The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1943-06-19

" r'~f |""t '"h hiiHu htdnQa IN
the way, You know why that is
It's because others have said YOU
we're bad and they made you live
in bad conditions When man
hears that over and over and
looks about him and sees that
his life Is bad. he begins TO doubt
his own mind His feelings drag
him forward and his mind. fun
OF what others say about him
tells him to go back. The Job In
getting people to fight and have
faith IL in making them believe
In what lie has made them feel.
making them feel that their feel
irgs are as good as those OF
others.
Bigger the people who hate
you feel just as YOU feel. only
they're on the other side OF the
fence You're black. but that's
only a part OF H. Your being
black. as ] told YOU before. makes
II easy for them "a single YOU
out. Why do they do that7 They
want the things OF life. Just as
( you did. and they're not partic-
ular about how they get hem.
They hire people and they don't
pay them enough: they take what
people own and build up power.
They rule and regulate life. They
have things arranged 40 that they
can do those things and the peo-
( nle cant fight back. They do that
20 black people more than others
because they say that black peo-
rle are Inferior But. Bigger. they
say that all people who work are
inferior And the rich people
don't want 10 change things;
they'll lose. too much But deep
ccwn in them they feel like you
feel. Bigger and in order 70 keep
what they've got they make
themselves believe that men who
work are not quite human. They
do like YOU did. Bigger. when you
refused 10 feel sorry for Mary.
But on both sides men want 70
live; men are fighting for life.
Who will win? Well. the side
that feels life most. the side with
the most humanity and the most
men. That's why y-youve got
10 h-bclieve in yourself. Bigger "
Maxs head jerked up In sur
prise when Bigger laughed.
"Aw. 7 reckon I believe in my
self Amt got nothing else. Il
got 70 die I"
He stepped over to Max Max
was leaning against the window.
Mr. Max. you 70 home. I'm all
right Sounds funny. MIR Max.
but whensI think about what you
say kind OF feel what I wanted
II makes me feel I was kind Of
right. =" Max opened his mouth
TO say something and Bigger
drowned ont his voice. II amt
trying 10 forgive nobody and l
amt asking for nobody to forgive
me. amt going to cry They
wouldn't let me live and, I killed
Maybe II amt fair 10 kill. and l
reckon 1 really didn't want TO
Hill But when think OF why
all the killing was. begin to
feel what wanted, what am :"
Bigger saw Max back away
from. him with compressed lips.
But he felt he had to make Max
understand how he saw things
now.
Il didn't want 70 kin" Bigger
shouted But what killed for,
] am! II must've been pretty deep
IN me TO make me Kill / must
have felt II awful hard to muir
der. f"
Max lifted his hand TO touch
Bigger. but did not
mo; no: no Bigger. not that
." Max pleaded disparingly.
"what killed for mustve been
good" Blgger's voice was full Of
frenzled anguish. ut must have
been good When a man kills. It's
: for something / didn't know
was really alive in this world un-
al felt things hard enough 70
kill for EN-. It's the truth. Mr.,
Max. can say Il now. cause I'm
going 10 die. I know what I'm
saying real good and know how
4 sounds. But I'm all right I feel
all right when look at It that
way ="
Max's eyes we're full OF terror.
Several times his body moved
nervously, as though he we're
about to 20 TO Bigger; but he
stood still.
I'm all right. Mr. Max. Just
&C and tell Ma was all right and
not to worry none. seel Tell her
! was all right and wasn't crying
none. 4"
Max's eyes were wet Slowly
he extended his hand. Bigger
shook H.
Goodbye. Bigger" he said
quietly.
Goodbye. Mr.. Max"
Max CROPPED for his hat like a
blind man; he found Il and jam
ned Il on HIS head. He felt for