The daily worker. [volume] (Chicago, Ill.) 1924-1958, 1932-01-29
By CHARLES ALEXANDER,

ONE Of the most important phases of our pres
" ent recruiting drive and a phase which will
measure to a considerable degree the success Of
the drive is the recruiting and keeping Of Negro
workers. In previous recruiting drives, this
phase was to great extent seriously neglected,
and in some places, where attention was paid to
it. such attention did not materialize into con-
sistent bringing in and retaining of the Negro
workers enrolled, but merely to sign up applica-
ton cards Such a state of affairs in the pres
ent drive must under no circumstances be toler-
ated. The drive must be made the means of
drawing into the Party great masses Of Negro
workers, of retaining them and further develop
ing them into conscious fighters Of the prole-
tartan army. This drive must be the signal for
every district, section and unit, for every men,
Der of the Party to take stock of the weakness
of our Negro work in general and to push for
ward with the most determined energy in the
recruiting and retaining of hundreds, nay thou
sands of Negro workers into our Party
The situation in the drive so far in respect to
Negro work is far from being satisfactory. While
it is true that districts have challenged districts,
likewise sections; it is necessary to point out that
in none of these challenges was the amount of
Negro workers which will be recruited stressed.
OF course it can be argued that in the general
number stated Negro workers were included,
but this is not sufficient nor is it sufficient to
gro workers merely on paper. Such challenges
should and ought to be made, but they must be
made, with conscious determination and every
effort must be bent toward the realization of
the proposed number, and of retaining them in
the Party
That the districts are not yet alive to the i'm
portance of the drive in the development of our
Negro work is evident from the reports. A few
weeks ago the New York District, the largest in
the country and with the greatest Negro popula-
ton, reported only % Negro workers recruited
since the beginning Of the drive, and this in
view of the horrible conditions affecting the
Negro workers in New York. There is a posi-
biity that other districts can show better re-
suits Cnotably Chicago; it is safe to say, how
ever, that the situation existing in New York
is an indication throughout the country Of the
extent of the general Underestimation of the
drive for recruiting and retaining Negro workers.
It is necessary to point out here new theory
which has developed, and. which several COM
rades in the New York District have advanced
as an excuse for failure to draw in more Negro
workers. This theory is that the Negro workers
in New York are not basicaIly proletarians, be-
cause they are not employed in heavy indus
tries This theory is false. The overwhelming
majority Of the Negro population in New York
are workers ard they are bitterly exploited and
rlundered Added to this is the robbery they SUI
fer in the segregated districts they are forced to
live in at the hands Of the Negro and white
landlords A vast number of them are unem-
rloyed. Discrimination is rife These are the
factors confronting the Negro workers in New
York These are the things we must struggle
against in behalf Of the Negro masses. 1t is
these struggles that will convince them that
We are fighting for their rights. 1t is on the
basis OF these struggles we will recruit them and
keep them in the Party. No comrades, it is not
because they are not "basically proletarians' but
because we have not CONSISTENTLY carried
on struggles against their horrible oppression by
the capitalist class.
To base the recruiting Of Negro workers on
the same general principle as that Of the white
workers would not only be grave mistake, but
it will also be manifestation Of a serious lack
of understanding Of the Negro question in the
United States. 1t will be a failure to under
stand the Negro problem as that of a national
minority and will consequently lead to failure