The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-11-21
By GEORGE PADMORE

e
weeks for the first contingent
of colored Red Cross club
workers here to capture the
hearts Of all British folk, rich and
poor, nigh and low.
These Afro-American ambassa-
doris OF good will by their charm
and intelligence have won the es-
TEEN and respect of all the leading
citizens OF the famous cathedral
city where they are stationed. They
are five comely young women and
three clean cut men of the new
Negro" type, who are the vanguard
of 3 large contingent of experienced
colored social workers and recre-
alton experts who are being re-
cruited in the States.
All have made an excellent be-
ginning in their mission. part OF
which is to foster and promote har
monious inter-racial relations be-
tween U. S. doughboys and the ma
tive population,
George W. Goodman, leader OF
the group. has already been invited
by the Lord Mayor to serve on the
civic reception committee welcom-
ing incoming American troops.
Invited to Serve
A finer representative coterie Of
Young women could not have been
selected for this mission They are
the first colored American women
to reach these parts They are
friendly and iignifiec and adapted
themselves TO British customs ad-
mirably.
1t is. therefore. not surprising
that Viscountess caldecotte, the
wife OF the Lord Chief Justice OF
England. had them as her special
guests last Sunday. Attired in
their smart uniforms of light Ali
Force blue. the young women, at
tended by Lady Caldecotte, attend
ed the annual Harvest Thanksgiving
service at St. James Anglican
church, usually referred to in
America as Episcopalian.
On that quiet autumn Sunday
morning, whtte- RAJ planes from
nearby airdromes patrolled the
skies, the congregation assembled
in historic St. James was an unique
one. Among its members were
descendants Of old British seafar-
ing families and merchant traders
whose early fortunes were made on
the trade in black ivory, and the
American offspring Of some Of these
very slaves. After centuries, for
tune had brought them together
to worship side by side and to ask
Gods aid and guidance in the
struggle against the common enemy
of their respective countries.
Two Clubs in Town
There are two clubs situated
within five minutes walking distance
of each other in this town. Both
are under the aegis Of the Ameri-
can Red Cross; both are supposed to
be open to all United States forces
irrespective OF race, color or creed,
But one is under entirely white
management. while the other is
run by an all-colored staff. l dis
covered no public signs outside the
clubs indicating racial designation
The signboards over both buildings
merely read: American Red Cross
club" 1t is only when one enters
the buildings that one notices the
distinction in the colo of the stats
and patrons.
Explaining the reason for the ex-
istence of two separate clubs un-
der white and colored management
respectively, an of cial spokesman
at Red Cross headquarters said that
it was found expedient to do so in
areas where ia-ge numbers of white
and colored troops were billeted
Experience had shown that while
in theory all Red Cross clubs are
open to all United States forces
colored troops prefer to patronize
a club under the management Of
their own people for a number Of
reasons, he said. Firstly the cook
ing is generally more to their taste
secondly, they receive more person.
al attention from a colored than 1
white staff; and thirdly. they avoic
coming into conflict with certain
undesirable types of white Ameri
cans, who resent social contact with
Negroes in public places. the
spokesman explained.