Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-07-19
SEGREGATION Of Gold Star Mothers Creates
Unusual Fu@ In New York City

New York, July H. Vigorous protest
led by the National Association for the
Advancement of ColOred People over a
period of six months against jim-crow-
ing of colored Gold Star Mothers to the
graves of their sons and husbands in
France eliminated today in stirring
scene in New York City's history City
Hall. Ferdinand @. Morton, Civil Ser
vice Commissioner of the City of New
York, voiced the sentiment of Negroes
thu oughout the country when he declare
ITO you dark-skinned mothers it (the
Natibn) bays the same measure of
homage that it gives to your fair
skinned sisters who nobly gave their
sons in its defense. Secure in the
knowledge of this, you will notallow
your hearts to be embittered by the
insult offered you by the Government
at Washington"
Fred r. Moore, City Alderman and
editor of the New York Age, delivered
an impassioned attack unon the segre-
cation of tht colored Gold Star Mothers
havisg discovered that the assurances
given him by captain of the United
States Army and published by Mr..
Moore in his newspaper to the effect
that the colored mothers would moi
be segregated or Disseminated against
rad been without fousdatioa.. e
Acting Mayor Joseph V. Mckee regret
ted that the note of bitterness had to be
uttered at the reception rendered the
mothers by the City of New York and
assured the mothers that New York City
welcomed them in the same admiration
it had shown white mothers. Mr.. Nc
kee called attention to the enormous
pride" which New York City felt in
having sent forth 'one of the finest
fighting units the old 10Th Colored
Regiment"
Arrival of the mothers in New York
City caused resentment against segrega-
tion of the mothers by the War Depare-
ment to flame up to high degree. All
of the New York City dailies featured
the story in their columns, usually on the
front page, and much resentment was
expressed by both white and colored
kisizens against the shabby fashion
in which the colored mothers were
treated.
Among those organizations coopera-
ting with the N. A. A. G. P. in its fight
against this discrimination was the Ma
tional Association of Colored Women
who sent the following telegram from
their annual convention in Hot Springs,
Arkansas.
we the National Association of Col
ored Women in convention assembled at
Hot Springs, Arkansas, representing fiv
hundren thousand colored colorel wom-
en- citizens of America do hereby protest
against the wholesale Government segre-
cation of colored Gold Star Mothers and
Widows, particularly in the housing Of
them in inferior hotels and rooming
places in Harlem and in the sending Of
them on inferior ships. Remember
that our colored boys fought in the same
trenches at the same time firing the
same guns and made the same supreme
sacrifice for the democracy of the world
vancement of Colored People received
The National Association for the Ad-
on the eye of the sailing of the colored
mothers two-page letter of explanation
dated July 10th, from Secretary of War
Patrick J. Hurley. this letter being
written seven weeks late in response
to a letter of protest to President
Hoover written by Walter White, Act
ing Secretary of the N. A. A. c. p, on
May 23rd. In his letter to the N. A.
A. C. P. Secretary of War Hurley sought
to defend and explain the Governments
attitude in segregating the colored
mothers.
The Advancement Association sharply
answered the Secretary OF Wars COM
munication. In an air mail, special
delivery letter, written Immediately on
receipt of the communication from the
War Department, Walter White express
ed establishment at Mr.. Hurley's state
ment that certain steamship lines had
refused to carry the colored mothers.
+. w Hue pOluISQ Jul Iho0 ~
Negroes travel each year to Europe on
the steamships of the very same lines
which, according to THE War Depart
ment, refused to transport the colored
mothers. Mr.. White further questioned
the War Departments sincerity in ask
ing why applications were made to in
dependent steamship lines for transport
tation for the colored mothers when the
white mothers had been transported on
veerels of the United States Shipping
Board, the effort to get accommodations
for the colored mothers on other lines
not only resulting in discrimination a
gainst the colored mothers, but in an
attempt by the U. 81 Government to
patronize other than American industry.
The Advancement ssAssociatiop also
expressed doubt as to the sincerity Of
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