The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1941-06-21
Color Bars In Defense Industries

THE RINGING APPEAL. made this week by President
j Roosevelt to the heads Of the Office Of Production
Management urging that Negroes be gwen full opporu-
rty TO work various Jobs connected WIN national ae
Tense indeed heartening TO all members OF our race
Il is our sincere hope that ne appea VIII be dgy needed
for the gates Of defense industries nave aWeaQN 700 oR
been closed Negroes the detrimen Of national pre-.
paredness and national unity as well as 70 the ecpnomcl
disadvantage OF our people.
Time and time again. our newspaper. and oustand-
ing leaders and organizations nave protested agans TINS
discrimination and racial prejudice which face Negro ap-
filling orders Our protests have been made 70 indus
trasts labor representatives. governors Of various states
and municipal officials We'll 70 senators congressman
and other Officials high an the administration q lne Amer
lean Government, but yc' the color bars that keep US
from the majority Of the nations defense factories stll
Al this time when democracy all over the world is
fighting life and chen the assistance OF all free men
Is So urgently needed I'M the right 10 preserve human ber
tenth nations Formulation from the privilege accord
Ell white ctZens participate fully IN tne WORK 81 ma on
defense How can anv democracy hope 70 defeat the
forces nate and Injustice dictator nations when the
same spirit hate. niustiec and discrmina4on i ram
pan. arain~t mirorft groups within is borders
In hi. mem ,rafdum to coDrecfor William knad-
ard sidney Hlman ~ OPM. asking that they take
adeqaate ,ep 20 carb dcr.rnaton aga.ns Negroes N
neferse industries. the President said in part
"Cornrla.nts have ropcafcdy been brought to my
tertion thai ataae and mch needed workers being
barred from defense production solely because Of race re-
licon national origin.
III Is said that at time when labor Strnrencics
srncarnc areas fuly q4alfed WORKERS are be-
ing from ne gates o ndurF specifications en-
ttcy unrciaod II eFicengv ard producfr Also that
and othtr minority racial national and religious groups
ha se fel i ofcc'- b many localities
"rhs sMiaslon ~ a matter or grave Importance. and
anedla.e lels mast IS taken Gea' WITH efectvely
President Roosevelt ffrthcr stated ~fa' here re-
AZ with emphasis:
"inoe with satisfaction ina. the eof Production
Managoncn has recognized tho seriousness IL this sitaa
tor and that Apri u 1851 addressed otter the
sutiec Al holders q defen.e contracts.
"As chcf executive of he ntiof place the fal sup
por' IF Office behnd statement q the efect that
al holders defense contracts are urged examine
tfer employment ana trailing policies AZ once 70 deter
r.se ~re.ner these b r.e MAKE ample provi.lon
workers Eter a'a4abe source Of labor capable Of proc
d fg defense materials must be tapped in the present
ws a.aris agfee Viz the Pre.den,. that 80 nation
fron IS aesenTe lad ..ire. We hope thai the short
s4ned and ia~'d poey ~hith kept competent Negro
worser frn - narg employment p our defense indus
tres mneda.eg cease not ons in Detroit but in
all othor e4'te- materials are being manuac-
t-red. b9 hafc Re apprehension that Of those
IL The rfoener' Departments of industries engaged IN
Yroa.cng supplies stepped in prejudice
that they o4d a.mo-, prefer 10 national prepar
edness gran fail rather than give Negroes the oppo
tlnitv ~ Wor1 with American white and alien employees
gets from tno experiences of Negroes who have sought ard
where war orders handled
In the opinion Of many Negro citizens, President
Roosevelt appeal interest Of Negro workers VIII TALL
deaf ears and will needed any appreciate
tent b. American ndlsriaists bat this remains to be
Meanwhile. efforts by Negro leaders to advertise to
America world the fact that workers Of the
being barred from full participation in defense work
viii continue be carried Under the leadership of j.
prlip Randolph. nationally known Negro leader and
labor organizer plans under way for staging
moth protest march Washington. DC. July !. in
which more than 200 900 members Of the expect
10 take part The throng will march 10 lincon
nent nations capital. whore scheduled speakers
will make plea for the full participation Of Negro labor
in our defense industries.