davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
Unfinished BUSINESS
BY clARENcE ANDERSON

and national sins against their colored brothers
well have progress.
Your membership in the NAACP also keeps
watchdog over governmental doings on the ma
tional and local scenes It's representative in Wash
ington for example, has up to-the minute nforma-
ton regarding the doings of Congress. Hence on
numerous occasions the NAACP has not only pre-
vented discrimination from creeping into new
legislation, but it has also successfully prevented
the appointment the election TO governmental
Office Of persons known to be prejudiced against
minority groups On the political scene the NAACP
had its representative lobbying for Negro interests
at the Versailles Peace Conference. Today America
has heard all about the doing of the present Secre-
tary, Mr.. White. as war correspondent.
Some people have charged the NAACP with
being radical" or militant" Such critics, your
columnist has no doubt, belong to the school of
white supremists who will even threaten their own
liberty in order to keep the Negro in what they
regard as "his place"
For actually, all that the NAACP (Which is itself
an interracia organization and which originat-
ed by white people) works for, is equal enforce
ment of the laws For example, II refuses TO accept
a policy of segregation for 100000 Americans
In so doing il is merely serving notice the white
man that colored people expect him to live up to
the laws to which he himself proclaims loyalty.
H. to insist upon democratic law enforcement and
order is to be "militant'-then let's have more Of
it.
Those who think the NAACP is radical evidently
don't know that Calvin Coolidge regarded the
NAACP las a representative OF one of the most
useful and effective efforts in behalf Of the colored
people of the country" Neither do they know that
real revolutionary radicals regard the NAACP as
conservative middle class organization, and con-
denim il for not espousing revolutionary economic
and political program That not even the white
masses in the United States ready TO support
such program, and that espousal of such by the
NAACP would wreck it, as witnessed by what hap
pened to another organization in 1910, is of no
Germ to the critical radicals. But we're drifting off
the subject.
The real subject is the United States. Are you
doing your little bit to make this country better
place for all Of us, by joining the NAACP?
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

! greats Of JAM also made some an
star recording Jimmie We terribly
busy, and didn't sleep enough hours.
On the night of Wednesday. April
10. Jimmie didn't show up for the
Orson Welles broadcast show. A
little after 7 o'clock that same morn
ing he got up. His wife went into
the kitchen of the humble little
home they'd rented after almost
nine months Of nerve-wracking sus-
pense. to make some coffee. Then
she heard Jimmie fall. He'd dropped
dead.
GREAT TRIBUTE
FROM ORSON wELLES
Orson Welles told the whole ma
ton that night OF what q gentleman
Jimmie Noone was. in the noblest
sense Of that designation. and what
an artist he was. Few men have
ever been paid a higher or more
sincere public tribute.
On Saturday. April -, Jimmie
body lay in a coffin that Saturday
afternoon, a few feet away, while
/ tried to speak OF him, only to
choke up after few hating and
utterly inadequate words. And r..
really wanted to say that all the
sudden kindness and decency to-
wards a great Negro artist on the
part OF the white race which had
made it so difficult for him TO find
home. had proven too much for
him. I wanted also to say that he'd
gone 70 . better home. in an eternal
country. than any Jim crowist would
ever find awaiting.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
4 POEM FOR CARVER

The following poem written by
Graziella Maggie. Is years old, Of
the Bronx. won the first prize in
the essay contest rponsored by the
Grand Street Boys Association on
the life Of DR.. George Washington
Carver. I; was first printed in the
New York Times then in Mrs.
RooSeveli's column. My Day.
For George Washington Carver
He took the warm. brown earth
into his hand.
The warm. brown earth which
matched his oxn dark skin.
He closed his fist and felt the heat
expand.
The heat Southern sun had put
therein.
He took the pure bright eolors OF
the earth
And 10 the world he made a git
OF them
He took a plant man said had little
worth
And found use for frui; and leaves
and stem.
But though he did these things and
many more.
He did not take the praise. instead
disclosed
Tha; IL had been the hand OF God
that tore
The lock which keeps the Book o.
knowledge closed.
Good fertile fields ne made from
useless sod
This man with willing hands and
faith in God
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
POST WAR PROBLEM

WASHINGTON. D. c. - In his
article Colonial Progress In Gen.
trail Africa" Grant S. Mcclellan ex-
presses the belief that the develop
ment OF Equatorial Africa will
constitute zone OF the major eco
non!c priorities" OF the postwar
world. McClellsn's discussion, ap-
peariag in a recent issue OF Foreign
Policy Reports. dealt thoroughly
with the possibilities Of the Belgian
Congo and French Equatorial
Africa.
In recent years. he writes, native
policy has also raised the question
OF political status for the peoples
OF dependent areas. But there Is
little in the historical development
OF the two colonies" he said. TO
indicate that the issue will soon b
clarified. for their orientation has
been largely toward detachment
from the native cultures out Of
which il Is generally assumed SELF
governing institutions must emerge.
Referring 20 the conference Of
governors and administrators OF
French colonies. Mcclellan said that
lit was not an accident that the
conference was convoked In Braxza-
Vile. for striking projects have been
undertaken In Equatorial Africa
by the Free French administration.
and il is there that the native
policies elaborated by Gov. Gen.
Felix Eboue have been given gen
eral application throughout the Fed
Grafton"
Mcclellan points out that II was
Eboue's belief that 1t 10 dangerous
to model Africans into European
caric.tureS" and that "springing
from their own antecedents. pro-
crossing within their own frzns-
work. the African peoples should
develop their own civilization. with
their organizations and their ad.
ministrations. adopted 70 their eli.
mates. handled by their eiussns,
and applying their laws and tbsis
customs"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

in to rescue them from slow DEATH Now, through
publicity and legal action. they have received
life, and Negroes have a new hope.
Early in NAACP history began the carefully
planned battle for the right OF Negroes to vote.
First it got the Grandfather clauses nullifed The
legal battle continued - until just few weeks
ago, when it won the Texas White Primary case.
In the latter instance the most powerful talent in
Texas was arrayed against those who represented
the NAACP, including Messrs. Thurgood Marshall
and William H. HASTE. That these gentlemen of the
law don't fool and know exactly what they are
doing goes without saying.
The latter case made possible by your member
ship in the NAACP, was the 2lst time that the
NAACP has been victorious in the Supreme Court.
In all, it has argued % cases before this high
tribunal Winning 81 out Of q is some batting
average.
II the winning Of legal freedom through court
action were all that the NAACP regularly engaged
in, this alone would justify its existence But it
does much more Through its press bureau it con-
tinualy eduestes white Americans regarding their
fellow citizens Through its publicity it keeps the
problem in the thinking of the public and as
long as people are kept aware Of their personal
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
THE WATCHTOWER B, ROY WILKINS

they did not have TO battle Dixie bus drivers Dixie
hot dog stand proprietors Dixie cops, and Dixie
white people in general They did not have TO sit
in the roosts Of theatres in order TO see movie.
and they did not have TO sit in the rear end OF
buses and street cars Just any little white man
could not curse them and beat them up.
All this sounds little, but it means SO much. OF
such things is morale fash oned The Army could
have learned this, but il did not choose TO do So
Fifty per cent of the Army trouble" with Negroes
has been due TO the intolerable indignites and
crueltes suffered by Negro soldiers of post.
Now the story is that in many places the Navy
has forgotten the segregated pattern with good
results all around. White and black sailors said
TO be working together ut common tasks. In q num-
Der Of places they both use the same recreational
facilities without any color line whatsoever. The
smart, industrious Negroes winning new rat
ings and in those ratings they work right along
with whites of the same rank. In some places
whites and Negroes are reported to be using the
same barracks and eating in the same mess halls.
Word comes from colored lad in a naval station
in the Pacific that I'VE are all together out here"
The story OF the training Of specialists is that Ne
groes learning trades and skills they never
dreamed Of having chance 10 learn The Navy is
giving those who have the aptitude every oppor-
tunity 10 advance.
OF course there still plenty of Negro haters
in the Navy. OF course there still remain, doubt
less, many injustices But If reports are true, the
Navy has been smarter than the Army on the race
question. In the opinion of one observer, the Navy
starting late and from behind the eight ball. may
yet take more advanced and enlightened posi-
ton than the Army. This writer remains skeptcal
but with an open mind.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

the meaning OF history. the pursuit
Of freedom. These people are a part
Of the new world that is already
here and :ha. is a-coming. Anyone
who doubts this is simply ignoran;
OF the live wire OF leadership tina;
reaches from Harlem 20 Chicago
through Pekin ard Calcutta - Mos
COW. The vigor o. this leadership
will only be strengthened by people
Ike Wesibrook Peg,er who think
such leadership Is too noisy and
should De quic.
This new leadership and its fol-
lowing will make mistakes but
many Of these mistakes they will
have learned from the Christian
racistS who believe In and have
practiced white supremacy. In short.
the new world will be one In which
there will be increased tensions.
The peace will be . continuation Of
the struggle that brought about the
war. the struggle between democ-
racy and FasciSm.
BY James Luther Adams
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

as personal servants Then when il finally broke
down and announced that coored men would be
accepted for other categories, the late Secretary
Knox spoiled the announcement with the fiat
statement that none would be promoted TO the
rank OF commissioned officer
But since that time the Navy has been working
quietly with its Negroes. II has had more OF
battle within its higher-ups than the Army has had
in its Official family the question In the
first action, the Navy set up It's main training sta
tion for Negroes in the North, a, Great Lakes. II
a segregated camp. named for Capt Robert
Smals, but it was not in Texas Mississippi
Thus, while some Negroes trained in the
South most Of them in and about Chicago
When they left the camp for little recreation
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

families send their babies TO pri-
vate kindergartens and their young
sters to Ethical Culture school And.
please. white people. don't think
that al Negroes are the same. They
aren't.
Naturally. II you live on nice.
tree-lined. quiet Convent avenue,
even though you are colored. il
would never occur TO you 20 riot
and break windows. When some
Of the colored leaders whose names
are often in the white newspapers,
came out Of their elevator houses
ard down into Harlem during the
riots, TO urge, with the best inten-
tons in the world. that the rnobs
stop breaking windows and 60
home. lots Of the rioters did not
even know who they were. And
others OF them said, "Boo-oo-o. Go
home yourself
II is, ] should imagine. nice 70 be
smart enough and lucky enough 10
be among DR. Dubois talented
tenth and be a race leader and 60
10 the symphony concerts and live
on that attractive rise of bluff and
parkway along upper Edgecombe
avenue overlooking the Polo
Grounds. where the plumbing really
works and The ceilings are high and
airy. For just a few thousands a
year ore can live very we'll on
Sugar Hill in house with White
l.,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
THE WEEKLY DIGEST
DOWN UNDER IN HARLEM

don't try any more. S.um-shocked,
] reckon.
Hitler in Berlin. Bad kids in Har-
lem. Indignation in the mayors
Office. Also or Sugar Hill. Louis
Jordans records: I'm gonna move.
outskirts OF town.. Barbecued ribs,
quarter Sign: DON'T ASK FOR
CREDIT-HE'S DEADI Riots. Long
discussions downtown about form
ing more committees 20 make more
surveys for more reports for more
detailed study by more politicians
before taking action on conditions
in Harlem.
Sign over the barbecue counter:
WE CAN'T PAY OUR BILLS WITH
TRUST! CAN YOU? Tha. sign, OF
course. IS in reference 10 credit for
sandwiches. II has nothing 10 do
with the democratic system. II
simply means that IL you haven
! got quarter. you don: eat.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

in. and that is where the rub" came
in no uncertain terms.
In March 1912 the National Hous-
ing Agency through the WPA made
sample study Of vacancies in
dwelling units OF Baltimore The
gross vacancy rates were 90 per
cent among dwellings for white &C.
cupancy and only o. per cent
among those available for Negroes
The government stepped into the
emergency and proposed through
the Federal Public Housing Au-
thority 10 build war housing prof.
ect for Immigrant Negro workers
az Herring Run. The site had been
selected by the City Plan Commits
sion in consultation with housing
officials.
A storm Of protest from white
residents In and out Of the area and
from real-estate interests. civic and
political groups. broke forth and
blocked the project. The vacillation
Of city. state. and national govern
ment officials has completely sly
mied any progressive solution Of the
housing problem In Baltimore.
Ironically enough Herring Run
would only accommodate several
hundred Negro war families. and
would only be one step In the right
direction.
A look al an Geological map OF
Baltimore will indicate that Ne
groes live in every section OF the
city. Whenever they attempt "a
move into areas adjacent TO those
in which they reside. they are
hemmed in by restrictive covenants
and neighborhood pscts. Further
more. when Negroes seek 10 live on
vacant land areas or even when
the government selects such sites.
the opposition. whish is backed by
powerful political action. prevents
any constructive move.
IL Is this hopeless dilemma that
has placed Baltimore on the list
Of critical cities where a race riot
may break at any moment II II
does come, the housing impasse can
he put down, rs the number one
cause. .
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
MARRIED BLISS
Two old friends each other in twenty

Two old friends who had each other in twenty
years redscovered another in the Marshall Field Book
Department the other day. Great you joe doomed
them Il suppose you married man with children
this time No said the other Il afraid never took
the plunge Joe you be crazy said the first one
guess you just don't realize what it means to be married
Take me- for instance. come home every night from a
hard day at the office beautiful. comfortable
APARTMENT NV wife is waiting hand my slippers and
evening paper Then she out TO the Kitchen COOKS
luscious dinner She that with my favore queur
plants me in my easy chair by the fire and hands me
pipe Then she washes the dishes Finally, she comes and
snuggles side and to talk She talks and talks
and talks, and talks. wish she'd drop dead.
Saturday Review OF Literature
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

external tyranny; and they believe
tina. the world mus; make a similar
effort - fight underrourishmen'.
disease and unemployment. They
may be silenced for time when
the peace comes. But they will not
long maintain their obligations TO
the "democracies" Z they do not
receive the benefits. Nor will they
tolerate p,acidlv the old Christian"
race determinations The world is
predominantly colored and these
colored people are in the coming
days going to challenge the old
white bastionS Of privilege. They
are going 10 walk UP and share in
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
OBSCENE?

It's told that some time age .
group Of postoffice department.
nabobs, sitting In censor session On
Esquire's varVs girls. had ushered
int their presence . young man.
carting . portfolio. After customary
greetings, the young man emp<ied
his portfolio and displayed the CEN
tents before the official criticA The
critics studied the drawings, turn
ing them this way and that then
after minutes Of careful scrutiny.
one Of them remarked:
Il don't see anything obscene
about these"
why the devil should there be?"
asked the surprised ysung man.
These are drawings Of . heIicep-
teri
Chicago Daily Wsrld
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

through are accurate, il does
mean that the Navy is aware
Of some matters and is devising
end following a policy OF cor,
rection.
We all know that the Navy
has been in the "doghouse"
with Negroes from the very
beginning. In the first place it
Is dominated by white south
erners. In the second place Ne
gro boys have been barred
from Annapolis whereas they
have not been barred COM
pletely from West Point. In the
third place, the Navy used Ne
grOes only as mess attendants.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

which began its work in 1909,
is recognized as having done
more than any other group to
secure the equal protection of
the Constitution and other laws
for Negroes. This work is Of
course still unfinished.
AS suggested, a part of the
work o. this powerful organiza-
ton is to secure compliance with
the Constitution and its amend
ments. Those sections of the laws
Of the land which guarantee
equality Of opportunity to men,
bers of minority groups were on
the way to becoming dead letter
laws. before the NAACp stenned
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
The SYMPATHY eAMBIT

A great many army wives. keep
ing the home fires burning fer Z. s.
soldiers In England. Are regular
readers Of the army Newspaper
Yank. which their husbands send
back from sverseaa Last week the
ladies themselves were burning
at Yank's playful soldier editors.
The paper has been printing lessons
In French for the men who expect
10 invade France. In one lessen they
were told exactly hsw 70 say. MY
wife does net understand me-
Time
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
UNDER THE HILL Is
A DIFFERENT STORY

But under the hill on Eighth
avenue. on Leaox, and on Fifth
there are places Ike this-dark, un-
pleassn. houses with steep stairs
and narrow hills. where the rooms
are too small, The ceilings too low
and the rents too high. There are
apartments with dozen names over
each bell. The house is fell Of ROOM
ers. Papa and mama sleep in the
living room. the kids in the dining
room, dodgers in every alcove, and
everything bu; the kitchen is rented
out for sleeping Cooking and meals
are rotated in the kitchen.
In cast sections below the hill.
neighborhood amusement centers
after dark are gin mills. candy
stores tha; sell King Kong land
maybe REFERS. drug stores that
sci. gerorimoes-dope tablets-to
juveniles for popping up cokes. pool
halls where gambling is wide open
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
CAMPING IN GEoRGA

As we climbed the stairs Of .
northbeund Fifth avenue bus the
other day. . red-haired corporal
was directly behind us- We made
for the front seat q the bas but
the conductor stopped ~. Kindly
take . seat In The rear" he said.
and let the soldier get . view Of
New York"
That's not necessary. suh." said
the soldier. ALIVE seen New York.
An was ben hyah. pal"
"Yeu sure don't sound like IT,"
said the conductor. The solder said.
ALIVE been stationed In 0ee'gia
fe'teen months. pal"
Pm
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

T,HE QUESTIONS that have been raised by sew
eral young people, both colored and white
during the NAACP membership campaign are the
cause Of what follows. Many of these persons seem
unaware how much worse off they would be today
If there had been no NAACP. This organization,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
GOGGlES FOR COWS

An inventor In Brasil applies for
. patent on green goggles TO be
worn by dairy cows. the expecta-
tlon being that = bespectacled COW
will take dry hay for fresh green
grass and consume her fill Of u.
thereby maintaining high produc-
ton I'm winter.
New York Times
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03
A TRIBUTE TO Jimmie NOOhE

beautiful little thee-year-oH
daughter, to lay their heads.
That was my last column for the
Los Angeles Daily News. But, alas.
il did not bring the Noone family
a home.
So. soon after coming out here,
Mrs. Noone and the youngsters had
TO pack up and 60 back to Chicago.
All this was not only an immense
expense to Jimmie. Il hurt lot
He'd had a little difficulty with his
heart, functional rather than or
ganic. growing out OF the trials OF
the depression years. Then he'd
gone on tour. had landed with a
new band in Los Angeles, had been
an overnight sensation, and Bruins
wick had issued a Jimmie Noone
album which sold Ike hot cakes.
But all the rebuffs in trying to find
home had caused the old cardiac
! ailment TO recur. Each time he'd
think he had a place rented, the
deal would blow UP and leave jim
ME tired and bewildered.
HAD PRAISE FOR
OTHER MUSICIANS
The ticker" began to suffer. Then,
the first week in February, this
year. Jimmie finally rented house
and wired Rita and the youngsters
10 come back. He took me out tc
the house and showed il 10 me
proudly on Sunday. Feb. 6, just be-
fore I interviewed him on a radio
program l then had.
I'd been al burned up over Benny
Goodman being ranked above Jim
ME as Americas No. jazz clari
netist by Esquire and b Downbeat
But Jimmie refused TO accep. mN
notion that this was unfair. HI
went on the air and spoke beauti
fully OF Benny Goodman as a grea
artist and a great man, ard SaiC
no one but God knew who wa
better or best IN anything.
That was Jimmie Noone for you
Right after that. there were NOR,
delays about getting his family bael
10 Los Angeles. But finally IL wa
accomplished. Then things began 4
break better.
Orson welles. who considere,
Jimmie nothing short Of a seniu,
had him head up a group OF New
Orleans Negro musicians associate,
with the birth OF Jazz on his Wed
nesday night national broadcast.
The others were "Zutty" Singleton
"Bub" Scott, Kid" Dry, Mutt
Carey. Ed Garland and Buster
Wilson.
Then two movie companies bi,
FOR Jimmie and his own band 4
play in pictures. Things were pick
ing up. Jimmie was happy and ex
cited. and played as II he wer
inspired. with his band al IN
Streets Of Paris cafe. He and othe
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-03

star, with a ballad, the rest then
going into recitation. In the old
vaudeville way. Their penalty for
needing his advice was 10 be called
70 Holly wood 70 make The Great
American Broadcast" for which
they got $4,000 Their record sale
is now second 10 Bing Crosby's.
We're so buzzard. though. that
the only time we got 10 60 up %
Decca's TO muzzard some ruxzards
is at midnight after the shuzzard'
says Watson.