Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-06-23
By DON DE LEIGHBUR

gain complete emancipatiOn-phys-
ical, social and economic-without
being willing to shed blood. The
question is not purely academic.
1t is stark reality as developments
point to an inevitable situation in
which the Negro will be forced to
fight. If this situation comes about,
it will not be without precedent. 1t
will be a natural sequence Of
events, and also one that should
have been reached long ago, judg-
ing by the classic examples that
presently abound.
1t is not at all odd that the Chi
nese are shedding their blood for
liberty in China's war with Japan.
The Czechs are doing it. The Yugo-
slavs under Gen. Tito are dying
hourly as they fight the Nazis.
Also dying or shedding their blood
for a principle are the Dutch, the
Norwegians, the Danes, the French
and other nations under the Hitler
yoke in Europe. In the Pacific the
Filipino is giving his life and blood
for freedom from the Japanese.
Only the American Negro and the
East Indian remain among the
outstanding examples of racial
minorities afraid to actually fight
for complete survival and freedom.
Only the American Negro and
the East Indian seem content to let
the white man fight their battles
while they spend their time on their
knees in what seems to be futile
prayer or seeking questionable
pleasure, as in the case of the
American Negro, in dancehalls,
cabarets and saloons. 1t seems
utterly absurd that any expectation
that the white man will suddenly
get big-hearted and turn over his
most valuable hold on the world
the power to exploit minority labor
and resources of colonial lands -
just because some Negroes beg him
to or wheedle and whine about
what is morally" right. The
white man knows and understands
best physical rights. With him,
might is right.
The law is the white mans in
this country. He takes it in his
hands whenever he gets ready. If
this is true, then the Negro should
get enough courage to do some TAX
ing on his own. For instance, at
Batesburg, S. c., George Golson, an
aged Negro, was approached by
five white men on May 20 while
shopping, hustled into a waiting
automobile, driven about ten miles
out into the country and beaten
brutally about the head with black
jacks because "you N rs want
to vote" His front teeth were
knocked out. He was left uncon-
scious for dead. A headline in a
Negro newspaper reads: Leaders
Chased Out of Town for NAACP
Activity. Several Flogged for
Backing U. S. Welding School"
That was in some God-forsaken
hole called New Iberia, Louisiana.
Another headline reads: Beaten
Insurance Man Is Told to Get Out
of Town."
In Congress the other day, Con-
gresham Gibson of Georgia shout
ed during the FEPC debate: 81
warn the membership of this House
that there are only two things that
can save this nation. One is bal
lots and the other is bullets. If it
is the ballots of the members of
the House who have been entrusted
with the destiny of the nation, then
l ask the people of the U. S. to
think deep enough to save this ma
ton by their ballots that it may not
have to be saved by bullets"
LET US stop this FEPC," hol-
Tered Congressman Rivers of South
Carolina. "If we do not, I say with
every ounce of sincerity within me
there is going to be bloodshed in
my part of the world, like of which
has never happened before in the
history of this country"
The above statements were made
on the floor of Congress, our high
est law-making body of the land.
Such comment is common in
Congress. Such headlines as men,
toned above are also common.
There was a time when one shud-
dered with horror and indignation
at the cruelties, both mental and
physical, which Negroes are forced
to endure in the South. There was
quick sympathy with the plight of
the downtrodden black man in the
South and contempt for the per-
sons responsible for his condition.
Today, however, there is nota-
Bile change-over in attitude, par
ticularly by whites in a position to
help the Negro. The new theory
seems to be based on this line of
reasoning: "We're willing to sac
rifice our lives, our property, risk
loss of our limbs, mentality, vision;
jeopardize our future for a prin-
ciple as we fight to rid the world of
Fascism, Hitlerism and all other
isms that are inimical to the we'll
being Of humanity. What places
the Negro in a special category
where he does nothing to help him
self? Is it right that we spill our
/ blood. give our lives. COMPROMISE