The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1926-03-02
BY |. AMER.

TN a recent issue of the Cleveland
L Call, colored paper, there was an
editorial entitled 1.-THE Colored Citi-
zen and Communism" In this editor
ial the writer contends that when
"other groups like the Socialists de-
monstrate that they are our most out
spoken champions for our rights, the
colored man feels that there is some
thing good in their principles and at
once becomes susceptible to propa-
ganda." u
Furthermore you state that "if those
who believe in the present form of
government desire to retain the color
ed citizens loyalty to this form, they
must demonstrate that this form in
sures him equal rights and Justice"
There are fundamental errors in
this logic. The latter statement first
that they must demonstrate that this
form insures him equal rights and
Justice" What position do the
Negroes occupy in this country? OF
the more than 100000 Negroes, $50
per cent are workers and tenant farm
ers. Do the workers-black or white
and do the farmers-black. or white
-get equal rights and justice" in
this country? This question must be
answered with an emphatic negative.
Other Discrimination
T EFT us examine some problems of
II the foreign-born white workers.
If he becomes a citizen, he knows that
if he fights for the betterment of the
condition of the members of his class,
he is subject to arrest, indictment
as a "bolshevik" and then deportation.
What is his economic position? He
is the cheap, unskilled labor employed
in the basic industries. 1t is becoming
harder and harder for him to enter
the skilled occupations. Colored col
lege students cannot obtain positions
after graduation and must accept any
kind of unskilled labor. Why this
discrimination against the foreign
born and Negro worker? Because the
employing class requires a reserve
army that may be used to lower the
condition of the American workers as
a whole. In addition, there is work
in the heavy dustries-railway
steel, in the packing houses, etc,
where cheap labor is required. Who
is to do this work? The American
will not accept it, hence there must
be large quantity of foreign-born and
Negro labor to fill the Job.
Up to year ago, there was strong
current of immigration into this coun-
try Since the farmers have gone
thru crisis, and two millions have
migrated to the cities to find work;
and since the Negro was found to be
potential material for industry, the
stream Of foreign-born workers into
this country has stopped.
The Negro workers now do the
dirty" work in industry, and they
will continue to do this work. Can the
Negro think that tho capitalist will
put the Negro on par with the white
workers? Yes, only is one instance,
Wnen ne needs strlkebreakers. The
reactionary trade union officials,
more the interests OF the
employers than of the working class,
keep the Negroes out Of the unions,
thus guaranteeing reserve army for
the service of the capitalists.
In an emergency, Negroes can do
the work of white workers, since in.
dustry has become so mechanical
This emergency is the strike. But
should the Negroes, thru pressure get
into the trade unions, or thru their
own Initiative form their own unions,
WIZ the situation change under the
present system? Not at all. The cap
italists will keep up the warfare be.
tween the two races in order to keep
Them apart, just as they breed hatred |