The Omaha guide., 1941-02-22

District Attorney on The Staff of Thomas E. Dewey,
At the Third Annual Lincoln and Douglas COmmun-
iGy Program of the New York City Branch of Natl
Alliance of Postal Employees at the Abyssinian Bap-
fist Chucrh, 1872 West 13Sth Street, New York City,
on Sunday, February 9, 1941.
Continued from page y
brings up two questions of vital Importance TO every
American citizen whether colored or white. First =
will the Negro obtain his fair share of the employ
ment resulting from defense work? Second will
the United States make full use of the work capacity
of it's 100000 colored citizens?
The American people have said that the social
gainst we have made must not be sacrificed in the
pressure of re-arming. Certainly a tremendous Soc
ial and economic loss will be sustained If the colored
citizen is excluded from doing his part fairly In our
defense preparations. In the defenBe councils OF the
nation, Lahor speaks on its own behalf. A dlstlng-
uished labor leader sits beside the industrial chief of
our defense board in Washington to look out for La
hor's rights. Labor has demanded such protection.
It has obtained it.
Certainly, it's reasonable If our colored citizens
should demand firmly and m~ilitantly that their right
to an equal opportunity in working for America be
similarly assured.
This is not an arrogant and unpatriotic demand.
It is a righteous demand that comes from the desire
of the Negro ID do his part for his country and at the
same time raise his status. 1t is an expression OF his
deire to be clothed with the same rights and duties
as every other American citizen.
The colored citizen cannot be sure of adequate
protection merely because several officials are cnafg
ed with seeing that his rights are not violated. The
movement must have a broad base. All colored citiz-
ems as well as all other fair-mirded Americans must
unite behind it into a great force. This force VIII
strengthen those officially charged with the protect
ion of Negro opportunity. They, as well as Negro
organizations, must continue to demand equal rights
and opportunities for the colored citizens IN the IN
dustrial approach to preparedness.
One great safeguard is equally as important.
The Negro must himself be able to grasp these OPP
portunities when they appear. He must be trained
and ready for the job. This means that the Negro
must be given opportunities to learn. He must take
advantage of the training of apprentices. The school
ing of young colored men and women in technical
skills for defense work must be fostered. You must
be certain that not only you, but particularly your
children, have an opportunity to be trained in trades
ant skills. Then the colored man can work beside the
white man in defense plants with the same degree Of
equal ability as he has always exhibited in working
beside the white man in the Postal Service.
America must give to the Negro this opportun-
iy to earn a living and to perform significant serv-
ce for his country. He must be justified in feeling
he is an integral and important part of the United
States. In this way, he too, can feel the inspiration
which is born of a sincere love of country.
Failure to insure such opportunity to the Negro
must inevitably result in i'll health. More important
it must result in the lCss of the urge to work. In the
District Attorneys Office, we can see every day one
of the conspicuous evils caused by lack of economic
opportunity. | refer to criminal offenses which in
many instances are fostered by lack of jobs and Sc
curity. Particularly in the case of the colored often
49, - = f~rI +Lo+ I~1~Af oI0nopo, opNovt,,oifv
causes cnflicts with the law.
The other day a young Negro was brought in
charged with robbery. He had "mugged' a colored
woman here in Harlem. He made a free and candid
d,nfessionp and was ready to take his medicine. One
of Mr.. Dewey's assistants said to him, why did you
do it?'-"Because l was hungry" came back the ans
wer quickly and frankly. The boy had been unem-