Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-05-01
Rev. Nelson Tells
About SOjOurner
Truth Controversy
DR. MARY SHAW EXPLODES
RACE SUPERIORITY
BUNK

RACE SUPERIORITY
BUNK
A crowd of about two hundred,
who came through the rain to at
tend the mass meeting sponsored
by the St. Paul Branch of the N.
A. A. C. P. in the Halle Q. Brown
Community House last Sunday
april 26) heard various tests and
theories of racial superiority scored
in an outspoken address by DR..
Mary D. Shaw of the University
of Minnesota, on the subject, "Rac-
ism-a Myth" DR.. Shaw declared
that the various tests designed to
show the superiority of one racial
group over others really prove
nothing. Negroes in the north
test higher than the whites in the
south and vice versa, because of
the superior economic and educa-
tional advantages of the north.
"Racism is used for various po-
litical reasons" DR.. Shaw said. at
has been used in the Sojourner
Truth Housing situation in Detroit
to disrupt national unity, by pit
ting Polish Americans against Ne
gro Americans. DR.. Shaw ex-
pressed the opinion that when the
Negro in the south is no longer
poverty stricken much of the dis
elimination and other ill treatment
will pass, because racism is a tool
that is being used for selfish pur-
poses. She suggested that the Ne
gro and other minority groups
should do all they can in trying to
solve the immediate and local prob
lens arising from racism, but it is
more important to try to change
the economic conditions underlying
racism in its various manifesto
tons. eff one minority group is
oppressed, all minority groups are
potentially oppressed. We must
support the kind of war effort that
is being made now. {. If we lose
in this war, we lose all we have
however little that may seem
to some people," the speaker as
serted. She praised the N. A. A.
C. P. for its fight for the rights
of Negroes.
"Selfsh property owners and
pro-Nazi sympathizers and fifth
columnists have combined, inten-
tionally or not does not matter, in
making Polish Americans and Ne
gro Americans fight each other in
the Sojourner Truth Housing stu
alton in Detroit" according to the
Rev. Clarence T. R. Nelson, pastor
of the Camphor Memorial Method
list Church, in a brief address on
the Detroit housing situation, pre-
ceding the principal address by DR..
Shaw. Rev. Nelson, who marched
in picket line before the City Hall
in Detroit on April 20, praised the
citizens committee, led by the Rev.
Charles Hill, for the unrelenting
fight it is making to have Negroes
placed in the Sojourner Truth
Housing Project. Upon the motion
of Mr.. Nelson the following tele-
grams were sent to Mayor Edward
Jeffries and the Sojourner Truth
Citizens Committee Sunday night:
Mayor Edward Jeffries,
City Hall, Detroit, Michigan.
The 633 members, along with
many friends of the St. Paul
Branch of the National Associa-
ton for the Advancement of Col
ored People, in a mass meeting
today, urge you to take immedi-
ate action in making it possible
for the proposed tenants to &C.
cupy the Sojourner Truth Hous-
ing Project at once.
Benjamin N. Moore, President.
Junald Brown, Secretary.
The Sojourner Truth Citizens
Committee, CO Rev. Charles Hill,
Chairman, 635 East Elizabeth
Street, Detroit, Michigan.
We heard the report of our
publicity chairman, the Rev.
Clarence T. R. Nelson, about the
valiant fight you are waging for
democracy in trying to get Ne
groes into the Sojourner Truth
Housing Project. We wish to
commend you for the great fight
you are making and we are with
you in spirit.
The st. Paul Branch of the
N. A. A. G. P.
Benjamin N. Moore, President.
Junald Brown, Secretary.
Continued on Page d