The Reflector

Issue Number:33

Date: 03/24/1934

p. 01, c. 01-02

Northern Negro pilgrims come often to the Southland picking out and airing the obvious flaws in most everything from the dual wage scale to segregation in public schools.

They suggest methods to prevent lynchings, outline plans to give their Southern brothers more political power and make long speeches on the "Rights of Man".

Where is that hidden virtue of the North that makes those visitors to the South, so sure that they are eligible to give instructions? Is the upstate country a real paradise where racial harmony is ever present and progress is a byword? Is equality really there? Is justice blind or does it require the use of two pairs of eyes? The true answer to the above questions are known, seemingly by everyone else except some of our Negro leaders. For surely, the self-styled benefactors must be unmindful of the fact that skilled Negro laborers are denied membership in high ranking white trade unions in the North, when they express surprise at "Jim Crowism" in public places of amusement in the South.

It wouldn't be logical to think that they knew that a majority of the popular "mixed" schools are taught by white instructors, and still insisted that the Negro in the South "wake up" and get the benefit of his taxes.

They cannot know that a "mixed" church means in most cases a white minister, and that the privilege of being able to call white doctors, dentists and other professional advice means direct competition for Negro professional men in the same field. They cannot realize the significance of the situation and still feel qualified to tell the descendants of "poor old Uncle Tom" how to get "double duty" for his dollar.

It is difficult to retain patience with those self-styled leaders. It is true that the Southern Negro does have his problems, but the Northern Negro does too, and it seems as if all advice is needed to bring about Negro representation in industry in the North, and the creating of more places in higher arts for Northern Negroes. A plan of this nature would lend advice-the procedure suggested for charity.