The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-08-25

We deserve credit for the man
ner In which we have made In Q
secure position the Negro under
taker. We have these thoughts az
the National Association OF Negro
Undertakers is at present holding
its session In the city OF New
York
II has taken fifty years 10 pro-
duce this situation. We now see
the Negro undertaken m complete
control of at least 30 per cent of
the business OF his people in his
line. In our hours OF LIES greatest
sorrow he Is in our homes TO ten
derby care for the bodies OF our
departed, and to give Them burial.
We remember when this was
not true. We turned our money
away from "our house" and did
not even as much give "a thought
10 what we were doing. And II
was with n great degree of mis-
giving that some OF our courage
Gus ones gave their family bust
ness 10 Negro undertakers.
Many rumors were circulated.
within our house. to Justify our
not having Negro undertaken.
Their prices were too high
"They did not properly embaIm.'
"They would sell our bodies tn.
dpriorS.' and many other foolish
Hes. all Of which the Negro un-
dcrtaker had TO endure and sur
wye
The undertaken In other racial
groups helped hy encouraging our
people 10 hire our own. They
served us with the hope that
some day we would have sense
enough to serve and trust our
selves. II is the hope Of many that
now serve us that in some manner
We shall learn to serve ourselves
Some of the retail stores in De-
troit do not want our trade. They
us out of mere |
and decency but they do |
not want us. II Is pitiful rs well
~ discouraging TO hear some OF
,ur wise ones in Detroit boast
hat for many years they have
raded at certain exclusive
tore and run an account there.
Many OF us feel that we are not
cgnrdcd as other Negroes--that
ye have been here so long that
vc are different so well known
hat we are in "A class by our
elves So did some of us in Chi
= 10 aud East ST. Louis think un-
Il the fires OF riot taught us diff
erently. You may have more mon
~ and YOU may have more intel
Iigence but YOU are one OF us just |
the same. and some day you will |
.ind il out.
We have made the Negro under
lakcr. What about the Ncgro ceme-
terry? We have Il very fine start
here IN Detroit. at the Detroit
ALviorial Park. This is entirely
owned and controlled by Negroes.
Many Negroes here have proved
loyal to it. until now it is fast be-
coming thing OF beauty.
We hear all manner of stories !
1t. They put more |
than one body In the same grave"
They remove expensive Baskets |
and resell Them" They sell yo>
lots and let others bury in them
Their prices are too high" All
of these lies, the cemetery Is sur
VIKING and some day we shall be
made ashamed OF them.
We have attended funerals since
being in Detroit In oar capacity
as clergyman where we have been
forced to drive IN the back gate.
We have seen an entire funeral
procession turned away from the
front entrance and shifted 10 a side
entrance for no other reason than
that Negro funerals must not
come through the front entrance.
We took that insult thrown In
our face In the hour of sorrow.
Wbat did we do about 1t? We con-
tinu.1 TO so in the back gate and
we are going there now, and we
like II, because 1t Is $50 exclusive"
and many OF our "old friends are
buried there ana u dozen other
crazy reasons that would make
any other human being except an
inferior complex Negro 80 mad.
The common every day Negro
has made the Detroit Memorial
Park. He it Is who continues to
support II, while others OF our so
called high ups shout scgrega-
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