DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS IN THE INTEGRATION OF THE NEGRO.

DEMOGRAPHIC FACTORS HAVE HAD NEGATIVE RATHER THAN POSITIVE EFFECTS ON INTEGRATION (DEFINED HERE AS A KIND OF ACCULTURATION). THE POPULATION HISTORY OF THE NEGRO INDICATES THAT (1) SINCE 1910 THE NEGRO POPULATION HAS GROWN ENORMOUSLY, (2) NEGROES HAVE BEEN REDISTRIBUTED INTO THE NORTHERN AND WESTERN URBAN AREAS, (3) THEY HAVE REMAINED LARGELY IN SEGREGATED HOUSING, (4) THEY HAVE LAGGED BEHIND WHITES IN BOTH EDUCATIONAL AND OCCUPATIONAL AND INCOME LEVELS, AND (5) THEY LIVE IN GREATER POVERTY. THE EARLY EXPERIENCES AND CASTE STATUS OF THE AMERICAN NEGRO DESTROYED THE AFRICAN FAMILY PATTERNS, PREVENTED THE DEVELOPMENT OF A MIDDLE CLASS FAMILY STRUCTURE, AND DISORGANIZED THE FAMILY LIFE. INTERNAL MIGRATION IS THE MAJOR FACTOR IN FOSTERING INTEGRATION, BUT PRESENTLY DEMOGRAPHIC VARIABLES AND WHITE BEHAVIOR AND ATTITUDES IMPEDE ASSIMILATION. NEEDED ARE EFFORTS TO DECREASE THE BIRTH RATE, WORK OPPORTUNITIES WHICH WOULD GIVE DIGNITY AND AN ADEQUATE INCOME TO NEGRO MALES, AND HOUSING OPPORTUNITIES TO BREAK DOWN THE GHETTO. TO FACILITATE INTEGRATION, EDUCATORS SHOULD OFFER THE NEGRO CHILD INCENTIVE, MOTIVATION, AND TRAINING WHICH WOULD ENABLE HIM TO COMPETE SUCCESSFULLY WITH THE WHITE CHILD. THERE ALSO MUST BE MASSIVE "CORRECTIVE" EDUCATION FOR WHITES UNDER GOVERNMENT SPONSORSHIP AND THROUGH ALL MEDIA. THE PREFERRED STRATEGY FOR INTEGRATION IS ONE WHICH MAXIMIZES CONSENSUS, WITH CONFLICT TECHNIQUES USED ONLY WHEN NECESSARY. THIS ARTICLE WAS PUBLISHED IN THE FALL 1965 ISSUE OF DAEDALUS, AN ISSUE ON "THE NEGRO AMERICAN," AND IS AVAILABLE FROM THE PUBLISHER AS A BACK ISSUE. MATERIAL IN THE ISSUE WAS ALSO PUBLISHED AS A BOOK, HOUGHTON MIFFLIN, 1966, $9.50. (NH) HOUGHTON MIFFLIN BOOK $9.50.