DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2) | 1950-05-18 Burlington Herald Article: "The Suggestion is Suspect"

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Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2)

1950-05-18 Burlington Herald Article: "The Suggestion is Suspect"

"Boredom is a vital problem for the moralist, since at least  half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it.
-Bertrand Russell
[[Title]]
THE SUGGESTION IS SUSPECT
[[Article text]]
The point has recently been raised that Burlington has no "race problem" and that the Community Self-Survey, which is making a study of interracial conditions here, should exercise extreme caution, so as not to create difficulties where none exist.
The Burlington Community Self-Survey as it has been explained numerous times in the newspapers, is operating with no definite idea in mind of what the results of its investigation will be. The Survey is not looking for anything, other than a true picture of the way things are.
To suggest that the Self-Survey hold off because it might "create difficulties," is to suggest that Burlington keep its eyes closed so it won't see anything that might prove to be offensive or troublesome, or disturbing to someone's conscience.
The size of Burlington's Negro community--the Negroes comprising Burlington's only sizeable minority--is said to be less than is usually found in cities our size.
This fact is given as justification for some of the accepted "shortages" the Negro population has to contend with. Its small size makes it difficult for Negroes to be able to afford their own churches and similar centers of activity. 
This is a piece of information about the Negros in Burlington. It is accepted by most people --probably because it is a harmless, trivial bit of information that implies nothing anyone need worry about.
The Self-Survey intends to learn what other factors mold and shape Burlington's Negro population, taking all the factors as they come, not sorting them to find the critical, the harmless, or the insignificant. 
The Self-Survey isn't making any judgments of their work until this work is finished.
It would certainly be unfair and overly-sensative to urge caution on a group that has proceeded as tactfully as has the Self-Survey. It would suggest that those urging caution were not as sure of their ground as they would like to be, for if everything is really rosy here, nobody need worry about it being proven.
"Each nation has the government it deserves"
-Joseph De Maistre
[[End of article text]]
[[Handwriting on side of article]]
Burlington Herald May 18 '50

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"Boredom is a vital problem for the moralist, since at least half the sins of mankind are caused by the fear of it. -Bertrand Russell [[Title]] THE SUGGESTION IS SUSPECT [[Article text]] The point has recently been raised that Burlington has no "race problem" and that the Community Self-Survey, which is making a study of interracial conditions here, should exercise extreme caution, so as not to create difficulties where none exist. The Burlington Community Self-Survey as it has been explained numerous times in the newspapers, is operating with no definite idea in mind of what the results of its investigation will be. The Survey is not looking for anything, other than a true picture of the way things are. To suggest that the Self-Survey hold off because it might "create difficulties," is to suggest that Burlington keep its eyes closed so it won't see anything that might prove to be offensive or troublesome, or disturbing to someone's conscience. The size of Burlington's Negro community--the Negroes comprising Burlington's only sizeable minority--is said to be less than is usually found in cities our size. This fact is given as justification for some of the accepted "shortages" the Negro population has to contend with. Its small size makes it difficult for Negroes to be able to afford their own churches and similar centers of activity. This is a piece of information about the Negros in Burlington. It is accepted by most people --probably because it is a harmless, trivial bit of information that implies nothing anyone need worry about. The Self-Survey intends to learn what other factors mold and shape Burlington's Negro population, taking all the factors as they come, not sorting them to find the critical, the harmless, or the insignificant. The Self-Survey isn't making any judgments of their work until this work is finished. It would certainly be unfair and overly-sensative to urge caution on a group that has proceeded as tactfully as has the Self-Survey. It would suggest that those urging caution were not as sure of their ground as they would like to be, for if everything is really rosy here, nobody need worry about it being proven. "Each nation has the government it deserves" -Joseph De Maistre [[End of article text]] [[Handwriting on side of article]] Burlington Herald May 18 '50