BUT WE HAVE NO PROBLEM!

Abstract

IF ANYTHING, our business meeting seemed more routine than unsual. "We have received a communication from the state association regarding an institute about intergroup relations," our president announced. "It seems that consideration is being given to the development of an intergroup relations program on a local basis. Do we have anyone interested in attending?" Silence reigned. "Why would we be concerned?" I thought. "Certainly the southern states and perhaps the large cities might be interested. But surely, we don't have any problems. But-well-perhaps we should cooperate. If the ISNA thinks it is important, someone should go. Why doesn't someone volunteer? Why aren't the Negro nurses here tonight? Negro-why do I say that? She didn't say Negro. She said minority groups." Helen, sitting behind me, brought me back to reality. "Let's go," she said. "I'll drive. They will pay our expenses, and anyway I need a new hat. Maybe Lucille will go with us. She has friends in Indianapolis." Somehow out of the silence, I heard my own weak voice saying, "We'll go, and maybe we can get Daisy to go, too." (If one of our Negro nurses is with us, they will know we don't have any problems, I thought.) We arrived in Indianapolis five strong: two Negro nurses and three white. We ended the day, not with a new hat, nor had we visited friends. But we found we did have problems. Actually, our intergroup relations program started that evening while we were en route home. No minutes were kept; there was no chairman. In fact, there was no committee. There were just five individuals who started thinking together. "Honest now, had you ever thought of men nurses as being a minority group-or Catholic or Polish nurses? What does prejudice mean? Daisy, do you think I'm prejudiced about Negroes? I don't mean to be." Daisy thought for a moment. "Perhaps you aren't any more prejudiced about me than I am about you, a white person. I have my problems, too. Yes, you eat with me, are friendly with me, and even ask my advice at times. But, well, sometimes you are too nice. You go beyond courtesy and are perhaps friendlier than you would be if I were white. That is prejudice. But I don't remember that you say 'you people'; that is a favorite expression of the prejudiced. And, at times, when I withdraw from your overtures, or sit with Josephine because I feel more at ease with a Negro than with you, that is prejudice, too." Two hours and a hundred miles later, we were still discussing the