The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-01-03
EDITORIAL PAGE

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This week our subject for this
article Is "The Leadership OF At
torney Charles A. marlborough anu
its concern with the masses OF the
people. Here is unquestionably one
OF the vital leaderships that our
Detroit community has produced.
Here Is the one personality that
came closest TO being subjected 10
the influences. for good or for
III, OF our "old Detroit society
class II can now be definitely set
down that the prejudices, the re-
strictive and restraining influences
that usually victimize the habits OF
this group. found no Judgement in
the mind and heart OF Charles A.
Roxborough. That Is why he be-
came vital leader.
The character study OF Charles A.
Roxborough u enc crammed full Of
human Interest; II goes down 10 the
depths OF dissipation and domestic
difficulties then scales the heights
OF seIf.respect, personal integrity,
unsuitable honesty, public honor.
unseltish devotion and unri, allied
energy In the realm OF public ser,.
lee. We make the confident deciar-
alton here that no race leader 10
appear ON the Negro horizon h
Michigan carried forth into his
service q higher standard OF eiiec.
tive honest and unselfish service
to the masses Of the people than
that Of Charles A. Roxboroueh.
There Il no leader In our civic lie
who fought harder 10 help the peo-
pie help themselves and who turn
ed hack 10 them all daily di, ldends
Of helpfulness 10 It's members than
did Charles A. Roxborough. This
Is . true test Of leadership.
Before We go further into the
story OF Charles A. Roxborough 5
leadership and the masses. let us
sum up what has been said in the
other articles. We have told how
the struggle OF the Negro in Amer
lea, up through the centuries, has
been one OF ruthless exploitation
and relentless repression. We have
told how these factors and forces
have caused our Negro masses 10
lag behind other elements Of our
population: II has been told how
social indicators point To the dark
ening shadows across the path OF
our future generations. We have
told how Richard Wright. in his
lew book. "le Million Black Voices
has set down this tragic story OF
the exploited Negro masses as a
challenge to America and also as a
challenge to our unthinking society
class.
We have told how Negro leaders
In religion, In politics and In civic
affairs have used the same Negro
masses with no regard Tor the VEL
fare oi the people themselves hut
for the sole purpose Of extracting
security for themselves and cc,et.
ed place In this elect social group.
We have stated our criticism OF
this elect class ~ one whose organ
lied racial life II absolutely worth.
less ~ the masses; that such or.
ganixations of themselves are most.
~ self-admlratlon societies that
Will Nil OF any person capable Of
being q Vital race leader Who falls
victim 10 ~ charms. That this
class spirit produces nm empty,
vain and uniounded feeling oi su-
perlority In It's members and de-.
voices. who tend 10 become an un.
thinking. intolerant and uneocpcra.
tive group.
We have looked upon the race as
whole because as Richard Wright
says. Those who struggle in the
depths will determine the common
fate OF the race VIC have talked
about leaders whose cooperative
policies reached down to the whole
people and who recognized the
enervating effect Of non-coopera-
tive stagnapt society class.--upon
our race progress In America.
We have said that the late Fa-
Their Daniels was one OF the first 10
recognize the harmful influence OF
exploiting leaders upon the masses
and whose life, dedicated TO the
honest and unselfsh service Of his
fellow men. reached down to those
who struggle In the depths.
We have told how the Rev. and
Mrs. william n. Peek have made
and are still making \ most impress
sl,e contribution 10 the progress oi
Detrelfs religious, economic and
civic life, and whose work for the
Negro represents the highest type
ef cooperative leadership. They
have served With highest and neh-
lest motives, they have served With
broadest and deepest human SYM.
pathies and In constructive capac.
tiles.
We have told how Bishop Han
cock reared the biggest and best
aggregation OF buildings In our
city 10 serve all social purposes OF
his congregation and how this was
accomplished by our organized