The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1940-01-20
EDITORIAL PAGE A1 NEWSPAPER a~ss'' =
The Negro And Labor

To direct the attention OF the Negro to the most
vital thing liz his economic life the Association for
the Study OF Negro Life and History VIII feature
labor in the celebration OF Negro History Week be-
ginning February IL. The Negro must understand
that until he succeeds as aborcr. he must remain
a failure IN all other respects The hrst thing heees-
sars in progress is 10 learn TO make Twins An
advance in social ard political matters and an
achievements in arr, literature philosophy and sell
ence are contingent upon the mastering of TINS prob
lem of labor and the enjoyment of the fruits thereon.
We have TOO long oyer-emphaszcd The neces-
sits Negroes 10 IN the professional spheres
and ignored the crying need for Frightening The tu-
ture OF those Negroes who have 10 toll After all,
professional men al best are parasites ihey i've on
what IA produced by working men The celebranis
OF Negro History Week insist that "a order TO suppo
persons in professional utlds we must nrS imiIot
The chances OF our lahoring classes upon whose
achievements all other endetNors OF consequence are
conditioned The January issue OF THE JOURNAL
or NEGRO HISTORY carries an article on labor by
Dr samuel y. Warren of Prairie View State college
and the February issue OF THE NEGRO HISTORY
BULLETIN Is devoted altogether 20 labor.
Meetings held throughout The country during
Negro History Week then. Mil concentrate on Ne
RIO Labor Speakers viii review the history of Ne
ero labor pointing out the faults and virtues of those
who have led the ranks ~ Ncero ahotefs ~ white
washing viii h' n order. The mistakes Viii be point-
ed Out pitfalls 90 be avoided The unsci~h efforts
Of those who have sacrh,ed 10 advance The cause Of
The aborng man Will be noted Honorable mention
Mil be given to Isaac Myers who ahoied carnest-
~ almost seventy ike years a-o 10 organize Negro
Workers. bat WAS handicapped hy political leaders
Who entered Tie ranks % use the movement for
selfish purposes
Speakers nir concentrate TOO. on Negro leaders
of to-day 10 heads ~ Negro s,hoos and colleges
stand Cor Negro labor or FOR those who eNpoif it2
10 ministers pay too much attention 80 ecttlng tho
Negroes "a heaven before delivering them from The
present he'll of wage slaycrvs Duo~ history encourage
me Negro aboler expect ANYTHING from the poll
pian VINO is usually eyon a few dollars every cam
n llDt hmm NH. ft,tlf Ia,
The Jatk2 In short speakfrs Ni hing forth the his
sorry ~ Negro labor and lci teach the lesson mood
cd Al this huer
Tho speakers for Negro u tory Week Mil not hc
nnmndful ~ the handi,aps % N'sro labor from v-ih-
oui the eyer present r3tc prejudice and espel tally
me hostility OF trade unions Vet the thinkers in
charge OF his progtAm not nnmindful of the
fact that the Negro sbofers themselves are in a
position 20 do mqch tor fhcr own good which thee
have not as vet uuteritken In the first place Nccfo
~ large numbers 10 naee themselves foN While
some Negro WORKERS eeck membership ID aniors and
wn"n refused. eracasor 20 organize among 'Hern-
selves thore those WHO refain mat eternal fear
~ nnionizauon and cNpe,i 20 advance D, remaining
on NE outside One rrasnn 70 hc gis,n 'or ne ds-
inclination Of the large national labor bodies take
Negro la3nr,ss Is the excuse HAT Necroes ate not
union conscious While ihi. j. mere snhieffuee u IS
rns'fihcicss evident that Neefots are not admitted
10 these bodies BECAUSE as a malolt'y they pie no,
sufficiently organized % make Themselves felt
The Association Tor the study ~ negro Vie and
History is not body for labor oreanvtiion Tbs
h"dt y merely giving tNe pphlic %" ad'an'age Of
lea ming what history teaches hc ilo ma trouble
with ne Negro lahorinc glasses This les.tn N.ero.
workers should ho'd must hsod or conf 1i. or Ap
level OF drudgeiy the last hired and fhc nr.t frcd
People who pay no aiieution ~ Tho oachire OF hiss
tory "a what one has aileadv harmed hy experience
must continually rrope h. me dark and yet no.
where Let oNelv Negfo worker attend iAesn moct
inss 20 hear instruction and he wise unto h saliva