Atlanta Daily World

SEEING
and
SAYING
By
WILLIAM
A. FOWLKES
Managing Editor, Atlanta Daily World

Speaking Of Brotherhood

PRESIDENT KENNEDY's Special Assistant Brooks Hays, who
suffered a special slap at Little Rock during the infamous school
crisis, gave Atlanta a pat on the back the other night during a
brotherhood affair. Among other things, Mr. Hays said the Gate
City of the South is setting the example for this
area in the building of racial harmony through
brotherhood.

EVEN AS MR. HAYS spoke, prodding his
listeners to rid our section of divisive elements
which cause distrust and suspicion, there was
budding evidence that more people of good-
will want to get on with the process of eli-
minating the "old ways."

People of intelligence, whether old or
young, are happy for a new look at other per-
sons and community relations.

All of which brings to mind a story a soldier friend from
Atlanta told about his being drafted and shipped in company
with a white North Alabaman into the Korean conflict. For weeks,
few words were passed between the men, the Alabaman espec-
ially having crawled into a shell it seemed. But, the Atlanta boy,
noting that the other was a constant reader of his Bible and not
an outwardly explosive man on any subject in particular, was the
perfect bunk gentleman, as far as the situation allowed.

When their period of service ended, both having surviv-
ed the horrors of the conflict, unharmed physically, they em-
barked for the states. The Alabaman told the Georgian, in his
longest conversation thus far, that he hadn't meant to be
"funny", that he had not had any contacts at all with Ne-
groes where he came from, and he was "lost" around them.
He said, however, he had found his Georgia Army pal to be
the "best friend and man" he had ever known in his life.
Furthermore, he wanted the Georgian to visit in his home, to
let his parents, brothers and sisters meet and know him gen-
uinely, and come to love and respect him as a gentleman and
friend.

It was a revelation! Oftimes Southerners in many areas of
life are just that close, but far apart.