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Salient. An Organ of Student Opinion at Victoria College, Wellington, N.Z. Vol. 12, No. 9. August 10th 1949

Out of Bounds

Out of Bounds

One tavern—the mouldiest, and the proprietor of which was rescued by a negro company in World War I—in 13 opens its doors to negroes. An unwritten "no coloured persons" sign hangs over the entrance to every barber and beautician's shop. But two barber's shops in the near vicinity of the University cut the hair of negro students.

Cabarets, bowling alleys, part of the churches, and the skating rink stand out of bounds for the 150 negro persons in the Eugene areas. Services of doctors and dentists are difficult and sometimes impossible to procure. Negroes are last to be hired and first to be laid off, except in the relatively few instances when they fall under the protection of trade union seniority.

For example, one barber in Eugene exhibited the utmost refinement in ordering me never to return to his shop. It was a three-man shop, the father, whom I thought the owner, the son and a third barber. I had opposition from the son. The father, in fact, had told me to ignore them. One Saturday morning a white student, with whom I am well acquainted, and I went to this shop for haircuts. The father finished cutting my hair before the son the white student's, and I read magazines while waiting. The white student stepped from the chair. "Tell the fellow you came in with not to come back," I heard the son order the student in lowered tones.

"Why, what's wrong?" the student asked.

"We don't want them here."

The student cast his eyes about the shop bewildered and soon met the father's gaze.

"I don't run the shop any longer," the father apologised.

"Well, here's to a better America," the white student said as we left the shop.

This is only one of the common humiliations negroes here and everywhere in America must contend with. Even the dollar the negro spends runs into a colour bar. But the dollars the negro makes for the white man in the fields and factories of America do not carry a stigma.

In a white environment I am always conscious of my race. Discrimination and prejudice are good reminders. No matter what the negro's intellectual, artistic or financial attainments, he will not be accepted in this society. His highest accomplishments will still leave him on the lowest notch of the white scale of values.

Frustrations, anxieties and isolation impel different persons differently according to the total situations. I myself compete fiercely with white students for higher grades. By excelling I hope to demonstrate my innate biological equality, and compensate for a life riddled with indignities. At the same time, I am searching for a way to liberate myself and all my people.

Some submit, some withdraw, and others resort to aggression. The Uncle Toms submit. The Booker T. Washingtons withdraw. And the Paul Robesons attack.