davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
BOOK NOTES
By
GERTRUDE scott MARTIN

Randolph Edmonds, author of
THE LAND OF COTTON AND
OTHER PLAYS ASSOCIATED Pub
fishers, Washington. d. c.; $325),
has to some extent forestalled criti-
cism Of his plays in his introduction
Mr.. Edmonds points out there that
in judging these plays one must
remember that Negroes for whom
they are designed are a beginning
audience and that the subleties Of
the metropolitan stage would escape
them. There is Of course much truth
in this contention but there is a
danger, too. Of over-Simplification
and writing down to the audience.
The great themes about which the
finest plays Of all time revolve are
universal in their appeal.
Mr.. Edmonds states that the Negro
playwright is a beginning play
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
BY

wright and that there will very
likely be no truly great playwrights
in our day and generation" He
forgets that the Negro playwright
is exposed TO the same culture
which makes for greatness in the
white playwright. There seems no
reason why this generation should
not produce a great Negro drama
tist. There is no Negro theatre"
unless one refers 70 PLAYS dealing
with Negroes as such, This is as
true in the theatre as In the field
OF literature. Richard Wright did
not write a Negro novel in Native
Son." he wrote novel about Ne
groes, but the same factors which
make any novel great made his
great.
There are five plays included In
this collection. The best by far is
the only three act one, Land OF
Cotton" It is a strong play telling
the struggle OF white and Negro
sharecroppers forming a union and
the opposition which they meet from
the plantation owners. "Gangsters
Over Harlem" and yellow Death"
are the best of the four one act
plays. The first Is a melodrama OF
the Harlem numbers racket; the
latter tells OF an incident in the
fight against yellow fever when a
colored regiment volunteered 10
help care for the sick.
The other plays. "Silas Brown"
and High Court OF Historic" can
be ranked in that order. High
Court OF Historic" pleads for the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
APOLLO PLAYERS HONOR
REV. AND MRS. BANKHEAD

The occasion brought back to the
Park one OF its favorite sons, in
the person Of Alvin Loving. direc-
tor Of the popular Apollo Players.
The group honored the couple with
the presentation OF skit, Sym
phony Of Degradation" starring
Miles Faison, author OF the play.
Miles captivated the audience with
his soothing baritone voice. Others
on the musical program were Min
ME Scott soprano, whose voice
grows sweeter by the day; the ever
popular Bryant trio. now growing
up are always pleasant to hear.
One OF the unique features Of the
evening was the presentation of two
silver trays filed with money. The
community tray Of cleaning silver
dollars was given by friends from
all walks of life in the Park. From
the City Hall, from members Of the
Board Of Education, the school room
the city employer. the friends along
the way and friends and leaders
from every community project. The
church tray was from the members
Of the church, small children, youth,
and adult were represented. The
presentation was made by Mrs. Pau
letta Powell.
The value OF the silver gifts runs
we'll into the four figures. Today as
we are nearing press time. tele-
grams and gifts still are coming.
God has spoken again and said:
Bless My children abundantly."
The guest list included: Mr.. and
Mrs. Booker Tubs, Mr.. and Mrs.
Buell. Brown, Mr.. and Mrs. VIM.
Bright, and Billy, NJ. L. Jacobs, II.
E. Daniel. Mr.. and Mrs. Charles
Randells. Stella Daughtrey. Mr.. and
Mrs. Walker G.. Gordon, Katie
Brooks. Eta Rye, Katie Booker,
Dista Johnson, Mr.. and Mrs. Bias
ingame, Mr.. and Mrs. F. Mack. E.
Merry, Mrs Fluker. Grace Taylor,
Mr. and Mrs. George Braden. Mr.
and Mrs. James Williams, Mrs. A.
N. Coleman, Mrs. J. Burton, Rev. II.
NJ. Carroll. from Scott. Mr.. and Mrs.
Robert Evans, the Rev. Mr.. john
son. from st. Luke A.M.E. church,
Robert McFarlsne, II. p. Presbyter-
ian church, Rev. VIM. r. Williams,
district superintendent, Mrs. Tum-
bleston, Mrs James Brown, Mrs.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
DETROIT MERRY-GO-ROUND
Dy TONY VANCE



tee headed by the Rev. Chas. Hill
has caused some comment The
resolution in reference to the Pack
ard strike after being presented and
seconded from the floor was re-
ferred to the committee on man.
power where it died and was lever
heard from. Noteworthy though this
was the only resolution referred to
a committee and the only one APP
pealing to all fair minded citizens
to condemn the dastardly situation
Of inequality Of opportunity for Ne
groes in war plants. Possibilities are
that it dealt with a specific wrong
and not generality and demanded
a fortnight stand on the part of all
the people OF the community.
Possibly it was not big enough
for the great minds 70 consider. The
suggestion Of a committee to inter-
view Weiss. Watts and Schwartz Of
the Packard plant fell on deaf ears,
the concensus Of opinion as ex-
pressed by Walter White was that
these men were not big enough;
they were just underlings. Hitler
too was once corporal and paper
hanger OF i'll repute.
X X X
ALBERT COBO, city treasurer,
who made the welcome address TO
the conference on behalf Of the city
OF Detroit, maintained his familiar
status-quo. After talking for fully
twenty minutes the only suggestion
or ADVICE to the seven hundred and
forty-three delegates attending the
conference was that Detroit was
not as beautiful as it had formerly
been and that while you are here
take time out and play. Like so
many other public officials he too
would put the banjo in the Negroes
hand and tell the other boys with
the ukelelees and mouth horns to
strike up hot tune.
* - *
GEORGE SCHUYLER, eminen,
author and writer who spoke on the
panel concerning the press. radio
and motion picture, when asked
concerning the betterment Of re-
ligious programs via the radio. lie,
himself in for some adverse criti-
cism when he replied in substance
that few less Of these kinds OF
programs would be better for al
concerned and adding that he sell
dom attended anyhow and thereby
could not serve as an authority or
that particular question. DR.. Chan
ming Tobias. when leading a dis
cussion on the religious panel wa:
confronted with the words Of his
friend as to whether they should be
condemned or not, bowed out grace
fully by saying that this type OF
individual makes fertile field FOR
the ministry.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12

Poll Tax now; we will beat Il, and
when II Is beaten we will marshal
our forces and tackle whatever new
device is created by those who be-
lieve in denying American citizens
their constitutional rights.
4; * X
HAVE SEEN CABIN IN THE
SKY" -. I am convinced that
this is no. the picture many Ne
groes had hoped il would be. Some
how we, GOT the idea that at last
there wasRcoming out OF Hollywood
a picture Which would portray Ne
groes In a favorable light. 80. A
picture in which Negro actors
would be permitted TO act normal
ly. Instead OF this, however. the
Negro again is brought before thea
tre-goers as church going hypo-
critic who praises the Lord and
passes the dice.
This concerns us very mach be-
cause moving pictures represent
such potent force in shaping at
titudes and selling ideas. :. Most
Of our pictures today are war pic
lures because Hollywood and our
government realizes the power OF
the screen. II is for this reason
that we want TO see picture which
portrays the finer qualities OF the
race. We realize that the Negro
easily adapts himself TO the comedy
role but we think there are stories
concerning Negro life and Negro
achievement which would be highly
entertaining and bring as good box
office returns as our Cabin In
The Sky" What do you think of
this picture?
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
EUNICE BUICK
HONORED ON NATAL

The home of Miss Buyck's par
ents on Kendall avenue was the
scene OF a pretty party arranged
by her sister, Carrie. last Saturday
The house was filled with. gay
young people, all having hilarious
time when the news was broken
to Eunice that the party was a sur
prise honoring her natal day. The
birthday colors were pink and
white. The guests. including the
honoree, were: Bernice Butler, Mary
Eta Johnson. Marjorie Bell. Lille
Belle Carrauth. Eunice Potter, Ed
ma Johnson, Phil Hinniger, Richard
Himmiger, Dewey Clark, John
Smith, Vincent Piles, Benjamin
Harrison Freeman, c. Bates. Celes-
tine Ford and escort Lucille Peter
son. Carrie and Ella Bell Buyck,
sisters of the honoree.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
We-, The
Negro
eY WILLIAM /. SHE RRilL,

TWENTY-THREE HUNDRED
NEGROES at the final session OF
the War Emergency Conference OF
the N.AA.CP. applauded when r.
J. Thomas. international president
OF the United Automobile Workers
tCIO) said,-"As long as Negroes
must pay as much for pork chops
as white workers. they should re-
ceive as much for a days work as
white workers" Louder applause
greeted the statement OF Congress
man Will Rogers that hundreds
Of thousands of white soldiers are
in deep resentment OF the discrimi-
nation, segregation and general
treatment OF Negro soldiers in the
Nations armed forces" Louder
still was the applause when Con-
gresham Will Rogers declared: III
we are 10 have democracy after
this war the democracy we are
figting for. we must back up our
WOIuS Will uCtuS vi hCiuONloNss
But the loudest applause Of
the afternoon greeted r. J. Thomas
when he shouted into the mike"
these sixteen words: The Negro is
just as proud OF his race as the
white man is OF his"
This applause was music 10 my
ears.-To hear $4,000 Negroes say by
their prolonged applause, "Yes, we
are proud Of ourselves" did my
very soul good.-For I know that
pride in ones self is the handspring
OF advancement. People who are
proud OF themselves. have faith in
themselves and their future. Peo-
pie who are proud do not cringe
nor bow but stand upright on their
hindlegs and challenge every force
which stands between them and
thair goals
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
Student Magazine
Published Va.

INSTITUTE, w. va.-The ls43
lion Of The Quill" magazine
Of original student writings, pub
lished to stimulate creative COM
position among the undergraduates
o, the West Virginia State college,
appeared during commencement
week.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12
THE PATIENT REMAINS SICK
EXCEPTION TO RULE LITTLE
HELP FOR SOUTHERNERS
NAA.C.P. IGNORES
CITIZENS COMMITTEE
CoBO SAYS NOTHING
TO GET RELIGION
NE PATIENT REMAINs SICK

THE SECOND SOCIETY OF
BRAIN-TRUSTERS have met in
Detroit and departed. Week before
last the National Negro Congress.
last week the N.A.A.C.P. and next
week the juvenile brain-trusters
will come to town, THE National
Youth Council" II would be inter-
esting to note whether or not these
brain-trusters will resent any con-
crete program to be adopted after
the conference to solve the prob
lem Of Equality OF Opportunity"
The prevailing features TO date have
been resolutions and protests, with
little or no line Of concrete direc-
ton. AS one gentleman from Geor-
gia stated on the floor of the MA.
A.C.P. conference, Lets not deal in
specific things in our statement to
the nation; lets deal in generalities.
l think when we say We are against
segregation and discrimination we
cover the entire subject" And so
the doctors who came to cure the
sick patient left only telling the
patient he was sick. We are aware
OF our ills. but as a race we need a
good doctor and In some cases
specialist, but to date, with a few
exceptions. we are still being told
by the doctor something we already
know.
X X X
SPECIAL ATTENTION should
be given 10 section two of the state
ment to the nation for it contains
the only concrete plans laid out for
the solving Of some Of the prob
lens presented to the Negro. Even
with the butchering it received at
the hands OF few Uncle Toms"
who had to return home with a
straight face to the white god, ii
still remains substantially strong.
This panel was prepared by Atty.
Earl B. Dickerson, formerly OF the
FEPC, and recommended by the
emergency conference 10 the Presi-
dent for reappointment; Atty. Theo-
dore Spaulding OF Philadelphia and
Atty. Walton OF Georgia. These men
are TO be congratulated. They
brought the remedy for the sick.
thus becoming the exception TO the
rule.
=. =. X
VARIOUS MEMBERS OF the
Southern contingent complained as
10 a lack OF information given as 10
their problems. stating: Some OF
the things stated here today for me
TO do at home would leave me
without words forever. Brother, IL
would And me dangling from tree.
With all sincerity, I say, the answers
we Of the South have received are
not complete, so when ! return and
my folk ask me what TO do, III tel
them again brother, pray and wait.
X K X
THE FAILURE of the NAA.CP.
20 recognize or honor a resolution
presented by the Citizens Commit
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12

nor special ones for whites. He is determined to
crush us all and to wipe every vestige Of our demo-
cratic system off the face of this earth. Those who
play into his hands traitors and they deserve
traitors fate
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-12

I SEE BY NEWSPAPER RE-
PORTS that on August 9 new law
will become effective in Texas
which will require Negroes to 60
to the rear OF the buses and whites
to 60 10 the front. thereby filling
the BUSES from opposite ends.
The bill is referred TO as the Racial
Peace Bill" II seems a pity
that while we attempt 10 break
down the barriers thrown up In the
world by one people against the
progress OF another. that Texas Is
so far out Of step she does not hesi-
tate to raise new barriers
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16
M The LOcuI Theate7:S

real drama, and interpreted by a superb cast.
 The first feature of the program is Joan Crawford with Philip Dorn, appearing in his first real starring romantic role, Reginald Owen and a host of other favorites in "Re- union in France" and the second feature brings host of stars head ed by Kathryn Grayson, Van Hef- lin and Marsha Hunt in Seven Sweethearts" a romantic comedy that is loaded with thrill, romance and comedy. A
 It is patriotic gesture these days to attend the Loew-Poli thea ter where the heating is done with soft coal, the only fuel that there is an abundance of and which, if you shut off the lights, turn down the heat and closeup the house, come downtown to the theater, you will be doing patriotic stunt, and at the same time saving valuable fuel, as the entire Poli theater, which can handle such large crowds can be heated for only small por- tion of the cost in fuel that homes can.
 So plan @ party - come on down to the theater, save fuel and light, have your morale given a boost and at the same time give yourself some entertainment.
 For the mid-week starting We'd nesday and playing also on Thurs day, one of the ever-popular, all- colored shows will be on tap for the lovers of stage shows and there are many In this section. This week, Count Basic brings to Waterbury his big stage show of colored per- formers and this will be one of the red-letter weeks in local stage an- nals, as the Count has one of the best shows he has ever had and promise is made that 1t will de- light all.
 On the screen for the mid-week change there will be the side-split- ting, uproarious comedy, The Great Gildersleeve,' featuring the same fellow who was such @ sensation with 'Fibber' McGee and Molly on the air, and he is twice as funny when you see him in action.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16
STRAND

Today 2 big first run hits opened their first Waterbury engagement on the screen of the popular Strand theater. Comprising this four day bill are "The Traitor Within" fea- turing Donald M. Barry and Jean Parker, and Riding Down the Can yon" with your singing cowboy fa- vorite, Roy Rogers, idol of young and old alike.
 In "The Traitor Within, Repub- lie Studios have tied World War Number One with the present con- flagration in a most striking man. ner.
 In its plot structure, the story Is really a unique one for 1t revolves around @ hero of struggle of 1913, denied recognition for his heroism, who receives belated glory through the efforts of his daughter and son. in-law.
 First rising to popularity with his magnificent portrayal in "Remem-
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16
STATE

Attractions concluding their en- agreements with performances this evening at Warmers State theater include "The Palm Beach Story" with Claudette Colbert, Joel McCrea and featuring Mary Astor and Rudy Vallee. The second hit of the cur rent show is Street of Chance" with Burgess Meredith and Claire Trevor.
 Starting tomorrow the State ushers in two-fisted, action-pacted picture entitled "Pittsburgh", a picture that deals intimately with the lives and loves of modern pio- neers who have grown up and pros pered together with Pennsylvanias great industrial metropolis.
 Marlene Dietrich, Randolph Scott and John Wayne are co-starred in the distinguished cast which features Frank Craven, Louise Allbritton and Shemp Howard. Important sup porting roles are carried by Thomas Gomez, Ludwig Stossel and Samuel s. Hinds.
 The. action of the story follows the careers of three people, 8 girl and two men, who struggle danger ously, face hardship valiantly and are eventually united by the war effort. Miss Dietrich has the role of the girl, miners daughter. Wayne and Scott appear as rivals for her attentions. Craven is seen as scientist and Miss Allbritton's assignment is that of a debutante.
 The romance, rivalry and adven- lures of the films principal charac- ters run closely parallel to the drama of the steel city itself and the cli- max of the story is declared to be ingeniously interwoven with the mighty swing-over to all-out war production.
 "Pittsburgh," is an unusually out standing film and should be seen by everyone. There are fights for TO- nance and fights for power before the climax is reached. The climax incidentally. is magnified by the in- dustrial switch-over to all-out war production following Pearl Harbor
 Give Out Sisters, a tuneful ro- mantle comedy starring the incom- parable Andrews Sisters is the sec ond big hit of tomorrow's new show. Grace Mcdonald, Charles Butter worth, Walter Catlett, Donald O'Connor, Peggy Ryan and the Jivin' Jacks and Jills support the famous trio.
 Coming Wednesday to the State is the hit you've been waiting for "Casablanca", Warner Brothers new triumph with Humphrey Bogart and 1ngrid Bergman in co-starring roles; also "The Busses Roar, feat uring Richard Travis and Julia Bishop.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16

other nations read about, and thrill at, as Q record of the past-feudal knighthood-they are reading about and thrilling at in the communiques of their own High Command every day, enbellished by specially trained authors-fo children. Their toys for seven years before the war have been miniature tanks, airplanes and guns that actually shoot, and though latest developments have robbed them of their more realistic toys, the insidious training, with card- board war games, has continued. Hitler Youth training, drilling and study used to be something which took place after school, extra cur- ricular activities. Now Hitler has decreed 1t shall be a part of the cur- riculunl: mornings must be given to studying the Nezi version of his- tory and other subjects, and after moons to Hitler Youth activity. If Q boy, is a good Hitler Youth, he passes, no matter what he knows about anything else. If he has not been good, vigorous Hitler Youth, he cannot even enter a secondary school, regardless of how intelligent he is or what talent he has. That is another decree of that year of progress, 1o41.
 These are the elements of Ger many who have not been affected by the Transition. They bear watching. If Hitler wins, they will become the gods, not only of Valhalla but of the rest of the world. They will be worse than the present gods. Hitler got most of his present Gestapo while 1t was on the verge of becoming adult, or after 1t became adult. These he has had from birth. If you think the present Gestapo is brutal, just wait until these little tykes-bred on insolence and on their innate superiority to all else in the world, and inspired by the great deeds of the "War of German Liberation" as it will be called-grow up and become the rulers of Victorious Ger many and the World. Tn sense, this is a war to stop little twelve year-old Hans and Fritz. We are fighting not so much for the present as for the future. If they win, woe betide, not us so much as our chil- dren
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16
BY DEE LOWRANCE (NEA Service Staff Correspondent

NNEA SerVlce Stan COrreSpOndent)
 Hollywood-The film city's biggest smash hit to date is the Hollywood Canteen.
 No other such colossal" commun- ity effort has ever before been con- ceived and carried out in Hollywood. It marks the first time that all branches of movie making from the loWliest to highest-have down. ed their separate jealousies and pitched in together.
 Bette Davis and John Garfield set the ball rolling. They wanted a Hollywood version of the famous Stage Door Canteen in New York In no time they had the active support of every guild and union in town. almost 50 organizations cov- ering all film workers from actors to carpenters, hairdressers to produc- CTS
 A lease was taken on an aban- doned night club. Studio construc- tion experts planned the rebuilding. Every union sent volunteer workers. SdA VOOAl1oIo uIlQ oSGIlC uGolS llGl painted murals. Manpower, mater ials and money flowed in. Soon the Hollywood Canteen was ready-now a $15000 building created at a to- tai cash cost of $200, which was un- derwritten by Cary Grant.
 Donations provided enough food to feed 400 men at a time at the snack bar Over 5000 men and wo- men signed up to work-either at entertaining, in the kitchen CT serv- ing the boys. Top directors, actors and producers turned out as bus boys.
 Shining stars played hostess or dance partners. Jean Cabin washed dishes every night for the first week, regularly thereafter. Mar lene Dietrich and Hedy Lamar vied at dishing out coffee and cakes. There's not star you can mention who hasn't done her turn dancing or helping to entertain.
 Now, after the first few months of the Canteen's life, 1t has been host to a quarter of a million en- listed men--but no officers. At Christmas Eddie Cantor played 5000 of which he provided himself.
 Name bands play there every night and Kay Kyser has led his band there regularly, including New
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16

Der Pearl Harbor", a recent hit, Donald Barry, in "The Traitor With in" gives another performance that will finger long in the memory of moviegoers. Leading lady of the drama is lovely Jean Parker, an es- tablished favorite with millions of fans. In the galaxy of supporting players such names as Ralph Mor- gan, Bradley Page, Jessica New comher and Dick Vessel stand out.
 The second exciting hit is the Western Thriller Bidding Down The Canyon with Roy Rogers perform ing new exploits, getting into TO- mantle difficulties and singing some of the latest song hits.
 Enjoy your patriotism at the
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16
"WOMEN AT ARMS"

"Women At Arms" second of the new RKO Radio series of two-reel factuals "This Is America" produc- ed by Frederic Ullman, Jr., will have it's world premiere at the Radio City Music hall soon. It deals with the womens side in Americas war ef- fort. Picture shows what women are doing in the munitions factories, aircraft plants and in various other ways to help win the war.
The Waterbury Democrat., 1943-01-16

I neglected 1t, because one no longer sees much of it. in Berlin. Most of the little boys and girls have been shipped off to nice boys and girls towns in Eastern Germany to get them out of the afraid areas. Hitler is very particular about them.
 They are not disappointed with Nazism. Hitler has done well by them, materially and psychologist