The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-01-21

THINNER SLICES

In the very nature OF thinEs
when guests are many and thu
cake is small. the slices must b
thin! After some such manner \
explained the plight OF a beautIcIan
who was singing a few days ago tbs
financial blues and crying "eco-
nomic murder" Said she, "there|
are so many beauty parlors in my|
city and they are multiplying al
rapidly that ! am leaving the BUSH
ness and going back into service
where l can makes living" Ten|
years ago the beauty business wsx|
booming, today the greatly multi
piled beauticlans are struggling
for survival.
II is even so with the restaura-
tours, the undertakers. the bar.
hers and the presser-cleaners
Gone are the halcyon days in those
fields and what is more. they are
gone 10 come no more. Already
the thin slices are becoming thin
ner and the end Is not yet. The
average section OF the cities in
habited by Negroes are filled with
restaurants. barber-shops. clean
ing shops, -parlors and UNI
dertaking establishments. The
promoters OF these enterprises
were few years ago proverbIal-
~ ION top OF the world Today
how changed!
1t is not different with the Negro
professionals. The Negro physi-
clan is a case in point. Just a few
years ago the Negro physicians
were emerging from Howard, Shaw
and Meharry with prospects OF
financial triumph and In many
cases in short periods these men
amassed great fortunes. To-day
the Negro physician is fighting 10
keep soul and body together and
IN view OF his high standards Of
living his struggle Is even more
pathetic than that OF the more low
ly masses. 1t Is not surprising
that during the depression il was
said that nearly so per cent OF the
Negro physicians in a certain city
were on relief. This Is not dis
grace or shame. II Is a pity. II
means that the slices OF opporiunl-
~ are becoming thinner by reason
OF the rapid multiplication OF these
professionals.
Only few brief years ago a Ne
gro emerging from one OF our nor
thern universities with a Phi n.
degree was assured that he would
live on the fat OF the land. The
world was his to enjoy and eN-
plot. Today these eminent schol-
ars are taking their places even
in high schools for what they can
get. ! talked recently with the
president OF a large Negro insti-
tuition and he said that he had on
his waiting list not only Phi. D.s
from some OF the best institutions
but in many cases they were Of
fering themselves for what they
could get and In many cases for
mere hoard and shelter. The slices
are getting thinner here also.
The conditions referred TO in no
wise reflect on the ability and In
tegrity OF the Negro; they only
show what is going on throughout
the realms OF Negrodom. There
are only three fundamental sources
OF economic sustenance for the
Negro and that is contact with tho
soil, contact In an occupational
way with the government and con-
facts with the white mans pocket
book. Our economic life IL rooted
In these and where these are In
terrupted II means for US thinner
slices OF economic cake.
Under the Roosevelt admins
tration we have contacted the gov
eminent in a financial way az va
have never before. But govern
ment employees also change IN
many instances. Then too only
small fraction of the employees can
work for the government. our
contact with the fund-sources OF
the white capitalist Is our most et-
fective means OF subsistence. Take
this away and the tender plant OF
our economic and social life VIII
wither and die. As pointed OUT
Ten years ago; there II cons'An'
threat to our contact with the fund
sources OF the white capitalists
both from the changing psychology
OF the lowly white man and from
the encroachments OF labor-saving
devices and general technical de-
velopment Of the nation and world
II all means that our slices are
getting thinner. II Is true that
here and there outstanding Negroes
like Joe Louis can ring in on good
fortune and secure thicker slices
But II Is safe TO sa that where one
Negro gets thicker slice there
are tens ana hundreds that ge'
even thinner slices or no slice a.
all.
Contacts with the soil through
farm ownership offers hope. Farm