The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-10-16
Military Hour To Honor Late DR.. Nathaniel Dett
Dissemination Against Negroes

abuses. More extensive. hardhit-
ting educational material should
cmanate from governmental as
we'll as private agencies that
would tell the truth about the
Negro people. Such educational
must not gloss over the
issues nor magnify minor conces-
sions into seemingly major VIC
tories Plain. unvarnished facts
will be sufficient to counteract
the glaring distortions. miscon-
ceptions and outright lies now
being disseminated regarding the
Negro people.
In the field Of political action
all Americans can help solve the
economic and social problems
arising out OF discriminatory
practices by eliminating from
public office the enemies Of the
Negro people and other minori-
ties. For these mis-representa-
tives are also the enemies OF
the best interests of the nation.
Effective political action will also
mean effective mobilization or
popular support for such meas
ures as the Marcantonio Anti-Poll
Tax Bill. HR 2. in the Senate
Judiciary committee. and the
Gavagan Anti-Lvnch Bill. HR. 81,
in the House Judiciary commit
tee
The Negro people themselves
must take the initiative to bring
to the attertion Of Overwhelming
audiences the basic issues az
fecting them In. this war against
fescIsm. This can best be ac-
Complished by means. OF public
rallies. conferences and meetings.
as we'll as through organized ac-
iiyity within their respective COM
munity organizations and trade
unions. Organized labor partic-
ularly the clio. can and should
take leading role in driving
home the lnconvertible truth that
the interests OF Negroes and
whites are identical; that unre-
sisted discrimination against Ne
groes anywhere Is a flank attack
upon all Americans everywhere.
Let me cite briefly just two
instances az how the National
Maritime Union furthered the war
effort by successfully fighting
discrimination. A year ago a man
qualified to command ship n
nally won an appointment from
the War Shipping administration.
He had been forced because he
was Negro--to sail for many
years as steward or cook. The
NMU fought that case from ev-
cry port in the country. from
ships at sea. and by resolutions
and kilograms OF protest. We won
that fight In cooperation with the
Negro Labor Victory committee
end other interested groups
Captain Hugh Mnlzac and his
mixed NMU crew on the Booker
T. Washington. have done a mag
nificent job during the past year
delivering the goods to the war
theatres and have won the high
est concentrations from the
Navy.
In the South. where II suppos-
eddy couldn't be done, $500 Ne
groes and whites employed in the
Jacksonville Boat and Machine
company. in Jeffersonyille. In
diana. shlpyard built by the
Navy at cost Of 100000 turns
cut five invasion barges a
month. The NMu contract in this
yard contains a CLAUSE barring
discrimination because Of color
Negroes hold skilled Jobs ac-
cording to ability. How amazing
this product 2 record IS can he
seen by comparison with ship
yard at Evansville. Indiana.
which cost the Navy s9.0OO.o0o,
employs about 1900 workers but
produces invasion barges
month. The disparity between the
two yards as 10 production per
man hour Is due. as the FEPC
was informed recently by the
Union. to the unity which exists
In the Jeffersonville Boat Yard
where men are trained to fill the
Jobs regardless OF race or color.
and where the workers them
selves fully support this pro-
gram.
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