The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-03-04
Washington Bureau OF National
Negro Publisheu)

negro fuDL8nerD
WASHINGTON. - CHARGES by
soldiers and a former Red Cross
assistant field director that Jim
Crow Is In the saddle in the foreign
service Of the Red Cross, particu-
larly In India, have been termed
contrary to the policy Of the or
ganization by officials in WASH
ington. though II Is admitted the
problem does arise as result Of the
prejudices Of administrators and
field officers. When these prob
correct them Immediately, q spokes-
man declared.
To substantiate this claim. q re-
quest has been made that an order
be issued to the field directors OF
the Red Cross In India to the effect
that all clubs be made available
to all servicemen, regardless OF
race, and that none be declared
"out Of bounds" for colored SOL
diers, a. result OF discriminatory
charges brought 70 the organizA-
tons attention by the NNPA bu-
reau.
Charges In Letter
These charges were contained in
a letter from a first sergeant OF q
Quartermaster corps concerning
the experience Of four OF his men
who were recently on a pass 10
one OF midas well-known cities.
According to this report. on ar
irving in the town the men went
to the Red Cross Center. On en-
tering, after an all night journey,
they checked their bags with native
porters and went TO the dining
room. About the time they were
sitting down. they were accosted
by the host. who had hurried over.
and told This place Is out OF
bounds for colored soldiers" They
were told to try the "colored' Red
Cross.
There were no available accom-
modations at the "colored" Red
Cross, and the suggestion was made
that they perhaps could stay in
nearby camp. But after months In
camp without leave. the men
sought q hotel.
Mistake Made
AT the first hotel they tried, they
were given rooms-and after set
Ting themselves. they went out to
movie. When they returned they
were informed by the clerk that
mistake had been made-the place
was reserved for women only. But
the men had talked with some
white enlisted men who were then
living In the hotel, and knew this
was only an excuse.
The second hotel, which was re-
puted to have moderate rates,
quoted them q price OF n rupees.
equivalent to $2400, for two days.
The only place they could find
to stay was in hotel catering to
lower-class Indians. The sanitary
conditions were poor. They had to
60 10 the USO each day 10 bathe
and shave. They spent two days
under such conditions.
The first sergeant writes that he
took the matter up with the Red
Cross representative and was told
nothing could be done. but he
would look into the case"
Credence To Story
Giving credence TO this story Is
an account Of Red Cross discrimi-
nation in India reported in PM
daily newspaper in New York;,
as told by John II. Faulk, white, a
former Red Cross assistant field
director at q camp In Cairo.
Faulk says the Red Cross has
allowed Itself 10 become associated
with Jim Crowism in the minds of
Negro soldiers serving throughout
North Africa and the Middle East.
Faulk resigned because he felt
his post was useless" He said he
was convinced there existed in the
minds Of Negro soldiers a "univer-
sal distrust" Of the organization
which was supposed to be their
big brother"
He charged that the Red Cross
refused TO let the men attend
dances; and admitted them to clubs
at furlough centers with a con-
descending do come In, you're coll
ored." The majority OF supervisors
he said were prejudiced against
Negroes. He accused the organi-
zation OF falling 10 take a definite
stand against discrimination.
Faulk Is Southerner, and col
lected Negro folk lore in rural
Texas and Louisiana on q Rosen-