Y night
Le Fs 5 5%6 65%6 Question: "Would you move if coloured people came to live in great numbers
in your neighbourhood?"
vs — —
Yes, definitely 4 4
. Yes, migh 29% 29%
No 229, 31%
These figures confirm the important findings made public by the Scientific American in July 1964 showing a very deep, long-range trend among the whites in the U.S. away from racism. The study showed that the trend held not only in the North, but in the South, including areas that had been scenes of violence, and was so pronounced that an absolute majority of whites in the U.S. are now in favour of integration.
Negro militants have often been warned to go slow in their drive for freedom because their vigorous activities would alienate the white populat+ ion, increase prejudice and erase gains already made. The classic argument has .been: you can't legislate hate, fear and ignorance out of the hearts of men; only a long, slow process of education can wipe out prejudice and discriminatory practices. The militants' answers have been: If we can't legislate what goes on in the human heart, we can legislate to protect our lives, our jobs and our civil rights; and we can educate the white population by our daily battles to defend and extend our rights and our human dignity.
Scientific tests of shifts in sentiments among whites show the correctness of these arguments. The drive for racial equality has reached new heights during the last two years. The ‘struggle has continued to préss on and on, and the participants refuse to be content with a few token crumbs. This unyiélding, uncompromising perseverance has left a deep impression on the minds - and the hearts - of all U.S. citiyens, educated for hundreds of years by the slavemasters and the wage-slave bosses. The Negro community is now providing some new tex books, some new lessons, tens of thousands of new teachers, and racial tolerance has taken a few steps foward.
The hypocrites in Congress and the White House are quick to take credit for any gains in the field of civil rights. It should be emphatically clear who deserves credit in this instance: the freedom fighters in the streets of the South and the ghettoes of the North.