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Article about Brooks Hays along with personal interview in (We the people of) North Carolina magazine HAYS continued from page 21 misunderstanding and prejudice. And getting across the principle to everyone that racial discrimination is a two-edged sword, cutting both ways and harming all who indulge in it. N. C: Poverty affects the white as well as the black man. Are we paying enough attention to economic opportunity for the poor whites of North Carolina? Hays: I well know that poverty cuts across racial lines - I learned that a long time ago back in Arkansas. We've got to help both races. But I think if you take the measure of the social problem, you will find that the weight of poverty is doubled for the Negro simply because of the fact that he is black. And in terms of the ratio of poor whites and poor blacks to the total population, you will find the poverty ratio doubled for the Negro in terms of lack of jobs, income, housing and the other measurements of well being. N.C.: Do you believe that the Negro, given all necessary opportunity, is capable of raising himself to the economic level of the white man? Hays: Science can argue indefinitely about differences of intelligence and ability in the races, but I believe we must inherently assume that there is no difference in their potential. As a religious man I always come back to the truth that we are all children of God, all of...

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Brooks Hays Materials

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University of Arkansas