The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-15
THE FACTS
M OUR NEWS

1T Is EDUCATIONAL TO CAM
PAIGN-For the last month, your
correspondent has been busy cam
paigning 10 be nominated on the
Democratic ticket for the United
States Congress. At the writing of
this column, the results OF that cam
paign are not known. The results
OF the campaign do not matter too
much. What has been gained by
your correspondent is tremendously
important
The Negro people In Detroit are
very eager for organization that
will permit them to act in their own
behalf. In trying to set up precinct
organizations for getting out the
vote, il was very revealing how
eager the people are for a task to
do. In organizing some 70 precincts,
people volunteered from all walks
Of life TO take over the responsible
ity OF convincing their neighbors to
vote on primary day. They were
not concerned about approaching
the task from the negative point OF
view, that is, to spend their time
vilifying and criticizing somebody
else. They wanted the opportunity
20 work in positive way for
program. and with individuals who
would pledge themselves to carry
that program out.
II is impossible to perfect an or
ganization of the size necessary to
cover the First Congressional Dis
trict. in a few weeks. II is possible
however, TO have an effective pre-
cinct and neighborhood organiza-
ton, that can get results for the
people in the district. The natural
leadership among the people, is sur
priSing, and in many instances,
amazing The ability to influence
the thinking and action OF ones
nei ghbor, is good sign OF leader
ship. AS your correspondent moved
through this district, inhabited for
the most part by working people,
he found there. more common sense,
backed up by the will to exercise
that common sense, than has been
displayed by many Of our top
leadership
The people understand the issues
much more clearly than many peo-
pie give them credit for UNDER
standing. They understand that the
working people of community
must cooperate, IL they are TO en-
hance their position to any appre-
ciable degree. The common people
mean cooperation however. They
do not want somebody handing
Il EN- down program. and saying
that this is labor'S program. because
We planned it for you Coopera-
ton is a reciprocal thing in the
minds OF the common people. The |
reciprocal idea in cooperation. is
becoming much more meaningful
among the masses Of PEOPLE. than
| have ever dreamed was true Es-
pecially is this true OF the Negro
masses. They ask point-blankly. .
IF there is going to be a labor
program. why not let those of us
who labor have something TO say
about it, because if we have some
thing 10 say about it, it may be more
nearly program which we can
understand
In such thinking on the part of |
the masses, may be the key to the
Negro leadership's right to lead. |
Today we are about 10 have SUPER |
imposed upon the Negro masses. a
little dictatorial group, who call
themselves Labor Leaders be- |
cause they have been successful in
securing an appointment by some |
top labor official. These people use |
this little appointment TO frighten a
whole lot of other people who hope !
to get an appointment into utterly 7
untenable positions as far as the 1
Negro masses are concerned. The /
Negro masses do not want 10 come |
TO the place where they can't re-
spect the leadership Of the Negroes
in labor But, the Negro masses /
are willing TO disregard the words
of Negro leadership in labor, UNI
less. these Negro labor leaders come
to the point where they can under
stand something OF the thinking and
feeling OF the Negro masses.
This experience of mine in this
campaign, shows how easily Negro
leadership can lose its following,
by listening TO the voice Of some
disinterested and self-centered
white man who lives on the other
side Of town.
II one is concerned about the
devotion Of the masses. TO a pro-
gram for their betterment all he
has TO do, is 70 work among them
He won't get the impression Of their
devotion, very clearly. if he works
~ l.,,. \ L.. L..
ly impressed il he works with them.
There is no sacrifice too great for
the masses OF Negroes 10 make for
their own advancement, and they
will make it, il properly worked
with. But, the Negro masses are
like all people, who have sense OF
self-respect, self-dignity. and self
determination; they do not want
some one else TO be pulling the
strings and have them jump.