The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-11-21
URGES SCHOOL
HEADS TO AID
VICTORY CORPS
So Negro Students NJ a y
Have Opportunity To
Participate

Negroes, U. ). once OF Education
this week urged all principals @
Negro high schools 10 organize Vic
tory Corps in their Institutions S
that Negro students may have al
opportunity 10 participate an
share in the war effort.
In a letter mailed TO more thai
1000 principals OF Negro higl
schools, DR.. Caliver declared:
while we must continue +
combat race and color prejudice
and Determinations, in our presen
effort TO save democracy, we SHOULD
keep ever before US that the majo.
issue of this war is Freedom-no
race or color. Where the lattel
have been made to appear as thu
main issue, they are used merely
as a smokescreen. When We wiz
this war and establish freedom al
the animsting principal OF life, the
problems Of race and color which
remain can be attacked with
greater assurance than ever before
OF their ultimate solution"
The full text Of Dr. Caliver's let
ter, released by the U. S. Office Of
Education, follows:
you have by this time, no doubt
heard Of or received information
about the High School Victory
Corps being sponsored by the U S
Office of Education. The purpose
OF this organization is to mobilize
the boy and girl-power OF the Ma
ton, to utilize more fully their
eagerness 10 serve. to organize this
eagerness into effective action, and
70 channel it into areas Of increas-
ingly critical need. Commissioner
Studebsker has emphasized the
tact that this is a war-not only
OF armies and navies. Of factories
and farms, but also a war Of homes
end schools and therefore, that
education has an indispensable part
10 play. He has said that schools
must help to teach individuals the
issues at stake; TO train them for
Their vital part IN the total war ell
fort; 10 guide them into conscious
personal relationship to the
struggle
Inc victory corps offers every
negro hlgn 'shool ana every Neeio
student an opportunity to psrtici-
pate and share in the war effort,
Inc most slgahue anu urgent tssh
ms Natlon mas ever undertaken
am particularly gIao OF ms oPPoI-
tuhlEy' ana respectfully urge every
principal ana teacher 10 give 'ne!r
students chance TO make 'her iuli
contributor
Inc negroes nave very IN
portant stake IN tnls war II Is 10
their personal and group interest
mat we WIN the victory as speedily
as possible Tor thelr only nope mes
IN democracy our boys ana girls
and ADULTS too-shouId De MADE
10 realize that IN spite OF the many
disadvantages and determinations
faced by them we are better OIL
tnan many minority groups; That
progress is nelng made Slowly out
surely toward realization Of Inc
democratic principles OF freedom
equality and justice; ana that' I'M
perfect as our presenV situation IS
we SIN nave the right and oppor-
tunity to use every legitimate
means 10 improve our condition.
Inls most certainly would not be
possible HhGeF-s 4-AHls-dem1Rated
country. There IS great deal OF
truth IN the following excerpt Of
an article appearing IN the Pitts
bursh Courier and reprinted in the
NorioIk journal and GUIDE Sep
TENDER L. ls42;
What we call Negro progress
VIII most certainly be ended in
case the AXIS WIN and every Ne
gro who has managed 10 Lift his
head above the mlred mass VIII
be ruihlessly showed down.
Every coIored citizen with
municipal, state or federal job
VIII lose it.
Every college FOR the education
OF Negro youth VIII be closed and
colored students VIII be barred
from white colleges.
Every Negro who now is able
10 vote VIII be disfranchised.
All Negroes may lose their
citizenship, an act that would re-
quire but a stroke OF a pen.
Public education Tor Negroes
II not discontinued altogether,
VIII so no farther than the fourth
grade.
skilled industrial labor will be
closed TO eolored people, as will
most professional work.
THESE things have happened 70
jews and Poles, and there is no
Gaulleter IN Warrington would