And Intolerance

Their attitude to race troubles was novel to me, but it indicates the real depth of the problem. They were quite emphatic that they personally had never been involved in any racial strife, but they attributed this partly to the particular circumstances of their lives. Both went through school and high school in the British colony of Jamaica, where classes might contain 20 black and five whites. Their families were of the middle class (McKenley's father is a doctor) and in USA they have lived only in Northern States, though they have competed athletically in Texas. Said McKenley: "Most race trouble is caused by individuals going around with a chip on their shoulder."

They suggested that racial segregation was maintained in the South as a sort of final defiance of the North, for the sake of tradition rather than principle. In the Universities, it is neither the students nor the professors who support it, but the ubiquitous politicians and college governors. Miscegnation, education and toleration are the only ultimate solution, said La Beach.

... in films too

They deplored the Hollywood tendency to cast Negro actors in roles which strengthen the myth that the typical Negro is a lazy, servile, halfwitted buffoon. Some actors, they said, were now refusing to accept roles which lowered the dignity of their race. It was mentioned in passing that "Tobacco Road" and "The Southerner," two films that faithfully and brilliantly portrayed the lowest strata of white society, were banned throughout the Southern States, and had only private screenings in the Universities.

On their European tour last year Lloyd said he met many American students at the University of Prague, who told him they had no intention of returning to the States; that they liked the new regime, that the elections were free and fair, etc., etc. Lloyd said they must have been Communists, but he didn't say why. Me? Well, how would I know?

We also discussed our own political views, but the times being what the are, we won't go into that.

For light reading on the plane, and to show their friends at home, I left with them two years' issues of "Salient," "Spike" and "Cappicade," and with a last wistful glance at those bright floral underpants, I took my leave of two admirable gentlemen, whose world travels and international fame have not lost them the wisdom of being willing to learn.

Francis Gawn.