PAGE TWO
Thr Dally Collegian Editorial Page
Editorial* and nlran appearing la The Oailr Collegian represent the opinion- ot me writer. Thor make no elatm to reneel student or Onleersltr eonsensea. Unsigned odftetlek an rfhtia hr MM adltotv
Force NOT Solution
Physical force and threats will not end discrimi
nation in State College barber shops. The necessity
for equal treatment of all persons, regardless of
color cannot be jammed down the throats of those
unenlightened and backward bigots who are un
acquainted with the true meaning of democracy.
The force of public opinion, developed by un
ceasing education, and expressed in an orderly
manner,can, however, eradicate the blight of racial
discrimination in any community whose citizenry
sincerely desires to promote the inevitable arrival
of the “Brotherhood of Man.”
While not necessarily condoning every aspect
of the CORE program, or its seemingly bumbling
progress to a definitely worthy goal, we firmly op
pose the so-called “direct-action” method of barber
shop picket lines.
Such a program, customarily the tool of militant
minorities, Would only antagonize barbers, and
increase their resistance to removal of racial bar
riers. What we must cultivate is barber coopera
tion, not opposition.
As for CORE’S proposed non-discriminatory
shop, it may be the necessary, last-resort proof
to the barbers that the students of this progressive
institution of higher learning, and the citizens of
this enlightened borough have had enough of racial
injustice.
Thus the shop would be but an opening wedge,
an example ana an encouragement to the existing
shops to do likewise. When all the other barbers
haa followed suit, and showed conclusive evidence
that they would continue to do so, the CORE shop,
with its mission accomplished, would conceivably
cease operations.
Yet if something went wrong; if the shop did
not receive adequate support, and threatened to
disintegrate into a Jim Crow shop, the Collegian
editor, and, we hope, CORE itself, would be quick
to demand its abandonment. It cannot be stressed
100 strongly that segregation is no solution.
There are other possible avenues of attack, which
CORE may or may not have considered. One is a
true boycott, which is distinctly different from the
picket line tactics advocated by Mr. Cover. Literal
ly, the word means a simple refusal to get a hair
cut in any barbershop that practices discrimina
tion, as a quiet means of dramatizing the fact that
our sympathies are on the side of justice and com
plete democracy.
Then there is. law, which may be called the voice
of the majority, with appropriate safeguards for
the welfare of minorities.
We feel that opinion in Pennsylvania, especially
in State College, is sufficiently enlightened to
-ectify this injustice by legislation.
For instance, the Penal Code of Pennsylvania
in 1939) already makes it unlawful to dis
riminate on account of race, creed or color, with
espect to public accommodations.
Unfortunately, barber shops were omitted in the
ist of agencies, which does include restaurants,
hotels, theaters and universities.
An amendment to the code appears to be neces
sary, and should not prove too insurmountable a
task.. CORE is overlooking a good opportunity if
it fails to inaugurate a movement to correct this
glaring omission.
In the meanwhile, a borough prdinance pro
hibiting discriminatory practices in local barber
shops should require a little less time, and should
prove even less difficult to obtain.
We have sufficient faith in the integrity of
barbers to believe that most of them would abide
by the legally-expressed will of the majority.
At the Movies
CATHAUM—The Three Musketeers
STATE—Red River
NITTANY—Date With Judy
j j ||i j
surww,
INTERCHURCH STUDENT FELLOWSHIP
SADIE HAWKINS SOCIAL PARTY
Saturday Night, 8 P.M. Westminster Hall
Cordial Welcome to Students
Fun, Frolic, Friends, Fellowship—Refreshments
SATURDAY AFTERNOON WORK PARTY—2 P.M.
Toy Repairing Group for Christmas Gifts to
Needy Community Families
STUDENT DEPARTMENT—SUNDAY, 9:30 A.M.
Two Courses: “Protestantism,” “The Gospel of Mark”
SACRAMENT OF THE LORD'S SUPPER
Morning Church Service—lo:4s
WESTMINSTER FOUNDATION DEPUTATION
Presbyterian Church—7:3o P.M.
WESTMINSTER FELLOWSHIP—6:2O P.M.
Hymn-Sing and Devotional Service
Speaker: Dr. F. F. Lininger, recently returned from China
with the F.A.O. of the United Nations
Fellowship: “No man can live this religious life alone. He
must have the fellowship of others who are trying to live in
this way. This is so because the human personality above all
things is a social entity." —Dr. Henry N. Wieman.
'Thanks!'
In the Land of Jim Crow
Ray Sprigle, Pulitzer prize-w
of “The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Negro and for four weeks “lived
fellow Americans. This is the tent
which he presents his findings. Mi
of persons and places in some ini
For three hot and dusty weeks
and 3,000 hot and dusty miles I’ve
been looking forward to Bruns
wick and Savannah; the broad
white beaches of the Georgia
coast and a couple days of ocean
swimming.
All right—here are Savannah
and Brunswick. Here are the
broad white beaches. Here is the
wide blue Atlantic Ocean. But
there’ll be no sea bathing for me.
I’ve dragged those swim trunks
all these miles for nothing. 1
And why? Because this is a
strictly Jim Crow ocean and I’m
black.
Along all the hundred miles of
of beautiful islands and shore
of beautiful island and shore
beaches, there’s not a single foot
where a Negro can stick a toe into
salt water. North and South
Carolina and Florida have
public and private beaches re
served for us black people. Not
Georgia. Georgia is going to keep
her snare of the Atlantic pure and
undefiled—and lily white.
Standard Fine Is $5O
And if you’re black and you
think that either I or Georgia is
fooling about this thing—Just try
By Ray Sprigla
tinning reporter and staff member
” recently disguised himself as a
1 black” in the South among his
th of a series of twelve articles in
fr. Sprigle has;changed the names
istances to protect those involved.
dunking yourself along Georgia’s
ocean strand. The resulting fine is/
standard—sso and costs. For tres
pass—no less. To get to the ocean
you must cross some one’s land.
That’s trespass. And—that’s $5O
and costs.
Last time anybody tried going
to the mat with the sovereign
State of Georgia on this issue was
a couple of years ago when three
young colored girls decided they’d
strike a blow for the freedom of
the seas. Rena Atkins, Winsor
Roberts and Inez Walker, of
Brunswick, donned bathing suits,
hired a cab and went to a deserted
section of the Glynn County
water-front.
They never even got their feet
wet. A county policeman herded
them back into their cab, directed
the driver to take them to the po
lice station and locked them up.
They were in cells all day until a
professional bondsman seeking a
fee notified friends and put up
bail. Next morning they were
each fined $5O and costs. Since
then the Atlanticf around here at
least) has been strictly white.
(Continued on page eight)
FRIDAY. DEI
D, L Safety VaL
Letter* to the editor mast b« signed for Inclusion te the
Safety Vtlre, although name* will b« withhold on request* Td«*
ohono numbers and addresses mast be Induced to facilitate
verification of authenticity of signatures. Letters exceeding
lot words In length may be cut when required by space
limitations.
Disappointed
TO THE EDITOR: During Homecoming Week
end, my wife and I, like many other alumni, visited
Penn State. We both were very active in the Coun
cil of Racial Equality while undergraduates and we
were indeed disappointed to see to what a level it
had fallen. Time and again its members have cried
out that Jim Crow in State College barbershops
must be eradicated “quietly,” that a boycott or
similar action is "radical" and unheard of.
What solution have they proposed? The establish
ment of a barbershop where Negroes can get their
hair cut.. Does this eliminate segregation apd dis
crimination? Obviously not! They still can't get
their hair cut where they want to. It’s still segre
gation and it’s still discrimination.
The lie must be nailed! This CORE proposal
must be exposed for what it is—nothing but a
weak-kneed substitute for real action. The Negro
students want no more of the CORE brand of sec
ond class citizenship than any other brand of dis
crimination. If this group only had faith in. the
common sense of the student body, whiqh it is sup
posedly leading to better racial understanding, it
might realize its folly and bring to bear upon the
local hair clippers the mighty weight of public
opinion.
How to do this? Bring the problem out in the
open by publicity of the most effective type. Or
ganize the students for vigorous action against
those who practice Jim Crow. Only by bringing
the student body into the actual solution of the
problem can they be educated to the problem itself
as CORE claims it desires to do. How the students
will learn anything about racial problems gnd
their solutions through CORE’S present policy of
the quiet extension of their own brand of Jim Crow
is very difficult to see. The only real solution to this
problem today is through a vigorous boycott.
There are a few, if any, students who would
cross an anti-Jim Crow picket line. CORE has
sold 1,800 tickets to students for use in their pro
posed barbershop and it is certain that none of
these people would break such a boycott. I am
convinced, as are many others, that a vigorous and
determined boycott would receive equally vigor-,
ous and determined student support. Not only
would it end discrimination in the local barber
shops but it would also be of tremendous educa
tional value for the entire community.
A boycott cannot be recommended too strongly.
This is one facet of an immense problem which
must be solved. Our Alma Mater has dirty linen to
be washed before she can become the '‘Better Penn
State” we all desire.
Richard B. Cover, *47
* See editorial in first column.
Gttft Satlg Collegian
Saccwnor to THE FREE LANCE, tot. 188 T
Published Tuesday through Saturday mornings inclusive duiw
•ng the College year by tho staff of The Daily Collegian of Tito
Pennsylvania State College. Entered as second class rnatts*
luly 6, 1934. at the State College* Pa., Poet Office under tita
ict of March 3. 1879. Subscriptions —s2 a semester. 94 the
(choo! year.
Editor
Lew Stone
STAFF THIS ISSUE
Managing Editor John Bonncl!
News Editor Dado Daly
Copy Editor . G»rg«Vgdacf
Aasiatants Nancy Aadonoa,
Roy MeHtnry. Morle Khlil
R*ch«l AJlop
E4 HlnltJo, Lon r,ijb«rt
Ad Manager
Assistants
3. 1948