The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-08
Gerald Smith, Rev. Hill Debate LangstOn Hughes Issue
SMITH CALLS
HUGHES RED;
HILL LAUGHS
Goodbye Christ Poem
Controversy Still
Raging

Raging
Declaring that LsnGSton Hughes
L. doing more good t1r our ooun-
Try as wcil ss tho church by point
ine on; their hypocraoy taan you
sre willing - give him o.eoI: for, -
the Rev. Charles c Hil pastor OF
Hartford AveF-ile- Bap.&t- church
and chairman o, the Citizens Com
nlitiee OF Detroit dashed oat 81
Gerald L. X Smith who wrote Rev
Hill ard enclosed a copy Of the
poem Good Bye Christ" followin
Hughes appearance al Wayne uni.
verSty where the famed poet was
picketed by followers OF Smith.
Printed below are aitti,s-ieiteF
and Rev. HILLS answer.
Copy OF letter from Gerald L x.
Smith 20 Rev Charles A Hill in
answer 10 his Lesser Of April 20.
1913;
April %. le43
Rev. Charles A. HI,
Hartford Avenue Baptist Church
Detroit. Michigan
Dear Rev. HILL.
I enclose herewith a memo on
I.argston Hughes, which VIII estao-
lish the fact that he is not only a
Communist but has been one OF
the most aggressive promoters OF
Communism. The color OF his skin
has nothing 10 do with my opinion
OF him.
II YOU. as q minister Of the Cos
pei. can make anything good out OF
that poem. Goodbye Christ then
you have developed technique
in mental gymnastics which is alto
gether foreign 10 my poor capacity
20 grasp.
You seem 10 be wholly unen-
lighteped on the Louisiana situa-
ton. because under the leadership
OF Huey Long and myself the poll
tax was abolished in Louisiana
louisiana is the only state in the
SeatA-wheFe- school
books arc provided for Negro chill
dren. We were SO far ahead OF the
average leader in Louisiana that
Senator Bilbo at one time made a
speech in which he said, concern
ing Huey Long and myself, We
must run these niger lovers out
Of the South"
II Ia very easy for bootlicking
politicians and patronizers OF the
Negro to flatter the Negro race in
Detroit because that b considered
smart politics. but Il was never con-
sidered good politics to b . friend
Of the Negro in Louisiana. No stu
dent OF Louisiana politics will ques-
ton the fact that Huey Long and
stuck our political necks out farther
for the Negro in Louisiana than any
other two men in public life.
II you desire TO follow Langston
Hughes as a Communist politician
that's your privilege. but unless
you have a congregation Of Chris
tians different from any group
ever saw. you will have difficult
time explaining your admiration
for q man who justices an expires
sion such as this: Make way for q
new guy with no religion at all"
Sincerely. yours.
(Signed) GERALD L. K. SMITH
Gerald l. K. Smith
Box 459
Detroit Michigan
Dear Sir:
Your letter OF April IS enclosing
Lam ston Hughes poem, Goodbye
Christ" received ] note that you
stated that he addressed 1900 Wayne
university students in. the audi.
torium OF the university. ! think
that IL you had taken the time to
find ost the reason why Langston
Hughes wrote tina; poem you would
find that he was expressing the
feeling Of most Negroes toward
white Christianity as '7plsyed
every day.
do not believe that Langston
Hughes is any more Of Communist
than you are. In fact, | am COM
PEELED 10 believe that he is doing
more good for our country as well
as the church by pointing out their
hypocracy. than you are willing
20 give him credit for. Being a Ne
gro preacher. I do not feel thai
Langston Hughes. because OF his
poem, Is blasting Christ. OF course
many Of the leaders of our country
today, either by their silence oil
under cover methods, are support
ing discrimination, sc sregation. and
Jim Crowism against Negro people
because OF their color. ! have never
heard you or any other Of our sup
posed reformers. condemn this dual
citizenship, and dual Christianity.
The war we are now engaged in
IS supposed 70 be for the four free.
doms. but do not believe that YOU
nor any Of the others are willing
20 insist that these four freedom:
include the Negro al home as well
es the colored races throughout The
world. While in Louisiana with
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