"A Portent," F. Eugene Corbie

Dublin Core

Title

"A Portent," F. Eugene Corbie

Subject

1924 Interracial Conference

Description

The article describes the 1924 conference, the schools that attended, and the topics that were discussed. The topic of the first day was the African American history, and the theory of racial superiority with mention of intelligence tests conducted by the Army. On the second day discussions revolved around intermarriage and the social status of African Americans and their economic contributions. On the topic of equal education and social privileges, the journal mentions that Bryn Mawr delegates stated that they were ready to admit Black students. However, the Bryn Mawr delegates also added the caveat that Black students may not enjoy life on campus because of the prejudice they may experience from others. The article ends with six conclusions taken away from the conference.
Content warning: this article includes swastikas in the header that appear to be decorative.

Creator

F. Eugene Corbie

Source

The Crisis, July 1924, Vol. 28, No.3, p. 125-26.

Publisher

HathiTrust Digital Library

Date

July 1924

Rights

This item is in the public domain.

Language

English

Type

Text

Text Item Type Metadata

Text

EDUCATION NUMBER

The CRISIS

Vol. 28—No. 3

JULY, 1924

Whole No. 165

[image of Black student]

ONE DOLLAR AND A HALF A YEAR

FIFTEEN CENTS A COPY

 

A PORTENT

F. Eugene Corbie

A new era of purposefulness has dawned in the field of intercollegiate relationships. In the month of April a group of college students moved by the spirit created by the Indianapolis Convention met at Woolman School, Swarthmore, Pa., to discuss the matter of race prejudice and its attendant evils. There were representative from the University of Pennsylvania, Virginia Normal and Industrial School, West Virginia Collegiate Institute, Haverford College, Hampton Institute, The College of the City of New York, Union Theological Seminary, Lincoln University, Swarthmore College and Bryn Mawr College. The conference was held under the auspices of the Bryn Mawr Liberal Club, the Swarthmore Polity Club and the University of Pennsylvania Forum.

The first day of the conference was given over to a re-statement of the findings of the groups at Indianapolis; to the history of the Negro in America and to the theory of racial superiority. This last question awoke much discussion. One student called the attention of the representatives to the various intelligence tests, especially to those given by the Army which purported to show the intelligence of the Negro was far below that of the whites. The theory of the Stoddard School and the findings of Professor Bean on his examination of certain Negro skulls were also advanced. Another student in analyzing the Army tests spoke of the reports of Professor Kroeber of the University of California which show that the general results are in favor of the whites but that the Negroes of the North are above those of the South in intelligence. Moreover when the Negro of the North is compared with the average white, of Alabama for instance, the Negro ranks higher proving that with superior environment any race will advance. Professor Kroeber also states that while the results of the tests may be helpful for vocational and educational guidance, they are not sufficient to prove racial superiority because they take no cognizance of the social and economic factors in the lives of the people examined. Proof of an inequality in the mentality of the two people must rest on the bestowal of equal chances.

Apropos of Stoddard’s statement that the Negro has made no contribution to civilization one student declared Egyptian civilization Afroid, “whether Mr. Stoddard knew it or not.” This student also contended that Professor Bean when conducting his examination of white and Negro skulls knew in advance the distinction between them and inasmuch as the eye sees what the mind feels, naturally he saw many differences. Professor Mall, on the other hand, being unaware of this distinction examined the same skulls and found very little variation, showing that even in the scientific field one’s prejudice plays a part.

The morning of the second day was spend in discussing the social status of the Negro and also his economic contribution to America. The attention of the students was drawn to the many social injustices which are commonly known to all of us. The Southern delegates gave expression to what they themselves had just undergone in order to attend the conference in the matter of Jim-Crow cars and other public places of accommodation. A discussion of equal educational and social privileges for white and Negro students brought out this important information that Bryn Mawr is ready to admit any colored student who might apply for admission. The point was cleverly made however that usually in such cases the principal discourages admission on the ground that the student in question would meet strong prejudice and social ostracism which could hardly be overcome; that it would be better for her to attend another school where the relations are more harmonious. The general opinion was that if the student were of the right sort the veneer of race prejudice would soon be removed.

Intermarriage was also discussed from the standpoint of heredity. One student was of the firm opinion that the issue of mixed marriages was inferior. Yet this same student cherished the belief that mulattoes are the greatest progressives among Negroes. When asked to reconcile the incongruousness of two such believes this student recognized the fallaciousness of the two opinions. The conference agreed that the present laws prohibiting intermarriage should be removed because they subject the Negro woman to too great a disadvantage.

In dwelling on the Negro’s economic contribution a student pointed out his gift of labor on the cotton and tobacco fields. In this connection the tremendous influence of cotton on the economic life of the country was made clear. It was claimed to be the nucleus about which the whole industrial structure of the East had been built.

At the last meeting an effort was made to find solutions for the problems under discussion. The following conclusions were reached:

  1. That race superiority is not a proved fact.
  2. That Negroes should be permitted to enter all institutions of learning.
  3. That the present laws against intermarriage should be removed.
  4. That each individual at the conference should do his or her best to influence those around them into saner thinking on the race question.
  5. That there should be the exercise of courtesy in our mutual relations.
  6. That our education should be of such a nature as to fit us to have an impartial attitude on all aspects of the race question, resulting in a broadening outlook on life in general.

This meeting was full of promise. It made two matters most clear. First that thinking white students are showing a willingness to come to close grips with the problem of color, but that only a very few of them have any comprehensive, scientific knowledge of the Negro for they are still vastly influenced by tradition and custom. Secondly that every Negro student must train himself to meet just such occasions as this. For he must be able at any time and place to discuss his case in the light of historical facts and scientific truths.

Original Format

Paper

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Reference

F. Eugene Corbie 1924, "A Portent," F. Eugene Corbie, HathiTrust Digital Library