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Story
March 2, 1922
The Savannah Tribune
Savannah, Chatham County, Georgia
What is this article about?
Commentary on handling racial integration in Catholic parishes, contrasting timid approaches with strong leadership; anecdote of Monsignor Flynn in Mount Vernon, NY, firmly enforcing school attendance despite a mother's racist objection.
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TIMID MEN AND STRONG MEN
In our work throughout the country, we frequently are obliged to listen to some timid soul telling, in half whispers, the terrible catastrophe that would result if Negroes were permitted to attend this particular church... and especially if their children were admitted to this particular school. It is generously admitted that it might be done in other parishes but not here, because of the peculiar situation here existing--this parish is different from others, the parishioners are a peculiar people who must be treated with a delicate hand or they will rebel en masse.
There are many examples to disprove this fallacy. Strong men have treated such situations differently and successfully. For example, the people of Sacred Heart parish, Mount Vernon, New York, tell of an incident to illustrate this point, as well as the character and sterling honesty of their pastor, Rt. Rev. Mgr. E. J. Flynn, whom they revere and love in a measure rarely equalled.
A new white family moved into the parish and sent two children to Sacred Heart school. During the lunch hour of the first day of school, the mother rushed to Monsignor Flynn and said: "Father, my children tell me that you have niggers in your school."
"No," he replied, "your children are wrong: we never had niggers in our school. We have some Catholic colored families living in this parish, and of course the children of these are in the Catholic school."
Indignantly raising herself to full height, the lady said, "Well, my children will never go to school with "niggers."
"Then," said Monsignor Flynn, opening the door, "let them go to hell with their mother."
The two children were in school the next morning, and were there until they moved away.--Our Colored Mission
In our work throughout the country, we frequently are obliged to listen to some timid soul telling, in half whispers, the terrible catastrophe that would result if Negroes were permitted to attend this particular church... and especially if their children were admitted to this particular school. It is generously admitted that it might be done in other parishes but not here, because of the peculiar situation here existing--this parish is different from others, the parishioners are a peculiar people who must be treated with a delicate hand or they will rebel en masse.
There are many examples to disprove this fallacy. Strong men have treated such situations differently and successfully. For example, the people of Sacred Heart parish, Mount Vernon, New York, tell of an incident to illustrate this point, as well as the character and sterling honesty of their pastor, Rt. Rev. Mgr. E. J. Flynn, whom they revere and love in a measure rarely equalled.
A new white family moved into the parish and sent two children to Sacred Heart school. During the lunch hour of the first day of school, the mother rushed to Monsignor Flynn and said: "Father, my children tell me that you have niggers in your school."
"No," he replied, "your children are wrong: we never had niggers in our school. We have some Catholic colored families living in this parish, and of course the children of these are in the Catholic school."
Indignantly raising herself to full height, the lady said, "Well, my children will never go to school with "niggers."
"Then," said Monsignor Flynn, opening the door, "let them go to hell with their mother."
The two children were in school the next morning, and were there until they moved away.--Our Colored Mission
What sub-type of article is it?
Biography
Heroic Act
What themes does it cover?
Bravery Heroism
Moral Virtue
Social Manners
What keywords are associated?
Racial Integration
Catholic School
Pastor Confrontation
Prejudice Handling
What entities or persons were involved?
Rt. Rev. Mgr. E. J. Flynn
Where did it happen?
Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Vernon, New York
Story Details
Key Persons
Rt. Rev. Mgr. E. J. Flynn
Location
Sacred Heart Parish, Mount Vernon, New York
Story Details
A new white family objects to their children attending school with Catholic colored children; Monsignor Flynn firmly responds that if they won't attend, they can go to hell with their mother, and the children continue attending school.