Arkansas State press., 1943-07-23

III idpgeu, ignorant ana QunlD forever! Mr.. Mr.. Carter
Carter, | didn't want to look at the papers that week. |
felt ashamed. Everywhere pictures of colored men running
or lying IN the street. was ashamed and | was so mad |
think | was even sore at my boss Just because he was
white though God knows he always treated me fine. But
what are we going to do?'
This was a long speech for Henry Stanton. He took
off his bat to wipe his forehead glistening with prespira-
ton. Fer the first time realized that his hair was al
most white. had known him a long time.
The first thing we should do in my opinion is to in
crease the tempo and intensity our efforts to enter Ameri-
can industry as American citizens; to step up the fight
against lace discrimination and segregation wherever it
may be. This is no time to quit. We should utilize every
legal means = the public platform, the press, the radio,
the courts = to press our fight. We must attempt to
arouse public opinion - to show men like your boss who
really don't hate the Negro that he must do something,
for it is the apathy of men like your boss which makes
possible the triumph and rule of the mob.
We hear a lot about the Negro and the white giving
and taking. Giving and taking what? Colored America
is doing all the taking. Our aspirations are the aspirations
Of every American; a chance to work, to acquire skils, to
live in decent homes. AS Americans those are our rights.
II we ever abdlcate, if we compromise on these funda-
mental rights we are lost. We need not resort to violence
nor do we need to utilize fantastic and spectacular meth
DDS to impress America. Nor do we need to commit il
legal acts in the South where segregation is fixed by law.
But here in the North we must wage an %unending, UNI
compromising fight for our rights as citizens. If we fail
to do this then the Negro in the South and finally in the
North will occupy the status of parish forever. 1t was
a free North that doomed slavery in the South. The white
South has always known this. That is the reason it tries
so hard to spread racial segregation in the North. The
South knows that if segregation is checked and destroyed
1T tile ANVftH Its thu Ill the SOdlI Will W W q IRl9Sl VI
measurable time. Il is significant that no mobs attacked
NEGROES in those areas in Detroit where both whites and
eoored lived as %neiahbors, according to LIFE Magazine
I'M Ills brilliant picture commentary Of the riot.
"But, MI. Carter he said its growing here and the
South doesn't have to try SO hard to spread it" II know
was my reply, "but we have a chance, d fighting chance
to beat it, That's all we need, a fighting chance. The
dominant forces of the world have made the test for liberty
not whether you deserve it but whether you will fight for
it and die for it, and that is what we must be willing to
do. And you must not forget that there are powerful
forces on our side, Great Americans like Pearl S. Buck and
Thomas of the C. !. O. and many others and there will be
more - but most important Of all there is the spirit OF
the times sweeping the world, the spirit of freedom and
equality for all men,
chat sounds all right" he spoke deliberately. But
surprising a mob started today right here. What should
we do?" "n that case" was my reply there can be but
one answer. The whole history of the Anglo-SaXon world
has given us that answer. We must avoid trouble. we
must avoid the appearance of trouble. We must appeal to
the forces of law and order. But it has been written IN
English law with a pen dipped in the blood of Engllshmen
that every mans home is his castle and he shall defend
it to the death"
While | was speaking Henry was looking again at the
children tired from their play now quietly sitting on tne
odoe of the park. At last he spoke. 81 hope" he said, 1T
doesn't come to that here. But if it does, that's where they
"I IS -- ln~v-tnp