davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
ABE LINCOlN'S GOOSE

The occasion was = super-dupef
swank state dinner and Lincoln
was having trouble carving the
goose. Things were getting pretty
desperate and The distinguished
guests were becoming mere and
more spprehensive when. without
the slightest warning. the gssse
slid on the silver platter. went
careening down the Offering table
and landed-plop.-in . siiken lap!
There was . unanimous gasp 81
horror and then . dead silence
When the smoke cleared away. the
cool. calm and utterly composed
voic Of the President wss heard
Madam" aid Lincoln, I'll tseubss
you for that fowl"
Saturday Review Of Literature
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
} Amt This 4 Small World?

Marine Private Wilbur Lee
Blackman. 9i4 Federal avenue. Or
lando, Fla. a switchboard operator
in an anti-aircraf; unit. went swim
ming in the calm. cool waters Of
an island in the Central Pacific the
other day expecting 10 spend an
uneventtul afternoon alone in the
tropical sunlight,
Suddenly. as he swan. his body
grazed another swimmer Could il
be a Jap? 'rmed only with a bath
Ing suit. he turned 70 face the
enemy. his face taut, his hands
open and ready 10 lash toward the
Jap's throat HIS arms shot toward
the other man grasping him around
the shoulders. not in a tight death
grip however. but in q warm en-
brace.
II was his brother. John D.
Rlsckman. a sailor, who had ar
rived earlier that day on q naval
craft
-people's Voice
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

Negro In the army.
One of them wrote this week:
When ! was home ran across
your hrst after-the-summer article
saw the heading and the frst two
paragraphs and avidly dug into IL,
hoping 10 see the army laid bare.
didn't. II there Is no danger OF
being re-drafted. you can do little
crusading"
Another. now stationed In New
York. wrote;
Your article In this weeks paper
was not quite full enough.
expected you 20 tell about more
Of the Special Training racket o.
course. I should realize that as YET
you can't 60 too strong on tha'
score because hostilities have no
ceased. You must. however, prom
Use TO expose that crap as soon a
IL II reasonably possible
Both OF these young men are col
lege graduates. One holds a mas
ters degree. One was teaching i
high school when he was draffe'
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
WAS It worthwhile?

(Jawaharai Nehru. Indian leader. has spent many
years in Jail and 10 at present confined BY the English
in lnda.)
THE years have spent in prison. Sitting alone wrapped
in my thoughts, how many seasons have seen 60 by.
following each other into oblivion! How many moons
watched the moving along MEMORABLE and ma
jestcaly How many yesterdays OF youth lies buried
here sometimes the ghosts Of these dead
rise up bringing poignant memories and whispering
to me WAS worhwhile?" There Is hesitation about
the answer II given the chance go through life
again. with present knowledge and experience added.
| would doubt try to make many changes In my per-
sonal life Il would endeavor improve in many
what had previously DONE but my major decisions In
public affairs would remain untouched Indeed, could
vary them for they stronger than myself and
a force beyond my control drove me to them"
--Jawaharlal Nehru In The Voice Of India
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

material used by both parties.
but particularly by the Re-
publicans. We think that not
only should the Negro remem-
Der. but all people who love
and cherish America should
likewise remember. For the
campaign just ended was not
full Of sportsmsnship and good
clean fighting. II Vas full OF
bitterness. petty partisanship.
lies. bigotry and hatred. More
over il had unconcealed tones
of naked fascism. II had with
in il not merely honest differ
ences of opinion. but the seeds
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
IT'S A SMALL WORLD

Three army wives from upstate
were listing New York for the
FIRST time . week Or % age. They
were timid and when they stepped
int Q bus ut Broadway and 18Th
they asked the dri''er. VIII this
take % 70 the METROPOLITAN Mu-
scum Of Art:" He said Il would
and they got m. They spent abeus
three hoyfx In the museum and
tSen headed for . bus hack. SUI
cautious. they asked the driver.
"Does this bus take a 70 Brssa-
wav."
listen. ladies'" said the driver.
~ brou-ht you over here. DEM
you trust me 10 take ysu hcvnef
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
By RICHARD DIEF
IAN interview with Hollywood actress Jean N
condensed from the Afro-American)

Gan interview with Hollywood actress Jean Muir
condensed from the Aro-Ameriean)
BY RICHARD DER
TEAM MUIR charming screen actress and one
of the few white stars who has fought for
racial equality against tremendous Hollywood
opposition. believes that the motion picture IN.
dustry has not been too good on the colored
people but that some progress has been made
In an exclusive AFRO interview in her apart
ment at West 86th street this week she eX-
planned that some producers have been giving
stercotyped roles to actors and actresses because
Of financial reasons.
There was a market for these character roles,
and that was all they were interested IN. Colored
artists in the Aim capital have had to accept
these parts or starve. They had no other aierna-
tive.
NO OTHER ROLES
"For this reason" she explained, "some actors.
after many years on the screen, become typed
actors They reach an age where poking fun at
themselves and at their people to get laugh is
ell they can do. Sometimes they're not capable
OF accepting any other roles.
AT times, they're so hammish that white ac-
tors would never be able TO get away with the
same type of transformations.
Miss Muir can't understand why Canada Lee
accepted his role in the picture "Lifeboat, or
why Paul Robson played his part in THE Tales
of Manhattan" She believes they did the people
lots of harm.
"FREEDoM ROAD" IN FILM
Sahara" was good. she explained, because 1t
permitted good portrayal by colored actor
even though he was not an American accord
ing to the story. She feels that the book Free
dom Road" would make good movie with Paul
Robson in the role OF Gideon Jackson.
Warner Brothers would be the studio to
make IT," she said
has been suggested In Hollywood" she
continued, that there be code on the colored
man, the same as there is code on the jew.
This is very bad, and definitely solution TO
the problem Such code would completely
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
primary DAY IN GEORGIA

He had two stars from the South Pacific,
But he couldn't vote when he got back
His sin against Man was too terrific:
His face was black.
EVERYWHERE there was oily politeness.
And no Jap to cut your throat;
And those who remained at home in their whiteness
Had their vote
But not for his color even forgiven
The Librarian or the Phi. D.
Though we're fighting everywhere under heaven
For Democracy
The Election Boards were in fine fettle,
The electoral votes were all assured -,
Far off, on islands men met hot metal.
And strove and endured;
Black men with white men fought the devil,
Brothers in wounds knew the worth OF each;
For soldiers are strictly the level
On a shell-torn beach.
So let us remember United Nations
And the Peoples World that We hope may be =.
Please don't dwell upon Race Relations
In the Land OF the Free!
William Rose Benet
in Saturday Review OF Literature
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

and the other had shifted from
social service work to the post
Office.
know Just VIVA, these men are
going through. I went through the
same type OF thing myself for FIVE
months and they are experiencing
a greater amount OF it
SAME HEADACHES
They are still no doubt eating
In separate mess halls. sleeping m
separate barracks, and living in
separate, undesirable areas OF
camps in sort of ''acroSs-the-tracks
arrangement, They perhaps are still
being frozen out of headquarters
desk Jobs, given q rocking when
ratings are dished out. ignored a
every turn OF the clock.
am sure that. In spite OF thu
War Department order OF . few
weeks ago, they are still being as
signed their little Jim crow corner
In post theatres. just as they wer<
at Fort Leavenworth as recent q:
last July, months after the initial
order of the same sort in April
am sure that the Post Exchange
arrangement Is such that they car
romp and tear all over the branches
in their own areas but have the full
understanding that they are not
wanted in those Of other areas and
that by no means must they enter
| the white service clubs in camp
even to purchase package OF
cigarettes.
They perhaps still have their own
special hours for going 10 the
dental clinics, possibly late in the
evenings when they should be en-
| Toying their rest or relaxation, svch
as was true at Crowder Possibly,
as Al Fort Warren. Wyoming. the
white NP's are still giving the
colored GTs a hard way 10 20 and
are still arresting them or billving
them on the slightest provocaion.
SOLDIERS on THE SHELF
They are no doubt still being
forgotten when psrades are held
or when the weekly camp news
paper Is being prepared or pub
| lished. as was true az Crowder
Possibly. there are leisure time
camp courses offered-such as for
eign languages--for which the
white company commander will
not give permission for any OF his
Negro charges TO take.
As little as the general public
knows about all this. these things
gail our soldiers. Like prisoners
they sit and brood about these
things. Their minds become almost
warped with this thinkins. Thew
interpret the majority of-he acts
81 their officers as evidences Of dis.
elimination. they see prejudiced
motives all around them-some-
times where they don't exist and
very often where the officers are
hsnd-tied and canot help what
thew do.
Our Noys are schooled enough ir
army ways TO know what heavy
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
moonlight that people Of the work
aday world could not zee. That II
why nobody understands india.
NO HUMAN DIGNITY
WITHOUT FREEDOM

NO HUMAN DIGNITY
WITHOUT FREEDOM
Then I thought of freedom and
what il meant. There is no human
dignity without freedom. Two days
later that dark corner OF the In
dian soul became symbolized for
me in conversation with two
perfect strangers. a young modern
educated Indian couple. in dark
railvay compartment at night. En-
training at Benares. found myself
in the same compartment with an
officer and his wife who was in
European dress. The electric ligh.
in the compartment was out Of
order and in that dark. hot room
I could see only their dim figures
against the window. From his ac-
cent while talking with the con-
ductor about the electric light. !
had taken him for an English Off
Ger. Soon he took out lunch
basket and began eating his supper
with his wife, by directing a flash
light against the eggs and sand
witches. BY that dim light, I saw
the young woman. dressed in
Stacks. and got the impression
that she was a Russian. Thus they
ate In the dark and talked only N
low whispers. But somehow their
sounds struck me a; being un-
speakably lonely. was 20 change
into another compartment al the
next station. and therefore waited
In the daH in silence. Reminding
myself not TO talk politics. par
ticularly not &c talk OF freedom
while in India. / watched silently.
but with an intense curiosity.
Soon I broke the silence by ask
Ing what army he was serving and
where he was going. The simple
question touched off something
quite unexpected In perfect Cam
bridge accent, he mumbled some
thing about fighting war for free
dom when the Indians were denied
freedom themselves. Amazed, ]
asked. Are YOU an Indian" i.
turned out that he was educated
n Cambridge and had taught col
lege before he enlisted There was
a tone % bitter resentment in his
voice which was entirely incon-
sruous with his tall. handsome
soldierly appearance. His youre
wife made remark which
prompted me 10 ask the question.
rs your wife an Indian also" "Of
course, am an Indian" she replied
with SLIGHTLY provocative asser-
ton OF pride.
understood Il all. 7 Left the COM
partmert al the next station with
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
(Reprinted from The velee q
InAias1

On my last trip to China. I had
the opportunity OF visiting India
for the first time. ! spent only
about three weeks in that country
and although had the exceptional
privilege to see many Indian lead
ers and eat In Indian homes,
strictly regard myself as 4 passing
tourist The pleasure Of an ex-
tended stay in that vast and impor-
tant country. and OF deepins friend
ships that l have made there. is
something that have promised
myself for the future.
Naturally, I can speak only OF q
few first impressions. But some OF
the hrs, impressions are unforget-
table. First among these was the
excitement ! felt at the privilege
OF staying al Ansnd Bhawan. sacred
TO the cause Of Indian freedom.
and OF coming 20 know Nehru's
sister. Mrs. Psndit. and his daugh-
ter. Indira, who were then out OF
Jail. One is either for Indian free
dom or one is not: but IL one sees
the cause Of national freedom for
India as that Of freedom tor any
other country. one could not help
being tremendously thrilled at WIS.,
ting that historic mansion so in
timately connected with Indian
revolutionary history. In Mrs.
Pandit 7 saw the equal OF Nine.
Sun Yst-sen. both having that
strange combination OF fiery revo-
lutionary ardor and personal semi-
nine charm. I believe such women
could be produced only during q
revolutionary era. when intelligent
women reach a stature. rarely at
.ainable. through their passion for
great cause. Then the spirit OF
revolution bursts into a flame.
beautiful and glorious 70 look at,
made visible through the voice and
zo~.,,-o- 20 q u.Opann
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
REVIVAL OF KHAN
A REAL POSSIBILITY

I'VE should publicize the dangers
to the public peace and tc the rights
OF certain of our citizens in the for
nation OF hate organizations that
parade falsely in the name OF ma
tionalism That the imminent Gre
alton If such an organization, or
the revival in full force OF the ku
Klux Khan. is a real possibility, we
have only TO Look at our history.
Within the last hundred years there
have been three nationwide or
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

unfair; we want plant wide
seniority. We don't want this:
Il lets us out sooner.
And so it goes seniority
pro and con. Confusion about
seniority, against seniority and
for seniority.
Yet seniority is very simple
- that Is, unless you look into
1t; then II is not so simple.
Simply stated, most of our
readers think of seniority as
the accumulating length Of
time a worker stays in a par
ticular employment. When he
=
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
Army, Army, Army Blues

penalties await those who start
trouble or violate strict army regu-
lations. But they sit around with
plenty Of time on their hands and
scheme what they are going to do
after this thing Is over,
II is no, uncommon. for instance
at least II wasn't a few months
aso-to be sitting at chow and then
all of a sudden hear conversation
something like this in front OF you:
My uncle Is working in de-
tense plant and I'm telling you ne
is storing up a plenty OF ammuni.
ton little by little. He amt taking
no chances. saw some Of II when
I was home on furlough."
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
ORGANIZATION WITH
GOVT. IDEOLOGY LIKELY

Each one OF these three has been
stronger than the one before and
has been able to attract more ad-
herents SO far we have not had a
hate and super-nationalist orsani-
zation that combined with preju-
dice definite theology TO apply
10 government. However. the world
trend Of such prejudice movements.
as we see in Germany. is TO en-
body ar ideologv We may get such
DEVELOPMENT here the next time
1T will not be called fascism.
because that term Is In disrepute
But the tendencies toward reaction,
Of course. are much older than the
word tacism. With the close asso-
citation OF race prejudice with IL
liberal ideas. we could not get any
other type OF ideology than one
which would STOP chance toward
a better world The world Is now
100 small for such development t.
be merely our domestic concern
What We do among ourselves ha!
repercussions on the rest Of th'
world.
Those OF US who are white ar,
having, and so far wasting. our las
chance to be accepted on an eoua
basis with the other peoples Of
world which is two-thirds colored
The 300-year ADVANTAGE we ha,
through industrial revolution
coming to a close as the remainde
o. the world becomes induytrislize
and capable Of producing moder
weapons Of war.
"Let US all work to stem The It'd
OF hate before the most suscept
BILE among us are swept into n
stream. In addition 10 publicizir
the character OF tho hate groul
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
Will The Khan Be Revised?

we have had and what they do.
we should try more experiments
like the one now being talked about
in Springfield, Mass. There, par
tlcularly through the school sys-
TEN, people have made a concerted
effort toward better understanding
Of one another"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
OUR CUP RUNNETH OVER


10, the time Of election cometh.
the day draweth nigh: and when
Il hath passed. then shall there be
rest. O my soul. For the banners Of
the terrible WhooIis shall hanr no
more above the way; his image
SHAH be seen upon the housewalis
not again: and thev that wear his
button. the same shall cast II into
the FIRE: they shall get hence to the
wilderness 70 hide for . space. The
mills Of his piffle-makers. more
over. shall cease to grind. and his
vain words thst sow discord
amongst the people shall he rs \
treat wind heard In an evil dream
on q night that Is gone. Then shah
We rejoice and be glad. nv soul
we shall fear not any more. no,
not any.
The New York Times
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

CARNATIONS that threatened our in
ternal peace and security-the
Know Nothings IN the decade pre-
ceding the Civil War, the American
Protective Association before the
Spanish American War, and the
second Ku Klux Khan after the
first World War.
The spearhead OF the first two
was anti-Catholicism. an unfortu-
nate early American heritage that
is still with US. The spearhead OF
The third. the second Ku Klux Khan,
was and Is triple-pronsed-anti-
Catholic. anti-Negro and anti-Jew
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
UNFINISHED BUSINESS

CENIORITY Is no good for Negroes It works
~ against them. Hold tight to Seniority it's our
only hope. We want special seniority considera-
ton. We want no special consideration. We want
. quota of Negro workers kept on. regardless Of
when they were hired. Department seniority is
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

(condsnsed from the New York Timss)
There is real possibility In the postwar years OF
revival In full force of the Ku Kux Khan. the creation
of similar hate organizations under different name even
in more vruent FORM the annual meeting OF the National
Committee for Mental Hygiene the Hotel Pennsylvania
warned yesterday by Dr. H. Scudder Mekeel assoc-
professor Of Anthropoogy at the University of Wis
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
WHILE THERE'S LIFE

The Senate chamber at wsahing.
ton h to be provided with . motion
picture protector and q nice big
screen. Citisens whe fer wears have
hoped and prayed hat the senate
might some day Be medernised ere
now. ut long last feeling greatly
encouraged.
New Ysrk Times
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

While the cradle is the best place
to start improving race relations,
he said. II is necessary TO take
short-term measures Immediately
TO counteract the rising tide Of race
prejudice in this country, which is
definitely associated with re-
dictionary, liberal and conservative
thinking on social. economic and
nolitiral subjects"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
HAS FIRST GLIMPSE OF
GANGES IN MOONLIGHT

Another unfcrgettable impression
is my first glimpse OF the Ganges
in the moonlight with Nehru S
daughter and her husband. Mr.
Feroze Gandhi. l said l wanted TO
see the Ganges, and IN spite OF me
shortneSs OF time, one night MT
Candhi drove NE some ten miles
away 10 certain bridge, some
where in Allahabad We stepped
out OF the car. and for some ten
minutes stood leaning over the
rail with my host and hostess. lost
in wordless thought over something
ethereally unreal. The pale silver
twilight spreading over the VAST
silence Of the Ganses and sand
banks extending to the distant
horizon, where the water and sky
dissolved into q canopy OF hazy
white, seemed 10 suggest midas
immemorial past coming down the
river Of time. both sad and glorious,
weighted with the love and long
lnss and spiritual aspirations OF the
Hindu poets and philosophers. Al
one moment I thought ] understood
India. then at another thought
I did not. The scene has something
passive are feminine and spirit.
uslly unreal about Il II seemed
then that all midas spiritual his
tory could be compressed into one
word, or a phrase, or q sentence,
II 1 could only know that word.
would understand the spirit OF In
dia. but | aid not. II had something
70 do with God. ard the GanEe.
seemed like an eternal prayer
remembered that in the day. tht
bl9zins tropical sun would oea
down upon II. showing r IL
NJ DIV currents. but lndia's heart
II thought. lav with the Gauges =
nishi hidden in Q bluish.whit,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

THIS COLUMN does not agree with the usual
l. after election statements that all should be
forgiven and forgotten now that the campaign
Is over We think the Negro and several other
groups in the country would be foolish to wipe
out of their memories some of the campaign
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
MAKING RI CLEAR

The University Of Texas has en-
eia1ly announced that n Negroes
and whites attend meetings In any
Of its buildings they will be segre-
gated. Ofnciais Of the university
point out that segregation mas al
ways been their policy. bat that
the formal announcement relieves
administrative officers Of any Ques-
ton which might come up Soon
The Nathan
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18

Most surprised man 81 the week
was Cpl. John Seth. n. received .
.ter from his wife containing IN
intricate drawine. This" the letter
exulsined. els the way II. dash-
board Of ouv ear locks Do We NEED
. quart Of osl:"
The Stars and Stripes
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
BY SCOTT PRIDE
REPRINTED from St. Louis Argus)

Several OF the with whom trained at Fort Leaven-
worth. Kan, and Camp Crowder Mo-. have written me
that they piece in this column several weeks
about hitch in the service and expressed regret that
had not shot works about the misreatmen OF the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
FIFTH FREEDOM

Advertisement In Chicago street
cars The Fifth Freedom-Freedem
from high funeral cssts. Lain and
Son Funeral Director"
The NstlOn
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
THIS MEANS YOU

This new bullet win penetrate
two feet u wood. % remember
keen your heads down.-A gunnery
instructors order - new recruits
Tin This Week..
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-18
BERLIN KNOWS. TOO

Flash from the Front: The Under
ground reports that . large factory
near Berlin h being frantically
converted over to produce $4,000
"oif limits" signs.
STARS and Stripes