DIY History | Transcribe | Campus Culture | Dorothy Schramm newspaper clippings, 1949-1955 (folder 1 of 2) | 1951-11-10 Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Letters: "A Negro Point of View"

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

1951-11-10 Burlington Hawkeye Gazette Letters: "A Negro Point of View" - "Takes Editor To Task"

[[Header in bold and italics]]
A Negro Point of View
[[end bold and italics]]
[[Article text]]
The Hawk-Eye Gazette: our sincere thanks to the honorable and distinguished editor of the Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette for the privilege accorded readers to express their opinions in its column of "Opinions of Others".
We believe Burlington's self-survey committee merits respect and hearty congratulations for the gracious service rendered in the cause of justice. This composite of Christians of different creed and color united in sincere effort in a crusade for democracy is a symbol of our Creator's plan for peace throughout the universe, in brotherhood of man.
The committee's report is no credit to a city bearing the slogan, "Thirty Thousand Friendly People". The city's minorities are restricted from reaching full stature of their aspiration because of Burlington's practice of the Jim Crow law. Burlington is a typical American city following the line of least resistance.
Negroes have long cast aside the blinders and have caught a clear view of America's plan to make her darker brother the world's forgotten man. Let's not forget the red man, the yellow man, Jew and ebony have sacrificed on battlefield, America to free. Like bleating sheep in a slaughter pen, we must plead for liberty in America, the school of democracy. 
Memory sometimes will play back in the yard of yesterday. We recall that since the present editor acquired the Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette, the old ship has begun steering farther and farther from obnoxious rocks of prejudice. In its popular column, "Thinking Out Loud", the distinguished editor persists in thinking loud, and louder. His thunder has crashed Burlington's outrageous pillars of prejudice. It is obvious the walls of unjust discrimination are crumbling slowly but surely. The editor merits credit for his clear vision in survey of Jim Crown burial grounds.
It is quite apparent that many of Burlington's older generation achieved great wealth, moved farther west to bask in fame. This loss in population seems to be a blessing in disguise. The steady influx of new citizens, with new business ideas, is virtually an inspiration to Burlington's new generation. Their co-ordination works like yeast in dough. Burlington is rising. The infant democracy has actually climbed from the candle, and is making effort to walk.
Burlington's barristers inspired pep in her step when they sponsored the assignment of a Negro for bailiff in the person of Cecil E. Rideout. The J. S. Schramm Co. set an example for fair employment by employing a colored matron for cashier in their store in the person of Mrs. Juinita Thompson Newman. If Burlington had more Negroes of the type of Mrs. Dee Edwin White and Cecil E. Rideout, members of the self-survey committee, and less of the cringing Uncle Tom type, we could give greater support to this worthy cause.
Allow me to say, from over 75 years of
[[End article text]]

[[Header in bold and italics]]
Takes Editor To Task
[[End bold and italics]]
[[Article text]]The Hawk-Eye Gazette: Your comment on the human relations survey is indicative of complete lack of understanding in matters of social conflict and social conscience. you are not the first nor the last to champion our highly accelerated pace on the road toward Hell--a road we travel faster, yet even faster because it is paved with good intentions. Your negative approach to color line matters has serious connotations. It is more the rule, less the exception, that religious leaders should spread the gospel (truth) for Christ's sake, but for our sake, don't dare mention the social gospel nor try to implement the Good Word in earthly deeds. That is unworthy and undignified to their high calling. To the shame of Pilate, Christ adorned the cross, because he was an agitator. His agitation threatened not Pilate but the status quo of traffickers in human misery, exploitation, and degradation. Traffic that is just as abominable in the spiritual and cultural affairs as in economic affairs.
Why mention Cicero and divided responsibility? Who lays down the 'thou shalt nots' to the earth's 80 percent of the population? Who compounds the evils of discrimination whether it be color, race, or whatever? How would you like to live in Harlem where the 'Harlem housing, of Negroes is equivalent to the housing in the entire US in NYC.
Surely let us be anti-Christ and refrain from agitation. Let us not challenge any violation of God or man if the $ is involved. Phooey to me$$ianic editorialship. Likewise holier-than-thou intransigence to the universal endeavor to attain the Good Life spiritually, culturally, socially and economically. You express a fear of agitation for moral re-armament that is too wide to spread. A program that only the other fellow should harken to. A program that must emanate from the ground-swell of an aroused public to be an effective reformation. Our leaders (sic) gives us no more than we require of them. Even so conservative a journal as the DMR had a good word for the survey task, a paper which also a member of that great American fraternity--The Glorifield Advertiser, THE Mass Medium of Adult Education.
Many are called but few are chosen. When the 'roll call is up yonder', will you be there?
GRAYDON R. FIGG
2015 River
[[end article text]]
[[Handwriting]]
BHG Nov 10 '51

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[[Header in bold and italics]] A Negro Point of View [[end bold and italics]] [[Article text]] The Hawk-Eye Gazette: our sincere thanks to the honorable and distinguished editor of the Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette for the privilege accorded readers to express their opinions in its column of "Opinions of Others". We believe Burlington's self-survey committee merits respect and hearty congratulations for the gracious service rendered in the cause of justice. This composite of Christians of different creed and color united in sincere effort in a crusade for democracy is a symbol of our Creator's plan for peace throughout the universe, in brotherhood of man. The committee's report is no credit to a city bearing the slogan, "Thirty Thousand Friendly People". The city's minorities are restricted from reaching full stature of their aspiration because of Burlington's practice of the Jim Crow law. Burlington is a typical American city following the line of least resistance. Negroes have long cast aside the blinders and have caught a clear view of America's plan to make her darker brother the world's forgotten man. Let's not forget the red man, the yellow man, Jew and ebony have sacrificed on battlefield, America to free. Like bleating sheep in a slaughter pen, we must plead for liberty in America, the school of democracy. Memory sometimes will play back in the yard of yesterday. We recall that since the present editor acquired the Burlington Hawk-Eye Gazette, the old ship has begun steering farther and farther from obnoxious rocks of prejudice. In its popular column, "Thinking Out Loud", the distinguished editor persists in thinking loud, and louder. His thunder has crashed Burlington's outrageous pillars of prejudice. It is obvious the walls of unjust discrimination are crumbling slowly but surely. The editor merits credit for his clear vision in survey of Jim Crown burial grounds. It is quite apparent that many of Burlington's older generation achieved great wealth, moved farther west to bask in fame. This loss in population seems to be a blessing in disguise. The steady influx of new citizens, with new business ideas, is virtually an inspiration to Burlington's new generation. Their co-ordination works like yeast in dough. Burlington is rising. The infant democracy has actually climbed from the candle, and is making effort to walk. Burlington's barristers inspired pep in her step when they sponsored the assignment of a Negro for bailiff in the person of Cecil E. Rideout. The J. S. Schramm Co. set an example for fair employment by employing a colored matron for cashier in their store in the person of Mrs. Juinita Thompson Newman. If Burlington had more Negroes of the type of Mrs. Dee Edwin White and Cecil E. Rideout, members of the self-survey committee, and less of the cringing Uncle Tom type, we could give greater support to this worthy cause. Allow me to say, from over 75 years of [[End article text]] [[Header in bold and italics]] Takes Editor To Task [[End bold and italics]] [[Article text]]The Hawk-Eye Gazette: Your comment on the human relations survey is indicative of complete lack of understanding in matters of social conflict and social conscience. you are not the first nor the last to champion our highly accelerated pace on the road toward Hell--a road we travel faster, yet even faster because it is paved with good intentions. Your negative approach to color line matters has serious connotations. It is more the rule, less the exception, that religious leaders should spread the gospel (truth) for Christ's sake, but for our sake, don't dare mention the social gospel nor try to implement the Good Word in earthly deeds. That is unworthy and undignified to their high calling. To the shame of Pilate, Christ adorned the cross, because he was an agitator. His agitation threatened not Pilate but the status quo of traffickers in human misery, exploitation, and degradation. Traffic that is just as abominable in the spiritual and cultural affairs as in economic affairs. Why mention Cicero and divided responsibility? Who lays down the 'thou shalt nots' to the earth's 80 percent of the population? Who compounds the evils of discrimination whether it be color, race, or whatever? How would you like to live in Harlem where the 'Harlem housing, of Negroes is equivalent to the housing in the entire US in NYC. Surely let us be anti-Christ and refrain from agitation. Let us not challenge any violation of God or man if the $ is involved. Phooey to me$$ianic editorialship. Likewise holier-than-thou intransigence to the universal endeavor to attain the Good Life spiritually, culturally, socially and economically. You express a fear of agitation for moral re-armament that is too wide to spread. A program that only the other fellow should harken to. A program that must emanate from the ground-swell of an aroused public to be an effective reformation. Our leaders (sic) gives us no more than we require of them. Even so conservative a journal as the DMR had a good word for the survey task, a paper which also a member of that great American fraternity--The Glorifield Advertiser, THE Mass Medium of Adult Education. Many are called but few are chosen. When the 'roll call is up yonder', will you be there? GRAYDON R. FIGG 2015 River [[end article text]] [[Handwriting]] BHG Nov 10 '51