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Intermarriage a No-No
Intermarriage
Fear Bolsters Segregation
By
Charles L. Allen
Atlanta Constitution
(January
1, 1957)
Yesterday I mention five reasons why some white people
insist on maintaining racial segregation: economic competition,
fear of Negro control of the local government, desire to
maintain a servant race of people, inferiority complex,
resistance to any social change. There are three other reasons
why some believe in segregation:
(6) Some believe the Negro race actually is inferior to
the white race and they do not want to live on an equal level
with them. They do not feel the negro has equal mental ability
with the white man, that the Negro has moral, or spiritual
principles as high, that physically he is as clean as the white
man or that in any way the negro race is equal to the white
race.
Those who believe thus feel it would contaminate them to
associate as equals with Negroes. (While I have not indicated
either approval or disapproval with any of the reasons stated
above, I must go on record here. I do not believe that any one
race is either inferior to or superior to any other race. I
believe persons of all races are children of the same Father.)
(7) Some white people insist on segregation because they
fear intermarriage. Their reasoning: If children go to school
together, they will participate in athletics and social events
together. If they go to parties and play together, it is
possible young persons of different races will become
romantically attracted to each other. If so, marriage is the
logical result. If so, then 'half-breed' children will be born.
This line of reasoning, whether it be false reasoning or not,
drives some parents to great fear and strong resistance to any
change in the customs of segregation.
(8) Some insist on segregation not because they have any
prejudice toward the negro as a race or as a person, but because
they sincerely believe that all races are better off segregated.
Many believe that each race has distinctive contributions to
make to society and to the world and to break down their
separation as races would cause humanity to lose much that is
good.
These do not feel that one race is superior to another
race, they simply feel the races are different in many
ways--color of skin, emotional drives, mental and physical
abilities, etc., and that to reduce the several parts of
humanity into one homogeneous whole would cause the human race
to lose much that is wholesome and good.
Perhaps my readers will suggest other reasons why some
insist on segregation. But the point is this: No matter what our
personal feelings are, we never arrive at satisfactory solutions
until we better understand why we feel as we do. I list the
above, not to say I either agree or disagree with them, but
rather as a basis upon which to think more clearly.
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posted 22 June 2008 |
