The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-10-09
THE FACTS
IN OUR NE VS.

Editors Note: The opinions
expressed by Mr.. White are his
swn and do not reflect the views
Of the Michigan Chronicle.
THE FIGHT FOR EQUALITY
We can begin to see signs that
indicate how terrific The Negroes
fight for equality will become after
the war. These signs are tina. the
entrenched people OF the COM
munity are beginning 10 accept the
Negroes difference" and "inferi.
GRITTY" as facts. We see this happen.
ing in many places. For example.
many establishments that now EN-.
ploy Negroes. make II very clear
that the employment Of these Me-
sroes is a result OF the war. and not
the product Of new and different
attitude toward Negroes. In talking
to one employer with large numbers
OF people, he unwittingly admitted
that IL il were not for the war, he
would not have as many Negroes
on his payroll. as he now has. He
stated that Negroes are a problem.
asked him what he meant by Ne
groes being a problem in his en-
ploy. He stated, You never know
where TO put them, and you never
know how the white workers are
going to react to their inclusion in
the program" He stated further.
Negroes prefer to work among
themselves. and enjoy the company
Of one another while on the job"
1t was explained to this employer
that was really not concerned
about the democracy for which this
war is being fought, II he felt that
Negroes could not be employed in
his factory after the war. He was
also told very definitely that the
Negroes desire to enjoy the COM
pany Of one another Is not
startling trait. nor was 1t trait
airy different than that expressed
by any group OF people, whether
they were Polish. Jewish, and what
have you. Negroes are human be-
inSs. They may prefer the company
OF one another, but such is no
reason why they should not be en-
ployed along with all other people
in his factory. now and after the
war without being a problem. This
employer was told that the problem
existed primarily in his own mind.
This employer admitted that once
Negroes were given a fair deal,
and that all employees were given
a fair deal. there was no trouble
from either white or Negro workers.
We also find that Negroes are
unwilling in some quarters to sense
the gravity Of the problems facing
the great masses of Negro people
after the war. Leaders are pursuing
a policy of war economics as far as
their efforts in behalf Of the Negro
are concerned. This is a very dam
gerous and shortsighted point OF
view. What right have Negro lead
ers to project program Of war
strategy without linking it to
postwar program? / submit to you
that Negro leadership has not yet
projected a postwar program for
Negroes, in relationship to the prob
lens Negroes are now facing. All OF
the efforts that have been carried
on in the last two years have been
in the name OF winning the war,
not in what must come after the
war. 1t must be agreed that labor
unions will give the factory worker
some protection, but all the plan
ming that needs TO be done now for
dealing with the Negroes postwar
problems does not stem from the
factory worker, as important as this
is. Negro leadership from a national
point OF view, is playing a game
OF hope. They hope that things will
he all right after the war II we can
Just get Negroes into jobs during
he war. II is like carrying Goals
20 New Castle" Negroes are going
to be employed during this war
period, because they are needed,
and they represent large untapped
labor supply. The thing that is con-
fronting Negro leadership nation
ally, or better, should be confront
ing them, is how TO keep Negroes in
Jobs that they are now doing.
The program OF keeping Negroes
in their present employment must
needs be program OF negotiation.
plus program Of internal training.
twill be hard 10 get Negro leader
ship who are supported by national
organizations, TO do this because IL
is not dramatic enough. II won't
make any headlines, and give an,
cheap meaningless publicity 10 the
person doing the task. There has
not come down 10 the local front
OF Negro life any kind OF program
that would even say that Negroes
are recognizing the problem that
VIII confront the masses OF Negroes
AFTER the war. To be sure many
genera statements have been made.
and many vague hints have been
uttered from platforms. The local
representatives, of national organi-
cations have no idea OF what the
next steps ought TO be. This is so
acute for local leadership, that the
local leadership OF national Negro
organizations hit upon the silliest
things over which they arouse en-
thusiasm. and expend a lot Of
energy Of the people. The danger
IN so doing is that the people, sooner
or later. will discover. that the cry
wolf means nothing.