The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-08-21

grows out OF human equality. lou
understand that there are millions
of people in the world who are los
ing hope. For il America. the
great, the good. treats its dark citi-
zens less kindly than its white.
what hope have they? What is
left for them TO do except to pre-
pare themselves for war and fight
for themselves?
Well. one may say. let this be
so. The white man has had his
day, and now let the colored man
have his.
To this can only answer that
freedom and equality are the pre-
cious things and that these would
still be lost II does not matter,
from the viewpoint OF aeons OF
history. which is uppermost. COL
o-ed or white. But Il matters 20
the very bottom Of life whether
or not the trend of our hope IS
toward freedom and equality o.
away from il. do not care whether
colored or white rules-in ruler
il is only the individual that mat
ters. II there is not 10 be freedom
anyway.
Between a kindly coiored ruler
ard an unkind white one. | shou d
choose the kind man for my own
life. But whichever II was. II
would make no fundamental differ
ence to the world, II there were
not 70 be the freedom Of human
equality. il ruler and subject were
% be the relationship between in
dviduals.
But today we have not reached
that point. We are in the midst Of
struggle. in the hour OF change,
when by determined and unwesry-
Ing action for freedom We can still
shape the world toward freedom.
We ought so 70 act that all We do
IS designed 10 break down that
witch denies equality and torb.ds
freedom.
Do not yield then for ore mo-
nent 20 anything in our national
lie which denies democracy Press
steadily for human equality, not
onlv for yourselves but for all those
groups who are not given equality.
Il is as important for you to care
that justice is given 10 Jew as
II is 10 fight FOR II yourself II is
the principle that must be estsb-
lished for all OF Us, or none Of US
Will have Il.
You will ask me, how can this
be done?
Well, the spirit in which Il Is done
is the first thing. I should like
70 see colored Americans show their
belief in human squaIty as q prin.
ciple by making II apply to others
beyond themselves. The fght among
Discrimination in this country. for
examine. would have added force
Il the colored people would show
some interest in the way other
people. also coiored. are being
treated. ! should Ike 70 have
coiored opinion express itself Gear
" on the matter, for example. o.
Chinese immigration into this coun-
Try. China is our great and brave
ally--we are her ally. rather. for
i is she who has fougn; the war
thus far. and we have done very
,,:tle even 10 aid her. ! should
Ike 70 see colored Americans take
a leading part in modifying, for
example. our very discriminatory
immigration laws which forbid a
quota 70 Chinese immigration. Now
Of all times would be the time,
when China IS so sore!y pressed by
our common enemy. for America
70 come forward with an act which
proves 20 Chinese that we are de-
term.ned TO give up race prejudice
as a motive for our actions.
should like 10 see colored Amer
leans press for more aid 10 China
in planes and war materials. We
have given China few oid-fashioned
planes from which we even re-
moved ne radios az the last mo-
ment. We are talking OF sending
a few more Tha: is all we have
done. Yet China is trying 20 go on
trusting us as an ally. Il is no.
easy. II is less easy. ! can tel
you. when she observes the segre-
CATION in our army and navy and
al. forces. II is inevitable tina;
she concludes that America will
aclp .he white people will all Of
our force. as we are now helpjns
England, BIZ. tina. America will 20.
help China because she is not white
! cannot deny. when I am pressed
by Chinese questions. that this. is
true. at least in is practical effect.
and say /; with anger and sor-
row. I should like 80 be able 10
tell my Chinese friends that Amer
leans are not like that. But cam
not.
And 7 should Ike 70 ask you 20
take a deep interest in India. who
has been so unjustly treated in our
p.eSs ana by our radio commenta-
tors and column.StS. With what
childish arrogance these men in
:he.r ignorance OF history ana their
complete iSnogance OF India have
dared 10 criticize ard 20 judge India
IT this time when after years Of
patient effort. she has again been
denied freedom. You ought -
know OF India. and for our coun-
try's sake you ought 10 le. India
know that there are Americans who
understand her poirt Of view and
who sympa,h.ze with her desire for
freedom and her-wish 10 work ont
her own problems OF national unity
And what do you know OF Korea.
that people long subject TO the niili-
tary rule " Japan and now longing
Tor their freedom. and what OF .he
people OF lndonesia? For Americas
s1ke Nou mus. mind .he igparanrc