davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
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The Moving Finger

THE NAME OF PEARL BUCK
is now anathema to the South,
which is becoming terrified be-
cause "the Moving Finger writes,
and having writ, moves on" nor
all their piety and spit can cancel
not a line of it-thank God!
Miss Buck, China-born, world
famous American author, has de-
clared that the white world is face
to face with an historical choice
between Democracy and Peace, or
hypocracy and chaos. We agree with
Miss Buck, who says there can
be no victory for Democracy and
there can be no permanent peace
without square deal for the color
ed races of the world. She there
fore makes a stirring plea-and
warning-to the white world to
grant equality to the colored races,
or suffer the most disastrous con-
sequences.
Mark Ethridge, Southern editor
and a member of the Presidents
Fair Employment Practice Com
mittee, has often courageously
championed the rights of the
American Negro. Recently, how
ever, he loudly lamented the fact
that many Negro leaders demand
social equality along with economic
equality.
1T is INEVITABLE
Blind fear and muddles think
ing have always cloaked this Anglo
Saxon taboo. Aside from the fact
that social equality is a relative
term and that there has always
existed caste-bound stratas of social
life within and between both color
ed and white races, history and
study of human nature prove that
social equality Gas between two
races ultimately follows and econo-
mic equality, as the night the day.
1t is simply an action of the law
of cause and effect; it is inevitable.
That is why there is such per-
SiStent striving to hold colored
people in an inferior position in
the economic and industrial world.
The Negro has thousands of
white friends like Mark Ethridge
who are constrained by brutal facts
or obvious necessity to accord the
colored man ~ his fundamental
economic and educational rights
and opportunities; believing that
in some magic manner the queS-
ton of social equality can forever
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
Major Wright's Great Mission

Accenting unanimously here last Thursday evening,
motion made by John Wesley DObbs president of Atantas
Civic and Political League, and seconded by g. A Scott
general manager of The Atlanta Daily World Negro Allan
ans record adopting officially February st as
National Freedom Day."
The action, taken following stirring message from
Major R. R. Wright in which he traced the development
and final consummation of the pan is to be part of
nation wide movement to ratification of this day
for all Negroes.
Pointing that Negroes have Heretofore celebrated
the signing of the Emancipation Proclamation which in
fact freed comparatively few Mr. Wright is suggesting
February the most logical day. since it this
date that the Thirteenth Amendment ratified by both
houses of Congress, thus making the liberation of the
slaves fact.
The movement, instituted and led by Major Wright,
will at win the confidence and admiration of the Amer
ican people, and believe will receive universal sanction.
yet uncompromsng leader of his people for nearly
three quarters of century, Mr. Wright has distinguished
himself educator and college president Major in
the SpanishAmercan war; Founder and president of The
Citizens and Southern Bank of Philadelphia, and past
president of the National Negro Bankers Association.
From point of service to his people and for arstocracy of
issuance of Booker T. Washington Stamp, and
Gently, he has succeeded in having issued Thirteenth
Amendment Stamp.
Nevertheless unsuled by this array of achievements
and undaunted by his rpenng age DR.. Wrights social
vsion economic genius and unsefsh leadership continue
win wider and worthwhile gains for people in all
fields of endeavor
We believe Major Wrights mission will be crowned
with It is great mission and will command the
respect of all farminded and reasonable Negro leaders
communities where he will visit Let be uniform in
efforts to review achievements This will bring about
greater racial unity.
From the Atlanta (Ga) Daily World.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

RICHMOND, Va.-At eight o'clock
today, July 2, Odell Waller paid in
the electric chair the debt de-
manded him by his native Virgin
ia for the murder of Oscar Davis,
a white Virginia farmer of Pittsyl-
vania country. The Waller case was
easily one of The most celebrated
in the legal annals Of Virginia,
The effort to save Waller from the
electric chair was nation wide, but
to no avail.
The cards were stacked against
Waller from the beginning, for his
last written message of farewell
revealed that he was lamentably
ignorant. Many years ago a Negro
electrocuted in Virginia of whom
the reporters said he was fearful
ly ignorant" I wrote at the time
a letter of warning Virginia what
fearful thing iG was to electro
cute the "fearfully ignorant" Wal
Ter had the benefit not only OF
fine and capable legal counsel but
he was in remarkably way, the
beneficiary Of q far reaching
propaganda.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
Rv DEAN GORDON q. HANCOCK

ters OF race relations? How can
community that has thought crook
ed about Negroes for 10 genera
tions suddenly choose IL men and
judge than can overnight think
straight?
But Negroes are paying a fear
ful price in the premise. The Time
Dispatch, Richmond's morning pa
per, makes the startling revelation
that Waller is the 156th Negro to
Gle in the electric chair in Vir-
ginia as against % white men.
Here we have 80 per cent Of the
population supplying 81 Fer cent
OF the electric chair victims. Null
tiply this tragic circumstance by
the number states of the southern
regions and we have the greatest
tragedy Keeping the Negro "in his
place" is largely matter of keep
ing him poor and ignorant and
hopeless and criminal, and DOOM
ing him in the end to the electrici
HARD TO UNDERSTAND
How many Negroes would have
gone On delegations to the Cover
ncrs ard Presidents to plead for
Communication of the sentence had
David slain Waller? The brilliant
delegation that went to Washing
ton in behalf of Waller unfortu-
nately dramatiZed the situation b.
pleading that p communication OF
Walters sentence would restore
the badly shaken faith of our Ne
gro minority in American democ-
racy."
Just why the committee woulc
make it a race issue instead CT ar
individual issue is hard to under
stand. To have predicted the faith
of the Negro in American democ
racy upon a case where all tn
courts had sustained the loWel
court was had strategy regardless
of who advised it. Trump cards
should be played for only higf
stakes. The prestige of the race
was needlessly weakened when tht
President failed to intervene!
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
Southern Win
Continued from Page -


the south land stand ready to
make every sacrifice for victory
over the axis enemy.
"Our democratic traditions, our
national independence, our very
existence as a free people are en-
dangered by the enslaving forces
of Hitler and the axis powers
Victory in this total war requires
the full energy of every American
of every southerner. These are the
practical tasks before us; to SEND
our best sons and daughters to our
armed forces; to give our best Ell
forts to all-out productions; all our
conservations: to involve the vast
loval body of southerneTs, Negro
and white, fully in our war effort;
to build national unity with the
full vigor of our democratic faith. :
Some of the outstanding whites
of the south, including DR.. Frank
Graham of the University OF North
Carolina, have affixed their
signatures to the call.
Negro signatures are Mrs. Mary
Mcleod Bethune; Charlotte Haw-
kins Brown, Sedalia. N. c.; DR..
Rufus Clement, Atlanta; DR.. Rob-
ert P, Daniel, Raleigh; DIR. Charles
P. Jonrson, Nashville; Roscoe
Dungee, Oklahoma City: DR.. David
D. Jones, Greensboro. N. u; c. c.
Spaulding, Durham, N. c.; DR..
James E. Shepard, Durham, and
others.
Speakers on the occasion are to
Justice Hugo Black of the U. S.
Supreme court; President F. y.
Patterson of Tuskeee; MRS. Charles
w. Tillett, chairman OF the
womens division of the Demo-
cratic party; George Googe, AFL,
and Paul r. Christopher, presi-
dent of the Tennessee Industrial
Union council.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
Equality Comes To South Carolina

This newspaper does not believe does it know OF
any Negroes in South Carolina who believe that there
should be discrimination between the two under the
Seectve Service SYSTEM under which Negroes would not
be nducted into the armed services in their proper ratio
Because of certain conditions however, there have been
few more white called into service than their ratio
to coored This has elected stern criticism and con-
Germ from state politicians who, for the first time
in their ves have declared that here Negroes in
South Carolina and they should have equality in this Amer
effort Among these Representative Hare and
Senator Maybank Mr. Maybank from the very first, has
been worried drop of white blood be spilled
than colored Prejudice and Especial places for coored
have probably been the of the discrimination
While it is amusing how gallantly these work
now to correct the difference it also significant that at
last equality in one form has to South Carolina 1t
shall be interesting to hear these gentlemen other forms
of equality this is over.
From The Columbia, CO. Lighthouse and 1nformer
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
KINDNESS REWARDED

stopped and entered the estate ano
knocked on the door which was
onened by a servant. The STUDENT
requested him to tell the lady that
he was a student on his way ~
school and was walking, and SO
wanted to stop over night. Would
she kindly let him remain -untn
morning?
The lady who happened to be
near hearing his request, imme-
diately came forward and cordlauy
invited him in. bade the servant
give him a guest room and serve
him supper. The student learned
his hostess name but she never
learned his until years later. Early
the following morning he started
on his way to college from Wnich
he later graduated to become one
of Georgia's most brilliant schoiars
and lawyers. He was known
through-out the country for his
great and successful career He ne-
came the honored and distinguish
ed governor of his native state.
Years afterward a lady came
seeking his advice and service to
save her estate which she was
about to lose. He took her case and
| saved the property. She asked him
what he charged for his service
and was surprised when he re-
piled MADAM" you owe me
nothing, you paid me years ago
Then the lady asked, when have
I ever known you before"" The
lawyer replied, when a poor lad
I stopped at your home on my way
to school. You took me in for the
night and gave me food ana
| shelter"
READY TO HELP ALL
Not until then did she know
that the student whom she had
befriended was Alexander Ht
Stephens, Georgia's greatest and
most beloved son. His heart and
hand were ever ready to help all
who were in need--regardlesS
| of race or condition.
Even though he could not evade
the inhuman slave-law of his be-
loved state his slaves regarded
and loved him not as a master, but
as great humanitarian protector.
Over his modest plantation the
crack of an overseer's whip was
never heard. His home, Liberty
Hall' is shrine in Georgia and
still bears the emblem of his be-
lief and noble character:
With Liberty and Justice for all"
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

Heroes are made, not born, they
say.
Some time ago 1 read an editorial
in a soutrern daily which expressed
alarm over Negroes worship OF
Joe Louis. After all, it said, Joe
Louis is Just a man, quite talented
at ear hopping, but just a man. 1t
felt that the Negroes specific REL
erence to his people as heroes
tended to emphasize that, after
all. the Negro wanted to be recog-
nized as a special" American. OF
course, this may not be the case
but it is deserving of thought.
But, as says Miss Buck, we
are too shy on greats and have too
few references. Here is fine
opportunity for historians and stu
dents of Negro life to do some
needed research and discovering.
Telling Negro youths today about
what our greats did, in most cases,
is like telling the Sunday School
student over and over that Jesus
died. He knows this so well that
he fails to respond.
Heroes are made" they say.
let us make more heroes II 1t
is they we need to lead us, like
Moses, out of this wilderness OF
darkness.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

be avoided. Yes, it can be avoided
temporarily. but if it is inevitable,
then why not now?
NEIGHBORLINESS
Surely, there can develop an
effective but limited understanding
between the races during working
or business hours when the two
races are thrown together (by
economic or war necessity; but
better and more normal human
understanding can only occur
through interracial personal friend
ship, good neighborliness and So
cial contact.
People very simply and very
naturally chose their friends with
in the sphere of their own social
interests; but we maintain that
mutual human qualities and worth
of character and personality should
be the determining factors in
social intercourse, without any bar
Of race.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

can't explain why these heroes
fail to move me. But it Is probable
that they are so far removed
from nv own time and my own
problems in this land that l don't
have sufficient faith in their
methods to think of using them
myself. Then, too, it is doubtful
whether or not a second Tuske-
gee would be founded today with
all of the opportunities about us.
And there is no room for a Fred
erick Douglass right now. Most OF
all, I certainly have no intention
of being a Crispus Attucks at the
moment. There is no demand for
such a sacrifice and, too, am
not so sure that Attucks really
intended to die. Some historians
say that his curiosity got his body
in line for bullet. He tried to
duck but tried too slow and Too
late.
Miss Buck implied that some
thing was wrong with our search
ty of greats and heroes to whom
we could rfeer. A people, SO nu-
merous as we, certainly should have
more heroes to worship. And this
seems true but I believe many a
great man has escaped attention
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
Toward Democracy

Un-American practices in defense industry is the
problem facing thousands of racial and religious mi
ncres shift into high gear aOut defense for
democracy Negroes and Jews and many naturalized c
Of foreign extraction whose loyalty is without
tion subject to a vicious practice which is doing much
to create dsunty Saboteurs, spies and fifth counsts
admitted to safety during these perOus
days Equally dangerous to securtv those who
permit racial and religious intolerance to impede
ducon for defense material Recent reversas of the Allies
in Russia China and Africa makes the threat to
securitv perious The widespread difficulty for Ne
and Jews to help in defense contributing
to dsuntv when objectves of national unity must
be paramount. -
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
PLATFORM

To coored people that they fee
which they their all Pohtca
questions which face the race
To racial conscience especially in business to the
become job makers well job seekers
8. To instr and girls in the art of thrift :.
To Fathehood God and the brotherhood OF
To build firmer for posterity
in colored must
pete of other We the technique "
othe whit Above all renoer
dependable efficient service all times that
able succeed business enterprise
realizinp
from readers regard renoer
in0a hetter service
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
Between The Lines
How Waller Was Doomed

Imprisonment could be obtained
from Gov. Darden, propaganda
doubtless proved most detrimental.
After all, the race issue was domi-
nant; and the south is always re-
sentful to any high pressure tactics
which involve race relations. Gov.
Darden is moro desirous OF stand
ing with the south that can do
things for him than with the
prcpagandist who cannot. He
therefore refused to interfere with
the death sentence.
So today Waller died; but in dy-
ing did not settle the matter of
justice. Whether Governor was
swayed more by the facts of law
and justice or by a resentment
against the high pressure tactics OF
the propagandists is a matter than
even Gov. Darden himself may moi
know.
DAVIS FIRST TRAGEDY
The first tragedy was the death
of Oscar Davis, the white farmer
of Pittsylvania, and the second was
the death of Waller, obviously an
under er-privileged Negro who wa:
doubtless driven to take the Law
into his own hands, because thu
law too often failed 20 take 6
hand in matters involving justice
between whites and Negroes ir
their relations.
The greater tragedy is tha
Waller went to his death withou
any impartial thinking On his case
Such cases are trials of races ant
not individuals. It is to be, seriously
questioned as I mentioned tel
years ago, if a fair trial is eve
possible when the accused is o
different color of the accuser. HoN
can any jury of white men leav
out of account the color of a man!
skin in q color struck world? How
! can any Negro see straight in mat
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

(Coas:auea from Page -

told that ne would have 70 ride
down on the freight elevator l
protested we were not freight
ard, in the meantime, your Mr..
Stout came in the hall and told
him the contention the elevator
operator was making and only with
his (Mr. Stout's) intercession were
we able tc ride down on the pas
senger elevator"
'It is obvious to me-" said Mr.
Scott, chat Negroes are being
Disseminated against in elevator
service in this building and in view
of the fact that located in it are the
National Youth Administration OIL
flee, the Social Security office and'
of course, your office, and per
haps, other national agencies, 1
am appealing to you to take what
ever steps necessary to end this
elevator service discrimination"
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

Dutton Ferguson joined the
lonely hearts club with two of his
girl friends away. But both of
them are acquiring additional in
formation; one at Tennessee state
and the other at Harvard where,
of all things, she is studying Rus
sian. When she adds that to her
repertoire and springs it on Dut-
ton this fall. he will be more con-
fused than ever. Boy, oh boy, I
can see that picture, when she
strolls in dramatically a la Duse
and lays the Russ on Frog. Hell
10 more than his usual quota of
sweating.
Edgar Brown stalked cut of
the state department, with a
brief under his m-intellectual
and distinguished looking, while
Alfred Smith (WPA) and his
side, Ferguson, peep at Edgar
from behind one Of the old
fashioned bronze guns that
decorate the building. Were
they sighting?
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

recently occupied by the Railroad
Retirement board, would solve
many problems for the colored
personnel. In this there are some
IL stenographerS employed in the
office. This does not include the
assistant secretary, nor the four or
five colored field workers.
However, Negroes look with
suspicion on the changes occurring
in the committee and hope for
the best despite the general out
look, which at present is not so
good. Some are outspoken enough
to say the change is at the direc-
ton of the White House, which
realizes after terrific pressure from
certain politicians, Executive Order
1902 was not what was needed
after all.
Reading excerpts from southern
newspapers anent the Birmingham
hearing, when members of the
committee were constantly refer
red to as president Roosevelt's
sarry-eyed black and tan shoppers
the unpopularity of the commit
tee, especially in darkest Dixie, was
something at which to marvel. And
Dixie rides high in the saddle of
government these days
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
By AL WHITE

WASHINGTON LAMP That
was a wonderful speech Governor
M"Nutt made in Harlem last week.
But governor, you remember the
United States Employment serv-
ice, don't you? IT'S one Of your
agencies. How about thos estates
that don't allow Negro tield rep
resentatives and about which moth
ing has been done? If Sund@
nights speech was your initial bid
fer the Negro vote should you be
the MAN in 1914, you got to get
some better advice and do better
than you have done in the USES
and in one or two other spots
500.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
PROPAGANDA HARMFUL

l was tremendously afraid from
the beginning that the propaganda
campaign would in its volume and
momentum, prove harmful to the
convicted Waller. Tt is doubly
tragic that this great amount of
propaganda could not have been
spent on a more hopeful case. 1t
was quite significant that CT the
various appeals not once was the
opinion of the Pittsylvania court
over-ruled. 1t was the opinion Of
the Supreme Court of the United
States that the accused had a fan
trial.
When the matter resolved itself
into whether communication to life
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
e g
10y 1hOMAs JEEEERsON FLANAGAN NS&GA !
The Butterfly

HIGH he scars against the Silly heat,
His silken wings into the soaring beat
The noon suns leaking gold along the wheat
His little heart the paths of flowers knows,
Alike he shuttles the brambe hedge and rose
Carrying fragrant tidings sweet upon his toes.
Fair summers bliss is always his delight,
No sultry day his anxious flight
No lu him in it's restful sleepy bright.
Till autumn's blight he holds the fortress firm.
And when her blade hooks out for herb and germ
He crucifies himself to rise worm
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

said, In general words, That our cO1lsIanI
reference to Crispus Attucks, Booker L.
Washington, Frederick Douglass and few
others which go back as far as the 10Th
century. is without effect and show that
the race has too few great people to whom
it can refer as heroes.
7 heard so much of Crispus Attucks,,
Booker Washington and the like when L
was a little fellow that know them about
as we'll as 7 know my ABC's. Their accom-
plishments, their problems and contribu-
tions no longer excite me and it is ooring
to S;+ and listen to hour long lectures on
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

WASHINGTON LAMP Fol-
lowing the release Of Mark Eth
ridges speech in Birmingham
thinking Negroes are beginning to
>see in it the first signs of weak
eriilg in the Presidents Commit"
teeAspn Fair Employment Practices.
Mere are those who say the
speech was inspired because some
of the White House advisers be-
lieTe Mr.. Roosevelt made a grave
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18
Says Ethridge Speech Weakens CoFEP

mistake in signing Executive Order
1902 and later creating the com
mittee which was to attempt the
enforcement of that order.
They see in the plans for ex-
pansion of the committee an effort
to spread it thin over a large ter
ritory. Without any real punitive
power. the committee vii! thus be
enfeebled to such an extent it will
be only a name group.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

Attention Mr.. Rankin: Those
eight saboteurs captured by the
FBI show what has been plan
nd by Germany to overcome
this country. Allah he praised,
groes trained to overthrow the
government. All fine upstard-
ing Aryans, some of whom
were naturaliZed citizens and
had served in the US army.
The land of the free.
The Phoenix index., 1942-07-18

for the elimination OF all Neglo
information specialists now func-
tioning with several departments
A well-known colored paper an
nounces that Tennessee is now
roarking her bus with front ana
back rule. 1t seems that they are
having friction between the races,
and the authorities think this rule
may help. It will, if the white ana
colored people use common sense,
and reasonable judgment.
I am writing from personal oo-
servations, as I ride the buses and
street cars daily. Again, no man
with common sense will get on one
of the crowded buses while he is
dirty, greasy, sweaty, smutty, and
so on. 1t Just doesn't make sense.
NOW. let us say word about the
very unlady-like manners that
some of our women carry on the
bus. They talk in loud boiSterous
tone, bring up a lot of their last
night affairs, and carry on like men
at a political rally. 1t really makes
me feel bad. Some time they ling
er in the door to talk to friend,
then holler out to other friends on
the street.
Let us improve our bus manners
by Using Common Sense and Rea.
sonable Judgment.