Solid Research Foundation of CCI
Can Lead to Downfall of Prejudices

By ABEL COHEN

This year marks the fifth
anniversary of the founding of
the Commission on Community
Interrelations (CCI), the social
research arm of the American-
Jewish Congress. CCI, which is
staffed by highly trained social-
scientists, was established to
take the struggle against racial
and religious prejudice out of
the realm of hope, opinion and
guesswork and place it within
the scope of scientific measure-
ment and scientific fact-.
CCI's first major project was
to challenge haphazard .proce-
dures by commissioning an em-
inent social psychologist, Dr.
Goodwin Watson, of Columbia
University, to make a survey of
all the commonly used methods
of combating prejudice and dis-
crimination. Professor Watson
made an analysis of the use and
effectiveness of virtually every
approach which was being tried.
His conclusions were so impor-
tant that they were made avail-
able to the public in book form.
This first CCI study, ACTION
FOR UNITY, has become a basic
guide in the struggle against
prejudice and for equal rights
for all men.
Pehaps the most important
finding of ACTION FOR UNITY
was the disclosure that one of
the best ways to promote better
intergroup relations is to inter-
est a number of organizations
and individuals, in a problem
which affects them all, and to
get them working together to-
ward its solution.
How to Reduce Bias
CCI's basic principle is that
we can best reduce prejudice
not by preaching, but by work-
ing together with other corn-
munity groups on very clear-
cut and specific projects—pro-
jects which are directly or in-
directly related to the causes of
ill-will or. the frustrations of
people in the community.
The development of the
working together philosophy
was CCI's first major contribu-
tion. Its next job has been to
create, pre-test and place into
community use new methods of
overcoming hatred and inter-
group tension.
A very . different kind of at-
tack on prejudice is represented
by the community self-survey
on discrimination. This is 0,-,
method which CCI has developed
to make it possible for c..::nary
citzens of a community to con-
duct an expert study of discrim-
inatory practices in their neigh-
borhood.
The American Jewish Con-
gress is interested not primarily
in surveys but in action which
will reduce and undermine dis-
crimination. What kind of a
survey creates the best possibili-
ties for thoroughgoing commun-
ity action on the basis of the
facts found? CCI is convinced
that a survey in which citizens
participate themselves provides
an effective answer to that ques-
tion.

tification with their own group.
CCI is not only concerned with
improving relations between dif-
ferent groups. It is also trying to
develop methods whereby a
group can improve its internal
attitude towards itself.
Racial and religious groups
which have been discriminated
against often suffer, as a result,
from either resentfulness or ex-
aggerated feelings of inferiority
and these feelings often go un-
recognized, and cause deep
trouble. Frequently, children are
not able to grow up with a hap-
py adjustment in life unless they
are able to develop a positive
attitude toward their own group,
and their own cultural and so-
cial background.
In the field of Jewish identi-
fication, CCI has undertaken a
comprehensive investigation of
the problem to determine,
among other things, the differ-
ences between American Jewish
children who are brought up
with varied Jewish background
and traditions, and taking into
account the effect of their at-
titudes on their adult life.

Widespread Influence

Another .important aspect of
CCI, of increasing significance,
is the influence which its meth-
ods have had on the general
field of social science in this
country during the past five
years.
At the present time, CCI is
recognized as one of the most
dynamic and creative centers of
research on methods for com-
batting racism. Through basic
articles published in leading
professional magazines and
through presentations at the
yearly meetings of professional
associations, CCI has gained
followers for its new method of
action research—which means
no action without preceding re-
search and no research without
direct implications.
Recently, CCI was honored by
receiving the Edward L. Bernays

_

million to another orchestra.
"Damrosch talks too much," ex-
The famous Jewish founder of directly referring to Pulitzer or plained Pulitzer.
the New York World, Joseph hinting any thoughts about a
"I 'talked myself out of a mill-
Pulitzer, amassed a vast fortune will.
in his lifetime. When the time
Following the concert, Pulitzer ion dollars," Damrosch later
came for making his will, he de- changed his will, transferred the con fessed.
cided to leave a million dollars
for the orchestra conducted by
Walter Damrosch.
When Pulitzer's secretary
Best Wishes to the Jewish Community
learned about this, he communi-
cated the report to Mr. Dam-
For the New Year
rosch. The latter was very ex-
cited and learning that Mr.
Pulitzer planned to attend his
forthcoming concert, Damrosch
became all a-twitter. At the con-
cert, Damrosch, to clinch the in-
heritance, went out before the
footlights and made a long
600 Dime Bldg.
WO. 1-0321
speech about his music, his
plans, etc., withdut, of course,

Damrosch Talked Himself Out of Pulitzer Million

HOMER WARREN & CO.

Intergroup Relations Award for
1948-49, given by the Society for
Psychological Study of Social Is-
ues, for "the most significant
research of the year on the
problems of improving inter-
group relations."

THE JEWISH NEWS-40C

Friday, September 8, 1950

Ladies' Auxiliary
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Extend best wishes for a Happy
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Happy New Year

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Outlook of Youth

Many Jewish young people
and adults feel their member-
ship in the Jewish group not as
something which enriches and
vitalizes their lives, but as some-
thing which is meaningless and
burdensome. The problem to be
solved is a complex one, for
Jews cannot live as truly happy
or successful human beings—
either among themselves or
within the community-at-large
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a positive, proud sense of iden-

Happy New Year to Our Jewish Friends

May the Year Ahead Bring Peace,

NEW YEAR GREETINGS

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