The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-02-18

IN SPITE OF MODS

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The more see OF some men the
better l love my dog" Such is a
simple but noble sentiment. This
writer might add that the more he
sees and knows about other ma
lions the better he fixes the Unit
ed States OF America.
This country has some grlevous
faults and not least among these Is
the rabId race prejudice that
works so much MI for the advance
ment OF the Negro in particular
and the nation in general. Our
country's fair escutcheon is smear
ed with blood OF men done TO
death without the due processes OF
law. As horrible as these facts be.
they must not blind us to the great
ness OF our country. Lynching
alone does not keep a nation from
being great but II detracts might
lily from this greatness. A coun-
try's greatness can not he mea-
sured by its shortcomings but by
the number OF possibilities realiz-
able.
And In this country these posi-
biliiies are myriads. In none but
great country could the Negro
have risen from the abject mser-
les OF slavery ~ the congress OF
the United States within so brief
a time. In none but a great coun-
try could such a decision as the
Supreme courts recent one been a
possibility. In none but great
country could Negroes press their
fight for full citizenship rights
without qualms and fears OF moles-
tation. In none but great coun-
try could the NAACP carry on to
great contamination its mighty
mission to further the Negro's
second emancipation.
In none but a great country
could a man like Justice Black
come back and win appreciation
for his constructive support OF a
measure that slaps In the face the
sacred traditions OF the people who
elevated him by their suffrage Ia
a place OF eminence whence he was
appointd 10 the supreme bench OF
the country. In none but a great
country could fits Southern states
accept with seriousness the chal-
lenge flung to 1t by a decision that
has shaken to their depths notions
and traditions that have become a
religion. In none but great coun-
try could Frankfurther have been
appointed and confirmed as a JUS
tice Of the supreme court In the
face OF the Germany's avowed at
titude toward the Jews. The al
pointment Of Frankfurter ny Roose.
welt was this great presidents ans
wer 10 Nazi nastiness and brutal.
ty 10 great people. In spite of its
mobs whose activities are beinT
more curbed. II must swell oui
hearts with pride 10 be citizens Of
so great country.
The Negro is yet far from the
promised Land OF full citizenship
he must yet cross the Rublcon o
segregation and scale the Alps OIL
prejudice, yet there are many signs
that are propitious and not least
among these Is gradual resur,
gence OF the conscience OF man.
kind. The other night | listened Il
the fight announcement from Madl
son Square garden and heard the
announcer telling about the color
OF Joe Louis robe and the color oil
his shoes and their laces, etc. Here
was a nation standing by to gel
a detailed account OF Negro
whose parents or grandparents q
few years ago we're slaves on thu
plantations OF the South. Here Ia a
Negro boy champion OF the world
with fame and fortune. What 4,
more, nowhere In the United States
has any voice been lifted 10 dis.
parage Joe and his fistIc exploits
Everybody Is proud OF the Negro
champion and this pride Is Just as
positive In the South as In the
North II takes more courage for
Southern papers TO give Joe VIVA,
he makes than for the Northern
ones; yet they have the courage
TO lay II on for Joe.
This Il a great country. N takes
a great country TO produce a Ne.
gro with Joe's common sense. Joe
IL a great guy and deserves the
gratitude OF q race for what be IA
doing 10 break down prejudice
When he was beaten by schmellnz
he had no alibl; when he annihl.
lated Schmeling he cried Il had a
lucky night When he crushed
John Henry Lewis the other nigh,
his first words were Il had anoth-
er lucky night" The modesty Of
such expressionl Here IL a Negro
with nsts like trip hammers claim
ing that be was merely lucky"
The Negro race can learn some
thing from Joe Louis.
rhis great country owes Il to IT,
self u pass an spti-lypch Law, for
when the bill 10 defeated In con.
grsss the nation must assume re-
sponsibility. II IL no longer a sec
u