The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1941-12-06

system at the Ford Mr.. Casey
plant, the men
hesitated at self assertion. They
accepted the word of the straw boss
as law no matter what injuslices
were contained in those orders. But
since the plant has been unioniz-
cd. the men feel new security in
their jobs. This makes for self-as-
sertion in resisting wrongs.
A few weeks ago the men began
10 be transferred to the new de-
Tense plant. The word was given
to Mr.. Garfield and his side worker
the polish fellow, To report for as
Segment in the new building. Now
this work is skilled work and the
rates Of pay are higher than in
the Ford auto factory. No Negro had
yet been employed on the air.
lane job. When they presented
themselves for work. the polish
fellow was hired. but the Negro
worker was taken way off To an
other department where it was
known he could not iii in and told
that he could not master the job.
O,hcr foremen were consulted in
that building but none could do
anything for him. SO MIR. McClain
was sent back TO his old job
one fact stood out in his mind.
his partner got work and he was
turned down. He was positive he
had greater skill than even his
polish friend. So Mack went back
to the defense employment manager
and said to this official: They
! turned me down without even Civ
, ing me chance. If the union stands
for a square deal. II the Ford com
pany stands for square deal. II
the government stands for a square
deal, know | am competent 10 do
the job. Why don't they give me a
chance 10 prove what | can do?'
Mack brought forward the foreman
who knew his ability and got him
TO testify TO his competency. Then
they sent him back to that same
| department with orders To give this
man a chance TO show what he can
do with the work assigned This
time they kept him. SAYS Mr.. Me
CLAIM 81 spoiled few learning the
conditions OF the new work But
that's expected. After that | got on.
constantly grew better and bet
ter and turned out work that all adj
mired | made good on the job and
since that time several colored men
have been assigned 10 this depart
ment.' My experience tells me,
said Mr.. McClain. that where a Ne
gro is confident from training and
experience that he can do parti-
cular job and you get an assign
ment 10 1t. If you are turned down,
don't take NO for an answer. The
average petty official in charge OF
such work is usually prejudiced and
will do what he can to defeat you.
IL he turns you down 20 back to
the bottom and start all over again,
insisting upon being given a chance.
Said Mack. like the ring OF those
words give me n chance" Those
words will win for you from fore
man with a conscience: and N you
win out. you open up the way for
other Negroes to follow
Those words OF Mr.. McClain
speak for themselves. We need more
self-assertion on part of every such
employee who Is qualified for the
promotion TO more responsible
tasks. Strong men can fight their
own battles. A race OF such men
make strong race.
MANY are the persons living to-
AVA day who remember when the
color Of the skin determined the
eligibility 10 the society. In the
South as well as many cities in
the North. color was an important
factor. Those were silly days and
time brings progressive changes
It's my belief that time will serve
the Negro best when II brings about
complete liquidation OF this
institution In our community life,
as II serves more as a drawback to
our racial progress. But the survey
by DIR. Warner and his wife. show
ing that our society class is becom-
ing darker Is a very interesting
one. The report states THAT no one
has to be light skinned 10 enter the
ranks OF "the elect" Of our Negro
society. One need no longer be olive
yellow or white or even brown with
good hair TO be a member OF the
Negro upper class. The report goes
on TO state that the upper class
TO day is largely a brown group
with negroid types OF hair. The
emergence OF this upper class has
been accompanied by an increase In
caste solidarity (caste Is defined as
a non-intermarrying group strong
In race pride and in the develop
ment OF segregated institutions.
This survey was made In the
south and covered only southern
cities. II goes on to state that today
both inter-marriage and illegitimacy
are heavily tabooed In the colored
upper and middle classes. This re-
port Is In line with the stories that
have been making the front pages
OF our Negro newspapers In the
north. TO the effect that mobs Of
Negro men aud women formed and
broke up attempted meetings OF
white men and Negro women. seek
ing to practice the after dark social
equality Of the southland. These