The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-07-25
REFLECTI0 Ms
in .
Mirror
BY Erna p. Harris
For Ia. Tribune feafures)


with the scope OF the NAACP can
not be passed on, as in normal
times II frequently was. a iustifi-
able vacation for out-of- towners:
ID social furry for intowners; Sc
ries OF appearances for bolsteripg
the self-importance OF keep" peo-
pie. Today the once-glorious ban
ner OF democracy droops in wealth
er-beaten folds from the flagstaft
OF expediency while millions OF
pairs OF eyes, once appraised and
bright with the light OF hope. now
are restless, ayerted and infiamed
with desperation.
The air i full OF loud music. Our
ears din with grandiloquent words,
pIeturlng a world 10 be. The streets
are full OF snappy uniforms. men
and women with cocky caps nj just
the correct angle. other things
pass unnoticed - so entertaining
are the victory parade programs.
MInorIties are showed ab0ut-y0I
and l know.--all for the sake OF
IA, Ing themselves so they may he
showed some more; for unlty's
sake they must not resist. The
government! Sorry: hut y0n un-
derstand. In war little people have
the right 10 sacrifice twice as much
OF their meagre human.status as
usual, this II their inalienable
right. 80. 49,. 80. -. 49,. 80.
Sen. Bilbo. Mississippi race-ba.t-
er. introduces bill 10 permit
drafting OF women for war work.
Nursing the promise OF speech by
Vice President Wallace about
building peoples peace TO insure
world Of free peoples. We come
home 10 read the column OF West
brook Pegler decrying this nom
sense about war aims" which Is be-
ginning 10 get out OF control, So
that We may become "lot OF con-
frmed political hopheads-in a
dream OF international and inter
racial fellowship and love"
Some Allies Disarmed
Colonial people, our allies in this
fight for freedom" are disarLel
by others OF our allies. A dictator
chip, which last year was rarely
spoken Of in society - and then
only in a whispers now the bull
wark behind which democracy
makes its stand.
And so confused and threatened
by labels like NTH colamnist' and
"defeatists." the man in the street
interns his honest thoughts for the
duration.
II was In such world the
NAACP convened last week.
Ii the organization IL 10 Justify
the fight II made In order 20 meet,
II must make the first steps to-
ward living up 10 Its name. II Is
sheer assumption TO limit activities
80 closely 10 The Negro group Of
colored people. Today the need for
taking the Inclusion OF other color
ed people seriously Is obvious.
American citizens OF Japanese an
cestry are herded into -prOtecthe
custody" denied the right Of assem-.
biz, with even their mimeographed
camp papers censored. The mass
abrogatlon Of the civil liberties Df
nearly $4,000 people Is not to he
lightly dismissed by people who
know what that means.
India. DISTINGUISHED and denied
the right 10 defend herself, has new
err had fair hearing among the
American people. The NAACP
could encourage Negro publications
to assist in spreading the word OF
their problem. They might also in
clude such items in the regular as
ISOLATION press release.
Closer relations with the differ
ent countries and colonies of Afri-
ca should be maintained. The
progress OF the blacks and Indians
OF British South Africa toward
manhood status should be general
~ known. The colored people OF
South America are too little known
TO us: we regard ourselves as 100
different from anyone else to en-
Joy the intercultural exchange by
which we might greatly profit.
And finally, with n bit more In
clusi, eness on the -CP- we might
encourage more liberal attitude
toward white people who have moth.
Ing TO offer except their belief In
the universally Of mankind.
II would quiet the batting
and immigrant-halting OF which we
are too often guilty. II would per-
NIT critical examination OF friendly
extended hands and would lessen
our susceptibility of being a CLAM
orized problem.
Acceptance Of our responsibility
toward others will At us for life
together on a basis OF freedom and
equality. Here lies the key for de-
mocracy.
Il 4 \ Il %