Arkansas State press. [volume] (Little Rock, Ark.) 1941-1959, 1941-05-23

HAVE ON NEGRO EMPLOY.
MENT OPPORTUNITIES
by James II. hooker
WASHINGTON, May % - To
facilitate the speeding up of ma
ttonal unity the people of Ameri-
ca recently staged the 81 AM AN
AMERICAN DAY'i celebrations
that covered the whole of our
land, A resolute effort was made
ty every participant on the pre-
gram to reflect the so-called har-
mony now or hoped for in all sec
tlons and among the different
races, ereeds, and colors who in.
habit the United States of Ameri-
ca,
Tho occasions, rs we viewed
them, represented a splendid OPP
portunity for the Negro citizen
to evaluate the principles Of
American Government of the past,
positioncd t o observe another
! present and future, We were
highlight in democratic action to
preserve the oneness of the citi-
zenfy.
''No Chosen Race"
Excerpts of speeches made IN
New York and Washington by In
terror Secretary Harold L. Ickes
and Vice President Henry A. Wal
lace respectively, point out to the
MEAN MEN in high places who
refuse to employ Negro workers
the effects such action bears up.
on the program for nation wide
unity. We quote
1--WE have in America A Chos-
on Land hut not a Chosen Race"
Mr.. Wallace emphasizes in his
address over NBC at Washington.
America Is not land of the
White alone" the Vice President
continued, The Negroes Alone, the
Jews alone, the Catholics alone,
or the Anglo-Saxons alone-We
like the Germans in America, pro-
vided only that they accept the
American ideal and do not direct
~ or indirectly give comfort to
the Hitler idea of racial super-
iority, which is so utterly opposed
to what America. stands for"
"The tide of the future" the
Interior Secretary declared, "The
Democratic future Is ours. 1t Is
ours If we show ourselves worthy
Of our culture and our heritage"
Marian Anderson Sang
The New York celebration also
Featured the Incompatible voice
Of Miss Marian Anderson, She
sang three numberg-"Ava Mar
ia" "Trampin" and "Comin' thru
the Rye All of these selections
were punctuatcd with rousing ap..
plauds from the 675,000 New
Workers who gathered in Central
Park. 1t was another expression
Of the citizens who approved Of
the cart has no Color statement
made by Mr.. Ickes in the nations
capitol during the Marian Ander.
son concert at Lincoln Memorial
on April 9, 1889.
Now that the occasions have
duly recognized, the serious ques-
tion before colored America is
"What Affect Will They Have Or
Negro Employment Opportuni-
ties?
Recent reportorial stories from
the Negro Press tell us that some
gains have been made long the
Defense Job front for the benefit
of the Negro. We salute the an
nounccments with superb conf
dence. However, it i. well that
we remember that the battle is
STILL in the INITIAL STAGES
and there can be no slowing up in
orr lofty program in this regard
Happy We Are Americans
Yes, we are HAPPY that we
are AMERICANS, but the wide
spread extent of our happiness
over our present choice for living
must not be regarded by those out
side of the colored race as n de.
vout induction of contentment For
we shall not be completely pleas
cd when we see the civil rights to
which we are entitled destroyed
by GREED, GRAFT and PREJU-
DICE. "
On the same day that this ma
ton was merrily launching the
az Am An American Day" pro
grams, this reporter conversed on
the street car with n student at ,
Howard University with respect
to his aims after graduation in
June. He said, Il want to find a
listed and naked eyed into all the
biz problems Of the South, Fi-i c
a fine view of widespread dis