DIY History | Transcribe | Hevelin Fanzines | Black & white, Summer 1944

Transcribe
Translate

Black & white, Summer 1944

Page 3

							[illegible]

I've a measure of squeamishness about associating with same. But this mental maladjustment I conscientiously attempt to overcome. All it is, I think, is that, subconsciously, I feel because a man is black he's dirty. Balderdash, of course. But one has to contend with one's thalamus!

	While a Negro would not be sexually attractive to me, and I should not expect to have any intercourse with an Oriental or perhaps several other races radically different from the white, certainly I need not snub them in matters of normal activity: eating together, conversing, commerce, sport, etc. This is not to imply sexual relationships are not normal---please let us not go off on a sophisticated tangent.

	If Jack is not aghast long before now, here is the part where I confidently expect his red hair to fade at least to pink: I HAVE EATEN BUTTERED POPCORN FROM THE SAME BAG WITH THIS COLORED FAN! NB: I felt no ill after-effects.

	I hope to Stf that my colored fan friend never reads these words. I should want him to know, tho, that this Jack Speer, of Washington, DC, is not representative of fandom, at least, I trust and believe not, and in fact may not be entirely responsible for his own conduct. Is the bent branch to blame if a wild wind or a ruthless hand twisted the sapling? I think there are extenuating circumstances; that Jack has been hypnotized by environment.

	In the near future I intend to inform the LASFS of my discovery of this Negro fan, and ask if the club would have any objection to my inviting him to meetings. I do not expect opposition. Should opposition arise, I'd be aroused --- dammit to hell, I can promise you I'd be so boiling mad I'd be ready to make an issue of it then and there: either we admit this fan or I go! But that would be melodramatic and unproductive of the desired result. Conceivably, if I do not flatter myself, there would be capitulation. But certainly it would be begrudged. I shouldn't want that. But I prefer to prophecy that when the time comes the members will rather think it a little odd of me to question that they might raise any objection, as tho I should know better. In that case I shall be very proud indeed of the fangelenos. But I must know for certain.

	Wm R Twiford should have sent Jack Speer an autograft copy of his (obnoxious) book, "Sown in the Darkness--A.D. 2000". This is a novel Tremaine publisht in the days of the Comet. It is one of the most dastardly damnations ever perpetrated, in my opinion. Equaled, probably, only by that British abonimation, "Concrete", of the sickening future religious revival.

	"The Negro," twaddles Twiford, "should have been left in Africa to go the way of the untamed tiger, the gorilla and the lion, into final extinction. If he had been left to do this, his soul would have come back to this earth and be dwelling here today in a white body!" Metaphysical moronity!

	"If such ultimate outcome was not the plan of the all-wise Creator, then why has He endowed the white race with superior in-

Saving...

[illegible] I've a measure of squeamishness about associating with same. But this mental maladjustment I conscientiously attempt to overcome. All it is, I think, is that, subconsciously, I feel because a man is black he's dirty. Balderdash, of course. But one has to contend with one's thalamus! While a Negro would not be sexually attractive to me, and I should not expect to have any intercourse with an Oriental or perhaps several other races radically different from the white, certainly I need not snub them in matters of normal activity: eating together, conversing, commerce, sport, etc. This is not to imply sexual relationships are not normal---please let us not go off on a sophisticated tangent. If Jack is not aghast long before now, here is the part where I confidently expect his red hair to fade at least to pink: I HAVE EATEN BUTTERED POPCORN FROM THE SAME BAG WITH THIS COLORED FAN! NB: I felt no ill after-effects. I hope to Stf that my colored fan friend never reads these words. I should want him to know, tho, that this Jack Speer, of Washington, DC, is not representative of fandom, at least, I trust and believe not, and in fact may not be entirely responsible for his own conduct. Is the bent branch to blame if a wild wind or a ruthless hand twisted the sapling? I think there are extenuating circumstances; that Jack has been hypnotized by environment. In the near future I intend to inform the LASFS of my discovery of this Negro fan, and ask if the club would have any objection to my inviting him to meetings. I do not expect opposition. Should opposition arise, I'd be aroused --- dammit to hell, I can promise you I'd be so boiling mad I'd be ready to make an issue of it then and there: either we admit this fan or I go! But that would be melodramatic and unproductive of the desired result. Conceivably, if I do not flatter myself, there would be capitulation. But certainly it would be begrudged. I shouldn't want that. But I prefer to prophecy that when the time comes the members will rather think it a little odd of me to question that they might raise any objection, as tho I should know better. In that case I shall be very proud indeed of the fangelenos. But I must know for certain. Wm R Twiford should have sent Jack Speer an autograft copy of his (obnoxious) book, "Sown in the Darkness--A.D. 2000". This is a novel Tremaine publisht in the days of the Comet. It is one of the most dastardly damnations ever perpetrated, in my opinion. Equaled, probably, only by that British abonimation, "Concrete", of the sickening future religious revival. "The Negro," twaddles Twiford, "should have been left in Africa to go the way of the untamed tiger, the gorilla and the lion, into final extinction. If he had been left to do this, his soul would have come back to this earth and be dwelling here today in a white body!" Metaphysical moronity! "If such ultimate outcome was not the plan of the all-wise Creator, then why has He endowed the white race with superior in-