Who Wants Integration?

Why Do Negroes Want Integration?

By Charles L. Allen

Atlanta Constitution

(January 2, 1957)

            The past two days I have listed reasons why some white people insist on segregation. From my mail and observation I find there are some Negroes who insist on integration. Why do they want integration? I am sure I do not have the full answer and perhaps some of my readers will give me further lights. But it seems to me they want integration because:

            (1) They resent the restrictions that segregation imposes on them. A Negro bishop illustrated it thusly: A baby will sit on your lap happily. But if you place your hand on its head and hold it firmly, the baby immediately will begin to struggle to get free. It isn't that the baby expects to go anywhere; it justs doesn't want to be held down.

            Negroes have written me they prefer to live in Negro communities, but do not like to be told they cannot live elsewhere if they so desired; that they prefer their own churches and schools but do not like to be barred from other churches and schools merely because of their race; that they prefer their own social functions but do not want to be told they are not welcome in any society. If given the freedom of choice they would still choose their own people, but they do not want the freedom to choose.

            (2) Some Negroes want integration because they have not fared too well under segregation. They feel that jobs should be filled on a basis of ability, training, willingness to work, etc., and not on the basis of race. That 'separate but equal facilities' is more talk than truth and that their educational, economic and cultural opportunities are grossly unequal. They do not think it right for one of their children to be forced to leave the state of its birth in order to study medicine, law and make other preparations for life. They feel that if two people pay the same fare for a bus ride, then they ought to have the same right to sit where they desire in the bus. Under segregation they feel their race has been forced to live in the poorest houses, standing back until the white people have taken the best.

            (3) Some Negroes oppose segregation because they believe it presupposes inferiority and they strongly believe they are not inferior. That given equal opportunities in an integrated society, they will be equal to the white man in every respect.

            (4) Contrasted to the above, and this will cause argument, some Negroes want integration because they do feel the black man is inferior and they want to escape from their own race.

            But whatever the reasons for and/or against either segregation or integration, we will never solve this--the greatest social problem of our time--except in an atmosphere of good will, calm reasoning, a willingness on the part of each race to understand and sympathize with the other, and above all, without the grace of God in our hearts.

            Tomorrow we will look at reasons why some white people want integration.

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posted 22 June 2008