SEGREGATION OF NEGROES

Press, Volume XC, Issue 27307, 25 March 1954, Page 10

SEGREGATION OF NEGROES

RECENT CHANGES IN UNITED STATES

FULBRIGHT SCHOLAR’S ACCOUNT

(New Zealand Press Association) WELLINGTON, March 24. Only four States of the 48 in the United States retained segregation of negroes at the seats of higher learning, said Dr. York Willbern, Texanborn lecturer in public administration at the University of Alabama, on his arrival at Wellington today to lecture at Victoria University College. “At one time there were 16 States that discriminated,” said Dr. Willbern. “There is no doubt as to which direction the trend is proceeding. The controversy remaining concerns only rapidity of change. It is only a question of time, I believe, before negroes will share all the benefits of higher education without segregation in any part of the United States.” Dr. Willbern will remain in New Zealand until about October on a Fulbright grant. “There have been tremendous changes since the war, even during the last five years,” he said. “Of course, it is not easy to eradicate prejudice. That takes time. We certainly have our problems, but it is encouraging to see the changes that have taken place in recent years. For example, there is now no segregation of negroes in the United States Army.” Another indication of the change in public outlook, he commented, was a recent decision by the Birmingham city authorities to permit mixed games. At one time that would not have been possible, he said. Naturally, it provoked controversy, but that was only to be expected.