The Omaha guide., 1933-07-08
We ARE NOT GETTING OURS

We often boast about the great advancement we
have made in the last three quarters of a century; our
progress IN literature, science, music, medicine and other
arts and professions. However, a little research will
serve to show that our advancement over this period can
not De compared on par with other groups over a similar
span OF time. Take the prosperous immigrants for an
example.
Our greatest hinderance seems to grow out Of the
fact that we do not inspire concentrated effort in projects
IWhlch would serve to improve the economic status of our
communities. Omaha's colored citizenry represents
something like $4,000 people. Observe any town with a
l2,OOO population and find what amount of these persons
are holding well paying and responsible positions. Com
pare their progresslveness with your own community and
note how far we are behind in this struggle of human ex-
1Stence.
three to four OF our people to pay a weeks salary to out
slders who come into our section through the force of out
side mass pressure and fill positions and jobs that could
and should be held by our own young men and women
for whom we have sacrificed to educate.
A regrettable illustration of this is to be found in
our neighborhood theatre; closed now five days a week
due IN part to the fact that our people resent the constant
paying out of their hard earned quarters and dimes,
where they cannot secure desirable employment. Much
undeserved criticism has been heaped upon the manage
ment OF this theatre. The criticism is not merited be-
cause the management is powerless to hire colored help
In the operating room, due to pressure brought on by an
organization of workers who seemingly have always en-
deavored to keep the colored worker in the lowest class
possible, even if they have to come into his own ~neighbor-
hood and rob him of his inherent right to accomplish
their aim. We have ample information from the manage
ment that they would be only too glad to hire colored mo-
ton picture machine operators if the fire prevention law,
which from indications is an instrument in part to protect
a certain class Of labor, was not used as an excuse to pre-
vent persons who are undesirable to them, from securing
operators license.
A group Of skeptical citizens, desiring to test the
elasticity Of the law governing license to operators, sell
ected two colored youths who have been trained in mach
inery, electricity and motion pictures since their school
days, to take the examination. The results and elasticity
was as expected; an unnecessary detailed and complicat-
ed group Of tasks were set up for them. In spite of this
they came within a few points of passing the test. Then,
believing that maybe they were not so ~up-to-date, the
young men spent four weeks of intense study under the
supervision of a licensed operator in preparation for an
other examination. Those in power evidently felt that
this was the time to discourage the youths once for all, SO
they gave them even lower grades then at first.
These two young men are determined to carry the
fight against apparent discrimination to the last ditch.
They have been successful in securing an appeal from the
board of the city council This is only one step toward
attaining better representation in jobs CREATED BY
OURSELVES, yet we all should get into the spirit of the
movement as the path has no ending and offers unlimited
opportunities for those youths Of ours whom we educate
and are educating, that they might take their rightfuI
place among men in this city and nation.