RACE RELATIONS IN NET MEXICO. In connection with the studies of the Commission on International and Interracial Factors in the Mexican problem in the Southwest, Superintendent Donald— son of Menaul School. Alouguesque, has secured trenty-seven full and careful re~ piles to 2 questionneizve he prepared referring directly to the Spanish-American native-born inhabitants of New Mexico and Colorado as as crs mag KG from the Mex~ ican immigrant, These revlies came from some of these Spanish Americans, from Anglo-Americans long time resident nike New Moxico,and from missionarics whose ex- perience hed been largely with this group. 4 very considerable provortion of the povulation of New Mexico and north eastcrn Colorado are Spenish-America ns, the descendants of those who pushed across the Rio Grande and settled in the midst of the hostile Indian country long before this territory was detached from Old Mexico. ‘They loft Mexico to be free from the oppression of the great land omers, vreferring tho struggle with Apaches and Mavajys for land and a hume to the condition of practical peonage wnich they must accent if they remeined aftcr the loss of the communal holdings cf their villages. Gradually even in this now country they wore forced off the richest val~ ley lands and into the mountains where thoy maintain a simple village life,poor but independent, For more than thirty years me needs of these people have been a concern of several mission boards. Sut tho advance of the typical Amcrican business and agriculturel life into this territory has revealed a social problem of racial ad- justment as well as a missionsry problem, Missionzry workers are studying this social problem,and the personol reports of seventeon Anglo-American missionaries and business men and ten Spanish“americans is the basis of this report. seventeen of the tycnty-scven who have reported, feel that there is a definite racial question betveon Svanish-imericans end Anglo-- -lmericans, eign woulc not De inclinod to cmpinasize its significance and only two feel thore is no rious interracial difficulsy. The Spanish-Americeans who reported are themselves diviced in ebout the same proportion on the subject, six out of ten feeling the racial question must be faced, and only one that thore is no significant feeling between the groups. Practically all agree that the situation is very little affectod by re—- lations betweon the Uni tec States and Mexico. One or two inéicate that the prob- lem of schools and cconormic conditions is made somewhat more difficult by the presence of Moxicen immigrants, end another indicates that difficulties result because the i geery take aia ens are confused in popular thinking with the Llicxicans. One Bere en ‘there is a more deoply sented projudice between ae Socnish-—american and the Olid Mexico Mexican then there is botweon the Anglo and the Spenish— Amcrican." Another says the comings of the Mexicen immigrant renders the problem a tnree sided one, since the Mexican immigrants do not identify themsclvcos with the Spenish-Amoricans. But imivory mony sections where there is a larger Steen ANerican' o0puletion there aro no Moxicrn immigrcents. They are beginninz to ne £0r Yollrosc work anc in industrial conters, and are, as eclsewnere, largely Vee Brants. The Spanish—-incricans arc generally farmers ovming their ow land, They get on well with those Moxicans with whom they cone into contact, through a sim iiarity of language and tradition, but cvidently resont being confused with thon, as is so often done by inzlo-~Anocriccns. The racial problem betvcen the Spanish—corican and the inglo~dAmerican ts, therefore, quito. distinct fron the goncral proble> ne relations with M ae and the Mexican irmtigronts. Sono think the misundorstandings eh jcealousie between the Spanish-inorican and Anglo-.imcrican are largoly the result of poiti cal rivalry and intrisuc, which always finds raco projudice a convenicnt tool serve its intorests. no writes of long oxpericnce in New ticxico says, "If Soe tisan politics were elirinated, the question vould ccase to be an issuc." Others Say in some sections Spore! OQ Spanish-imcrican can be eee tol orrice, and in other sections only an inzglo—Amcrican., ne fact that sree tne Spanisi-dnerican group are native-born citizens of three or four gonerntions rakes the competitive relations between tho two growps less one-sided than whon one group is not natu- ralized or is incligible to citizenship. Tho situation has many points of sim- larity with that in the torritory of Hawaii betweoon the nativo Hawaiians and the American elements in the population. Making all allowance possible for the exploitation of racial pre- ducies as a political method, there remains a ve.y general conviction among those who have reported that Anglo-American snoboishness, ignorance of the Spanish language and traditicns, shrewdness and often unfairness in dealing with the Spanish-Americans, and the general habit of classing them with Mexicans, are the causes for what is admitted to be a very considerable amount of friction be-~ tween the groups. Many vf the Spanish-Americans themselves admit, however, that the unvillingness of their people to give up the old Spanish traditions and ways of living, their slowness in learning English and becoming assimilated to American ideals, and their uncleanly habits have kiven some excuse for prejudice. It is admitted that the dark skin has had a good deal to do with tho development of prejudice, especially among the Anglo-Amcricans who came from Texes and the other Southern states. It is notable that in a numbor of different racial situations it has been obsorved that Southern projudice against Negroes has been transforred to any other group whose color approached that of the Negro, although the historic and economic relations of that group with the white group has been entirely dif- ferent. Tne historic basis for racial feeling between Spanish—Americans and Angly_ Americans is somewhat different from what might naturally be assumed. There is no reason to suppose that the Spanish—Americans resent the taking of the Southwest from Mexico, or have the slightest feeling for the land of their ancestors. What they object to is taking the land from them, when the Anglo-American traders and set— began to push in to "the land of poco tiempo," which they wished to proscrve in (filers its primitive condition. They did not want to be disturbed. Thoy aro able to match ell our American traditions of Spanish ruthlessness in the cccupation ne Mexico with traditions of American ruthlessness in the invasion of the new terri- tory. the great need of the Spanish-specking in- habitants for education and protection. Even today one is impressed with the elaborate provision by governnental and mission agencies for the care of the Indians of New Mexico as compared with the little that is done to help the Spa- ish—-Americans in their plaza toms. The state of Now Mexico is in recent years planning intelligently and ~ith energy in the interest of these communities ,but there is not doubt of tho neglicct of tho federal government from the timo of annexation, until, as ono Spanish—-Amcrican says, the territory "fcll into the hands of politicians and crooks." In striking contrast with the Mexican immigrant the Spanish-American natives of New Mexico are thoroughly loyal to the United States. Their volun— tary enlistments in the Sparish and World War were greater in proportion than among other races. Meny think the Spanish-Americans have been slov to appreciate the public school and some of the other institutions of American life,and ex— plain this by the adverse influence of the Catholic church. Some feel that their loyalty to American ideals is not always intelligent, sometimes znly formal, but it is plain that the public schools are, as everywhere, making great changes along this iine. There is wniversal agreement that the younger Spanish-American people are much more intelligently sympathetic with American ideals as a result of edu- cation in the mission schools and the public schools, by new business and social contacts with Anglo—Americans and to a very considerable extent by the experi- ences cf the World War. There is rmch reason to suppose that the state pub— lic school policy and the development of more business contacts between Spenish— Americans and Anglo-jmericans, with the training of leaders of the Spanish— Americans by the mission schools, will, as one correspondence says, greatly in- prave the situation for the next generation. aN ~ © There is considerable difference of opinion as to the relations in which there is most evidence of racial feeling. Very mony think it comes out most definitely in polotical relations, though one discriminating writer points out that this feeling in polttical relations has a vackground in the differences of religion. Only a very few think there is mich evidence of race feeling in the economic field, thouzh one of the best informed men in the missionary group makes this the chiof source of friction. Severel of the Svanish-Americans indicate the most intense feoling in social relations, and practically all include this as one of tho major fields for the exhibition of racial foeling, Since differing brands of politics and religion are onl: conveniont standards under which to rally different racial groups, and the factor of economic com- petition between the groups in New Mexico does not seem to be conspicuous, cne should give special attention to this evident racial feeling in social re- lations. Racial feeling between Spanish-Amoricans and Anglo Americans Goes not appearito be a blazing hate, rather a smoldering resentment. One Spanish- American describes it very accurately as indifference. There are four tyges of racial prejudico, hatred, contompt, indifference, patronage. Hither one is bad enouzh. In this case there seems to be a lack of common interest to bind the Spanish-American and Anglo-American together rather than any ineradicable racial citference. The fact that the World War did so zmch to break down the separation and indifference indicates that there is need for a more challeng- ing cooperation in some common interest if the process is to so on. Unadoubdt- edly, the artificial barriers created by the priests greatly obstruct the naturel social movements which would draw the groups together. ne corres-— pondent laments the absence of brotherhood in the relations between Spanish- Americans and Anglo-Smcericans. Brotherhood is created through the sharing of some big social task. When the groups are prevented from cooperating, broth— erhnood cannot be workec up merely by religious anpeals. The racial vrejudice toward the Sgenish-American is generally re- garced as quite different from that felt toward the Negro or the Oricntal, though these races arco not mich in evicence in the territory occupied by Spanish—-Americans. It is more like thit toward the Pueblo Indians, whose village life has much similarity to that of the Svanish-Americans in the Plaza towns. In fact, the Spanish-American and the Indiaw. are in the great majority in the rural sections. The contacts with the fow Anglo—Americans, teachers end ranchers in these rural sections are more apt to be friondly, according to the view of most who have renvorted, then in the cities. Some think that 7 racial lines are more sharply drawm in the country, though ordinary contacts may te friendly. However, there is possible a more cormiete segregation in rban commnities, Bach growp can live its om life. This segregation keeps ial alienation. Even the business contacts that are made cause more n. Mere association no mattior how close, will not produce brotherliness. While some think it will require one or many gconerations to comlete~ : ly bridge the differences botween the Spanish-Anmericane and the Anglo-—Anerican, 2 one only a very few feel that thore are porminent racial characteristics which will keep them apart. The strongly opposed types of religious allegiance will long separate them, and some feel that the Anglo-Saxon superiority complex is a very stubborn disease. Several think the question of intermarriage will be a per- manent bar to close and sympathetic association. Aoparently the only ineradi- cable difference in the mind of anyone is that which makes intermarriage unde- sirable. But there are a good many who feel that the intermarriage of Spanish~ Americans end Anglo-Americans would be helpful. Thrcoe -inglo-iAmericans positively and two with reservations anprove of such intermarriage, six Syanish—imericans approve it quite positively, belicving tant those who come together in such riarriages are interpreters:.and peacemakers, But two young §panish—inmcrican students are very positive that such marriages are never helpful, and other Spanish-american correspondents also disaporove. By far the majority disapprove of intermarriage as a means of racial adjustment, though few would claim biolo- givel diff®rences as 2 reason, ty ‘ aie One mission school tcacher insists on the old argument of distinct veces, which ought to be kept pure,— whatever racial purity may mean. Those who cxploin their objection refer to the social consequences, the social ostracism erd the tendency of the Anglo-American husband who haé married a Spanish-@imcrican wife to accent the less advanced stantards of living. Many of those who recognize a fecling of strain between Spanish Americans and Anglo-Ancricaas are not abdle to point to particular instances of unfair treetment. But one rovorts a case in which the prejudice was visitod even on the Angio-American teacher who tought a Snanish-American public school. there are several reports of Soanish-fimericans being refused service in restau- rants; even in Senta Fe the sigis are up "No Mexicans," though probably scareely one of the Spanish-speaking inhabitants of Santa Fe was born in Mexico. Spanish-— imerican correspondents report refusal of service in restaurants and barber shops discriminating in hotels and public conveyances; one Spanish-American was taken ov& of ae theatre at the point of a pistol and one was lynched in Colorado. Most af these cases seom to hare occurred from outside of New Mexico, where the Syan- ishvAmcricans have not beon distinguished from the Mexicans. In the Spanish-speaking plaze. toms men have been paid with fake checks and have been heavily overcharged for professional services. In the southeastern section of Colorado large tracts of land occupied for generations by Spcanish—- americans has been seized by large companies. Sprnish-Americans have been syste~ matically defrauced by Anglo-Amcrican warehousemen wien they brought in their lettuce crop in one section of Colorado. In many ways théy are taken advantage of in cormercial transactions, just as the Indians have been. But they have lacked even the dubious advantage of zovernment protection which the Indians are supdosad to nave had. Union labor has opposed the Snanish—American labor the same as the ilexicans Probaoly the largest nurber of instances of unfair treatrent toward eitucer racial group can be found in political life, and probably many cases on ra sice. It is unfortunato but not necessarily a serious racial problem wher, emorarily at least, racial groups are aligned ageinst..ecach other in politics. vib 4 Ba ty can be overcomes mmch more easily than sortie others. The instances of personal prejudice against Spanish-Americans evon in churches are the most serious consideration. Two splencid rission schools re~ port objection to the presence of their pupils in the Anglo-American churches. Whatever may be said 1s to the desirability of separate Spanish-American churches to give opportunity for spiritual expression and development onc ought to be able to expect in the churches a welcome to those who have chosen to accept the church's invitasion to its mission schools. One Spenish-American reminds us that Now Mexico sided with the Union in the Civil War and the Spanish-American inhabitants drove out thd Confederates. He thinks the southerners have not forgotten that, as he has not. And yet, sone people think the Snunish-Arcricans end the Mexican peasants know nothing and care nothing about history. Analyzing the attitudes of Spanish-Amcricans and .inglo-Americans nost of those who have reported find that the Spanish—Anerican vould de friendly if it were not for the evident suvoriority attitude of the Anglo-Anericans. Some penish-Amcricans say they agpreciate what the Anglo-Arericens havo accomplished for the development of the country, but are inclined to be onvinus. Others re- Zuso to admit the superiority which the Anzlo-—Amorican assures, and adopt a policy of passive resistance, One writer analyses the situation in this way: "The Anglo works too nerd, loves noney too such and plays too little. The other goes to the other extreme, verhaps, but can teach us something about enjoying simple inexpensive Dlonsures. Me meditates and reflects more than the dnglo, is more artistic has % greater inherent love of beauty. hese qualities if developed properly are ver, valuable. In educetion the Syenish-American should not de run. through the gare mill and be made exactly like us, The Spanish-American must learn american ideals of government, of office holding, freedom of opinion and speoch, of reli- gious life, etc. In that respect he ms% conform to Anzlo notions. In other respects the best education for hin is one which will allow hin to grow as far =S he can according to his abilities. His racial heritage after 211 makes hin so-owhat different from the Anglo." This is certainly not an idealistic mission~ ary presentation of the situation, but probably represents the fecling of neny xinculy—~intentioned Anglo Americans. mie In ‘some rospects tho situntion of tho PN ace Acedl oats in We Moxico and Colorado A aes Bree of the southern mountaincors of Kentucky and Tennessee hey aro almost as rosoentfvl of the aggressivoness of outsidors coming into thoir country, and fobs Pence assarmtion of thoso outsiders that motcrial pros- pority moens superiority. Wow Mexico has been captured corpletoly by the out~ sidors as the southorn mountains have net btecn, and probavly the adjustment be- tween these diverse vic point s has progrossod fartner in Now Moxico, If it wore not for oa particulariy intolorant religious control of the Epanish—Ancrican group and a rathor oxcentional seen a of superstition, tho prospects of assimi-~ lation would be mach more encouraging. At present there scons to be little real cooperation betiveon tho tro ee Oa gestoat-deal of political and roligious competition. The netabio progress that has boon mado in tae dovelop~ mont of education and general social conditions appcars to bo in spite of much intorgroup friction. No roports have been roccived of any notable cooperation betwaon the groups for the advanconment of the general or local corrmnity. When it comes to a question of solution for theaiocal problen of male adjustment between Anglo-Ancricans and Spanish-lniericans most of those who have reported very properly insist on education ané Christianity. Some have made really helpful sugeestions PRN, Seek eh eee montioning applications of cducation and Christianity in concrete plans. or in : ¢ { A) A ab d OR Pe a ee me re eee ee 5 ae el) Chane Fo Ap ae: aie oe Z 4 ip! Cam Way (rere he . 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