Official proceedings of the annual meeting: 1944

120

INTERRACIAL COOPERATION

formality and aloofness which inhibited most members of the
group. People do not become acquainted in such an atmosphere;
rather, they become further confused by the strangeness which artificiality has imposed upon them. Purposefulness presents an objective. Interest in the objective induces people to lose themselves and
their self-consciousness in the common task.
2. We must be sincere. An organizer who is not possessed by a
conviction will not be able effectively to overcome the acquired
suspicions evident in current racial attitudes. Conviction, of necessity, requires an unassailable knowledge of the facts in the situation.
3. We must be practical. There will be the advocates of an all-out
crusade and there will be those whose fears will cause them to
shrink from any direct action. Calm judgment is required to maintain an even balance and to steer a practical course between these
conflicting emotional urges.
4. We must be scientific. We must adhere to basic principles of
community organization, with application of the wealth of knowledge amassed by social scientists in the realm of human behavior.
We must be ever conscious that we are dealing with human beings
and human superstitions. Beware of him who would forsake science
for rule-of-thumb methods.
In considering organizational procedure, I am inclined to favor
the selection of a general objective as the first step, with the
mobilization of personnel as the second step. Since emotional elements are more compelling in the interracial area than in other
organizational ventures, it would appear that the hazards are
minimized when prospective recruits are made aware of the services
which will be exacted of them. Obviously, the efficacy of the attraction will depend upon the nature of the objective. Is there purposefulness? Will the program assume the formlessness of the old
"cultural appreciation" effort? Will it propose to attack the entire
area of racial restriction, exclusion, and conflict? Will it be a
temporary gesture for expediency's sake, which will employ words
only as tools to achieve good will and to avert open conflict in the
community? Or, will it become a consistent and clearly defined
approach to community discipline, through utilization of the constructive forces whose aid will be required to remove or minimize
the causes of tension? Here again the clear-cut definition of a
program directed toward a specific goal will eliminate much doubt,
hesitation, and confusion in attracting recruits.
What shall be the committee's function? In other words, how'
specific may the organizers be in predetermining the committee's