The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1942-11-28

sympathy for himself.
From jackson. Miseissinn, o.
report yesterday from Edwa,s
Robertson. editor OF the JacLsaa
Daily Star, regarding Bigger Thorn
as boyhood there. The edho,
wired:
Thomas comes OF a poor dartv
family OF a shiftless and immorsl
variety. He was raised here and !.
known 10 local residents AS an H.
reformable sneak thief and liar ".
were unable TO send him 10 ,bs
chain gang because OF his extrem.
youth.
"'Our experience here in Di,,
with such depraved types of NJ.
groes has shown that only the DEAN
penalty, inflicted in public and
dramatic manner. has any influence
upon their peculiar mentality .,aS
that niger Thomas lived in Mis-.
sissippi and committed such
crime. no power under Heaven
could have saved him from death
at the hands OF indignant citizen.
i think II but proper 10 inform
you that in many quarters II h
believed that Thomas. despite hin
dead-black complexion. may have
a minor portion Of white blood in
his veins, a mixture which gener.
ally makes for criminal and IN.
tractable nature.
Down here in Dixie We keen
Negroes firmly in their places and
we make them know that II they
so much as touch a white woman.
good or bad. they cannot live.
when Negroes become resent
full over imagined wrongs. nothing
brings them to their senses 50
quickly as when citizens take Tho
law into their bands and make an
example out OF trouble-makins
niger.
Crimes such as the Bigger
Thomas murders could be lessened
by segregating all Negroes in
parks. Fairgrounds. cafes theatres.
and street cars. Residential segrs-
cation is imperative. Such measures
tend 10 keep them IS much as pos
sible out OF direct contact with
white women and essen their al.
tacks against them
I'VE OF the South believe that
the North encourages Negroes 10
get more education than they are
organically capable Of absorbing
with the result that northern Ne
groes are generally more unhappy
and restless than those Of the
South. II separate schools we're
maintained, II would be fairly easy
to limit the Negroes education BY
regulating the appropriation Ok
moneys through city. county ana
state legislative bodies.
"-'Still another psychological de-
terrent can be attained by condl'
tioning Negroes so that they have
TO pay Difference to the white per.
son with whom they come IN con-
tact. This is done by regulating
their speech and actions. We have
found that the injection Of an ele..
ment OF constant fear hss aidea
us greatly in handling the prob
lem
He lowered the paper he could
not read any more. Yes OF course;
they were going 20 kill him; pus
they were having this sport WIN
him before they did II. He nelo
very still: he was trying 10 naks
decision: not thinking, but ieei'
ing II out. Ought he 10 20 back Os'
hind his wall? could he 20 ose.
now? He felt that he could not buI
would not any effort he made nov
turn out like the others? Why 90
forward and meet more hate' ~
lay on the cot, feeling as pc %.
felt that night when HE hnssn
had gripped the icy edges OF u.
water tank under the rowing iiais'
OF light. knowing that men crouen.
cd before him with guns ana 'es,
gas. hearing the screams OF s,Isn'
and shouts rising thirstily Ito"
ten thousand throats... :.
Overcome with drowsiIess, ns
closed his eyes: then opened 'ns% a
abruptly. The door swung 10 ~,
he saw a black face. Who was 'n''
A tall well-dressed black man
/ came forward and paused. BE-.
pulled up and leaned on his elOo .s.
The man came all the way 20 w
cot and stretched forth o'p"
palm. touching Bigger's hang ID
"Mah po' boy! May the goou -
have mercy on yuh.' A..t
lie stared at the mans let u's.
suit and remembered who ne wa
Reverend Hammond, the pas'o' y
his mothers church. Ana AZ ~. .r
he was on guard against tne "a
He shut his heart and tr'e.
stifie all feeling in him. re az,
ed that the preacher would ,ua "a
him feel remorseful. He wan,sO
tell him TO 20: but so Cios msn
ISOLATED In his mind was %. me
with his mother and wna' .ssE
stood for that he could no. ~ eli
| In his feelings he coulu no. ms
the difference between wns' hs
| man evoked in him ana WA n". II
had read in the papers: the ~ an.
his own kind and the ha.e y nifty
ers made him feel equally k
@How yuh feel. SON." the me n,
asked: ne did not answer az. ~ ma
mans voice hurried on. ~ che
ast me Z come n see yum
wants 4 come too" -, II,
The preacher knelt upv' ewes
concrete floor and closed d, lex.
Bigger clamped his teeth az VA,
ed his muscles; he knew "'''
comm costisu.d next week.