15 AUGUST 1931, Page 16

THE COLOUR BAR

[To the Editor of the SPECTATOR.]

SIR,—Mr. Paul Robeson's delightfully expressive contribution on the subject of the Colour Bar gives a comprehensive outline of the other " fellow's " point of view. For it is the Negro, more so than the other coloured races, that has the unfortunate distinction of arousing hostility in the white man's heart.

Although a very unpalatable fact it is conceivable that America may have to depend on a fully emancipated Negro race for its cultural growth. The Americans seem incapable of developing a traditional culture of their own. The Negro, with his expressive simplicity, his humility, his cheerfulness under vigorous oppression, and his immense capacity for spiritual belief, Possesses those qualities so essential for the growth of culture and refinement. As an experiment we might show him a little kindness just to see how it works.—