davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
By WALT Err z. cHIVERs

I ranges by slightly differing de-
grees from most antagoniStic CO.
operation to near easy and full
\ cooperation. Full interracial CO.
/ operation is yet in the slow pro-
cess of being achieved.
TO BECOME MORE DIFFICULT
The tangled maize of our south
ern lives, regardless of race, is 60
ing to be increasingly difficult to
solve while at the same time we
remain decent, humane, and
Christian. If you have ever watch
ed a laboratory animal trying to
work himself out of a maize YOU
have an idea of the difficulty one
has in maintaining sanity and
emotional balance under sllch con-
ditions.
Providing sensibly for adequate
civilian defense against fiendish
! enemies whose steel missiles of
devastating destruction k now
nothing of and cares less about
our outmotled heterogeneous, hodge
podge efforts at inter-racial ed
justment is going to take masterly
| guidance. It means that both races
have got to develop an unouali-
fled sense of respect for human
personalities. They must trust each
other because they have proved
the right to be trusted. A "white
blackout" that is a blackout ef-
ficiently done only by white peo-
pie in their neighborhoods leaves
them open to destruction guided
by the lights in Negro neighbor-
hoods. This will not happen, how
ever, if Negroes are properly and
adequst tely instructed as defense
policemen, afraid wardens, nurses,
llrse aids, and the like.
Negroes need jobs, with better
pt,y. in order to be better nourish..
ed to do their share in the taxing
defense programs. They need bet
ter housing as safeguard against
disease which flourishes during
tim es like these. They need hospital
fac ilities so that they can be
physically fit for the factories and
bat tie lines. They need education
al opportunities so that they can
fashion trustworthy instruments of
war for both races and join in
tellieently in fashioning the coun-
try after the war.
A. unified sense of responsibility
all inclusive preparation for as
sumption of responsibility are es-
sentia1 for a total South to remain
solid against the evil forces abroad
today. The North Georgia Review
and Southern Frontier are doing
a large bit toward pointing the
way. Significantly enough both
periodicals are edited by Southern
white women.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

No people, or nation, in this
world conflict is in more diff
cult position than the American
Negro. He loves his country. His
troy bears eloquent testimony to
that fact. There is none save the
copper-colored aborigines of this
continent who can boast of being
a truer American. His tears have
mingled with the rivers, and his
blood and sweat have made fruit
full the fields and built proud cities
of this land.
FOUGHT IN ALL BATTLES
It Is his by dint Of labor, by
birth and ancestry, by right Of
conquest. For there has been no
battle from Bunker Hill to Pearl
Harbor in which he has not
fought; no demand for sacrifice
and devotion to which he has not
responded to the last full measure
I see him burdened, discouraged,
bounded, prosecuted, "s1nitten of
God and afflicted" yet still car
rying On, educating his children:
starting and nurturing his little
businesses; supporting and en-
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

WHEN I ARRIVED in Richmond
20 years ago, my enthusiasm for
the cause Of Negro betterment
knew no bounds. After three years
of study in the east and contacts
with the fuller life offered there;
and after turning down two fine
opportunities to remain there, there
was a sense of sacrificial RESPONSE
bility to help right the wrongs OF
my less fortunate people.
I proceeded to chart my way IN
my new environment and began by
registering my protests against any
thing that contravened the rights
of Negroes. was aware of the fact
that being "naSty" was no part of
protest, and that straight argu-
ment OIL strong points was not
spectacular and would, not bring
a kind of popularity" but it
would get definite results in the
long run.
WHITE PRESS NOT USED
I found that little use was being
made of the white press of this
state and city. All of the NegrO'S
protest was being registered in the
Richmond Planet which the in
mortal John Mitchell was editing
I turned to the white press and
whenever I had any protest to
make I made it through the white
papers. My first protest was against
a column called "Good Morning
Judge" where Negroes who came
before the police court were
burlesqued.
The editor pounced upon me in
an editorial and called me
"schooled" Negro, intimating, that
I was "schoolcd' but not educated.
Very shortly a cultured white
W m en- took my part and
very soon "Good Morning Judge"
disappeared. "Hambone Medita-
tionS" went the same way.
My point here is, Negroes make
the great mistake of making their
protests through Negro papers
which are read primarily by Ne
groes and are silent in the white
papers where their protests might
be carried to those for whom they
arc intended. I see no point ir
making brilliant protests fer Ne
groes to read except in so far as
we want to be heroized by Negroes.
If we want our protest to get re-
suits why do we not send them to
the white press that is always open
to any sensible and intelligent dis
cussion of any current question:
1t has come about that here in
Richmond Negroes are more and
more making use Of the white
press and there are some iudica-
tions that we are getting some
where, albeit all too slowly.
NEEDS TEACHING
We have arrived at a stage in
our social and economic develop
ment, when the Negro himself
needs teaching. It is true that the
white man needs to know how we
feel about some matters; and what
is more interesting many of them
want to know. Why not then let
him know through the press he
certainly reads rather than through
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

and privileges guaranteed them
as freemen.
MUST NOT WAIVER
What now, you ask? Just this
my brother. Black men must not
waver one whit in their loyalty to
America. It is their country. Here
they were born; here are their
homes, their children and their
hopes; and here, under God, they
will be buried. They will fight to
the last drop of blood for the
safety and security of those free
institutions which their ancestors
before them died to establish. They
will serve with continued and ever
deepening devotion wherever they
may be needed, in field, in shop,
in factory or on the firing line.
But while fighting their nations
foreign foes, black men in America
have served warning to their own
and other lands, that they are
simultaneously fighting just as de-
terminedly against those enemies
within which would bind their
limbs with the same shackles they
are battling and dying to strike
from the limbs of others. Black
men love America too much to
permit her to go on trampling
upon their souls!
Black men have paid too much
for freedom to not themselves be
among it's beneficiaries! Black men
believe TOO deeply in the demo-
cratic way of life not to demand its
dignity for themselves and for
their heirs and assigns forever!
For these precious and eternal val
ueS, they will work, and fight and
pray and sing until America iii
freeing them, shall free herself!
EXPRESSED IN POETRY
AS it Is so splendidly put by Miss
Mamie M. Travis, a young Negro
poet: .-
Dark hands, grown strong from
battling with oppression,
Patient from years of unrequited
toll,
Look to your skills improve your
craftsmanship;
Hold fast to honesty.
The troubled work is racked and
torn today
BY brutal, grasping hands, so
disciplined
In ways OF treachery and law 4
1esSneSS
They seek no other course.
When this destruction shall have
spent itself,
Therc1l be a need of clean,
strong, patient hands
To Gull the broken parts and
build again.
Dark hands, keep clean. prepare.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
VIM. PICKENS SAYS:
A. Phillip Randolph

IF ANYBODY WHO ever re-
ceived any medal of honor, ever
deserved it, A. Phillip Randolph
does. As a social thinker and work.
er he has held fast to his course
for many years, to more than twen-
ty within the writer's knowledge.
He has done so with steadfastness
and brilliancy-with more stead
fastness than brilliancy, for many
OF the men who were brilliant and
associated with MIN in the earlier
days, have fallen by the wayside
or gone into less strenuous fields of
endeavor.
AS Socialist" and there
fore not so acceptable to the
old-timers Of fifteen and twen-
ty years age, Randolph has
paid whatever sacrifice and
cost his opinions and his poll
tics demanded,-and has kept
right on.
When he started to organize the
porters, some of us wished him
success but few believed that he
would have complete success with
1t. Many were hoSti!c-even most
Of the porterS themselves. Some
Of the rest of us tried to help by
giving Randolph a lift where he
could not get a good hearing for
himself. The porters, many of
them, were afraid that their CO.
operation would kill the proposed
organization and really push it's
members off the job. There was
some threat of this. Randolph and
a few Of them went right on.
PRAISE BROTHERHOOD
Finally the organization got
recognition and charter from the
A. F.. of L., and finally again came
the NeW Deal and the depression,
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

and now nearly all of the porters
praise the Brotherhood of Sleeping
Car Porters, and about all of them
belong to it.
But there is greater praise ye
for Randolph as an American
patriot; his head sense on our in
ternational problems has always
impressed me. He is an American.
and he knows that the best in
tereStS OF American Negroes lie in
and with America,-that the Unit
ed States is the American Negro.
country. And he has sense enough
to know that one does not hay e
to condone lynching, segregation
by race, or exclusion from a fair
share in public work programs,
simply because one recognizes the
FACT that the Negroes only course
in the United States is to be a loysl
American citizen.
Randolph, although an hon.
est and ardent Socialist as
young agitator, has never been
wrong to my knowledge on this
point. Many of his associates
have fallen down as citizens
and patriots. but never Ran
dolph- Sometimes people have
felt shaky about him, because
he did not seem to discover
early enough the real quality
and character of some of his
associates, but he has always
come out right in the end,-sO
far.
Medals ale often not deserved
but this ;5pingarn medsl to Ran
dolph, an'1 especially the HONOR
which goes with it, and which
would attach to Lis record even
Wlt!hla9Nt it, Is DESERVED
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
Group Meets
Continued from Page II

Coast Guard had made an enviable
reputation through the all-Negro
unit stationed at Pea Island, N. c.,
and featured in the Negro Press q
few years back. However, at that
time the coast guard was directed
by the treasury department. Con-
troll goes to the navy during war
Judge Hastie would neither con-
firm nor deny that he had at
tended a meeting, but DR.. Weaver
admitted there had been some
discussion in which he had taken
part. although he would not
divulge the nature of the confer
cnce.
This last development in the re-
Ports of the Bard committee is
being guarded very carefully and
all interrogation ON it is carefully
diverted from getting too close to
the report.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
Traffic Increase
CONTINUED from Page II

Topock ranked third.
Ehrenberg was far in the lead,
however, in the number of both
buses and trucks entering Arizona
Lupton was second in the num-
ber of buses cleared through and
Yuma third.
Yuma took second place as a
port for trucks entering the state
and San Simon third.
Contrary to the predominant flow
of traffic of passenger cars, that
Of commercial trucks showed q
strong majority bound eastward.
This is due to the heavy trade
between Arizona and coastal cities.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

Their presentations are unusual
~ well-balanced and they con-
sistently display marked equ1h-
briun. The fact that these wom-
en- criticise, with severity at times
some established ways of South
ern life" while living in the heart
of the Souta, which is so sensitive
70 criticism. is evidence of their
courage and integrity.
This magazine, in spite of itself
but out of recognition of the high
character of it's editors. is being
accepted by growing cross-Section
of thinking SouthernerS of both
racial groups. An attorney of in
fluence in Georgia politics has
written to the editors in this vein,
"You are furnishing the most need
ed thing in our section and that is
sound, intelligent, realistic criti-
cism."
NEGROES INCLUDED
My primary interest in offering
this magazine to my readers is the
fact that it includes Negroes as an
integral and indispensable part OF
the total Southern picture. AS for
example the current issue devctes
eighty-six pages to a presentation
of factual material designed to as
sist all Southerners in answering
the following question, do Know
NV South?" I have been studying
my South for more than quarter
of century and claim some
authority on the subject but find
valuable enlightenment in this
fresh collection of facts and ac-
companying analytic comments.
Significant information on
Southern Negroes is liberally
spreaded through these pages un-
der numerous titles. If one would
like to see an Interesting Old
Church" or is engaged in research
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

The Dutch Nazi party of DR.. Anton
Mussert is ready to join Germany
in the belief this would end hos.
tilities. The problem would bc
whether the Japs should then TAXI
over a land nominally belonging to
an Axis partner. Theoretically this
war aims would force them to step
in since, it still would be land in
the possession of an enemy. and
that, of course, should automatical-
Iy call for Japanese Intervention to
defend" Axis possessions.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

Among the successful appli-
cants of the Jan. Ohio State Bar
examination was Prof. Ermer l..
Watson, graduate of the Tennes-
see A. and l. State College. for
mer principal of the Rosenwald
High school, Trenton, Tenn, and
a recent graduate of the John
Marshall College of Law. He was
sworn in as an Attorney-at-Law
Saturday. Feb. 18th at Cleve-
land, by Justice Carl B. Wey-
gandt of the Ohio Supreme Court.
Attorney Watson expects to be-
gin the practice of law in Cleve-
land.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
Do You Want Power?

Power to make you victorious In all
you undertake to do7 Power to make
people admire your Power to earn
money! Power to gain popularity
Power to make anyone follow your
L will send you information which Is
the result of sientific research.
With this information and dirco-
tions in your possession you must be-
oorne more masterful and exert
greater influence. You will be able
to break prevailing misconceptions.
IF YOU ARE NOT DELIGHTED
YOUR NJ o N e Y IMMEDIATELY
REFUNDED. just send me your
name and address. Pay POstman on
delivery only $1.98 plus few cents
postage when he delivers goods and
written guarantee or enclose cash
or money order and we pay postage.
Write now.
s. HARRIS, It's K. Broadway
New York City. N. ", Dept. SS-8.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
COLLIDES WITH TRUCK

OAV AININAH, Gd.-ISNSl-
Marion Baker, 572 Pinewood Ave.
Dolores Thomas 312 Brand Whit
lock Homes, and Calvin Jones 349
Dorr Street, collided with a trans
port truck at Woodville and For
sythe Streets last Monday. All
were treated at st. Vincent's Hos
pital, s,'-- q. w. t--.-.-...- ..c3-
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

? aul a Smelling.
They e d i t a
unique quarterly
periodical, THE
NORTH GEOR-
REVIEW,
With the sub
Title "a Maya
zine of t h e
Southern Re-
lions T h e | r
scholarly ap-
oroach is mature
and reveals pains
,aking care to be
as purely objec-
We as possible.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
ASIATICS INDIFFERENT

Correspondents at Singapore be-
fore it's fall pointed to the indiffer.
ence of the native ASiatic popula-
ton. Most of them were merely
spectators from start to finish. Civ
ilian labor deserted key jobs, thus
forcing troops to leave fighting posts
TO unload ships. On the other hand
many Chinese, ardent supporters OF
the Free China" movement, vOlun-
teered but received only shotguns to
use against dive bombers and tanks !!
The swoop down through Malaga
was aided to large extent by Brit
ish imperial policy which the ma
tives resented. Unscrupulous white
traders had cheated the tribesmen
on many occasions and colonial bu-
reaucrats continued to uphold the
traditional white supremacy beliefs
until the last. Despite this, many
natives wanted to fight the Jap in
vaders but received no encourage
ment from colonial administrators
At the last moment these bureau
Gratis fled, leaving loyal natives and
in some instances Europeans of 9th.
er nationalitieS to the mercy of the
invaders.
WHAT OF BURMA?
A few weeks ago Premier u Saw
of Burma was arrested by the Brit
ish and charged with seeking to
make deal with Japan. This was
after u Saw made special trip to
London to ask for equality in the
war efforts as well as dominion sta q.
tus for Burma. He received a blunt
| mo" from Winston Churchill. It is
now a question whether the Bur-
meSe will remember this rebuff
and allow the Japanese to annex
these 14,600,000 additional Asiatics
Meanwhile the Philippines are
still holding out in part. If conquer
ed as now Se> is likely, that means
still another 100000 members of
the yellow race, and would also
mean that virtually all rnongoloids
except those in China and Asiatic
Russia would be under the banner
of the Rising Sun. Roughly. that
would mean around 251,0O0,00
mongoloids under Japanese domi-
nation.
There is no question but that this
great mass of humanity, united
with one purpose, equipped with all
the implements of modern war,
would be in a position to end white
domination and possibly overrun a
large part of the rest of the world
just as the whites have done in
modern times.
The Japs have sought to capital
ize upon the Asiatic dislike Of
vaunted white superiority. Their
slogan, asia for the ASiatics," is
calculated to be a rallying cry and
promote solidarity.
TOO MUCH LIKE EUROPE
Actually, however, they seem like
ly to have no more success than has
been shown in Europe. A white
mans land, Europe has had wars
between neighbors throughout it's
history, with white killing white.
If nothing else, this disproves the
general theories of race. Cultural
and nationalistic differences are
more important than the happen
stance of chronological similarity.
The Italian and the Swede, both
members of the Caucasian race,
have far greater points of differ
ence than a Negro and white man
born and reared in Cleveland or
Kansas City.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
From Ny Study Window
BY REV. JOHN C. WRIGHT
Black Man. What Now?

THE ANSWER TO that question will determine the
destiny of thirteen millions of earhs bewidered
humans for the several generations For that many
black in America literally at the crossroads They
choose this day whether is their in the
postwar world to "quit them like men," whether they
will continue the helpless wards of those their blood
and labor have helped to exat to the seats of the mighty
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

THERE LIVES IN Clayton,
Georgia, a settlement situated in
the mountains of North Georgia,
two rather remarkable white wom-
en-, Misses Lillian E. Smith and
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
DIR JEMISON WILL
INSTALL OLIVET PASTOR

CHICAGO, - (ANP) - DR..
David v. JemiSon of Selma, Ala
bama, president of the National
Baptist Convention U. S. A.,
Inc, will formally install DR.. j.
H. Jackson as pastor of OliveJ
Baptist church Sunday, March 3,
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
PLATFORM

weekly forum shall be published each in which
be expressed question of
Such views be
reflect the opinion o The PHOENIX
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28
Believe Hitler
(Continued from Page !

JAPAN MASTER OF BLITZ
The facts show that Japan can
make the blitz work as well as can
the Germans, that they have an
army equal to any other in the
world, are well equipped and know
how to handle the implements of
war, and are skillfully directed by
brilliant tacticians.
Japan is a nation of 100000
persons. Conquest of ManchulSo
added 36,000,000 more thus making
this eastern power on a population
par with the United States. Lately
Nippon grabbed French Indo- China,
bringing in another 100000 vel
low men. Slams capitulation added
100000 more. Malaga brought
100000 and the Straits settlement
including Singapore, had 1,250,000.
CAN DEFEND SINGAPORE
Speaking of Singapore. there
seems seems no reason why this
great fortress could not be as well
defended by the Japs as it should
have been by the Allies. Since the
British considered it impregnable-
and well it might have been with
proper air and civilian Support-the
Japs should have baStion of stra-
tegic Importance able to resist for
years any Allied attempt at recap
ture.
Borneo and the Dutch East IN
dies are next on the list. Borneo has
1,850,000 mongoloids and the Indies
a yellow population of 100000
Their capture would provlue enough
resources to keep the japanese war
machine in high gear for many
years. Java itself could support an
army of 100000 according to the
experts.
The threatened Indies conquest
could disrupt Jap-Nazi relations.
The Phoenix index., 1942-02-28

PHOENIX INDEX
faction and shall all times regardless
uatns the completely, mparty from
hatred.
All matter coming this should be in office
Sunday each the
News plainly
otherwise
condens alter all the
is paid for.
Make all orders payable the INDEX
Street All articles contributors
they will not be published.
PLATFORM
To give to the eoored people that they feel
of which they their POLITICAL
social religious and economic questions which face
To awaken racial conscience especially the
that become make
B. To INSTRUCT boys girls in the art of thrift.
A. To the Fatherhood God of
man
To build a firmer racial foundation forp posterity.
succeed business, olored
with those of other We
other dealing whit Above all render
dependable efficient and courteous service all times in that
will be able
realizing these vital points the give
and suggestions from regard render
ing a better I
Evening star., 1942-03-08

back and forth, child crying somewhere
l saw and understood it only in gimpses
l saw the Dutch father saying something to
his wife and patting his boy on the shoulder.
The next thing noticed, someone had inter-
rupted him. 1t was a nondescript-lo
fellow, thin, gray, man you would have
passed without second glance. gathered
that the father could not understand him.
Then there was quick movement, and he
was left looking at the white tag in his hand
and the other man was walking away.
He passed me. said, in French, did you
give it to him.
He shrugged. We'll, what would be doing
in American" Then he pushed on toward the
gangplank back to Europe.
made some inquiries later. after the ship
had sailed, but nobody knew much about him.
Someone thought that he was an Austrian
anti-Nazi refugee. If so, it must have cost
him many sacrifices to come to Lisbon, and
the ship must have meant more to him, even
than to most of US.
There will be many richly deserved medals
given in this war by each of our United
Nations to their own heroes. But in this war of
all wars there should be another form of deco
ration to commemorate such acts, so that they
will be remembered by us all as this one
will be remembered by one little Dutch family
now in America.
Evening star., 1942-03-08

came. 1t must have sounded like death
sentence to many.
1t fell on little group that happened to be
near where my wife and l stood. l believe
they were Dutch, father and mother and a
boy and girl of ten or twelve. Very respect
able, their clothes tidy and clean by some
miracle - or by habit. J should say - after
the inferno they must have come through.
You might have called them stolid, for that
is what the Dutch are supposed to be, and
indeed they can take good deal of kicking
around and still stand firm. 1t is the southern
Europeans who are generally regarded as the
emotional ones. And perhaps if this family
had come from one of the southern countries,
there would have been tears and wringing of
hands now when it was known that the father
must get off the ship, left only with the hope
that he might rejoin his family later.
1t might have been good thing if they
had relieved what was inside them by letting
it out. But they suppressed it. They could
not make a scene" Looking at them, you