The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-12-02
NUMBER FIFTY.Two

II and whom. the rat catches the cat the man
bites the doy. 1t Is news. then when. white boy
plays football Negro team it's OF the
newsiest sort This Is what happened last Saturday
on Virginia Unions gridiron.
Seeing was believing last Saturday at least.
had heard OF this white boy LEcons team but
like Thomas OF old wanted TO put my hand on the
situation. Far thrilling than the game itself
which immensely thrilling. the sight of
young white man targling up on the gridiron with
young Negroes. My mind went back to the days OF
the Abolitionists who hailed from Boston and spread
their philosophy throughout the nation. Here in this
yourg white abolitionism rencarnated in
the year OF Lord 1899 Nothing happened
cept Lincoln incidentally the game by point
good time was had by all and the young white
whose number was SO had demonstrated Jesus Christ
on the gridron.
want Number SO TO preach Christ unto me for
the Christ he breaches has meaning. Fifty-two can
talk culture to me for he epitomizes culture. Fifty
two car impress with his doctrines for he has
impressed with his behavior Gradually the light
Is breaking and il is breaking fastest among the
younger generations. The late DR.. c. T. Walker,
greatest preacher of his generation used to say
there always the question OF the elders TO the
younger generation. what is going to happen when
all the old folks die and get out OF the way?" DR..
Walker always replied thar the world Is going TO
move for they had business getting in the
way
Race relations are going TO receive mighty
impulse forward with the death OF many row liv-
ing. ! pinnng my hopes on the Weakening hu-
manitarianism OF the younger generations OF white
men and women In this country. Number So has set
standards which are Christian in their implication.
have wondered about 52s parents They must be great
in their spirits for often like parents like children
They abolitionsts in their hearts The fell
low who Is up there" making speech on race re-
lations can never compare with the fellow lin there
playing his heart out with and for the fellows.
While pondered as 50 drove through center the
thought occurred 10 me that there were some young
men in Richmond. born below the Mason and Dixon
Line who also would play on Negro teams and with
Negroes IL let alone They must be restrained from
their laudable impulses. The 50 feelings rot con-
fined to AIRY section OF the nation but is wide
spread There is considerably 50 feelings than
~ playing. The feelings are most important for
they are bound to register themselves one way or
another. For To- these many years we have beer
reading OF Negroes playing white teams OF the
North; but not until the coming OF SO have read
OF a white athlete playing Negro team.
Those Negroes who try hard to underestimate
the importance OF nterracialism ought to think on
81. Fifty-two Is interracialis OF the practical
kind and there will be others tomorrow 1t should
nerve the arm and strengthen the heart OF the young
er generation OF Negroes to Know that aboitonism
is not dead. 1t is true there Is white man TO at
tack Harpers Ferry but there Is no need OF this
today. We need 52s just certainly as needed
John Browns and the rest OF the Abolitionists
Those whites who stirred this nation with anti-say-
cry propaganda and those who built Negro colleges
and those who support them and the 52s are all OF
he same mould. They all had the So sentiment in
their souls.
Negroes must learn not TO nut oil their energies
on the ant-Negro white man and his programs
While cursing the Negrophobes we must not over
look the Negfophiles. II is more popular to curse
the former than 10 bless the latter but the popular
course Is not always safest and most probable
lnterracalism Is dead nor Is II obsolescert So
while we praise SO for what he is doing we must not
forget the fellow who Is w~ting for chance 10 be
$50"