war. It real- rations of the West Indies and Ca- izes and submits that conflicts over ribbean for colonies constitute the source peoples self-government. major The Committee points to the fact of war in the modern world. There- that the inhabitants in these areas fore, the assurance of the right of have since reached that in self-determination and long stage self-govern- historical evolution where they have ment of the West Indian peoples is demonstratedtheir for to remove capacity prac- unquestionably necessary tical administration of government this major danger of war from the in accordance with modern democrat- Western and Hemisphere. Reflecting ic technique. West Indians the sentiments of partici- expressing profound pate in every department of govern- the peoples of these Caribbean areas, ment-legislative, executive, judicial this Committee declares that it is -to such an extent that only a few firmly and irrevocably opposed to posts are administered by Europeans 76 PHYLON

solely because of the existing im- nal proof of the Haitian people's perial connections. powers of inventiveness and assimi- The Committee further points to lation. the fact that the peoples of these areas On the eve of the centenary of na- exhibit all the characteristics of na- tional independence, the Oeuvre des tionality and that vigorous movements Ecrivains Haitiens entrusted to four for self-government have existed for of its members, Messrs. Solon Menos, a considerable period and have now Georges Sylvain, Amilcar Duval and reached a stage for full realization. Dantes Bellegarde, the task of pub- Evidence of this is adduced in sev- lishing a collection of extracts from eral instances and representations the works of Haitian poets and prose- cited in the statement appended here- writers. This two-volume anthology to. appeared in Port-au-Prince on Jan- 1904 and uary 1, was two years later, crowned by the French Academy, * At the conference of A m e r i c a n which, by the eloquent pen of its National Commissions for Intellectual perpetual secretary, M. Gaston Bois- Cooperation held in Havana in Novem- sier, addressed, on this occasion, "a from afar to the ber, 1941, Dantes of Haiti greeting Haitians Bellegarde who had remained faithful to French gave an interesting picture of Haiti as culture." a center of French culture in America Commenting upon this event, one Many foreigners and some Hai- of the editors of the collection, M. tians, little informed on Haitian his- Solon Menos, declared in a speech of tory and psychology, think that the January 14, 1907: "Such is the ex- attachment of Haitians to French cul- cellence of art that before it misun- ture is simply simian imitation. They derstandings and even the most in- do not realize that this culture is a veterate prejudices vanish instantly. part of Haitian national personality, The prize awarded by the French and that to renounce it would be a Academy is all the more noteworthy mutilation. In fact there has been because it is bestowed upon a work created in Haiti an entity which is devoted to the glorification of our neither African nor French, but which independence. The reconciliation is is related to Africa by blood, and to significant, and it is not rash to say France, also a little by blood and a that so characteristic a coincidence great deal by the spirit. The result increases, in considerable proportion, is an indissoluble alloy to which the the great value of this reward,-con- Haitian people owes its strength and ferred as if by a decree of full natur- its will to endure . . . alization upon our autonomous lit- However, Haiti's national culture erature." is born of an intellectual activity Autonomous literature: this is in- which is exerted upon all branches deed the appropriate expression for of thought and which has been ex- characterizing Haitian literary pro- pressed for more than a century in duction throughout more than a cen- works of real value written in a lan- tury of national existence. guage peculiar to Haitians,--the Most Haitian authors have been in- French language. The list is long of spired by the heroic struggle for in- Haitians who, in science, industry, dependence, or have consecrated their commerce, politics, in arts and espe- efforts to the disentangling of our his- cially in letters, have furnished sig- torical origins and the study of plans A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 77 for political organization. This is Raynaud, G. Lescouflair, Christian why the group of historians and soci- Werleigh, Antonio Vieux, Emile ologists is especially imposing. It Roumer, Jean Briere, Roussan Ca- contains names which deserve to be mille, etc. of better known abroad: the works The Haitian novel presents several Thomas Madiou, Beaubrun-Ardouin, remarkable names: Demesvar De- Saint-Remy, Beauvais Lespinasse, lorme, Frederic Marcelin, Justin Emile Nau, de Vastey, Hannibal Price, Lherisson, Fernand Hibbert, Antoine Antenor Firmin, Demesvar Delorme, Innocent, J. B. Cineas, Stephen Alexis, Louis-Joseph Janvier, Armand Thoby, Marc Verne, Petion Savain, Mme C. Duracine Pouilh, Justin Devot, Jere- Valcin, Mme Etienne Bourand, Felix mie, Dulcine Jean-Louis, Georges Courtois, etc. Solon Sylvain, Menos, Jacques Leger, It should be noted that valu- Pauleus Windsor many Sannon, Bellegarde, able works have been lost or remain Abel Price Leger, Mars, Vergniaud in for there Nemours Stenio indefinitely manuscript, Leconte, Auguste, is a lack of houses in Leon J. C. Dorsain- publishing Vincent, Audain, Haiti. In the same the ab- Alfred Placide manner, vil, Nemours, David, sence of theaters is an obstacle Louis E. Suzanne regular Elie, Comhaire-Syl- for dramatic This field is C. form a re- production. vain, J. Pressoir, etc., none the less notable markable contribution to the represented by history writers: Liautaud A. of Haitian Etheart, Fleury- society. Battier, Henri Chauvet, Massillon Few Haitian poets or novelists have Coicou, Vandenesse Ducasse, Amilcar sought their inspiration in Haitian Duval, Burr-Raynaud, Dominique folklore, like the musician Justin Elie Hippolyte, Arthur Lescouflair, Ste- who has borrowed the material for phen Alexis, Jean Briere, Alphonse most of his compositions from popu- Henriquez, etc. lar melodies. Others, in great num- That Haitian authors, in the expres- ber, have gone down within them- sion of their feelings and ideas, should selves and have told us their troubles have reflected the influence of their and their joys in intimate poems. French models by sacrificing fre- Some have absorbed these great eter- quently to ephemeral literal fashions, nal themes-love, death, human des- nothing is more natural. Some, how- tiny, country, God,--which are the ever, have been able to break loose same for poets of all lands. The list from these influencesto produce origi- of poets is long. Deserving of special nal work. .... Without assigning too mention are: Pierre Faubert, Coriolan narrow limits to their efforts, one Ardouin, Ignace Nau, C. S. Ville- might wish, nevertheless,that our writ- valeix, Virginia Sampeur, Oswald ers would be more attentive in the Durand, A. de Pommayrac, Ducas- observation of the environment in Hippolyte, Tertullien Guilbaud, Is- which they live-physical environ- nardin Vieux, Louis Borno, Georges ment and moral environment-and Sylvain, Arsene Chevry, Massillon that one might more often find re- Coicou, Amede Brun, Etzer Vilaire, flected in their productions the tropi- Justin Lherisson, Nerva Lataillade, cal magnificence of our country and Edmond Laforest, Ida Faubert, Da- the peculiar psychology of its people. mocles Vieux, Charles Moravia, Mau- It is thus that Haitian literature can rice Brun, Constantin Mayard, Ernest possess truly national significance and Douyon, Leon Laleau, Luc Grimard, contribute to the embellishment of Dominique Hippolyte, Frederic Burr- human culture. 78 PHYLON

THE NETHERLANDS INDIES all peoples carry on local adminis- tration. * Dr. H. J. Levelt writes of politics in In 1918 a People's Council was the Indies in a brochure issued the by established, made up of an elected Netherlands Information Bureau in New and an appointed group of representa- York tives of the various segments of the population. This assembly makes the Few places in the world have a po- laws for the entire Netherlands East litical party system as complex as Indies. The Governor- General is that of the Netherlands East Indies. bound to issue decrees in accordance The islands are populated by peoples with its proposals. Budgets must be with many ideologies, religions, cul- submitted to the Council. As a demo- tures and backgrounds. Side by side cratic parliament, the People's Coun- are Netherlanders, Chinese, Arabs, cil naturally is predominantly Indo- Indonesians-the last group itself nesian, thirty members representing consisting of many different native the native classes, twenty-five stand- strains. ing for Netherlanders, and five being From these people, with their va- Chinese or Arabs. ried ideas and ideals, have come the Thus the pattern of the political sys- political parties of the East Indies. tem in the East Indies was estab- And those parties - comparatively lished: education which awakened speaking-are as young as they are a political consciousness; a voice in complex. They have sprung from the government which satisfied that con- efforts of the government to extend sciousness and, quite naturally, this education among the native popula- led to the formation of the political tion. parties. In the high schools and colleges where Indonesians studied among Netherlanders and Chinese, the na- BRITISH INDIA tives absorbed Western thought. * Recently Jawaharlal Nehru and five Opened to them was a new world of Western ideas, Western culture and hundred other prisoners have been re- Western democratic patterns. leased by the English from imprison- Aware that its system of education ment in India. Despite this, Nehru is was awakening a political conscious- reporting that while he has sympathy ness in the natives, the government, with the United States, Britain and which has set itself the task of form- China, he will not help in any war ef- ing an independent Netherlands In- dies within the framework of the fort until freedom has been given to India Netherlands community, has not hesi- tated to give that consciousness an I do not doubt that any attempt outlet for expression. As early as at world domination by any group of 1905 Town Councils were established. powers would be harmful and must be This political decentralization has resisted. I still think that in the quickened in tempo of late years until grouping that exists there is no doubt now all Java is dotted with provin- that the progressive forces of the cial councils, regency councils and world are aligned with the group rep- town councils. Several of the Outer resented by the United States, Britain, Provinces are similarly organized. Russia and China. In these councils representatives of Of course these progressive forces A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 79

have strongly entrenched reactionary India remains a predominantly forces, as evidenced by the treatment rural country, and over vast areas which Britain accords India. This there is no modern industry at all. treatment inevitably governs our The total population of India is policy. about 370 millions and of these over two-thirds are dependent on agricul- * Gandhi also still opposes helping ture for their livelihood. The funda- Britain in the war and suggests that the mental unit of Indian society is still United States should give her no further the village, of which there are over aid. He suggests that the United States 700,000, in which 90 per cent of the live. Of the "should ask what will happen to India, people agricultural popu- lation are about a million Asia and African . . . She there only possessions. and a half families who can live in should withdraw any help unless there comfort without the continual threat are guarantees of human liberties. If of starvation and ruin; a million of America is true to her tradition, she these cultivate their own farms of should say what Abraham Lincoln more than thirty acres, and the other would America would lose half million are landlords whose in- say. nothing come is derived from the rents and concerning her by making stipulations other dues they extort from their ten- More Gandhi has war help." recently ants. Of the rest one-third are agri- resigned from his position in the Indian cultural labourers, mostly landless, Congress and there is evidence that a and two-thirds cultivate land which new basis of cooperation between the they own themselves or on which they are tenants, with of Congress and the British Governmentis varying degrees security of tenure. ... being sought. The smallness of the holdings, the * The Premier of Burma has been visit- ever-increasing population, the still ing London in an attempt to obtain a general system of strip farming, the promise of self-government within the poverty of the peasants, and the in- British Empire after the war. Burma adequacy of governmental advice or means that fer- has 261,000 square miles or four times help, land, originally tile, yields exceedingly poor crops. the area of New England and a popula- Rents, often out of all proportion to of fifteen millions. It has a half tion the average yield, and other dues to million children in school, a university the landlords, and taxes to the gov- at Rangoon and an intermediate college ernment are exacted from the peasants at Mandalay. He was unable to obtain in bad years as well as good. To himself and his alive the further satisfaction than a general prom- keep family peasant resorts to the money-lender. ise of independence within the empire The total indebtedness of the Indian He visited the United at some future day. peasantry has been estimated at not states but on his return to Burma was less than ?1,200 millions, a sum which jailed by the British. cannot conceivably be repaid and on * To understand the Indian situation which interest is charged at appall- much more detailed of the ingly high rates. To the individual knowledge means that he is is for American read- peasant insolvency country necessary ejected for non-payment of rent if ers. A study by Labor Discussions re- he is a tenant, or that his land, if he veals the following facts owned it, passes to the money-lender. 80 PHYLON

As a result the number of landless the United States. A call for a meeting labourers rose between 1921 and 1931 of the American Missionary Association from to mil- twenty-one thirty-one in January is prefaced by this statement lions. These labourers are the poorest After seventy-six years of progress of the peasantry, their wages varying in literacy, industry, the arts and sci- from Id. to 3d. a day, and that dur- ences, and loyal pursuit of American ing part of the year only. ideals, Negro citizens of the United British rule in India does little to States, regardless of their cultural ad- alleviate the lot of the peasant and vancement, are discriminated much to it. The against depress expensive in every human want, from with which Britain rules drinking bureaucracy at a public fountain when thirsty to the which is India, army kept there, worshipping in a common church the revenues on invested capital by when spiritually lonely. Britons, are paid for largely out of Under these conditions, to souls the taxes collected from the peasants, which have become sensitive through in the form of the Land Tax and the the cultivation of the finer tastes in all duties on a of range simple everyday that is lovely and noble, the words commodities. has an (India exceed- democracy and religion have the hol- ingly regressive system of taxation, low sounds of a cracked bell. Faith which lets the rich man off fairly becomes weak, hope passes into hope- lightly and bears heavily on the lessness, and love turns to hatred. The poor). government guarantees From the depths of such experience to the landlord and the tax-collector the late James Weldon Johnson spoke in their exaction of dues with- security for the noblest souls in his group out giving to the peasant security of when he wrote tenure of his land. the "main- Finally, "There come times when the most tenance of law and order" the Im- by becomes an Governmentexcuses the use of persistent integrationist perial isolationist, when he curses the White force against the whenever peasants world and consigns it to hell. This they rise against their oppressors.... tendency springs from a deep-seated, There is a long history of such ris- natural desire-a desire for the often in respite ings by peasants, leading from the unremitting, gruelling strug- to the overthrow of pre-British days gle; for a place in which refuge might rulers. Against the British themselves be taken." the Indian of Mutiny 1857 was a na- What a and tion-wide baffling humiliating peasant rising. Since its de- a failure at feat the paradox-man socially strongest measures, police human made of one and have integrating beings military, been taken to pre- blood with common vent a intellectual, recurrence. Sporadic local ris- and have occurred moral, aesthetic, spiritual poten- ings meanwhile with- tialities! Almost two thousand out a serious years again causing threat to Saint Paul acted on faith that this British rule, often ago though relieving, was true, a faith which, in more re- temporarily at least, the conditions cent years, scientists have proved to with regard to rent, interest, taxes, etc. be fact. Biology has attested the one- ness of human blood, psychologists the oneness of human mind, and an- THE UNITED STATES thropologists the oneness of potential culture. After a life of * There has been renewed discussion long painstak- ing anthropological research Franz of the general inter-racial conditions in Boas tells us that A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 81

"The fact that people of different Negro quickly expresses himself in regions or of different social strata be- totally different terms as soon as he have differently is no proof that these changes his locale and is relieved of differences are an expression of racial his fear. qualities. On the contrary, we see But be that as it may, the real point men of most diverse descent working is that our democracy does not allow on the same problems, producing, for the present division between a under proper conditions, the similar white ruler race and a subject colored works of art. We see people of diverse race, and we ought to make up our descent taking over parts of the folk minds as to what we want and then poetry, of the literature of others and move to accomplish it. If the United making them their own. We see im- States is to include subject and ruler migrants merging in the people peoples, then let us be honest about it among whom they live. The racialists and change the Constitution and make commit the unpardonable error of it plain that Negroes cannot share the extending to local types the legitimate privileges of the white people. True, concept of inherited qualities, for- we would then be totalitarian rather getting that everyone of these em- than democratic; but if that is what braces endlessly different inheritable we want, let us say so and let us tell qualities. They want to make us be- the Negro so. Then the white Ameri- lieve that a Nordic idiot is worth more cans will be relieved of the necessity of than a Chinese genius. We may say hypocrisy and ttle colored people will fairly that, if we were to select the know where they are. They may even best one-third of mankind, according settle down into a docile subject race, to intellect and personality, every one so long as we are able to keep the of the large races would be repre- weapons of rebellion from them- sented in the group." and these include education.

* Pearl Buck in a letter to the New York Times said recently THE SOUTH I am, I think, realistic and objective * The National Council of Teachers of on this matter of race, having lived held in November its most of my life among colored peo- English thirty- ples. My own ancestry is entirely first annual convention in Atlanta. No Southern, and I am very familiar with invitation to attend the session was at the problems of white and colored first extended to the Negro teachers of in the South. I do not, however, be- English in Atlanta University, More- lieve their solution is to be found house and Spelman Colleges, Clark Col- in what the average white Southerner lege and Morris Brown College and says, in the familiar patter, that the the teachers in the schools. is a childish Negro public Negro creature, delight- When the committee on ful enough in his place, who only arrangements wants to be taken care of and fed and was approached on the subject, Mr. sheltered and treated kindly. That Paul Farmer, the chairman, replied to the Negro in the South often glibly Dr. N. P. Tillman, head of the depart- falls in with such assertions means ment of English in Atlanta University nothing, for that Negro is afraid of his white master and says what the white The convention was awarded to At- man wants him to say. The same lanta upon our assurancethat Negroes 82 PHYLON

would be welcome at the convention since these have differed in tone from according to the precedent established Mr. Farmer's letter, we wish to know here for Negro participation in such the agreement entered into between meetings; that is, Negroes would be the Atlanta Committee and the Coun- admitted to all sessions with the ex- cil, and further, the policy of the Na- ception of those of a social nature tional Council with reference to Negro such as receptions, teas, breakfasts, teachers. luncheons, and the banquet; and Mr. Farmer implies that the ar- would be seated, particularly in the rangement of the Local Committee is large group meetings, in seats reserved the uniform precedent. As a matter for them. of fact, in recent years, the precedent Since the foregoing conditions pro- for national, educational, and some hibit Negroes from enjoying all the Southern, groups has been entirely privileges afforded white registrants, different. At meetings in Atlanta of I have felt it unfair for the Local the American Chemical Society Committeeto urge Negro registration. (1930), the Association of American I believe that Negroes should be ac- Colleges (1935), the Baptist World quainted with these conditions and Alliance (1939), the National Physi- that if they register, the urge to do so cal Education Association (1939), should come from a genuine desire and the Southern Conference on To- to benefit from the splendid sessions morrow's Children (1939), Negroes that are available to them. had full participation in each session. A few years ago the Southern Socio- this * Among the meetings from which the logical Society adopted position as its policy and has maintained it in Negroes were invited to be cordially the three annual meetings held in At- absent were, Friday, a luncheon meeting lanta. The conduct of the meetings with a discussion of books for children here of a national or sectional asso- and an Uncle Remus program; meetings ciation has depended largely upon the on intercultural relations and folk- stand taken by the organization itself. Since we cannot such restric- lore. At the banquet Friday evening, accept John Erskine of Columbia on tions as those stipulated by the Local spoke Committee,we wish to the fol- America." At the annual lunch- present "My lowing recommendationsfor the con- eon Saturday noon the editor of the sideration of the Executive Committee Louisville Courier-Journal and a rela- of the National Council for future tive of Vachel Lindsay spoke with the meetings: president of the Council presiding. First, that the National Council in- sist on equal participation in all the * The committee from the Negro Teach- sessions of the Council for all of its ers in English of Atlanta addressed members. themselves to Dr. Robert C. Pooley of Second, that in Southern cities the Council either with social Wisconsin, president of the Council, dispense no and said meetings or arrange Council business or speeches in connection with them. Since Negro teachers have received communicationsfrom Professors Rice, In view of our efforts towards na- Wagner and Anderson, of the National tional unity against Nazi principles Council, soliciting memberships, and from without, a wider diffusion within A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 83

of the benefits of our democracy, and cerned in all meetings, including lunch- an enlargement of our democraticcon- eon and dinner meetings, and might use it seems reasonable to cept, only us all the facilities of the hotel, to a national educational or- excepting expect the restaurants. ganization to take a stand that is in public The co-chairmen on local line with the best thought in our arrange- country. ments, Professor Ross H. McLean of and Professor Dr. Pooley was most "distressed" and Emory University Philip Davidson of Scott while deeply "deplored" the situation con- Agnes College, their to- cerning which he could "do nothing" protesting personal cordiality ward in all meet- but promised to take the matter up with Negro participation the executive committee of the Council. ings, begged that Negroes would not seek to attend luncheon and dinner meet- Since the convention, the committee on the ground that, were they to do has a motion to the effect that ings passed so, white members of the faculties of the Council "will invitations to accept state institutions would under hold its annual conventions in Georgia only the regime, become liable to cities which can of Talmadge provide equality par- dismissal from their posts. It did not for all the of the ticipation members occur to the co-chairmenthat Council." The action must be ratified apparently the correct conduct for white employees the Board of Directors before it be- by of state institutions in these comes the official of the Council. Georgia policy circumstances was to absent themselves and dinner if * The annual meeting for 1941 of the from luncheon meetings, Southern Historical Association was they felt compelled so to safeguard their other mem- held at the Biltmore Hotel, Atlanta, from positions, and not to ask that the sacri- November 6th to November 8th, 1941. bers of the association make Since a few members of the History De- fice for them. partments of the Atlanta University * The Southern Frontier, published by System were interested in some of the the Commission on Interracial Coopera- to be Dr. Chair- papers read, Coulborn, tion, has published a new set of tables man of the University History Depart- showing the discrimination against the undertook as to ment, inquiries eligibili- Negro in education, 1939-40 (in some in ty and status of Negroes the Associa- cases, 1938-39). [See page 84]. tion. The Association admits Negroes The South is asking Federal aid for and has some Negro members.The presi- education but so far has usually refused Professor B. B. of the dent, Kendrick, to promise that discrimination between North Carolina Women's College, gave the races will be eliminated in the ex- it as his in a letter to Dr. Coul- opinion penditure of such appropriation. born that the admission of Negro mem- bers carried with it per se all privileges GEORGIA of membership. The managementof the * The Atlanta Constitutionhas revealed Biltmore Hotel adopted its usual atti- the fact that it took less than ten per tude, namely that Negro members might cent of the qualified voters of Georgia participate, so far as the hotel is con- to change the state constitution so as to 84 PHYLON Value of Buildings, Average yearly salaries Current Expenditures Grounds and Equipment in the South per child Enrolled per child Enrolled State White Negro White Negro White Negro Alabama ...... $ 816 $387 $36.03 $10.65 $114.71 $23.93 Arkansas ...... 625 367 26.84 10.63 111.46 31.01 Florida ...... 1,133 569 55.44 21.64 265.56 70.33 Georgia ...... 886 398 43.38 12.47 139.13 34.69 Louisiana ...... 1,026 368 60.37 12.62 205.88 32.11 Mississippi ...... 750 237 38.96 4.97 175.23 10.68 North Carolina ...... 916 647 39.31 21.71 161.61 52.87 Oklahoma ...... 1,059 923 49.75 51.52 South Carolina ...... 939 388 46.80 11.40 172.35 32.79 Tennessee ...... 887 580 Texas ...... 1,195 704 54.06 26.32 226.51 72.86 Virginia ...... 912 598 30.18 18.22 157.46 60.43 provide a four year instead of a two year which the governor used as the basis of term for governor his dismissal More votes were cast on the four- I hope, however, higher education year term than on any of the other 70 for Negroes in Georgia will be inte- amendments. The total vote on this grated and co-ordinated.I do not think amendment was only 80,320 or ap- this function will take so long. proximately 15 per cent of the voters. I am going to make a proposal now, Of this number 50,130 voted for the and I say this without any criticism four-year term and 30,190 against it. of anybody, that since the Board of The secretary of state estimated there Regents have taken over the Universi- were approximately 525,000 persons ty System that there has not been any qualified to vote. set-up of any facilities to do much Compare this vote with some of the about integration of anybody's pro- primaries. In 1932 when he ran for gram. Governor the first time, GovernorTal- The whole set-up in the Regent's madge received 116,381 votes. In office at the present time is the Chan- 1934 his popular vote grew to 178,- cellor, a Secretary and Bookkeeper, 409, and in 1940 it was swelled to together with a few clerks who help 183,133. them at these jobs. Now that we are serious Compare this total with the 525,000 really about an integrated program for Ne- to vote; and people qualified compare groes, I am daring to propose to you that number with the total population that there ought to be one or more of Georgia of more than three million. persons in the Regents' office to give their whole time and attention to make * This explains how men like Talmadge possible the things you have been get public office. The Talmadge defense talking about, that is, integrating this of his position is contained in full page whole program for higher education advertisements in the Atlanta Constitu- for Negroes. I tion and Atlanta Journal. He Personally, if I had my way, charges would like to see in the office almost the dismissed dean of the Col- Cocking, immediately two Negroes who would of lege of Education of the University not have any administrative function Georgia, with the following statement whatever, but who would give their A CHRONICLE OF RACE RELATIONS 85

whole time and attention in working Who Found Out," "The Stream of with the presidents and faculties in History, or From Amoeba to Man," this program in an effort of integra- "Education for Democracy in Our tion. Some might say that cannot be Time," "In the Beginning," and "Be- done. I will not agree to that. There ing Born." should be some simple, but, notwith- effective which standing machinery PERMANENT MINORITIES would bring about integration that everybody is thinking about. It is * Albert Viton, for many years a Near going to be done. The facts are the Eastern newspaper correspondent, Chancellor is so busy he has had no writes in the current Antioch Review of time to think about the program. It "Permanent Minorities." He out is also a fact the of institu- points presidents that there are certain standard minori- tions are so busy that they have not got time. Anyhow, they would feel a ties strewn throughout Europe especial- little backward in saying to others, ly the minorities in the Balkans; but "Now, come on, boys, and let's do outside of that he calls attention to the about it: I think something you ought Armenians, Assyrians and Jews. Of the to do so and so." But I would like Armenians at least a million have to for consideration the propose your since 1914 possibility of setting up in the Regent's perished officesome very simple program. The crux of the Armenian problem concerns about 200,000 souls. * today Twenty-threetextbooks were removed About 100,000 are domiciled in Syria, from the libraries of Georgia high school 63,000 in France, and an equal num- and grade schools by the State Board ber in Turkey; 25,000 found refuge and around in other of Education on the grounds that their in Greece, 40,000 countries. was to Southern views Balkan and Near-Eastern teaching opposed Some of these have struck roots in on the Negro question and favored their new environments and do not "evolution." have any intention of once more pick- "Since Yesterday," "Leadership in ing up the wanderer's staff. The vast a Changing World, or the Socialist majority, however, have not succeed- Cure for a Sick Society," "The March ed, or have not tried, to acclimate of Science, or Making Life Longer and themselves either mentally or physi- Sweeter," "S o u t h e r n Regions," cally. Imbued with an extremely "American History Told by Contem- strong national and racial conscious- poraries," "American Social Prob- ness, most Armenians- especially lems," "The First Days of Man," those settled in Moslem countries- "Growing Up," "We Call It Human still dream of establishing a national Nature," "Social Problems and So- home of their own. With the ciology Dealing Negro The is not dif- Problem," "From Many Lands - a Assyrian problem very Special Questionnaire on the Negro," ferent from the Armenian "A Child's Story of the Animal The "Assyrian nation" today con- World," "Psychology of Adoles- sists of about 50,000 in Iraq; a simi- cence," "Growth and Development of lar number in Syria, Lebanon, and the Young Child," "Increasing Fed- Palestine; around 30,000 in Soviet eral Power," "Big Problems on Little Russia, about 10,000 in Iran. In ad- Shoulders," "Windows on Henry dition there are small communities in Street," "A Man Named Grant,""Men Greece, Egypt, France, in South 86 PHYLON

America, and some 20,000 in the territory, of which 5,000 acres are bot- United States. These, however, are tom land. Of the total acreage, Negroes generally well settled and are not part own 1,750 acres. Of the 5,000 acres of of the Assyrian problem, although bottom land, Negroes own 700 acres even some immigrants to the United while whites own 4,300 acres. Negroes States still dream of a national home own about 1,050 acres of more than of their own. 3,000 acres of hill land. This land own- Finally, homes for five to seven mil- ership explains the basis for the present lion Jews will have to be found at the sharecropper situation. end of the war. These include not sim- The fact that there were only eight here in 1938 some idea of Jews in but in Poland and renters gives ply Germany the of the tenant Rumania. Jews will not be able to live pressure system against this type of farming. If some person in Germany even after Hitlerism is past who owns a farm wishes to stop farming, because of the long propaganda against the large landlords will lease or buy them. Even the expelled Polish Govern- the farm and put sharecroppers on it. ment in is Last year one renter was able to get only England inveighing against four acres of land to work. He tried to the two and a half million Jews who rent some land from one of these four lived in Poland. Conditions are some- large landlords and he was turned down what better for the one and a half mil- with the statement that he should stop lion Jews in Hungary, Rumania, Bul- trying to rent and come and work on shares for the white landlord. Of course garia and Yugo-Slavia, but two-thirds he refused. Many other serious economic of these will probably have to live else- conditions were revealed in the survey where. Even in the Baltic countries of which I have written more than 250 like Lithuania the Jews have lost their pages up to this time. I am not more economic foothold and there are two than half through with it so far. million Jews in certain Near Eastern Now we attempted to attack these countries like Iraq, Syria, Morocco, Al- problems through a credit union, a farm- and Tunis who are in a serious ers' cooperative, and the land leasing geria and land of the Farm situation. buying program Security Administration. We had sev- eral meetings and got enthusiastic re- A LETTER sponse from the local Negro farmers. We had progressed to the point of buy- * While I was attending Atlanta Uni- ing shares in the credit union. Now, versity, I was attempting to write up the when the large landlords heard of our findings of a survey of the Negro rural activities, they became aroused. They community where I am working and immediately circulated a petition to have have been working since 1935. Some of the Negro school superintendent dis- the findings were challenging to immedi- charged and the local Negro school ate action and so we to do attempted board yielded to the pressure and dis- something about them. him more than a month Out of the 166 families in the terri- charged ago. Since school closed March 28 they are tory 144 families are Negroes. Of the 144 families of farmers 114 of demanding that I leave also. It looks Negro as the directors will be them are sharecroppers, eight are rent- though Negro ers, eighteen are owners, and four are forced to give in to the white pressure storekeepersand day workers. There are and that I must go. Incidentally this is more than 8,000 acres of land in this a Negro community named for a Negro.