The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-12-02
A NON . PARTISAN
NEWSPAPER
TIL E
| ID ULLETLN
| DOARD....
BY Ulysses w. Boykin'
.1AVAsssss

We Join with other Americans In belisv,r- !, L
we OF America are blessed as Is no other na,;o, S
earth. We can. II We will, make our nation W.
II ought to be.
The present situation as outlined by the Fo-...
Round Table early this year can be reduced "a ~
Following explanation: by virtue OF It's reorrs.s.
position and natural resources the United sta,ss =
America Is better able than the democracs.
Europe TO maintain its traditional institutions ~
standards OF living. We remain the richest ~
freest and safest country in the world Wa M.
more time and wealth than any other coun,r
frd peaceful and democratic solution 10 opr n,.s
lens" Yet what Is the situation today?
"Since 1929 this country has experienced ,wo 4
pressions, which together have been more ssr,o
socially than any in our previous experience MN
the recession OF 1887 proved OF orly SECONDARY -,
portance, the violence OF the decline as well a, ~.
rapidity OF recovery indicated an instability n ~
American economy probably greater than ,r @
other country In the world. Moreover there ara Ia ~,
about ten millions OF workers without private ~.
ployment and the purchasing power OF our farm nas
ulation Is far from the goal OF party From ~.
10 time chronological development continues "a 49,.
ate ideness in specialized trades and in narlcw.
regions. So far our economic system has failed !.
absorb these displaced workers into new irdus,,,.
"As far as the American Negroes part in this ME-
ture can he explained is as folows-WhiIe the ,o,
number OF people In America on relief in isas VA,
3,O300O0 approximately that number ienressn,ss
pared with 1875 per cent OF the other portions o, On,
population.
A few examples will show how the comparison,
work According TO the 1889 edition Of The Neyrs
Too. In American History" in Birmingham Al,
Negroes compose 6S3 per cert of the relief popula
ton. In Kansas City Mo-. Negroes were 9s nor
cent OF the population and from % 10 81 ner cent ~
the relief role. The depression found ei7 per cent
OF all Negro workers in the country engaged !,
nj
these fields that unemployment struck most SHARPLY
and most quickly. II is also In the occupations thai
unemployment is going forward mos slowly toward
recovery.
Our human resources imported In mary
OF our communities widespread undernourishmen
exists, caused in part by ignorance and IN par, b
poverty Our educational system mus, be greatly
extended before the principle OF equality Of oppor.
unity can be realized. Here Is the picture. On one
hand is small group OF comparatively wellodo
people who. although still well fed and clothed
spend much OF their time in criticism OF the govern.
ment and OF organized labor. At the Other extreme
Is the vast mass OF urderpryileged Americans lv.
ing on the margin OF existence. deprived OF hope
for the future. weary OF that margin Of existence
becoming embittered toward the prosperous They
grasp at panaceas, agitation for which in itself il
a deterrent to recovery. In lard whore everyone Il
equally miserable there is less danger Of social no..
rest than In country sucn America whore the
standard Is reasonably high. but where there are
wide dlsparities OF wealth and where as FAR as The
masses are concerned there is great instability and
nuctuation in income and employment
We do rot believe II Is alarming 10 say thai IN.
less America can make greater headwas IN solving
is economic and political problems aud unless We
can develop spirit OF unity this country be.
fore many years may be confronted by the danger Il
internal dissolution. The danger is more real thar
that OF a foreign invasion.
In our next article will continue this discus
sion the possibilities OF promoting real unity ior
The future OF America