The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-19

OF the most exact persons I have
ever met Before opening the door.
she invariably takes of her apron
and is certain 10 brush every strand
OF hair into place. Before enter
ing. her living room must be just
so, and while in her home. she
keeps an eye on you 70 see that
you have eYery-little thing neces-
Sary for your comfort. such as ash
trays, etc. You can wreck the
house IL you want. but she insists
that il is in order before you begin
the wrecking. These Sunday eve
nings usually end up with every
boiy present harmonizing and al
though my own voice has grown
rather rusty from years of battling
il out on soap boxes and in meet
ins halls, actually enjoy the
meagre part play in these NINA
ture songfests.
But back 20 my observations.
The conversation below has
changed from victory gardens.
winning the war, etc. TO baseball.
and ! hear the other men inviting
Mr. Giacobbi 70 come along with
them 10 watch the Tigers play.
walk down TO the back yard but
before can get 70 the men Mrs.
Giscobbi claims my attention as
she airs her views on religion and
tn average persons chances Of
entering the pearly gates. She IS
| Catholic and since I do not care
10 get into an argument over which
denomination is the least Christian.
politely bow out
To complete this picture. walk
out 70 the street and take an early
morning inventory Of the families
who occupy the SO homes between
Grand and Woodrow Wilson. There
are about six colored families on
tn; street. most OF whom recently
moved in without fanfare from
the white neighbors The people on
my street seem too busy being good
neighbors TO worry about the color
OF another persons skin.
White and colored children are
going out together; now they are
parting ssNthey reach the corner,
but this afternoon. like all other
afternoons, they will play together
I while their parents hold from
e porch discussions on the war an,
u other current events.
And 30 while sat here wonder
Is ing IL democracy will ever wor
found IL working right IN m
d own back yard and all around m,
IS And I am reminded OF anothe
h time-during the depression whel
IS I saw democracy working iron
e Boston Commons 70 Pershin
r Square. where day laborer, whit
/, and black. matched wits with tn
: intellectual; remember seeini
& democracy work in the crowdet
: subways and elevators and apart
{ ment houses OF New York City
= in the potato fields Of Idaho. III,
pea farms Of Oregon. in the aopl,
! orchards Of Washington. in tn,
: vineyards OF Southern California
S in the corn fields Of Nebraska ant
l Iowa and the chalk mines Of Soutl
5 Dakota. remember all thes,
= things because, during the depres
: siol, / was among thousands o
5 men, black and white. who mad,
, their way from one end Of tn,
: comfy 70 the other. going no plac,
in particular not caring witt
5 whoi.. they sh red a mee' or a bed
) FOR then white men and black
: from Mort hor South were reduceS
20 one common level Maybe dem
; ocracy works best when all mer
5 OF al races are forced TO share tn,
same boxcars or the same TO,
, house bed. but I see il -workinI
) all around me in my own neighbor
; hood. in spite OF those who say Ne
! groes and whites cannot live to
Z gether. There are thousands o
= communities in this country wher,
? democracy is working. and there
: are thousands more where dem.
: ocracy will work IL given a chance