The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-11-07
Second In A Series
Trouble In Highland Park
A Minister; an Instructor and a Coast Gnardsnlan
Discuss Youth Problem
Discuss Youth Problem

pals, Sam Bengian, being cut in the
face by one Of our race. What
would like TO know is when is our
race going to become civilized?
81 happened to work with Sam
on the NYA project and he was one
OF the best white friends q colored
boy could have. like Sam and |
know those boys are sorry, 1t is the
adults who teach the hatred against
US and not the children"
In the last sentence OF his letter,
Tony King talks on the same subject
that was discussed last week. How
ever, his question Of civilizing the
Negro race is answered by a ma
chinist instructor Of Highland Park
nigh school who is as doubtful Of
the civilization OF the white race
said the Instructor Ia white mani:
Il am tired Of training young
Negro boys in this school because il
seems So much effort wasted. ! turn
out good mechanics in both races
only TO see the white youths ac-
eepted fer further training. or given
jobs while the Negroes are turned
down at factories and school. have
recommended them to practically
every factory In Detroit urging us
TO send our best trained BOYS fol-
jobs. but in nine out OF ten cases
the Negro boys are sent back.
AS TO the character OF the bows
there is no difference between the
white and colored boys | have
trained at the school; there are some
good and some bad in both groups
| think that about 60 percent Of the
boys in both groups are OF high
calibre and dependable. When we
find the careless, troublesome type
we try 10 fit him into the program
to which he seems best suited, and
II we can't find place for him in
our department We transfer him 10
some other department. All the
white and colored boys In my shop
get along together, believe that II
they were left alone there would
never be any disturbances. The
problem is with the adults and that
group Of young people who get into
trouble as result OF idleness."
AS the instructor talked. Negro
and white boys were busy at the
machines, learning a trade. There
was every indication that neither
objected to working with the other.
but the final test comes when they
apply at the factories where veteran
whites employees advance a thou
sand reasons why the young white
boy should object to1vorking along
side the same Negro with whom he
learned his trade.
TWO SOLUTIONS OFFERED
In the statements above. two solu-
tons are offered school officials.
parents, and community leaders
confronted with the problem of
keeping peace between our young
people. In criticizing the program
of the church and community lead
ers. Rev Bankhead makes Il plain
that what is needed is a program
set up and administered by both
young people and adults--an every.
day program through which a study
OF the needs of the young people
can be made-a program so attrac-
tive TO the idle youth he will have
no desire to hang around on cor
ners and listen TO adult propaganda
simply because he is too busy doing
something constructive for himself
and his community Another point
the pastor makes IS that parents Of
any community should be interested
in the way their children act. for
children. as has been correctly said.
reflect the thoughts and actions of
the parent, white or black. II COM
munity leaders know 1t is the boys
in a certain age group causing most
OF the trouble for whom they have
no program, then il Is the leaders
responsibility 10 solve this problem
by working out a program OF in
,erest to this group
The solution suggested by the in
structor is one that must necessarily
be worked out by both Negro and
white adults, workers and manage.
ment As has been said before, dis
elimination in defense plants is
freely discussed by white and col
ored workers In the presence of
younger people. giving them reason
TO believe that each is aligned
against the other, q belief that has
been the cause of many violent out.
breaks, Discriminatory practices, in
many instances, have been approved
by workers and management, con-
sequently the first approach to
Graduating race bias which is
handed down from adult to child is
through constant rebellion against
discrimination and segregation on
the part of Negroes. while at the
same time proving to the white man
that he gains nothing but the name
of a Fascist sympsthizer when he
insists upon these evil practices. II
is possible that when a white man
realizes that discriminating against
the Negro does not necessarily in
crease his own wages, or in any
manner contribute TO a higher eco
nomic level for the white race. and
that he sorely needs the support OF
the Negro II he is TO continue To
earn decent wages, he will cease to
lie awake nights figuring out ways
TO keep the Negro down. And when
white adults stop practicing dis
elimination. their children. the ma
jority of whom are not interested
in race or color. would get along
better with Negroes in schools. on
Jobs and in public places.
ITO Be Contlnuedl
Only II deaths resulted from small