A comparative study of selected white and Negro youth of San Antonio, Texas, with special reference to certain basic social attitudes

350 Pages·018.566 MB·English

by  Norris, Clarence Windzell

A COMPARATIVE STUDY OF SELECTED WHITE AND NEGRO YOUTH
OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS, WITH SPECIAL REFERENCE
TO CERTAIN BASIC SOCIAL ATTITUDES
A Dissertation
Presented to
the Faculty of the Graduate School
The University of Southern California
In Partial Fulfillment
of the Requirements for the Degree
Doctor of Philosophy
by
Clarence Windzell Norris
November 1950
UMI Number: DP31711
All rights reserved
INFORMATION TO ALL USERS
The quality of this reproduction is dependent upon the quality of the copy submitted.
In the unlikely event that the author did not send a complete manuscript
and there are missing pages, these will be noted. Also, if material had to be removed,
a note will indicate the deletion.
DSssettatficffl Pubiisrsng
UMI DP31711
Published by ProQuest LLC (2014). Copyright in the Dissertation held by the Author.
Microform Edition © ProQuest LLC.
All rights reserved. This work is protected against
unauthorized copying under Title 17, United States Code
ProQuest LLC.
789 East Eisenhower Parkway
P.O. Box 1346
Ann Arbor, Ml 48106- 1346
PhD. So, 'Si NgS*
This dissertation, written by
.C.lsr.^no..e...Wln^[email protected].....
under the guidance of AiSL— Faculty Committee
on Studies, and approved by all its members, has
been presented to and accepted by the Council
on Graduate Study and Research, in partial ful­
fillment of requirements for the degree of
DOCTOR OF PH ILO SO PH Y
fzLfc.
Date
Committee on Studies
Chairman /
TABLE OF CONTENTS
CHAPTER PAGE
I. INTRODUCTION...................... 1
General social setting of* problem. . . . . . . . 1
General objectives of present study....... 3
Limitations of the study......................
Definitions of terms.......................... 6
Sources of data and methods of procedure • • • • 11
The two racial groups studied............. 13
Personal information ........................ l*f
Administration of questionnaires • • • • • • • • 15
Organization of the chapters.................. 15
Summary • • • • • ......................... 16
II. ‘REVIEW OF SELECTED RELATED STUDIES.............. 18
American Youth Commission studies.............. 19
Exclusive Negro youth studies................ 19
Other youth studies.......................... 23
Other studies dealing with youth attitudes
toward family, church and religion, school,
employment opportunities, recreational facili­
ties, delinquency, race relations, and
marriage and sex......................... 2b
Summary............. 2d
III. THE SOCIAL SETTING OF SAN ANTONIO, TEXAS........ 30
Geographical location of San Antonio in relation
ill
iv
CHAPTER PAGE
>
to its cultural setting.................... 30
Racial composition of San Antonio population. . 31
Social aspects of racial segregation.......... 37
Racial segregation laws passed by Texas
legislature ................... Mf
Racial segregation in San Antonio, Texas. . . . k-7
Social stratification in San Antonio.......... 62
Summary. ................................. .• • • • 66
IV. ATTITUDES TOWARD TEE FAMILY.................... 71
Summary • • • • • • • • • ...................... 102
V. ATTITUDES TOWARD THE_ CHURCH AND RELIGION...........107
Summary................• • • • • • • • • • • • 130
VI. ATTITUDES TOWARD THE SCHOOL.................... 13**
Summary • ..........• • • • . • • • • • • • • * 156
VII. ATTITUDES TOWARD EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITIES . . . . 159
Summary................. 173
VIII. ATTITUDES TOWARD RECREATIONAL FACILITIES...........182
Summary • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 202
IX. ATTITUDES TOWARD JUVENILE DELINQUENCY.............205
Summary * . • • • • • • • • .............. •• 222
X. ATTITUDES TOWARD RACE RELATIONS.................. 226
Summary............. ............ • • • • • • • 2^7
XI. ATTITUDES TOWARD MARRIAGE AND SEX . . . . . . . . 250
Summary . . . . . . . . ...................... 268
V
CHAPTER PAGE
XII. SUMMARY, CONCLUSIONS, AND RECOMMENDATIONS. . . . 271
Summary ........... 271
Sociological implications and conclusions . • . 282
Recommendations . ........... 288
BIBLIOGRAPHY........................................291
APPENDICES
L
APPENDIX A— Names of the Six San Antonio Schools
in Which Subjects Used in this Study
Were Enrolled 19^-19^9 . . ...... 303
APPENDIX B— Questionnaire Used in Connection with
Study ........... 305
APPENDIX C— Letter of Instructions to the Person
Chosen to Administer the Question­
naires. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . 311
APPENDIX D— Summary Tabulations of Critical
Ratios According to the Numbering of
Each Statement in Part I of the
Questionnaire ...... 313
LIST OF TABLES
TABLE PAGE
I* Age and Sex Distribution of the Two San Antonio
Youth Groups Studied • • • • • • • • • • • • . 5
II. Total White and Negro Population of San Antonio,
Texas from 18J0 to 19*K>. • • • • • • • • • • . 32
III. The Number and Percentage of Anglo-Americans,
Latin Americans, and Negroes in Total
San Antonio Population from 1900 to 19**0 . . . 3*f
IV. Population in San Antonio, Texas, Fifteen to
Twenty-four Years of Age by Sex and Race 1930
and 19^0 • • • • ............. 36
V. Responses of Selected San Antonio Negro and
White Youth with Regard to Good Treatment
Received from Their Parents. • • • • • • • • • 75
VI. The Answers of the Selected San Antonio Youth
with Reference to Any Bad Habits of Their
Parents. ........• • • • • ............... 80
VII. Comparison of the Responses of Selected
San Antonio Youth with Regard to Carrying
Out the Wishes of Their Parents. • • • • • • • 83
VIII. The Responses of Selected San Antonio Youth
Relative to Their Attitude Toward Quitting
School to Take Care of Their Parents • • • • • 86
vi
vii
TABLE PAGE
IX* The Responses of the San Antonio Youth Concern­
ing Their Peeling That Their Parents Care More
about Others Than They Do Their Own Children • 87
X* The Answers of the San Antonio Youth in Regard
to Their Opinion of Their Family*s Ambition
to Have Something............... 89
XI* Comparison of the Responses of the San Antonio
Youth Concerning Their Attitude toward Their
Parents* Willingness to Make Sacrifices for
Them • • • • * • • •• •• • • • • • • • • • • 91
XII* The Replies of the San Antonio Youth Relative
to Their Satisfaction with the Accommodations
in Their Homes • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • 92
XIII* Home Ownership of Parents of $2b Selected
San Antonio Youth* • • * • • • • • • • • • • • 9b
XIV. Number and Percentage of Owner Occupied Non-
Farm Homes in Four Largest Cities of Texas,
by Race, 19**0* . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . 95
XV* Comparison of the Answers of the San Antonio
Youth in Regard to Their Satisfaction with
the Attitudes That Their Parents Show to Each
Other. • • • • • • • • • • * . • • • • • • • • 97
XVI. The Replies of the San Antonio Youth Regarding
Their Desire That Their Father Follow a
viii
TABLE PAGE
Different Occupation • • • • • . « • • • • • . 100
XVII. Occupations That Selected San Antonio Youth
Desire That Their Fathers Follow • • • • . . . 101
XVIII. Occupational Distribution of Fathers of Selected
San Antonio Negro and Miite Youth. .... . . . . 103
XIX. Comparison of the Responses of Selected
San Antonio Youth Regarding Their Church
Membership • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . • • • Ill
XX. Comparison of the Responses of Selected
San Antonio Youth with Reference to Their
Belief in God. • • • • • • • • • • • • • • • . ll*f
XXI. The Answers of the San Antonio Youth Regarding
Their Parents Making Them Go to Church • • • • 116
XXII. The Answers of the San Antonio Youth Concerning
Their Attitude toward Prayer • » • • • • • • • 119
XXIII. Responses of the San Antonio Youth Compared with
Regard to Their Belief in the Bible. . • • • • 120
XXIV. Comparison of the Replies of the San Antonio
Youth Concerning Their Attitude toward
Ministers1 Acquisition of Money • • • • • • • 122
XXV. The Compared Answers of Selected San Antonio
Youth Relative to Their Opinion of the Import­
ance of the Religion of Negroes. . . . . . . . 12b
XXVI. The Answers of the San Antonio Youth with
ix
TABLE PAGE
Reference to Life after Death • . ......... . . 126
XXVII. Comparison of the Responses of the San Antonio
Youth Concerning Their Attitude toward the
Drinking of Intoxicating Liquor............ 128
XXVIII. The Replies of the San Antonio Youth Regarding
What They Think of Religion . . ............... 129
XXIX. Protestant Churches in San Antonio 19^9 . • • • • 131
XXX. The Responses of San Antonio Youth Compared with
Regard to Their Opinion of the Value of Educa­
tion in Getting More Enjoyment out of Life. • • 13?
XXXI. The Comparison of the Answers of San Antonio
Youth Relative to the Availability of the
Course in Which They Are Interested . . . . . . 137
XXXII. Comparison of the Replies of the San Antonio
Youth with Regard to Their Attitude toward a
Course in Marriage Being Taught in High School
and College • • • . • • • • • • • • • • • • • • l*fl
XXXIII. The Answers of the San Antonio Youth Regarding
the Addition of More Information to the School
Curriculum Concerning the Achievements of
Racial Minorities . . . . • . • .. . .. . . • 1**3
XXXIV. The Replies Compared of the San Antonio Youth
Relative to Their Desire to Go to School. . . .