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Walter White, The Causes of the Chicago Race Riot From Walter Whites article The Causes of the Chicago Race Riot, which was published in 1919, immediately following the ill-famed race riot in Chicago, it appears that its causes were much more complicated than usually accepted. What really catches the eye of anyone who reads this article is the fact that the author appears to be very sympathetic to Blacks. This, of course, was very unusual at the time. White gives us 8 causes behind the riots and all of them place guilt on Whites: Race prejudice, economic competition, political corruption and exploitation of Negro voters, police inefficiency, newspaper lies about Negro rime, unpunished crimes against Negroes, housing and reaction of whites and Negroes from war. (White). Author mentions no single fact that would represent Blacks in unfavorable light. This, of course, makes reader to doubt the validity of Whites arguments, since he clearly appears to be biased promoting Blacks view on what happened.
Yet, this article isnt being hundred percent politically correct, in another words, thee there is still sensibility can be found in it. As one of the reasons that prepared ground for the conflict, author mentions a totally different mode of Blacks social conduct, which was spreading discontent among Whites: many Negroes who were unfamiliar with city ways and could not, naturally, adapt themselves immediately to their new environment little was done to teach them the rudimentary principles of sanitation, of conduct or of their new status as citizens under a system different from that in the South. (White). Author emphasizes that, in his opinion, political and economical factors were the most important ones that caused the situation to deteriorate so rapidly. He makes very good case, giving us the examples of Black workers unequal treatment.
I have personally acquired a lot of information, regarding situation with Union movement in Chicago at the time. From the article, it appears that Blacks were actually having an opportunity to greatly increase their salaries and improve their working conditions with some legal means. That is through joining Unions and actively participating in Chicago's political life. Yet, theyve never done it: The Negro is between "the devil and the deep blue sea. " He feels that if he goes into the unions, he will lose the friendship of the employers (White).
The same applies to white workers as well, yet they were being able to protect their rights effectively, instead of whining. Another thing that appears to be very obvious from Whites article is Blacks political secularism. Politics is only the mean for them to improve their position as racial minority, although as citizens, theyre also required to have concerns about the whole nation, being part of it. This secularism led to the situation when: If a candidate for office is wrong on every other public question except this, the Negroes are going to vote for that man, for that is their only way of securing the things they want and that are denied them. (White). Author also suggests that covering the facts of Black crime in the press cannot be beneficial for American society because it instigates even more hate. This reminds me the arguments contemporary political correct watchdogs, that are saying that information needs to be filtered and if some event doesnt fit into the concept of multicultural paradise, there is no need for people to know about it.
The one of the authors points that Im totally agree with is when he says that riots can be prevented if government tries to solve real problems, instead of just cosmetically adjusting its social policies. Nowadays, only this approach can guarantee peace and stability in this country. Walter White shows that social factors cause Blacks lower living standards and not their biological inferiority. There is no equality even among members of one race, how can it be accomplished between two different races? There is a hint in Whites article about what people of both races need to do, in order to be able to coexist peacefully Whites have to drop their racial prejudices and Blacks have to start acting in socially responsible manner.
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