The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-12-18

Christopher Columbus had been
In his grave just Is years when
transported African slaves joined
hands with the recently conquered
Aztec Indians to free Mexico from
the cruel Spaniard with his lust
for gold and blood.
The rebellion was crushed In that
ill-starred year Of l52l-less than
80 years after the Great Admiral
had crossed the unknown Atlantic
to discover an unknown new world.
Three hundred years later-in 1921
descendants OF the African and
descendants Of the Aztecs were able
finally to send the Spaniards home
packing as result Of the spade
work done by a martyred Negro
patriot, Jose Maria Morales.
Statue Of Race Hero
Whoever passes the Island OF
Janitzio off Morales home state OF
Michoacan sees the imposing statue
OF this Negro hero with one arm
appraised and hst clenched after the
manner Of Russia's Red Army gen.
erals. The carved image of Morales
can be seen for miles from any
passing ship, and 1t makes one
think that Boston rad better get
busy and erect a similar statue OF
Crispus Attucks-that gallant Ne
gro who was the first American TO
fall In our Revolutionary War.
When you see the statue OF
Morales. you understand why Next.
CO Is a great nation. Its greatness
rests upon the fraternity which Ne
gro and Indian have shown toward
each other since the first Of the
thieving Spanish conquistadores in
vaded the unprepared empire OF
Montezuma.
Two oppressed peoples have
mixed their blood and shed their
blood In that battle. lasting until
our own time. TO give the Mexican
the chance to -un his own country
In Spanish Struggle
Time and time again, the Negroes
and the Indians OF Mexico and other
Latin American countries forced
the scared. compromising native
whites to carry through the liberia
ton struggle against Spain to its
logical finish Of independence.
The Indians in Mexico never have
set up Jim Crow signs. One Negr ,
Estevanico. who got lost from hi.
Spanish masters during the early
years OF the conquest wound up al
king Of q Pueblo Indian tribe ir
what is now the American State Of
New Mexico but which was then Z
province Of Montezamas fallen ma.
ton.
One reason that the Mexican ma
ton resisted the secession Of Texa,
In 1895 was that the American
colonists In that state were tryin,
TO preserve the hated institution o
Negro slavery IN he country
Mexico ordersd shs emancipation q
al slaves In Texas and hat was III
reason why Texas became eventual
" the cause Of the Mexican Wa
which the American slsveholder
drummed up In 1916.
After Texas became o slavehold
ing state of the American Union
the Mexicans did not forget thei
Negro neighbors across the Ri
Grande. brothers by race Of thei
own national hero. Morales Mexi
cans still living in Texas organize
an underground railroad for escap
ing Negro slaves. passing them OF
from one home to the other unit
they crossed the internationa
boundary.
Once they crossed the Rio Grand,
River marking the boundary be
tween the two ountries, TIT
escaped Negro slave became q full
and equal citizen Of his adoptet
country.
Negroes, Mexican Burned
In l856-almost on the eve Of tn
Civil War-a Mexican farmland
remembered only as Frank, wa
logged and burned with rebellion
Negroes at Columbus.Fexas 70
organizing the slaves IN q move
ment aimed at overthrow Of tn
white planters and conhscation Q
the estates originally stolen fror
Mexicans. After the lynchings. tn
planters held a meeting and ordere
the sheriff to run all Mexicans on
OF the county lest they continue I
stir up the Negroes.