The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-04-03
Press



eyed monster. race prejudice. the
latter being a disease that las
spread through the whole BODY of
humanity and is contrary to all
the teachings and convictions of
Christianity. science. democracy and
common sense. Many of the enlisted
men In regiments now stationed in
the South Sea Islands have told
this chaplain that wkite commits.
stoned officers said that they would
rather see the axis win this war
II the allies winning meant tina,
Negroes would have equal rights
with the white man.
I'VE. did not believe II unit, we
heard 1t witk our own ears. some
OF the same statements coming from
these white officers. OF course we
were very much surprised and
aghast at hearing such. We spoke
out against the many sinjustices
heaped upon the Negro soldiers
overseas and that is one reason
why we we're sent back TO the
U.S.A. The war department al
Washington knows about all these
bad conditions existing among the
Negro soldiers overseas and es-
pecially in this regiment. and II
is hoped that something will be done
concerning the same in the very
near future.
I'VE believe that il is not the sec.
ton OF the U. S white man comes
from that makes him an unjus,
or a prejudiced person. but II is in
the man himself. Two OF tie most
prejudiced and unfair white COM
missiored officers that we have ever
known, and who we're the Negroes
most deadly enemies in the armed
forces. were in regiment in which
we served were from Boston and
Brooklyn. We have never seen two
white men out OF Alabama or Mis-
sissippi who were such great enc
mics TO the Negro soldiers, and they
were bott adjutants in this par
tcular regiment The one from
Boston told this chaplain, that a
Negro soldier in the army had no
appeal whatsoever from the deci.
sions Of his commanding officer in
rc2ar', 10 race rights. however un-
Just the decisions might be Can
anyone imagine such stupid and
ssiuine statement coming from any
sensible person?
The white officer from Brook
lyn was very often seen shopping
around the chsplalns tent al night
whenever any OF the enlisted men
called on the chaplain in order tha,
ne miSh, hear just wha, VAS being
talked about inside the tent On
several occasions he was caught
doing this very thing by the en-
listed men who walked around Tie
chaolain's tent
Now note the contrast OF this
Boston and Brooklyn aajG.aa. 10
that OF a command ne officer OF
certain Negro uuit ~ Fo.t DIX,
N j.. who always reads the Negro
ncwsps pers every week He is from
Mississippi and tod this chaplain
OF one occasion ;ha. IN. Negro
y ,ss is right in speaking out against
the cruel and abusive treatment OF
Negro soldiers in the army at the
present time. II white commanding
officers would read tie Negro news
papers every week as dc and try
10 understand the Negro better.
they would certainly be more SYM
pathetic toward the Negro ,l7ier's
condition and would treat them
much better. Any white man who
reali. knows the Negro as he real
~ is. will never mistreat him.
This same commanding officer
told the chaplain that Mr., Pra,,is
OF the Pittsburgh Courier was one
OF his best friends and is one OF
the fines; colored men that re has
ever known. This officer reads the
Negro newspapers every week He
has eight more years 20 serve Ne.
fore his retirement. and he said
that after tina. time he intends 20
60 back 10 Mississippi and devote
the remainder OF It's life trying %
make conditions much better for
Negroes. This chaplain has never
heard any officer from Masss-
chusettS New York or any other
northern state make any such state
ment concerning Negroes
"At the same time. the 'rmy is
ruined with handkerchiet-head non
commissioned officers wko viii bow
the knee 20 Baal and sell .he.r race
down the river 10 any and all
prejudiccd commanding officers jus,
for a promotion. We have found
thi, trouble in every regimen, We
have served Many white officers
still like ts,tle;ales and stooges IN
their regiments and somehow this
type OF soldier is made non-com-
mssioned officer regardless OF his
ignorance, stupidity. AID ,nefhclen.