The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-08-12

to show our readers how in the
scale Of American racial preferences
the American Negro stands as a
fifth-rate citizen within this country
and in the eyes of the world, on the
furthest margin of American racial
preference. In this and the following
two instruments, we shall endeavor
10 explain to our readers just how
we see the American Negro stand
ing on the margin OF American
social, political and economic life.
Socially speaking, the Negro is
Just roomer in the American
household; and, an undesirable
foomer at that. Like all people who
are just rooming, he is imposed
a whole catalogue OF restrictions by
he landlord, which he must either
comply with, or get out. He must
pay the room-rent on time; he
mustn't burn the light too long at
night; he mustn't use too much gas;
he mustn't have late parties no-
keep up too much noise at night;
he mustn't forget to clean the bath.
Tub after using; nor may he track
the carpets with his wet feet; and
so on and so on through the very
familiar code OF rules and regula-
tions imposed on the average room
er.
But, where the Negro really gets
it "on the neck" is in his condition
OF an undesirable roomer. He is
soaked" for his room-rent just like
anybody else, yet he does not enjoy
the same privileges of members OF
the household, nor even OF other
roomers who by their alien condi-
ton are comparative outsiders be-
sides the Negro. Yet, these outsiders,
who are really transients or ex-
eloiters, enjoy the freedom OF the
house, while the Negro, as the I'M
desirable roomer suffers insults on
top OF limitations.
As an undesirable roomer, he Is
prescribed and ostracised; he is
Snubbed and Stunned by the MEM
bers and other tenants OF the house,
hold; he is limited to the little
room in the back and excluded from
the rest OF the house; he must come
in through the back door, and never
through the front; he must use the
facilities OF the house only AFTER
the others have been served or sat
isfied; he must eat in the kitchen, II
at all; when company comes he can
only enter the front part of the
house only to serve or to entertain
he landlords company; there are
special rules and regulations for him
that do not apply to the rest of the
members or tenants of the house; II
he is good and stays lin his place"
the landlord may shower him with
left-overs from the table or the cast
otfs from the wardrobe; but, if he
tries to protest or get tough" the
landlord will call the law" to take
care of him. And, so goes the life
of the Negro as the undesirable
roomer in the American household,
The American Negro pays taxes
Just like any body else, and in the
same amounts as are imposed on
any other individual in the COM
monwealth; yet, the same govern
ment that taxes him will segregate
him and in many instances exclude
completely from certain govern
ment activities. There isn't branch
OF government in America where
the Negro is sincerely wanted. In
some he is tolerated, and in others
he is reluctantly admitted as an I'M
avoidable evil; but, in none is he
really wanted; not even in Con-
sress where he goes by the suffrage
IT his own people. In many parts OF
tie land, the government that taxes
him does not give him adequate