The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-11-07

THE INSIDE STORY: Those col
ored servicemen you see lying
around on benches In the waiting
room Of the Michigan Central Sta
tion don't have to sleep on hard
seats while waiting for trains or
buses. There is a servicemen's
lounge in the station but some
colored boys. especially those from
the South are reluctant to enter
what appears TO be sacred doors
because no Negro hostesses are
there to welcome them The lounge
is maintained by the Travellers
Aid Society and hostesses, who
work gratis, are supplied by the
Council of Clubs and you have
probably guessed by now that the
reason there are no colored host
esses at the station is because
there are no Negro clubs affiliat-
ed with the Council Of Clubs. The
Detroit Association of WOmen's
Clubs (colored) has been negotiat-
ing with the Council of Clubs and
also the Travellers Aid Society,
and interested individuals have
offered to act as hostesses at the
station, but SO far the set-up is
still a lily-white proposition. Wo-
men who can qualify as hostesses
and don't mind contributing a few
hours a week at the station for
the benefit of servicemen should
contact USO officials at once who
may land ! do mean May con-
vince the TAS that colored wom-
en- at the staten would add a
touch of democracy to the serv-
icemen's lounge set-up. ITS a neat
trick If they can do it,
!: 4 4
OFF THE RECORD: Unless you
attend most of the meetings Of the
Citizens Committee which is now
fighting for jobs instead Of homes
for Negroes you wouldn't know
that when the Committee first got
together to demand a more equit-
able distribution Of defense work,
o number of the white liberals,
and also few Negroes, kept in the
background because they thought
plans for the Negro job fight in
cluded violation of certain laws
and wartime orders. However,
since the Citizens Committee fight
promises to reach the proportions
of the Sojourner Truth affair,
these parties, mostly leftwingers,
are gradually easing back 10 the
comittee and at a recent gather
ing almost dominated the meeting.
This is a healthy sign for num-
Der of Negroes were beginning TO
wonder just where their white
friends and folio 'ers stood in the
matter of Jobs for Negroes. espe-
cially Negro women.
X * x
BULLETIN FROM THE JOB
FRONT: Back to the Citizens
Committee. which il doing swell
job in laying the ground work for
the coming fish. for Indignation Of
Negroes in ALL defense industry.
However, the Committee should
not lose sight of the fact that af-
ter the war comes the peace. and
Negroes have to work for a liv-
ing in times of peace as well as
when a war is going on. Hundreds
of small businesses that are doing
all right by virtue o. the spending
power Of the Negro are no longer
receiving committees demanding
hiring Of colored where colored
people spend their money. Pres
sure should be fought to bear on
these businesses for employment Of
Negroes for the simple reason that
il is easier TO KEEP colOred work.
ers on Jobs than it is to GET jobs
for them after the war. when both
white and cOlOred, now working in
defense industries. will be looking
for jobs. Alf5 food for thought
Is opportunities for permanent
employment on police force and
in the fire department In
the mad fight for Defense jobs
Negroes are 'orgetting probable
employment as result Of political