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3. The Need of Cultural Understanding and an Appreciation of Group Contributions

All peoples have contributed to civilization and culture. One group of people may now be more advanced culturally than another, whereas some other group may have been more advanced in some other periods. The writers of history have generally been in league with racism. Their historical treatment of peoples has given rise to the assumption of cultural poverty on the part of the peoples whose writers are not represented. This was once the situation in which China, India, and Japan were found. Trade relations led to the discovery of the worth of their history, culture, and civilization. Anti-semitism and antagonism to aliens have helped to conceal the contributions to our culture of these peoples. South American has been recently discovered.

The land of the black and brown peoples, Africa, remains still to be discovered. The descriptions of Africa by many missionaries, traders, travelers, and supporters of imperial governors have not always been accurate. These accounts do not present a true picture of the early culture and potentialities of this continent of the darker peoples. Civilizations, comparable to those of early Europe prior to Greek and Roman cultures, also flourished in North, East, West and South Africa. Europe is not alone in being able to point to a glorious past. Africa should be known prior to the rise of the slave trade. There were kingdoms, governments, laws, roads, cities, family life, moral codes, and artistic productions which challenge the admiration of students. If there is a European background to our history as a nation, there is also an African background.

The contributions of peoples of color to the civilization and culture of the United States also deserve more recognition. There are hundreds of facts about colored Americans which we need to know. Responsibility to help make these facts known and available is one of the chief functions of Negro and white Christian leaders.

4. Cooperation with Organizations Promoting and Fostering Equality

While many church members have been associated with the agencies of interracial cooperation which have been at work in American life, on far too many occasions the Church has remained silent and has not buttressed its preaching by action. The Church will continue to lose support without more implementation of its historic conviction. The gospel of love should be translated into action and become more than

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words. Religious teaching and social action are parts of one whole. They are inseparable. Moreover, God does not need our worship of love inside the church so much as man needs our service of love beyond its walls. Churchmen in many localities never meet except upon a plane of superiority and inferiority, or with condescending relationships. The crucial test is the treatment of Negro churchmen on the same basis as all churchmen are treated. Intelligent members of minority racial groups should be invited to meetings which concern the interests of the whole community. Such meetings concern common interests, and minorities should not be allowed to become the forgotten folk. In every community there are educated white and colored citizens who can assemble for economic and political democracy. The best way to further interracial goodwill is for members of various races to work together for community well being.

5. Mindful of the Little Things in Human Relationships

The use of terms which discount minority groups should be discouraged. Among such terms are the following which are all in bad taste: "darky", "nigger", "boy", "uncle", "George", "Negress", "Jap", "Chinaman", "dago", "sheeny", "wop", "cracker", and "Yankee". Stories disparaging Negroes, Jews, Irish, and other minorities ought to be stopped. Their appeal makes for ridicule, not brotherhood. We can give simple courtesy and give titles of respect to all people regardless of color or physical appearance and in spite of ingrained childish attitudes toward them. Every such simple act may become a victory for democracy and a manifestation of Christianity. When performed by one churchman these are little things, but when hundreds engage in them the social pattern will change.

6. Endeavor to bring the Power of Public Opinion and Civic Pressure to bear upon Inequalities

In private and government enterprises, there are inequalities which are known blots upon Christianity. We must take our stand for democracy and opportunity in all these avenues. We are already seeing the change to a non-racial policy in national and local unions. Legal pressure, court action and pronouncements under the war powers of the President in a changing world situation are producing new situations which cannot be met with the old technique of turning back the clock of progress. We see improvement in educational facilities but there is still