Racial Problem In U.S. Acute And Baffling

Press, Volume CII, Issue 30171, 1 July 1963, Page 6

Racial Problem In U.S. Acute And Baffling

(From Our Own Reporter)

WAIMATE. June 30

In an address before a large gathering of both Waimete branches of Toe H and friends, Dr. W. W. Witte, exchange Minister at Knox Church (from the U.S.A.) dealt with the racial problem to America, as he knew it from his fourteen years' experience in areas where this problem was. and still is. acute and baffling. In the first place, said Dr. Witte, the problem was by no means as simple as most people were inclined to think. Again, the reports in New Zealand newspapers dealt with the worst highlights only, leaving the broad question and the wide implications out of the picture. Actually, tremendous progress had been made in the integration of the negroes to many parts of the country Negroes were prominent in many fields, including education, sport, and music. It was to the south where there was stagnation and obstinate opposition to the constitutional laws relating to the negro. “Still Fighting Civil War" The white people of the south simply refused to cooperate with the rest of the country. They had never become adjusted to the laws that sought to emancipate the negroes from’their lowly heritage. They e\ r en had their own Federal flag As Dr. Witte put it. “They were still fighting the civil war.” Strangely enough these

people were rigid church followers. but the ir interprettion of the scriptures wax made to fit to with a set of fixed ideas that included th. subservience of the coloured race, and in fact the right of the white man to keep slaves.

The southern negro school* were badly managed and taught, and it was not thought necessary or even desirable to attempt to raise the standard of life of the negro. A further Important point in any appraisal of the situation was the recognition of the necessity to underetand the soul of the negro, said Dr Witte.

Many of the people who advocated dnrect and rapid unification knew nothing of the thought processes of these coloured people. “Saved By Singing"

An important chanacteriir ie was a sort of loose attitude to life—a careless day to day avoidance of stress and straun. It had been said by a prominent negro that his people were “saved by singing.” and it was true that these people had a marvellous power to laugh at things. They were emotionally unstable. turning readily from one mood to another

Martin Luther King had insisted on non-violence and this had worked very succewfully for a time but it had been a very difficult portion to maintain and there were signs of its breaking down Dr. Witte answered many questions art the cloae of has address, and was thank*! by Mrs A. Thompson, president of the Waimiate branch Toe H.