The tribune independent of Michigan., 1935-03-09
INTRODUCTION


King City Improvement Associa
|tion filed into the large building
lIt was not q crowd OF pleasur
seekers cut for an evening OF mer
riment. but group OF quiet deter
mined. men and women.
The reason for this mass meet
ling was caused by numerous iteml
that had appeared in the KING
CITY WIRE" the past few weeks
some OF which bore the following
captions:
Outstanding Negro Business
Men on Their Way To King CITY
To Locate"
New Grocery Store Chain and
A Laundry and Cleaning Company
Excect To Open Their Doors In A
Few Days"
Negro Business and Profession
al Men Negotiating For A Modern
Office Building In The Heart OF
The Down Town District"
Negro Physician Has Just Com
pleted A Deal For A Handsome
Home On Brunswick Place"
Brunswick place was section
where only King City's white elite
breathed the purified air.
Negroes were rapidly reaching
out dark hands. and TO the white
peoples horror. taking things that
the Nordic's considered their very
own. Something must be done.
Many stood In groups, talking to
friends and neighbors. waiting for
the meeting to open.
"Why." cried one irate lady of
elephantine proportions, They've
hired two Negro clerks in the five
and ten over on Fall Avenue. and
one OF the creatures had the nerve
to try and wait on me. / was never
50 mortified in my life. especially
when | had my sister from Atlanta
with me-" and her triple chin
shook and quivered as friends
words OF consolation to
an injured spirit OF Dixie.
IL got on a street car yester-
lay spoke another of the ladies,
and a Negro woman came In WITH
| little pickaninney and asked me
o move over so she could sit
iown." There were cries OF con-
'ternaticn at such unseemingly
conduct.
A man with thick. bushy pack
sar spoke up. He had faint sug-
Z cstion OF a foreign accent.
"Over on Cedar Street. a friend
81 mine had a grocery store. Well.
tie Negroes wanted my friend
I.alley to take out some OF his
WI tie help and put in Negro clerks
because his trade was practically
all Negro. Kalley refused. and do
you know they boycotted his place
md he was forced to close"
II always contended that educat-
I'd Negroes were a menace" said
mother member. complacently.
The crowd now began TO settle
Town in their seats as the presi-
lent came forward and mounted
he stage.
A short. stocky man. quietly
dressed. and carrying a brief case
entered the Auditorium nd sat
near the front.
The president called the meeting
to order. After the usual prelimi-
naries he inquired for new MEM
bers and the short. stocky fellow
stood up.
Il wish to join" he answered.
"Your NameT' inquired the
president. The president had a
bulging forehead that somehow
rerembled a gaudy canopy on a
sunny day. II seemed to shade the
rest OF his features.
MY name is Luther Thompson.
You understand the object OF
this organization?"
i've been given to understand
that its chief interest is to promote
King City"
That's fine. Mr.. Thompson, for
the welfare OF the white people OF
that Is the aim of the King City
Improvement Association" Tho
president smiled.
Tonight the president seemet
Unusually pleased as he held up I,
view a newspaper.
Members. and friends" h,
cleared his throat. II wish to rea'
to you q few excerpts from ou
only Negro paper. You will then b
able to realize what the people o
J King City have to contend wit
Nordic traditions are being tram
pied under foot
Answers OF "yes indeed" poure
over the hall.
Listen to this. and he began /
read. The general office of IN
National Union Life Insuranc
company OF New York is sendin
their ace man TO assume IN
managerial reins OF the King Cit
branch. The National Union is IN
IL n - n.