The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-03-20
War Aide In
Talk Sunday
On War,Race
BY LARRY CHISM

Wherever there are. American
soldiers there are American Negro
soldiers and wherever there are
American Negro soldiers there are
Negro officers, Attorney Truman
X Gibson, acting aide to War De-
partment. said on Sunday at St
Antoine "Y" forum.
Questioned by this reporter as to
show do you account for the fact
that in all the news releases there
has been no mention made con-
corning the activities Of Negro
troops in various combat areas?"
Gibson gave very unsatisfactory
reply by saying that dailies white,
ignore the information contained
in news releases concerning Negro
troops
However, IL Is known that Negro
newspapers are given weekly re-
leases by various War department
branches Of news concerning and
Of interest to Negroes. This fact
Of the lack OF information con-
corning the activities of Negro
troops is in conflict with Gibson's
remark concerning the presence Of
Negro troops along with white
troops in the theatres OF war.
Gibson spoke on the subject:
The Development in Army Train
ing as it affects Negroes
Truman K Gibson who replaced
Judge HASTE. who recently re-
signed as Civilian Aide TO War
Department. said among. other
things: This is not war for racial
supremacy. but a war Of conflicting
ideologies"
A great many have misunder-
stood our interest in the war, which
are: participation in army. navy.
air force and the assembly line"
He added that Negroes are psrtici-
pating In all branches OF the army.
1t is not enough" Gibson said.
Ito get Negroes into defense plants
or the army or the air ferce. but
We must realize continually the
obligations enforced upon US,
Problems or Army
Problems OF the Negro In the
army were divided into three
classes. as: N) Responsibility OF
the soldier to the army and race;
C2) Responsibility Of citizen 10
soldier and race. and ~ Respon-
sibility OF army 10 soldier and 10
the race.
He disclosed that there were APP
proximately 100000 Negroes now in
the armed services and that army
training was open 10 all soldiers,
regardless OF race. creed or color"
Commenting on the occurrences
Of clashes among Negro soldiers in
said: The army is generally aware
OF the treatment OF Negro soldiers
in the South They Cthe army has
done a great deal OF thinking about
the transportation in the South"
To remedy this unfortunate cir
cumstance. Gibson declared that a
change OF the Constitution Of the
United States is needed 10 bring
about a change OF jim-crowism re-
garding Negroes in the army and
the transportation problem"
He said there was a decrease OF
occurrences in the disturbances in
Nolving Negroes.
S Speaker Explains Setup
The army" Gibson said is in
terested in the physical and mental
welfare Of the soldier"
All notions of racism al home
must be defeated" he declared
1--WE must be better production
workers. better soldiers and better
supporters on the home front This
is the Negroes war" he added.
The speaker was introduced by
Attorney Joseph A. Craigen, fol
lowing remarks made by G James
Fleming. Detroit Office FEPC.
Gibson was presented by Kappa
Alpha Psi fraternity as main speak
er on the 81. Antoine ~" Forum
Series on Sunday. March Ia.
On March Il, next Sunday. DR..
Claiming II. Tobias. senior secrc-
tary OF Colored Mems Department.
Y.MC.A.. will speak on the sub
ject: The Rock Of Ages Our Only