St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1942-12-18

why are they becoming so obtru-
sive and overbearing in their new
found jobs? Why are they so
maudin in public places and on
common carriers? Why do they
engage in so much hilarity and RI
baldry before critical people?
Why can't they gracefully adjust
themselves to the happy changes
in their fortunes? These and other
pertinent questions are being flung
into our faces in increasing volume.
1t would be well to consider these
contentious and criticisms and ex-
anime them without bias or pas
sion.
The local branches of the Ma
tional Urban League have printed
placards and placed them on pub
lie display in places where colored
people congregate advising them to
"subdue their voices" to be careful
of their decorum, to keep clean, to
avoid vulgarity and profanity and
to keep on constant guard against
unfavorable criticism. Some Urban
League officials declare that they
have been swamped with COM
plants fir m without and from
within the race about these very
tn ngs. Employment managers
have stated to many of those who
have been fighting on many fronts
to open up new avenues of en-
ployment for colored people that
the trials of these new workers"
is not at all satisfactory. It charg-
ed that many groups of colored
women have accepted their new
positions in various plants with
chips on their shoulders" Some
say these workers of the weaker
sex have made it emphatic to the
white workers the minute that they
got on the jobs, "that we are Just
as good as you are" In one large
establishment all of the colored
women were discharged last week
because it is charged that they
cursed the white employees and
challenged them to physical COM
bat.
Too Timid or Too Overbearing
Fair-minded social students of
our race who have made personal
Investigations asserted that in
many cases, the attitudes and con-
duct Of our people are shocking
and shameful. They admit that
too many of US have not carefully
and intelligently estimated our own
Importance on our new jobs. They
point out that we are deemed to
be "on trial." that we are under
constant and continual surveillance
and that we are judged rigidly and
sometimes harshly, but, they say,
we are largely to blame and at
fault for the wave of unfavorable
comment against US.
The colored people are having a
difficult task in adjusting them
selves. They do not seem to have
the proper perspective and under
standing of their status. They are
either too retiring and timid or too
aggressive and overbearing. Those
who are too aggressive and over
bearing are the targets for most
of the complaint and criticism. It
is charged that they shove and
push while on public carriers and
in elevators. They are loud
mouthed and insulting without pro-
vocation. Their personal hygiene is
assailed and, all in all, they are
proving highly undesirable. On the
other hand, we are happy to re-
late that most favorable reports
have been made concerning the
male workers in wartime industry,
but the good reports do not offset
the regrettable revelations of our
poor conduct elsewhere.
Crusade Necessary
The acute problems that are be-
ing raised by abnormal social and
economic conditions should be met
and considered with firmness and
intelligence. A great duty is cast
upon the more enlightened men,
bers of our race to get a burning
message over to the great horde
of workers. The issues involved
are of such serious and far-reach-
ing portent that they cannot be
disregarded or ignored. We must
conserve the gains that we are
making and we can ill-afford to
suffer and tolerate boisterous and
ill-mannered members of our race,
as they are causing their brothers
and sisters to be lambasted and
halted in their progress. Pulpit,
press and every kind of organiza-
ton that we possess should en-
gage themselves in encouraging
good morals and gentle manners.
We cannot permit our evil, schem-
ing enemies to eagerly pick our
shortcomings and do US irreparable
damage by causing US to lose our
jobs. Now is the time for crusades
and campaigns within the race to
point out the modes and manners
of public and private conduct that
will safeguard our future.
We do not expect culture to come
over night, but neither can we ex-
pect to gain a place in the sun if
uncivilized and barbaric conduct
- Al 49, - Isa..Io- t. L.. Lza-