Aquinas Institute - Arete Yearbook (Rochester, NY)

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For our enlightenment we have the example and inspiration of Blessed Martin de Porres, saintly Negro Dominican lay brother, the tercentenary of whose death in Lima, Peru is being observed this year. Let us learn of him, whose life was such a splendid exemplification of all that Social lustice implies, and let us pray that through him the door may be opened wide to the members of his race, yes, to the members of all races. That open door for Catholic youth will prove that not all colored youth are abnormal, it will disabuse the minds of the Negro of the assumption that only Communists may be numbered among their white friends, in fine, it will serve as a breakwater against the threatening flood of Communism. lt will give a practical answer to the racial myths of twentieth- century Germany and ltalyg and, finally, it will be a generator of spiritual and intellectual energy which in turn will accelerate the reception of fourteen mil- lion Americans into the Haven of Truth where they will enjoy without alloy that freedom wherewith Christ has made us free. I know that there is cr G-ocI and that I-Ie hates injustice and slavery, I Ianow I am right because I know that Iiberty is right for Christ teaches it, and Christ is God Abraham Llncoln 24

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and are constantly striving with pathetic heroism despite the restrictions and humiliations to which they are subjected. Each year thousands of Negroes receive college or university degrees, many of these obtained from State or private institutions in the North, and on the same academic conditions as the white students, though freguently under great personal sacrifice. ln the South, Negroes have their own universities and schools, including such notable institu- tions as l-loward, Fisk, Atlanta, I-lampton, and Tuskegee. ln literature, music, and other arts, Negroes are extraordinarily well represented. As proof of their ability consider the selection of the negro composer, William Grant Still, to write the theme music of the New York World's Fair. Altogether, we should marvel at the enormous progress of the Negro since his emancipation in face of almost insurmountable obstacles. ln all history there is no record of such swift, silent, peaceful, almost unobserved progress as that achieved by the Negro in America in the past seventy-five years. lf Negro achievement is so great despite the handicaps mentioned, it is interesting to speculate how much greater might be the contribution of Negroes to American civilization, if their opportunities were equal in all parts of the United States. lt is too true that the average white American, whether Catholic or non- Catholic Hknows-of the Negro, but does not know the Negro. By reason of the historical background of the Negro's settlement in the New World and more directly on account of the conventional imposition of the present age, the sight of a colored face is generally associated with headlines such as: Negro Holds Up Man-Negro Lynched For Cuallegedf' omittedj Assault-Father Divine Opens New l-leaveneand the like. They do not stop to reflect that there are Negroes who are not Htough guys, who are not delinguents, who are not clowns nor comedians, and for that matter that these mentioned constitute but an infinitesimal minority of the negro population of the United States. This nescience-not ignorance in the strict sense-is at the root of prejudice against the Negro and the unfortunate generator of a not unusual hypersensitiveness in the negro gentleman. This problem of interracial distrust and discrimination is so complex, so tangled up with the roots of man's acguisitiveness and pride, his defective institutions and economic systems, that only the most powerful solvent is capable of break- ing it down. This solvent lies in the Christian belief in the eguality of all men in the eyes of their Creator. lf Catholicism is to remain as it must, Catholic, it will so remain only by Catholic principles blossoming into Catholic Action! A Cath- olicism which is not integral is a misnomer. Catholics are incensed and justly so at the recent outbreaks of racism in Europe, but we are egually guilty if we oppose by word or deed the open Catholic door in this country. The problem before us is clearp its solution lies in education-not in the educa- tion of the Negro but in the education of ourselves, the white people, concerning the conception and understanding of the principle that God hath made of one blood all nations of men to dwell upon the face of the whole earth. 23

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