People don’t discriminate for the fun of it; the function of prejudice is to defend social, economic, political or psychological interests.
that move in, live off the community, and don’t give anything back. “They said, ‘After the election we’ll send the Negro tax assessor out to Dan River Mills and (let’s assume the plant is worth a hundred thousand dollars) he’ll inspect it and he’ll say, ‘I’ll assess this plant at 50% of its value, you owe us $50,000 in taxes. Here’s a stamped envelope, with the address of the tax collector’s office on it. Just put your check in and drop it in the mail.’ If the check didn’t come in a week or two, they’d send the Negro tax collector out and he’d demand payment on the check and if it wasn’t forthcoming, they’d send the Negro sheriff out and he’d padlock the plant or seize the plant for the county. “Now people who heard that story said, ‘That’s a good story to tell when you’re making a speech or when you’re explaining what you’re doing—it sounds good, it sounds very nice, but it’s not very realistic. First, because if you threaten to tax that plant at 50% of its value they’re going to pack up and move out of the county and you’re going to lose the income that the factory brings into Lowndes County.’ “The Negroes replied, ‘Well, we don’t care if the factory should move tomorrow, should burn up tomorrow, we’re not getting any of the income from it because they don’t hire Negroes at the factory.’ Then the critics said, ‘That’s true, but it shows how naïve you are about economics and the way money flows in this country. Even though none of you are actually employed at the factory a lot of you work as maids and yard boys, at $2.50 and $3.00 a day, for white people who do work at the factory. If the factory leaves, these people are going to come home, take care of their own children and yards, and you’ll lose those jobs you have now which, admittedly, are not much, but they’re better than doing nothing.’ “Negroes in Lowndes County said, ‘That’s true, you are right, you’ve got us there, but here’s what we’ll do: Instead of assessing the plant at 50% of its value we’ll tell them we’ll assess it at 100% of its value
3 8 • B E N N I N GTO N M AG A Z I N E
unless they agree to adopt an equal employment policy, and when they do we’ll just tax them whatever the regular rate is.’ “The social system in this country as it is organized, is incapable of solving, through the normal channels, the urgent problems presented to it by history. The social system, as it is organized, is part of the problem and cannot be appealed to or relied upon as an independent arbitrator in power conflicts of which it is a part. White Americans, generally speaking, lack the will and courage and the intelligence to grant Negroes their equal rights. They have to be forced to do it by pressure. “People don’t discriminate for the fun of it; the function of prejudice is to defend social, economic, political or psychological interests. Appeals made to the fair play of prejudiced people are like prayers said in the wind. Conflict and struggle are necessary for social change. The rights and lives of real human beings are at stake and these rights are neither violable or negotiable. “Since Negroes are a minority in most parts of this country they must make alliances. But these alliances must be based on their ability to promote racial goals. In general, the so-called alliances between Negroes and elements of the white community do not serve the interests of Negroes, they’re not genuine alliances. They are ad hoc arrangements to use the Negro vote to elect certain white politicians. Negroes must initiate and support massive programs of civic and political education. They must initiate issues as well as react to them. “Negroes must not forget race consciousness as long as they are the victims of racism, because if the issue is forgotten by Negroes the social order will continue to sanctify the established system which excludes Negroes from free and equal participation and consideration.” From Quadrille, Vol. 1, No. 3, 1967