'Court Order Can’t Make the Races Mix'

[theworldismine13]

'Court Order Can’t Make the Races Mix'
'Court Order Can’t Make the Races Mix by Zora Neale Hurston

Letter to the Editor, Orlando Sentinel, August, 1955

After writing about Zora Neale Hurston's politics for LRC in February of 2002 and later for The American Conservative, I have gotten a great deal of correspondence asking where her political writings were available. Several articles are available in her book Folklore, Memoirs, and Other Writings; and she discusses politics a bit in Zora Neale Hurston: A Life in Letters. Unfortunately, little of her political writings have been published on the Web, so in honor of the 50th anniversary of the Brown Decision, we reprint her famous letter to the editor denouncing the decision.

~ Marcus Epstein

Editor: I promised God and some other responsible characters, including a bench of bishops that I was not going to part my lips concerning the U.S. Supreme Court decision on ending segregation in public schools of the South. But since a lot of time has passed and no one seems to touch on what to me appears to be the most important point in the hassle, I break my silence just this once. Consider me as just thinking out loud.

The whole matter revolves around the self-respect of my people. How much satisfaction can I get from a court order for somebody to associate with me who does not wish me near them? The American Indian has never been spoken of as a minority and chiefly because there is no whine in the Indian. Certainly he fought, and valiantly for his lands, and rightfully so, but it is inconceivable of an Indian to seek forcible association with anyone. His well known pride and self-respect would save him from that. I take the Indian position. Now a great clamor will arise in certain quarters that I seek to deny the Negro children of the South their rights, and therefore I am one of those "handkerchief-head ******s" who bow low before the white man and sell out my own people out of cowardice. However an analytical glance will show that that is not the case.

If there are not adequate Negro schools in Florida, and there is some residual, some inherent and unchangeable quality in white schools, impossible to duplicate anywhere else, then I am the first to insist that Negro Children of Florida be allowed to share this boon. But if there are adequate Negro schools and prepared instructors and instruction, then there is nothing different except the presence of white people.

For this reason, I regard the ruling of the U.S. Supreme Court as insulting rather than honoring my race. Since the days of the never-to-be-sufficiently-deplored Reconstruction, there has been current the belief that there is no greater delight to Negroes than the physical association with whites. The doctrine of the white mare. Those familiar with the habits of mules are aware that any mule, if not restrained, will automatically follow a white mare. Dishonest mule-traders made money out of this knowledge in the old days.

Lead a white mare along a country road and slyly open the gate and the mules in the lot would run out and follow this mare. This ruling being conceived and brought forth in a sly political medium with eyes on ’56, and brought forth in same spirit and for the same purpose, it is clear that they have taken the old notion to heart and acted upon it. It is cunning opening of the barnyard gate with the white mare ambling past. We are expected to hasten pell-mell after her.

It is most astonishing that this should be tried just when the nation is exerting itself to shake off the evils of Communist penetration. It is to be recalled that Moscow, being made aware of this folk belief, made it the main plank in their campaign to win the American Negro from the 1920s on. It was the come-on stuff. Join the party and get yourself a white wife or husband. To supply the expected demand, the party had scraped up this-and-that off of park benches and skid rows were held to be just panting to get hold of one of these objects. Seeing how flat that program fell, it is astonishing that it would be so soon revived. Politics does indeed make strange bedfellows.

But the South had better beware in another direction. While it is being frantic over the segregation ruling, it better keep its eyes open for more important things. One instance of Govt by fiat has been rammed down its throat. It is possible that the end of segregation is not here and never meant to be here at present, but the attention of the South directed on what was calculated to keep us busy while more ominous things were brought to pass. The stubborn South and the Midwest kept this nation from being dragged farther to the left than it was during the New Deal.

But what if it is contemplated to do away with the two party system and arrive at Govt by administrative decree? No questions allowed and no information given out from the administrative dept. We could get more rulings on the same subject and more far-reaching any day. It pays to weight every saving and action, however trivial as indicating a trend.

In the ruling on segregation, the unsuspecting nation might have witnessed a trial-balloon. A relatively safe one, since it is sectional and on a matter not likely to arouse other sections of the nation to support of the South. If it goes off fairly well, a precedent has been established. Govt by fiat can replace the constitution. You don’t have to credit me with too much intelligence and penetration, just so you watch carefully and think.

Meanwhile, personally, I am not delighted. I am not persuaded and elevated by the white mare technique. Negro schools in the sate are in very good shape and on the improve. We are fortunate in having Dr. D.E. Williams as head and driving force of Negro instruction. Dr. Williams is relentless in his drive to improve both physical equipment and teacher-quality. He has accomplished wonders in the 20 years past and it is to be expected that he will double that in the future.

It is well known that I have no sympathy nor respect for the "Tragedy of color" school of thought among us, whose fountain-head is the pressure group concerned in this court ruling. I can see no tragedy in being too dark to be invited to a white school social affair. The Supreme Court would have pleased me more if they had concerned themselves about enforcing the compulsory education provisions for Negroes in the South as is done for white children. The next 10 years would be spent in appointing truant officers and looking after conditions in the home from which the children come. Use to the limit what we already have.

Thems my sentiments and I am sticking by them. Growth from within. Ethical and cultural desegregation. It is a contradiction in terms to scream race pride and equality while at the same time spurning Negro teachers and self-association. That old white mare business can go racking down the road for all I care.

 

[Dreamestorical]

Meanwhile, personally, I am not delighted. I am not persuaded and elevated by the white mare technique. Negro schools in the sate are in very good shape and on the improve. We are fortunate in having Dr. D.E. Williams as head and driving force of Negro instruction. Dr. Williams is relentless in his drive to improve both physical equipment and teacher-quality. He has accomplished wonders in the 20 years past and it is to be expected that he will double that in the future.

It is well known that I have no sympathy nor respect for the "Tragedy of color" school of thought among us, whose fountain-head is the pressure group concerned in this court ruling. I can see no tragedy in being too dark to be invited to a white school social affair. The Supreme Court would have pleased me more if they had concerned themselves about enforcing the compulsory education provisions for Negroes in the South as is done for white children. The next 10 years would be spent in appointing truant officers and looking after conditions in the home from which the children come. Use to the limit what we already have.

Thems my sentiments and I am sticking by them. Growth from within. Ethical and cultural desegregation. It is a contradiction in terms to scream race pride and equality while at the same time spurning Negro teachers and self-association. That old white mare business can go racking down the road for all I care.

So much truth in this

I have personally believed that the concept of race equality is an impossibility. There will always be a hierarchy in society. Whether it be in standards of beauty, wealth and just plain preference. The dominant group in a society will always stand on top.
Plus the whole integration of schools really did a number on the african american community. It made african american children become second class in the class rooms. I strongly agree with her point about the government instead focusing on improving funding and encouraging black children to pursue an education even if its in black owned institutions.
But of course that is just fantasy. Integration's main purpose was to strip blacks of their identity and have them assimilate. It was basically manifest destiny repackaged. ( if you want to look at it philosophically)

 

[theworldismine13]

So much truth in this

I have personally believed that the concept of race equality is an impossibility. There will always be a hierarchy in society. Whether it be in standards of beauty, wealth and just plain preference. The dominant group in a society will always stand on top.
Plus the whole integration of schools really did a number on the african american community. It made african american children become second class in the class rooms. I strongly agree with her point about the government instead focusing on improving funding and encouraging black children to pursue an education even if its in black owned institutions.
But of course that is just fantasy. Integration's main purpose was to strip blacks of their identity and have them assimilate. It was basically manifest destiny repackaged. ( if you want to look at it philosophically)

i believe in integration but its something that happens in an environment were individual rights are protected and through free market commerce

for example the government should not be telling anybody where they can or cannot go to school, government mandated segregation is wrong but the problem with the supreme court decision is that people ran with it and said now we are going to force people to integrate and we are going to start making up rules based on race, which is what was wrong in the first place (government telling people what to do)

 

[Dreamestorical]

i believe in integration but its something that happens in an environment were individual rights are protected and through free market commerce

for example the government should not be telling anybody where they can or cannot go to school, government mandated segregation is wrong but the problem with the supreme court decision is that people ran with it and said now we are going to force people to integrate and we are going to start making up rules based on race, which is what was wrong in the first place (government telling people what to do)

But you do know that the free market you speak off will never come to fruition. There will always be some sort of government control whether it be in education, business or just policies with far reaching effects and whatever group that possess the most resources/wealth will use that control to benefit themselves.

Plus a free market doesn't necessarily mean individuals rights will be protected. In a true free market that you speak of, for example a company would have the right to hire whoever they want to hire even if it means basing your employment requirements on race or sex. The only thing they might have to deal with is the consequences of such a decision. But again it goes back to my main point. There will always be a hierarchy so as long as such companies do not piss of those at the top they will be fine.
Even when one looks at the education system. At the end of the day the majority will benefit mostly from a system that caters to them.
What incentive will schools have in teaching something like black history in a non controlled free market type schooling environment were the majority of the kids are white?
It is because of government control that black kids get to learn about the achievements of blacks (no matter how little) in american history.

Free market is good and all but to say that equality and individual rights can be protected in it seems more like a dream. There will always be winners and losers regardless of how society is set up. Plus knowing how we as human beings naturally group ourselves based on appearance and culture, it is expected that certain groups will end up at a disadvantage.

 

[Dreamestorical]

i believe in integration but its something that happens in an environment were individual rights are protected and through free market commerce

for example the government should not be telling anybody where they can or cannot go to school, government mandated segregation is wrong but the problem with the supreme court decision is that people ran with it and said now we are going to force people to integrate and we are going to start making up rules based on race, which is what was wrong in the first place (government telling people what to do)

 

[theworldismine13]

But you do know that the free market you speak off will never come to fruition. There will always be some sort of government control whether it be in education, business or just policies with far reaching effects and whatever group that possess the most resources/wealth will use that control to benefit themselves.

Plus a free market doesn't necessarily mean individuals rights will be protected. In a true free market that you speak of, for example a company would have the right to hire whoever they want to hire even if it means basing your employment requirements on race or sex. The only thing they might have to deal with is the consequences of such a decision. But again it goes back to my main point. There will always be a hierarchy so as long as such companies do not piss of those at the top they will be fine.
Even when one looks at the education system. At the end of the day the majority will benefit mostly from a system that caters to them.
What incentive will schools have in teaching something like black history in a non controlled free market type schooling environment were the majority of the kids are white?
It is because of government control that black kids get to learn about the achievements of blacks (no matter how little) in american history.

Free market is good and all but to say that equality and individual rights can be protected in it seems more like a dream. There will always be winners and losers regardless of how society is set up. Plus knowing how we as human beings naturally group ourselves based on appearance and culture, it is expected that certain groups will end up at a disadvantage.

well i never said anything about equality and of course there is no real free market, you also need government regulation in a "free" market, the point of saying free market is to say that the regulation should be as minimum as possible, but that minimum of government regulation steps in when the individual rights or economic rights are being violated

in other words the role of the government is to protect individual rights, the goal of the government is not to make things equal or to control people

the local community decides what should be taught in schools

but the point is that the problem with segregation is that the individual rights of citizens were being violated, in other words telling somebody that they cant go to certain school because of their color is a violation of individual rights, but the government telling somebody that they have to go to a certain school to desegregate is also a violation of individual rights

i dont have a problem with integration as long as its done in a free market environment and with respect to individual rights, i think in the end there has to be integration and there can only be one culture, if there isnt the country will slowly fall apart but the foundation of american culture has to be respect for individual rights

 

[Dreamestorical]

well i never said anything about equality and of course there is no real free market, you also need government regulation in a "free" market, the point of saying free market is to say that the regulation should be as minimum as possible, but that minimum of government regulation steps in when the individual rights or economic rights are being violated

in other words the role of the government is to protect individual rights, the goal of the government is not to make things equal or to control people

the local community decides what should be taught in schools

but the point is that the problem with segregation is that the individual rights of citizens were being violated, in other words telling somebody that they cant go to certain school because of their color is a violation of individual rights, but the government telling somebody that they have to go to a certain school to desegregate is also a violation of individual rights

i dont have a problem with integration as long as its done in a free market environment and with respect to individual rights, i think in the end there has to be integration and there can only be one culture, if there isnt the country will slowly fall apart but the foundation of american culture has to be respect for individual rights

I want to raise an example and It will be In regards to this quote you left "the local community decides what should be taught in schools"

lets say the local community is majority white. So now they decide what is taught in their schools. Now what will naturally happen is that what is taught in the schools will reflect the will, mindset and desires of the majority. So what happens to the interests of the minorities in this situation?
In a school like this where the local community is majority white, what incentive will they have in allowing their kids to learn about for example black history month?
frankly in my opinion the resources would be better used to teach the kids something they would find relatable. (just my opinion)


Now in an education system like this where there is limited government control, one might tell the parents of the minority students to either
A) accept things as they are
B) find another school district with similar mindsets as yours to enroll your child.

After all its natural that the parents of the black kid would want their kid to learn about the achievements of blacks in the society for the benefit of the child.

sidenote: (Frankly I think a black kid not only must but has the right to learn about the achievement of other blacks especially in the society we live in today.)

Now as more black parents who are the minority in this society see that their kids are not able to learn about the great achievements of past black Americans they too will begin to look for school districts that are willing to teach this. Or in some cases they might decide to form their own communities and teach it themselves. Then we are back to segregation.


Plus in regards to the last bolded part.
true, but as i stated in my last post its wishful thinking. There are still going to be groups of people with similar cultural outlooks who are going to decide to group themselves together for mutual benefit then exercise their influence regardless of government regulation being in full effect or minimized. As long as that group possess wealth and influence or are just plain majority their interests will be at the forefront of societies regardless of the wishes of the minority or less affluent. After all the governments job is to serve the people... or should I say the governments job is to serve the will of the majority. ( you piss of the majority your out)


Now If one could find a way to establish a culture were the respect of individual rights including the minority is its foundation, then frankly that would be a step away from world peace.

 

[theworldismine13]

I want to raise an example and It will be In regards to this quote you left "the local community decides what should be taught in schools"

lets say the local community is majority white. So now they decide what is taught in their schools. Now what will naturally happen is that what is taught in the schools will reflect the will, mindset and desires of the majority. So what happens to the interests of the minorities in this situation?
In a school like this where the local community is majority white, what incentive will they have in allowing their kids to learn about for example black history month?
frankly in my opinion the resources would be better used to teach the kids something they would find relatable. (just my opinion)


Now in an education system like this where there is limited government control, one might tell the parents of the minority students to either
A) accept things as they are
B) find another school district with similar mindsets as yours to enroll your child.

After all its natural that the parents of the black kid would want their kid to learn about the achievements of blacks in the society for the benefit of the child.

sidenote: (Frankly I think a black kid not only must but has the right to learn about the achievement of other blacks especially in the society we live in today.)

Now as more black parents who are the minority in this society see that their kids are not able to learn about the great achievements of past black Americans they too will begin to look for school districts that are willing to teach this. Or in some cases they might decide to form their own communities and teach it themselves. Then we are back to segregation.


Plus in regards to the last bolded part.
true, but as i stated in my last post its wishful thinking. There are still going to be groups of people with similar cultural outlooks who are going to decide to group themselves together for mutual benefit then exercise their influence regardless of government regulation being in full effect or minimized. As long as that group possess wealth and influence or are just plain majority their interests will be at the forefront of societies regardless of the wishes of the minority or less affluent. After all the governments job is to serve the people... or should I say the governments job is to serve the will of the majority. ( you piss of the majority your out)


Now If one could find a way to establish a culture were the respect of individual rights including the minority is its foundation, then frankly that would be a step away from world peace.

i think you are confused, local government already decide the curriculum

i think the primary purpose of school is to learn reading, writing, science and mathematics, as long as schools are teaching those things they are good

as far as history and politics that is a secondary issue, teaching one particular version of history is not the key issue, its not a violation of individual rights if a school doesnt teach black history and its not a violation of individual rights if a black school decided to teach solely black history

if a person has a problem with the curriculum they should take it up with the school management or the school board

the main criteria for deciding whether a school should stay open or not is whether the students are learning reading, writing, science and mathematics

 

[Dreamestorical]

i think you are confused, local government already decide the curriculum

i think the primary purpose of school is to learn reading, writing, science and mathematics, as long as schools are teaching those things they are good

as far as history and politics that is a secondary issue, teaching one particular version of history is not the key issue, its not a violation of individual rights if a school doesnt teach black history and its not a violation of individual rights if a black school decided to teach solely black history

if a person has a problem with the curriculum they should take it up with the school management or the school board

the main criteria for deciding whether a school should stay open or not is whether the students are learning reading, writing, science and mathematics

Yeah math, reading, writing and science is important, but one has to understand that courses like history for example play a huge part in shaping our identity. It helps to build confidence and identity in one. For example from my personal experience i grew up schooling in nigeria. Apart from learning about math and sciences I also learned a lot about my African history. From the ancient benin kingdom, to the warrior queen amina, to the exploits of ile ife. All this helped to make me who I am today. One can even use this as a reason African children do well in america, canada e.t.c
apart from the fact that we are taught the value of education, we also know where we come from. We know our history. We know we had great kingdoms that flourished. We know our history did not start from the slave ships, and believe it or not it has a great psychological effect on us.
Now of course I was able to learn all this because I am a Nigerian residing in Nigeria. So I am the majority and the wishes of the majority will be taught. But what about the black kid studying in america. Doesnt he/she deserve the right to learn about he/her own history?? But at the same time the school board in america cannot be forced to change their curriculum to fit the desires of the minority. So again someone ends up losing out.

So my point is whether in a regulated or free market the wishes of the majority will stand. A certain group will always come out losing regardless of the government or the school board believing individual rights must be protected. One has to remember individual rights can mean a lot of things to different people. A black parent might feel it is their child's right to learn about black history in whatever school district the child is in. (one might be able to classify it under substantive equality)

I know for example canada has something like this
Appropriate Educational Programming - Human Rights Aspects
Human Rights and Appropriate Educational Programming

A key focus here is the notion of substantive equality; that is the recognition that groups who have historically experienced social, political and economic disadvantage may need more than the identical measures or initiatives that are aimed at eliminating historical disadvantage to ensure that they enjoy equal benefit and participation in Canadian society.

Someone could make an argument that educating black kids about black/African history and achievements will help in eliminating the historical disadvantages that exist due to slavery and denying them this education is a breech of their rights

 

[theworldismine13]

Yeah math, reading, writing and science is important, but one has to understand that courses like history for example play a huge part in shaping our identity. It helps to build confidence and identity in one. For example from my personal experience i grew up schooling in nigeria. Apart from learning about math and sciences I also learned a lot about my African history. From the ancient benin kingdom, to the warrior queen amina, to the exploits of ile ife. All this helped to make me who I am today. One can even use this as a reason African children do well in america, canada e.t.c
apart from the fact that we are taught the value of education, we also know where we come from. We know our history. We know we had great kingdoms that flourished. We know our history did not start from the slave ships, and believe it or not it has a great psychological effect on us.
Now of course I was able to learn all this because I am a Nigerian residing in Nigeria. So I am the majority and the wishes of the majority will be taught. But what about the black kid studying in america. Doesnt he/she deserve the right to learn about he/her own history?? But at the same time the school board in america cannot be forced to change their curriculum to fit the desires of the minority. So again someone ends up losing out.

So my point is whether in a regulated or free market the wishes of the majority will stand. A certain group will always come out losing regardless of the government or the school board believing individual rights must be protected. One has to remember individual rights can mean a lot of things to different people. A black parent might feel it is their child's right to learn about black history in whatever school district the child is in. (one might be able to classify it under substantive equality)

I know for example canada has something like this
Appropriate Educational Programming - Human Rights Aspects
Human Rights and Appropriate Educational Programming



Someone could make an argument that educating black kids about black/African history and achievements will help in eliminating the historical disadvantages that exist due to slavery and denying them this education is a breech of their rights

i dont agree with history being a primary issue, i think thats something that should be worked out at the local level

individual rights in this case would mean you should have the right to make a case in front of the school board or school management, individual rights doesnt mean some particular version of history has to be taught, individual rights means you have a discussion about how history should be taught, everybody has their voice heard and then there is a vote and that's it, if you arent able to persuade people that's on you

the only history that is mandatory is american history, anything else is just extra