The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-11-21
BOOK NOTES
BY
GERTRUDE SCOTT MARTIN

for the Negro. Mr. Hayes is strong
ly religious as was his mother and
looks on his music. especially the
spirituals, as a religious mission.
We are fortunate 10 have the
life Of Roland Hayes so carefully
and Interestingly yecorded. He
reached the heights in the world
Of music and his life should serve
as an inspiration to other Negroes.
Today when Africa has become
the battlefield for troops OF the
United Nations, a study OF the
problems facing her now and when
peace comes Is Of the greatest i'm
port. Such a study Is THE At
LANTIC CHARTER AND AFRICA
FROM AN AMERICAN STAND
POINT by the Committee on At
RIGA, the War and Peace Aims
(Phelps-Stokes Fund. 101 Park ave-
nue., New York City, rs cents.
The report briefly reviews Africa
under British, French, Belgium,
Portuguese, and Spanish rule and
the good and bad points Of the dit
ferent systems. The reasons for
United States participation in
drawing up future plans for Africa
are several: the 10 million Negroes
in the United States who have a
heritage in Africa, commercial
commitments, the growing small
ness of the world with improved
air transportation, the present war
situation with American troops in
Africa, legal rights and response
bilities OF the U. S. under treaties.
The .AtiaHtie-- Charter and tn.
four freedoms OF President Roose-
welt are examined point by point
with reference to Africa, showing
that all points are more or lesS4
applicable to Africa. There fol!
lows a discussion Of the basic rights
and social essentials for African
welfare. Here the need for greater
native participation in government
is pointed out, the need for wider
education facilities for children and
adults, the need for health educa-
ton and centers for training ma
tives in medicine, the need for
guaranteeing land rights to the ma
tives who are dependent on agri-
culture but who in some instances
see the land passing from their
hands and in others are victims OF
the lure of higher wages in urban
centers where life is on a bare SUBJ
sistence level
There are various problems in
Africa in different sections. For
instance, in the Union OF South
Africa natives are segregated in
every way in nation OF Q mill
lions, Q millions OF whom are white,
Il million mixed and the remainder
Negroes. Here tension is often high
between the races due TO the strict
exclusionist policy OF the British
and Dutch. In other sections 4is,
Natives have been given a greae5
chance for self-government. Wher-
ever the number of whites Is great,
however, the natives are subject to
greater expressions.
The Committee on Africa, the
War and Peace Aims is made I'D
of persons who are students OF
Africa for the most part. Those
on the editorial committee who
drafted the report are PROT Ralph
Bunche, Prof, Charles S. johnson,
DR.. Thomas Jesse Jones, DR.. Emory
Ross, DR.. Claiming H. Tobias and
the chairman, DR.. Arson Phelps
Stokes The authors have tried
successfully to be fair to all COM
cerned, the natives, the European
countries who rule them, and this
country which does not have a
clean slate on color problems.
There are several instances where
this desire for fairness results In
too great a solicitude for those
who oppose the rights OF the ma
tives as in the Union OF South
Africa. However, the report is re-
markedly complete for its brevity
and the stature OF It's authors as
students Of Africa and OF the COM
mittee as a whole should guansn-
tee its gaining hearing in high
places II Is now that we must
examine the needs Of those who
have too long been denied the basic
human rights here and abroad and
this study clarifies the situation In
Africa. Recommend il 10 in-
dividusls and to clubs and organic
cations for careful study. ~