The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-06-27

the Michigan Chronicle.
LET EN- STRIKE"
My mama done told me when
was in ~" shaped pants that there
are more ways than one TO skin
cat. a statement which hive
found to be not only true but appli-
cable. also, to skunks. Prima faeie
evidence OF the truth OF this old
adage is found in the results OF the
recent strikes by white Americans
(D against Negro American war
workers in Detroit automobile
plants now eagagedIR-tAe -predue-
ton OF war materials.
These strikes, which were moral
ly wr(ng to begin with, have
workfd in reverse for the strikers,
for each walkout has advanced the
cause OF the Negro worker. an end
to which the white strikers were
not working Tor strikingl and
prompted union and government
officials to warn the strikers that
1t can't happen here for the dura-
ton anyway
When the CLIO ordered white
Americans who tied up production
because OF natural sllergy 10 col
ored people, back to work. 1t re-
minded the strikers that by refus-
ing to work with their colored un-
ion brothers they violated certain
points OF the UAW-CIO constitu-
ton, bylaws and also its pledge
that there would be no more strikes
in war industry during the emer-
gency.
And when Secretary OF the Navy
Knox threatened to blackball the
strikers from all war industry, he
didn't say so. but ne was making
It plain that such strikes violate
the United States Constitution from
the first letter to the Last period
The ClO constitution, like the
United States Constitution, would
be nothing more than a well mean
ing document unless some positive
action 10 enforce it is taken; that's
Why say Let EN- strike Only
through these un-Amerlcan strikes
can we get the government TO say
10 the white worker. Look here.
fellow, Negroes have to eat too,
and they nave right TO earn the
money TO buy the food your people
are overcharglng them for; and be-
sides we have a war to win, and
we need the Negro IN more ways
than one to help US win this war.
So get in there and work or you
won't work at all on Uncle SANS
jobs
Now that is the kind OF talk you
hear in the union meetings. and no
doubt some OF the very men who
walked out because tney oldn
want TO work with Negroes were
the loudest in declaring mat we
shouldn't discriminate against the
Negro worker but when they
leave the union halls and get into
those factories We'll IheJ Jus' seem
to leave their democracy IN the
halls and take with them 10 the
plant old preJudlces mat were win
them long before they heard OF the
new CLIO. They nave always pc
longed to one Clio the Coloreu lso-
lating organlzation) winch accounts
for their reluctance 10 i've up 10
the constitution OF the new Con-
gress Tor INDUSTRIAL organizations
AS the edltorallsts would say
ut is regrettaole that whl'e men
would leopardlze tne saiety OF tne
country by holding up proouetion
because OF color complex what
they really reel ike saying is mat
it's a damn SHAME and mere was
time when agreed win 'heH'
but not now.
l would ike TO see one OF these
racial strikes every Gay II II mean.
that twice as many negroes would
be put to work as was the case IN
the recent strike al Huasoh s. Leu
EN- Strike,
No one need rear mat sueh dem-
onstrsuons Will cost us the war
Tor every time racial strike re-
suits in the ultlmatum that white
men must work with Negroes or
not work at all, the battle line IN
defense industry is strengthened
Tor when Negroes get on the loo'
in the Hastings street vernaeular,
them Negroes really do come on
Besides we're going to Kick the
oolong out OF the Japs anyway Just
as soon as Uncle Sam makes up his
mind to get the right stun on over