University of Virginia Library

Co-Ordination

7. The power of coordination has been acquired by only two sets of living creatures—social insects and human beings. The rarity of the attainment is further shown in that only one family of insects is fully social in every species, and only one race of human beings manifests collective efficiency throughout its ranks.

The human beings who do not coordinate their activities are far behind in this respect the social insects, concerning which Nathaniel S. Shaler says: "It is evident that in the intelligence of the articulated animals there is a latent capacity for combining the work of a host of individuals, so that from the association is developed something of the nature of public opinion, we lack a better term for it,—which enables and requires all the co-operators to act in unison."

The late Justice Gaynor, of New York, once remarked that whenever one race has contempt for another that contempt is likely to overflow in some way. In order to avoid this overflow of contempt from whatever source it may chance to come every race and group

should act in such a way as to engage the respect rather than the contempt of others.

It is impossible for one group to have a full respect for another group in the absence of collective efficiency. When a group fails to meet its joint tasks, although seeing the need and possessing the power to do so, the respect of on-looking groups is lowered. This is tending in the direction of contempt, which, as stated, has the tendency to overflow in some unpleasant way. Every group and every race owes it to itself and to the rest of humanity to manifest collective efficiency, to take care of its joint tasks.

The Declaration of Independence was wise in recognizing the fact that there are some things which should be done out of "a decent regard to the opinion of mankind." It is utterly unwise for even the strongest nation to ignore the thoughts of others regarding it. We know not when nor how the ill opinion of others may affect us.

There is an opinion of mankind that the Negro race does not function up to capacity. Mr. H. L. Mencken, editor of the American Mercury, says, "For all their progress, economic, political and cultural, they have yet failed to accomplish two things that are of the first importance—indeed more important than any other. The first is the organization of their people into a coherent and reasonably steadfast bloc, capable of acting, when the common interest is at stake, as a unit."

As a race we should make a record that will prevent men from holding such views. Mr. Will Alexander, of Atlanta, Ga., a winner of the Harmon Award given annually to the person who has done most during the year to promote good will between the races, says, "It is of the highest importance that the nation should

realize that the Negroes can do in a first class way any work which other men can do." In view of this fact it is quite important for the Negro race in the United States to know how to make the nation realize that it is thoroughly capable as a race.