The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-30

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Joseph Gross as the nrst Negro
Scout field executive in the history
OF scouting in Detroit.
Detroit hailed Negro paratroopers
at jumping exhibition at Middle
Belt Air Field.
O'Brien Elected Prosecutor
Gerald X. O'Brien was nominated
10 run on the Democratic ticket for
Wayne county prosecutor in the
/ primaries. Sen. Charles c. Digs
defeated for a fifth term. Robert
l.. Ward was the only Negro to win
nomination in the primaries.
The Michigan Chronicle spon-
sored the first Negro Music Fes-
tivsl in Detroit. Mr.. and Mrs.
Clement Mills, directors, were re-
sponsible for bringing Detroit .
treat in the form OF national en-
tertainers and some truly fine anna
teur musicians.
Roosevelt Nominated
The Democrats met in Chicago
and nominated Franklin D. Roose-
welt for President but dropped Vice
President Wallace for Sen. Harry S.
Truman. The Negroes throughout
the nation hailed Roosevelt but
mourned the loss of Wallace.
Tragedy struck in the last days Of
July when $50 Negro sailors lost
their lives in an explosion of am
munition at the Port Chicago Naval
Station in California. Three Detroit
youths were lost in this. the great
est tragedy Of the war in the con-
tinental United States.
Mai. Roberts in Detroit
TIVE y-five-year-old Major
George S. Roberts of the Goth Pur-
suit Squadron visited Detroit in the
closing days OF July as the guest Of
the UAW-CIO.
August opened with victory for
Detroit Negroes in the field of civil
rights when Miss Otha Kirk won
the second discrimination case in
five years. receiving a judgment
against the Old Colony Bar. a local
restaurant.
Philadelphia Strike
Race strife flared up in Phila-
delphia when white motormen of
the Philadelphia Transit Company
struck because Of the upgrading OF
Negroes to the positions Of con-
ductors and motormen. President
Roosevelt interviewed through the
army and upheld the upgrading
decision.
Back in Detroit, two sisters work.
ing as office girls for Dr. Henry
Nuttal embezzled $4,000 from him.
Fair Trial?
In September Governor Kelley
denied an extradition stay to Bon
ME Morrow. as governors legal aid
declared that he was sure that Nor
row would get fair trial in Mis-
sissippi.
In the field OF education, Sep
TENDER made its mark as Mrs. Beu-
lah Cain Brewer was appointed
assistant principal OF the Higgen-
botham school, thus becoming the
first Negro assistant principal in
Detroit
No Strike Maintained
Meanwhile, the UAW-CIO, in its
annual convention in Grand Rapids,
voted to continue the no-strike
pledge and to uphold racial soil
darity. Shelton Tapes, recording
secretary of local 800, was nomi-
mated for international vice presi-
dent, but declined the offer.
The month of September closed
with q direct slap in the face to
Negro housing as the Detroit Hous-
ing Commission in Fear" de-
cision defeated an effort TO place
units of Negro housing south Of the
Sojourner Truth site.
Digs Jailed
Because OF a mixup in legal pro-
cedure, Sen. Charles c. Digs was
jailed by Judge John Simpson of
Jackson as October rolled around.
In Detroit, DR.. Ossian Sweet was
sued for divorce by his third wife.
No Jim-Crow Rest Centers
On the national scene President
Roosevelt vetoed the army plans
to set up jim-crow rest centers for
returned Negro veterans.
Digs was released on October Is,
1914.
To aid in the overall housing
shortage in Detroit, the Watson
Realty Company bought 81 SOC, 900
subdivision in Southwest Detroit.
Two weeks later one Of the houses
at 35l6 Bassett was burned by
hoodlums hired by a member OF
the Detroit police department.
Willkie Dies
The death of Wendell Willkie in
October shocked and grieved the
Negroes of the nation.
Action on Negro housing came
at last 10 long suffering popula-
ton when work on new housing
project at Eight Mile road and
| Wyoming was announced.
| Watson, Roxborough Lose Appeal
With the news that Mrs Lillian
Hatcher had been appointed TO the
War Policy Division of the JAW,
il was learned that John Roxbor-
ough and Everett Watson had lost
their appeals 10 the United States
Supreme Court.
AS the presidential campaign
swung into its last weeks. the
Navy Department announced that
the WAVES and SPARS had been
opened to Negro women.
I November was an exciting month
with Roosevelt elected for a fourth
term and home rule for Wayne
county was defeated once again. On
the local scene DR.. William Peck
died, there was a hate strike at
the Packard Motor Company over
the upgrading Of Negroes and the
Michigan Chronicle exposed the
shameful conditions OF the emer-
gency shelter for Negroes in the
city OF Detroit.
Crosse lie Objects
In December the highlights OF
the news were the Imprisonment
Of Roxborough and Watson. the
death OF Mrs. Ardensh Stephans
and the fight on the part OF resi-
dents OF Crosse lie 10 keep Ne
groes from using Sugar Island as
recreation spot
Dearborn stirred up hate 10 keep