davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02

Judge the mutny sentences.
Ten of the defendants got IS years in prison;
"a were given IL years; IL received 10 years; and
FIVE got eight years.
Although Rear Admiral Carlton II. Wright,
eommandant of the Twelfth naval district tries
to make it appear that these sentences are re-
duced from what they should have been. it is
reported here that some veteran naval officers
are shocked at the severity of the punishment
All of the men were charged with refusing to
load ammunition ships at Port Chicago. They
are all survivors of the fatal Port Chicago ex-
plosion last summer in which more than ESQ
Negro sailors were blown to bits. These defend
ants denied at the trial that they had dsobeyed
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
Insurance Companies
Pledge Price Control

Observation-Disclosures mem.
bers Of the National Negro Insur-
ance association. representing
three and one half million policy
holders in Is states, not Snly
pledged continued support to price
control. rent control and rstionins.
bat outlined specific steps its Anti
Initiation committee will take TO
distribute information on these
programs TO the public, at a meet
ing last week with top OPA off,
Gals in the agency's Washington
headquarters.
From the report OF D. c. Chand-
Ter. national chairman Of the asso-
cations Naturalization committee.
which is going into its second year
as one of the national organiza-
tons IN most active support OF
OPA programs, the following pro-
gram was outlined for next year:
The Program
!. A district speakers bureau in
each district TO furnish speakers
for clubs. church groups and other
meetings.
2 Wherever possible local key
insurance Representatives viii be-
come actively identified with ra-
ton boards. il possible on price
ana community service panels.
3. Authorization committeeman
Will cooperate with OPA District
Offices and local War Price and
Rationing boards in distributing
Information concerning ration and
price control programs direct to
homes.
Z. Organization OF consumer
Spst-of-living committees 20 edu-
cate the public 10 intelligent CO.
operation with the Governments
rstioning and price control pro-
grams.
Creation OF a Public Informal
ION Campaign committee. headed
by Authorization Committee Sec
rotary q. Norman Branch. Wash
ington. ID. c., to have member
companies house organs carry
slogans and put out literature
aimed al keeping down the cost
Of living.
6 Mobilization Of all representa-
tives and Home and District Offices
and other individuals for direct
action TO check initiation.
One important result Of the
meeting was that individual letters
will be sent from the national
OPA in Wash ngton To each VI the
egional Authorization committee
hairmen. with copies to regional
ma district OPA Offices. Identity
ng the insurance men as active
volunteer participants in the OPA
--~---- 49, asklns thu oPA
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
STATUS OF SOUTHERN
NEGRO IMPROVED

This tendency poses problem
OF grave Importance for the South
and for the nation. The status OF
the southern Negro has improved
enormously during the past fifty
years 1t is reasonable 10 assume
that his status will continue to i'm
prove il the white man realizes
tas he has SO often done) that he
has sinned against the Negro, and
equally important-if the Negrs
realized that he himself has no,
always been free from SHINING. He
Is not despite the sentimentalists
. black saint In overalls. any more
than the white man Is q devil in
a Sears. Roebuck suit.
Yet when this has been said, She
fact remains that since the whites
are the masters Of their community,
and Negroes can effectively express
their RESENTMENT over their grew
ances only by leaving the COM
munity, . positive program must
be offered by the whites If they
want Negroes to stay In the South.
II Is certain that they cannot retain
Negroes entirely upon white terms;
that over many areas Of discomfort
they must make mutually salts
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
LIBERTY Southern Style

A Nation subscriber in Florida
passes on IA us an anonymous
handful he found in his mail box.
which maintains that Northern ssi-
tators "antasonize the black race
against the white, until the South
ern Negro is losing the only real
friend he ever had-the Southern
white man. The Thirteenth,
Fourteenth. and Fifteenth Amend
ments 70 the federal Constitution.
showed down the throat o, de-
feated and helpless South after the
War between the States. are to be
literally enforced While our
boys fight all over the world for
liberty. We lose il at home.
The Nation
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02

II was never difficult 20 find good
-lads .ags run -whitesl- -fne
apartments or fats for my colored
troops. either in London or in the
provinces. First-rate restaurants
around Piccadilly Circus and Lies
ter Square welcomed them.
They were stared al, but win
admiration. often saw colored
Americans in theatre boxes In Lon
don accompa panied by beautiful Eng
lish women. They were always IN
evening dress and one could see
that they we're enjoying equal
social status.
| sponsored the first Hawaiian
troupe ever seen on London stage
and the English nearly moooed It's
members with attentions and gifts.
went about with a d gnified Maori
from New Zealand and was amazed
o. the way the English sought nus
company. He was as dark as any
colorcd man.
There was a high class Chinese
restaurant in the fashionable west
End o, London that was always
as colorful as spots IN the Orient
In a single night have seen dining
there along with the whites-Turks.
japanese, Chinese, dark Egyptians.
Africans. coiorcd Americans West
Indians and Brazilians.
Mixed Couple Dance
Many were dining with their
English friends Others were seated
oil over the three floors of this
restaurant. On the main floor mixed
couples danced. No American
would have the temerity to pro-
test.
Men Of almost every dark race
on earth lived with their white
wives and half-caStc children in
London. in comparative peace and
safety. In every seaport town IN
England we're TO be found the coll
ored American and his English
family.
The American hates everybody
but himself He even hates ana
fights with his English cousins
when he is on their soil. ! used
20 be ashamed that ! belonged 10
their breed. was OF them. but not
with them when | was abroad.
Leslie's Blackbirds
I have never seen a show 20
over bigger in London than Lew
Leslie's Blackbirds at the Coli
scum. They pancked that white
audience. Our Valada Snow show
was adored and idolzed. The
Blackbirds PLAYED a special ar
rangement Of Rhapsody in Blue,
under the rhinestone baton of Va
lada that made the cold English
Jump 10 their feet.
How can white people 60 wild
with Joy and enthusiasm over such
artists across the footlights. and
then repudiate them when they sit
ut the next table midnight sup
per? II beats me. The English for
the most part did not.
Paul Robeson's social prestige
and Duke Ellington's overwhelm-
ing popularity in London are wei!
known. and il was not the Ameri-
can brand Of II like you in your
place"
Held Up Once
The Mackey Twins, colored
dancers. went every where with me.
Only once was l held up BY .
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02

are angry over the trial and
conviction, but here in San
Francisco they are more angry
than elsewhere because this is
q Navy" town, the "mutiny"
happened just across the bay,
and the town is in possession
of a great deal of inside talk
and confidential hearsay that
does not filter into the hinter-
lands. Like Norfolk, San Diego
and Los Angeles, the city is
full of Negro Navy men and
their experiences furnish the
townspeople with bitter back
around material on which to
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
POPULATION OF
GEORGETOWN 45eo COLORED

Offices TO aid the insurance COM
mittee in every way possible.
James G. Rogers, OPA Deputy
administrator, told the conference
that it can be OF great assistance
in helping stabilize the nations
economy IL il will begin now TO
warn the public to be on guard
against inflationary pressures on
prices and rents immediately after
We Day. and deflationary pres
sures which may follow.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02

doorman while he went TO get an
okay. Returning. ne called me aside
and said: Il told the management
that the colored boys we're accom-
panied by a cultured American
white woman. so they have in
strucied me 10 usher you TO
table"
That We dark and light Ameri-
cans cannot do this in our own
country is the most diabolicsl hy-
pocrisy that was ever bred and
fostered under the wings Of Chris
tianity and democracy.
England cannot afford 10 accept
this sort OF white mania She has
too many dark colonials from
whom she draws her bread and
butter.
African Least Welcomed
II these subjects were treated 10
the same dose OF discrimination in
England that is melted on; 10 our
own nationals there would be IN
surrecion in all OF her overseas
possessions and colonies.
or all these dark races the Afri-
can is the least welcomed and most
Disseminated against by the Eng
liSh in his own Africa.
But even Africans OF the Official
and educated class enjoy a measure
of freedom among The whites when
they arrive in England. Those from
North Africa and especially the
mixed bloods from Egypt ARE often
sought after.
Arrogant MOrons
Our masses OF proud. arrogant
moronS are not intelligent enough
TO realize that by this very attitude
OF supremacy. they are pulling
down upon our heads the wrath OF
the whole world OF color.
II this economic war does not
get us. the coming racial war will
Most of the continent is going
the Russian way and together they
are going all out for color. France
is already pointing the way.
That will leave America and
England (the friendly enemiesl and
what smaller nations they can mus
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
CHANGE
By PFC. HUSTON HENRY. IR.

Right is right and wrong is wrong; yet.
Who knows what change there'll be
When goes the day and goes the night.
And yesterday is old;
When those that laugh begin to cry
And those once sad are happy now.
When lovely flowers come and stay -.
Good is good and bad Is bad; yet
Change therell always be
Until the day that man has met
The last OF mystery:
Until the day that all is told
And all there Is to tell is told.
And man to man is PERFECT WHOLE.
Hamilton Henry Ir.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
Baa, Baa Black Sheep

Retreatlng from Kesane. Greece.
German troops tried TO disguise
themselves ~ BLACK sheep" to es-
cape British patrols. MICS Grant
PER- radioes from Greece.
The Germans tried to hide nv
crawling among flccks Of sheep In
the vain hope that they would look
like black sheep, PAR said. He
added that While many o. the sheep
In that COUNTRY are black. the Mani
ruse didnt succeed.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
MISTAKEN IDENTITY

When Gloria Swanson's mama
heafd that she had married titled
gent in Paris, she hastily phoned
her lawyer. whats q markee'"
she demanded TITS one Of those
things" he explained. that you
hang in front Of a theatre 10 keep
the rain of customers" My God!
cried the good lady. Gloria mar
ried one OF them this afternoon
Saturday Review OF Literature
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
AMERICAN RACE HATE ABROAD

ter. representing q total OF far len
than half billion. facing q hostile
billion and q half.
But what do South Carolina. Mis-
sissippi and Texas care about odds?
All will be well! These first cousins
Of God-trom the South-will take
on a mere billion and a half.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02


Of Of
about IT,
The essential dilemma OF the white South is this: the
South must decide whether it to retain its
Negro population risk losing large part OF by emigra
other sections Of the country II it wants to keep
Negroes South make many adjustments that
will satisfy least the urgent demands of this claim
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
152, 900 to ass, 900: OF st. Louis, from

$4,000 to ass, 900: OF st. Louis, from
So, 900 to 100000.
The South did not willingly suf-
fer the exodus, and attempted 70
stop IL by repression and exh0rta-
ton. Labor agents were beaten,
Jailed. or run out Of the community.
Negroes hanging around railroad
stations were arrested on charges
Of vagrancy; sometimes migrants
were taken from trains and jailed
and attempts were made to keep
nothern Negro newspapers from
reaching their southern readers.
Much of the southern press de-
nounced the industrial North in
terms reminiscent Of the ante
bellum struggle between slave
owners and abolitionists. It de-
scribed the opportunities for Ne
groes in the South and the kindly
relationships long existing between
thousands of individual whites and
Negroes.
None of these methods was suc-
cessful. Negroes continued to leave
the South until they were stopped
by the stark facts Of the economic
depression Of the l930s.
Given the urge to emigrate. the
rise Of Negro race consciousness
and Negro public opinion, the
changing attitudes of younger Ne
groes who are better educated than
their elders and more sharply
aware Of their rights. the provoca-
tive role Of the Negro press and
Negro leadership. it is obvious that
Negro emigration from the South
would now in all probability be
progressing at a high rate il it
were not for one transitory fact.
That fact is the wartime freezing
OF labor by Federal fat. which
makes il difficult for workers to
move capriciously from one area
TO another.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
RESEARCH ITEM

IRWIN EDMAN tells sbsus Ne
little shaver who was crying hks
eyes cut on . side-street eurbstsns.
Both Of his parents. he informed
the rood samaritan whe stspDed ~
console him. were dead. and Mn
en'v living reI".ivr. = hrcthe-. We
mp at Harvard. Well saia Ne
me titan. n brs'her NJ vs.ts III
rhst's mi~hty fine. what's Ne
~tudyins theref" "Oh. he ain't
tudylng snvthiny." ssbbed ths
hey. They're stsdyins HIM
Saturday Review
e Literature
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
GE0RGETOWN'S DEMOCRATIC HOUSING :

Walt o pc LuNltco W Pa hSAk&sc
in the city's affairs. They meet
among themselves and devise plans
to head of whatever effects them
or to assist if something
is TO be done for the city as a
whole. The truth is" said one Of
the leaders, Eve are not always
admitted or grantedva voice, but
our forebears gave us the notion
that there is no harm in trying"
PROFESSIONALS NOT
ALOOf FROM MASSES
The leaders have the confidence
and support OF the less educated
This has worked TO the advantage
Of all concerned. for there are
many of the less educated who
have great prestige among the
masses. This spirit Of cooparatiou
Is probably sUsfained By ths fact
that the influential and professional
groups don't have that attitude of
aloofness toward the man in the
street which has done % much
harm In other localities.
There has not been q serious rs-
cial conflict in Georgetown for
forty years. Wsula II be wishfui
thinking 70 say that this n larrely
due 70 the fact that the Geerre-
townians. white and eoiored. have
dweit 50 near each ether I'm this
aemocrattc neighboriy housing
situation! Here b nm example a
democracy st work I'm q place (the
ooutnl where enc would least ex-
pect 70 find It. There ID mo social
mixing, yet there are no unusuaIly
nigh fences Or hedges . divi6e
the properties
An illustration Of the housing
situation can be more vividlv oh.
tanned from the following location
OF Negro residences in the citv.
Inc Draytons live directly across
tne street from old Prince George
"inyah Parish church, which was
established In 1887. II was CON
suucted from brick and materia,
Drought from England. This church
was used as a stable by Georye
washington when he was enter
tanned at the Pyatt house.
Inc Prioleaus own a third Of n
ptock on the corner Of Front and
FRAZIER streets. Front street is the
main commercial thoroushfare OF
On Grange street the p. c
heIlys have beautiful home newt
to the mayor Of the city. (The late
P. c. Kelly ST.. was one of the first
rural mail carriers OF the cityJ
Mrs. Kelly was asked how she liked
living next door to the mayor. and
she replied. graciously, Il think
you should ask the mayor how he
likes living next door TO US: we
were here first"
DR.. Y. G. Teele. a physician, has
his Office next door to the Fords.
one Of the wealthy families of the
city, and his residence in directly
across the street.
The c. j. Knox's on on Emanuel
street are diagonslly across from
q white Episcopal church.
IL would be . gsod idea n many
Of the policy forming individpals
Of our private corporations and
governmental housing projects. In
the supposedly free and liberal de-
main Of the Nsrth and West, would
lock into this city's housing situa-
ton.
II seems that some good can come
out OF this area after all for George
town has subconsciously put into
practice, as to housing. q Christian
principle which the Rev. John La
Fargo. S. j.. has 80 assiduously
recommended for the whole nation.
Siz: The social teaching Of the
church as 20 the inviolable dignity
OF the human person Is not quail
fed by conditions Of race. creed.
or color"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02

GAN FRANCISCO, Calf. - The main topic of
- conversation this week in colored San Fran
cisco concerns the severe sentences announced
Nov. Is for the so Negro sailors convicted by a
Navy courtmartal on so-called mutiny charges.
OF course Negroes all over the United States
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
ChrOnicler-


Continued from Page s.
his whole life and career on .
shaky foundation. We're puExled
that he should have left himself
80 open 10 this whole outcome.
Well. one Of these days and
soon. theren be another brother
TO take his place and even 90
higher. Til then and AFTER
KEEP FIGHTIN'..
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02

AlIlcIlCd.
This does not mean that Negroes
are admitted 70 any of the hotels,
public buildings or gatherings or
other than the usual pattern Of dis
ordinations and folkways of the
southland. Yet the fact still re-
mains that Negroes live In and own
houses on practically every street
in the city. They are not clustered
together on the petered out end Of
the street, nor In certain blocks
Of each street. but occupy one to
three houses in q block Of six or
seven residences.
In order to understand this
Phenomenon" OF the South, il will
be necessary to peruse a bit of
history Of this quaint old town.
POPULATION OF
GEORGETOWN 45T COLORED
Georgetown is South Cardinals
third oldest city II has a popula-
ton OF about 10000 Of which il is
estimated that S. per cent is white
and IS per cent colored. II is stu
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
BY c. p. JOHNSON
CONDENSED from Inter- ciaI Review)

(How one Southern city has worked out a democratic
housing plan.)
In spite of rigid system racial segregation and dis
elimination maintained since the Reconstruction Period
S67 to 1891 there exists in Georgetown, s. c. OF
democratic nterracia housing situations in
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
BY IRENE WEST
CONDENSED from the Afro-American)

that Londonin fact the whole OF the British Isles
has been inocuated wholesale. with white American
prejudice The have been made conscious for
the first time! How the average middle class Brtshers
admired the Oriental students. Indians, other dark
coonals, and colored Americans who visit their
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
MANY NEGROES PURCHASED
THEIR FREEDOM

The Winyah Indigo Society was
organized in l740. The initial pur-
pose was for the social pleasure OF
the Indigo planters; later il became
an educational society and is now
historical institution connected
with the city public school system.
It's records Of the period prior to
the abolition OF slavery in the
U.S.A.. show that many Negroes
purchased their freedom and lived
in and around Georgetown. Today
some OF the citizens OF the city
have documents. showing their
forebears were among these free
Negroes.
During the Reconstruction Period
with its vivid and acrimonious
partiSanship that arose over the
leading personalities OF that pei iod.
there stand out the names OF many
Negroes who lived in Georgetown
Many OF them, in spite of the
handieaps of bondage. we're as
capable il not more SO OF holdin-
Offics and executing It's duties tina
many OF their white contempors
ries
NeHTos- ~ Gsorsstovn don't
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-02
EMIGRATION-WEAPON
OF THE WEAK

There remains the right or the
weapon Of emigration-the method
employed by the hordes OF immiS
grants who came here 10 escape
oppression in their homelands or
10 improve their economic status
II is the age-old method of the
poor. the obscure, The politically
weak: a form. so 10 speak, OF active
n-resisisnce against which moth
Ing avsils except removal Of the
grievances of which the emigrants
complain.
This method has actually been
employed by southern Negroes for
the past fifty years, but. for reasons
which we shall examine. II has
been intensified during the past
twenty-five years and there is
every reason to believe it will be
used more widely in the immediai
future. To illustrate, the NeSr
population " Detroit increase
from around 10000 in 1920 10 l49
600 in 1870 Of Cleveland iron
~ 600 u "a nnn: - ~ v--I s-~--