Detroit evening times. (Detroit, Mich) 1921-1958, 1944-12-09
FAIR
ENOUGH
BY Westbrook i
Peeler =


MRS. GEORGIANA SPELVIN.
AVA American, a member or
the Negro branch as it were.
of the Spelvin family, being a
descendant of the Spelvin slaves
who derived their name from
their ancestors owners, took
the stand at the request of the
special committee on social
equality and the following dis
cussion ensued:
Q-(By Senator Nilly)-As I
believe you understand. our
committee is seeking enlighten-
ment on the subject OF social
equality.
A-(By Mrs. Spelvin)-Well,
senator. of course can only
speak for myself but after all.
am SIS years old and ! have
lived In various parts of tho
country anu worked In various
lines, and raised five children
and we have always kept our
home respectable, but since you
ask me IL Is hardly fair to insist
on social equality when you con-
slider some of the trash you
meet I'm the course of a life
time, 80 don't see why any one
can claim social equai1y for
some Of the no-accOunts with
all their messing around and
scandals and you hardly know
from one week 10 another who
they are married to, and then
you take Hollywood and some
celebrated lOw-down actor, he In
counting some little girl and tho
next week he gets the police to
run her out Of town because she
Is going to have a baby. and
then you pick up the paper and
you read where a lot of them
get drunk and one bans another
over the head with a bottle and
bites his nose Oft, and I Just
don't want to grant social equal
ity to
0-tBy Senator Nilly)-I de-
0 sire 10 clarity our purpose
because II is our purpose 10 con-
slider social equality
Ably Mrs. Speivin We'll,
senator, I just mean don't care,
whether they live In exclusive
hotels or they have swimming
pools or even II they get invited
to the White House because
what ! mean. well just don't
think they are the social equals
Of people who behave right and
j don't want them around where
! am and II isn't any matter Of
race prejudice.
O-(By Senator Nilly)-The
VI committee would like 10
underst more clearly
whether you believe in social
equality or
A-(By Mrs. Spelvin)-Well.
senator, socially, I figure We
don't belong TO high class So
ciety and. personally, i am glad
OF IL when you see how they
go helling around expensive
saloons and night clubs and get
into public fights, and you just
look I'm the papers where every
day some Of them are grating
on those big war contracts or
telling lies In their speeches
when We know they are just
telling stories, and even some
Of the women get falling down
drunk and the way they swear
and carry on, why, i certainly
don't feel like want that kind
OF trash In my home where my
children can see such n bad ex-
ample and
Q-tBy Senator Nilly) Then.
may the committee understand
that your position is one of OPP
position TO
A-(By Mrs. Spelvin)-Oppo-
sition isn't exactly the right
word, senator. because / am not
trying to reform the lowdown
white people but ! only say
don't think IL IL fair to pass n
law saying you have TO grant
social equality to the lowdown
types, because ] notice the re-
spectacle white people don't mix
with the trash and I don't see
why you can say respectable
colored people have to grant
them social equality. either, any
more than we have 10 have So
cial equality with lowdown COL
Ored people.
Q-(By Senator Nilly)-
Might / suggest
A-tBy Mrs. SpeIvin) We'll
you can call II equality or any
thing you like. senator. but I am
telling You when we 60 TO the
movies and we see white ladies'
running around half-naked and
near them carrying about
love and then again you read all
gossip about this one IN going to
get a divorce and marry that
one as soon rs she gets her d.
vOrce, and then you remember
that king Of England where his
whole crowd they were just
changing husbands and wives
all the time. well how can you
expect me to say I am I'm favor
OF social equality with such peo-
pie?
Q-(By Senator Nilly)-Have
you any constructive proposals,
Mrs. Spelvin?
A-(By Mrs. Spelvin) NO,
senator. just aim 10 live right
and not steal or cheat or tell