The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-29

tbs pm, over station wJLB, and
know that these speeches are con-
tinually insisting that Negroes must
have full citizenship rights II we
are ever TO have q world OF Justice
and peace.
Many OF the leaders Of the Ne
gro community receive ESP LABOR
COMMENT" published monthly
by the Socialist party OF Michigan
and distributed to hundreds of
trade unionists, both Negro and
white. In the last issue of this pub
LEGATION we minced no words on the
problem of equality for Negroes.
Just to show you that we don't say
one thing to Negroes. and then say
another thing to white trade union
lists who may not agree with what
we say to Negroes. want to re-
produce our front page. lead article,
from the most recent issue OF SIP
LABOR COMMENT, the article
headed: some PLAIN SPEAK
ING ON LABOR'S RACE STAND
TODAY" Here Is the article, and
on its position we take our stand:
The racial tension in Detroit calls
for some plain speaking. The CLIO
has always recognized that 4, could
not organize the mass production
industries without taking in every
worker regardless Of his race. This
policy has built new set OF atti-
tudes among the mass OF Negro and
white workers. They nsed TO be
suspicious OF each other, unwilling
to mix at all. Now. the older work
ers Of both races, who went through
the organizing stage OF the unions.
have a friendly attitude toward
each other.
But new workers are entering
the factories and bringing their
prejudices with them. As a result
in come factories we have witnessed
strikes when Negro workers were
put onto jobs, and there is 4 strong
resistance 10 opening housing prof.
ects to ALL workers.
Unionists must review their stand
on the race problem and mist re-
solve 10 carry on in the tradition
established by 'he Go. The Clio
has won the enthusiastic support
of Negro America for is valiant
championing OF their economic
rights. Il must continue to fght for
Negroes rights II 1t is to continue
to hold their loyalty.
Negroes today are concerned
shout much more than Just the eco
nomic situation thay are In, and
they insist upon being treated hk,
ordinary hrman 6oi1OH, . pRuan
whose mdivtdual abilites and &C
complishments detsrmina now the.
are treated. Uniooists, who struggle
30 hard for . bit Of human dignit
on the Job, must know, deep Il
their hearts, that the aspirations o
their Negro brothers and sister
are natural and Just
Our white unionists cast asid
many prejudices when they tool
Negro workers into the uniform
and worked with them on pickle
lines and committees. They vii
have TO cast aside some more preju
dices II they are TO continue soinl
in the same democratic direction.
They must recognize that il i
| netting but prejudice that prevent
Negroes and whites from eating ii
the same restaurants. using TIT
same hotels and toilets and swim
ming pools and YMCAs. II is nothinI
but prejudice that argues tia
Il Is undesirable 70 have a Negr'
family for a neighbor in housin;
project or in a residential neigh
borhood. Since these items are
the products OF prejudice. union
ISIS mus, employ the same amour
| O. energy breaking them down .
was used 10 break the prejudice tia
Negroes could not Join unions o
hold Office in them.