Arkansas State press., 1941-05-16
by Suicul c. Setab
III ST CALL ME JIM"

BY Suicul c. Setab
JUST CALL ME JIM
While enjoying a smoke in the
lounge of one of the crack pas
senger trains of the Illinois Cen
trail a few days ago, young man
entered who was a picture of ma
Nfal health hnd posIessed the
build of modern pugilist, but
contained a iook of disgust that
was downright respondent. Sc
much so that we engaged him in
Il conversation. We wore lust
eurlous---here was a young man,
seemingly with his life before
him, well groomed, height Of in
lelligenec, well hammered and ap-
parently with an ample supply If
caeh, Here's his story -"Born
in Mississippi twenty-seven years
ago; graduated from well known
Eastern University at the age of
twenty-five as an electrical eng
ineer; am always refused posi-
tion on account of my color. My
father fought in the last war
sometimes ! can see my father
now in his uniform-a handsome
picture he made. | saw my mother
brutality beaten and my father
shot down quicker than a dog
would have been because he tried
to protect her from the insults
of white man. My father was
shot down (and | was looking on
when / was eight years old,
too young to realize what it was
all about by the same people he
fought for; that they might enjoy
democracy. Nobody came to our
rescue. Now the Federal Govern
ment has drafted ME to fight for
the defense of it....when | needed
it, was given no protection. why
should | protect it,"
The young man continues 49,
"My foreparents fought to make
this country of democracy, we
have always been loyal. after see
inG my mother whipped and my
father murdered on the state
line of Alabama and Florida, not
being old enough to realize what
really happened, | soon grew TO
forget, but to see every national
ity enter this country and given
more consideration and protection
than the most loyal American
here, is too much
Il hold a certificate from
reputable school in electrical engi-
neering and the defense program
Is handicapped for lack of trained
men, but on account of my color
| am turned down. 1t would rath-
er suffer a shortage of production
than to recognize the Negroes
ability. | was told in a Southern
city with a population of 100000
that they did not give Negro cleo
tricians licenses. Yet my country
has drafted me to Selective Ser
vice to prepare myself for Gu,
Democracy, What a joke, AS
the things rise before me-De-
mocracy would be better off with
out my having a gun, and Mister,
yov can quote me as saying; 81
will always be prepared to die in
my tracks before l will ever fight
for the white mans freedom and
the black mans enslavement."
Nearing our destination, we cut
in and joined in his dependency
and asked his name and his adj
dress, "as far as my address, it
doesn't matter, and just call me
jim" Seeing he chose to be re-
ticent on his identity, we shook
his hand and gave him a friendly
pat on the shoulder and bade him
au revoir without any comment.
AS we left our conversationalist
our sympathy went out to the
young man who has lost all faith
in America. We pondered in
meditative silence on some way
to redeem "Jim" however we
were forced to share with "Jim"
in supporting the truthfulness of
some of his opinions. No doubt
we could have advised Jim" to
be patient-No, that would not
ing courage from the speech made
by Jesse II. Jones, Secretary of
Commerce. before 4he Annual