davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
GOOD NEWS

The report issued last week on the state of ra-
cal tension in Detroit is very heartening one Only
minor incident of friction between the two groups
was reported during recent week, the best week
since the June 1913 riot. This state of affairs is
tribute to the agencies working for better race rela-
tons and to the good common sense of the average
Detroiter white and coored, who is refusing to let
overcrowded conditions bad transportation, and all
the minor wartime Inconvenience, all factors which
make for tension, turn him from the task to be done
- production for victory.
No one is so optimistic as to believe that the
fundamental causes of the outbreak last June have
been tackled Bad housing conditions, poor recrea-
tiona facilities, intolerance and lack of understand
ing of the Negroes problems still with us as are
all the conditions mentioned above which resulted in
part from the large influx of migrant workers OF both
races Intelligent postwar planning must take into
consideration all these factors we'll as the most
pressing one of all - the matter of full employment
for all workers seeking job.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02

colored USO directors. The prob
lens Of Negro directors have been
different and greater in number
than those OF white workers: Ne
gro directors, on the other hand.
have had TO break down walls Of
prejudice and public Indifference
on the part of Negroes as we'll as
withstand in some cases actually
have had 10 create a social mileu
in which they could work" Mr..
Redding writes.
In the South the USO directors
have had also TO lift the level and
stabilize the status Of the Negro
community and 10 bring about the
mutual white and Negro tolerance
so necessary to democratic growth"
In the North. the East and the West
Mr.. Redding states that the direc-
tors have been working toward in
tegration and cooperation with
whites. Mr.. Redding takes the USO
as he finds il and hopes not to 60
into the question of the merit OF
setting up separate USO centers in
places like Detroit and other North
ern cities where a great step might
have been taken toward under
standing and mutual tolerance had
there been no separate Jim-Crow
center.
Another point TO be considered
as we'll is the fact that in Detroit
as elsewhere the Negro center Of
fers far less service TO the men in
uniform than does the imposing
white one.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
We, 1hs-
Negro

THESE ARE TINES when Ne
groes of the world must be alert
g.. They must keep their eyes
and ears open TO everything in ma
tional and international politics and
diplomacy involving them and their
future The end OF the war in
Europe looms in the background
=. and with il looms the problems
OF the post war world The
time is now. for profound thinking
and high craftsmanship on the part
of black leadership.
| have been following with keen
interest the peace talks which
opened this week at "Dumbarton
Oaks have noted the hi. Oh
sounding phrases and read the
"holier than thou speeches of
the representatives in attendance
/ listen TO the profession Of all
that they fight for right. justice and
fair play for the preservation
of civilization and the protection Of
all mankind But have no il
lusions-nobody is honestly fighting
today for these things II IS the
same old fight all over again for
privileged existence--for the right
of a few to exploit the many and
direct their destinies.
WE SEE THE LEADERS OF the
worlds powerful nations at Dunn
barton Oaks" insisting on main
tanning their empires by force Of
arms-and msneuvering 10 "gobble
W" the lands Of the weaker
From the program that is bsing
mapped out now, for a long time
TO come mankind can expect politi-
cal chaos social chaos q. I.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02

and economic chaos So long as peo-
pie are trampled down and empires
are built upon the blood and bones
OF human beings We need not hope
Tor a peaceful world And un-
I'll we have peaceful world We
will not inherit the real thing for
which we strive which is A
state OF existence that Will enable
us TO attain the ideal The ideal
itself for which mankind strives is
human liberty - human Justice -
and an honorable conduct Of an or
derby and humane society
Achieve these things in the world
and a durable peace follows nat
urally as matter OF course
Until our "Dumbarton conferences"
our Leagues Of Nations and
our post war talks lay the founda-
ton for the achievement Of this
ideal, mankind Will have no peace
il matters not how many wars are
fought As the plans OF the new
world order have been outlined So
far are 90 have a rule OF force.
until mankind revolts again and
starts out in search Of liberty and
justice
IN THESE TRYING DRYS ahead.
the Negro must be prepared 10 con-
test his every step He must be pre-
pared 10 meet the tests Of this
postwar world Difficult prob
lens will face us We must
face them calmly, fearlessly. and
with undaunted courage With
hearts aglow and souls on fire, we
must be prepared 10 stand in the
world with other men and make the
supreme sacrifte II neccssa-v. FOR
all TO which We are justly entitled
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02

straight Negroes may be repre-
sented for the first time on the
international board.
That statement issued by DR.
Claiming Tobias must have given
Republican campaign heads head
ache Always a straight shooter
DR. Tobias pulled no punches. He
didn't say all was rosy in the
Democratic camp but he saw Mrs.
Roosevelt over, there for one thing
and his experience with Governor
Dewey on that anti-discrimination
committee had soured him there.
Speaking of Republican head
aches the powers that be must
have felt like scolding c. B. Pow
ell after that interview with him
came out in PM PM which is in
the Roosevelt corner quoted Pow
ell as saying Republicans had never
done anything for Negroes. The
reporter made the good doctor seem
right confused.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
A FREE PARIS


News Of the liberation Of Paris brought deep
sense of thanksgiving to millions the world
last week With the joyful news there came too a
solemn sense of the difficult path that still lay ahead
of the Allied fighting men, 1t highly fitting and
significant in the light of French history that Paris
should be freed from Nazi oppression by her own
people. Although il developed the news of the
fall of Paris slightly premature, yet it was to
the French patriots that most credit must be given
for the surrender of the capital A correspondent
describing the fierce fighting centered in Paris his
toric He de "a Cite wrote that not since the days of
the Revolution when The Paris mob stormed the Bas-
tile had such fury been unleashed in Paris.
The French people have an illustrious history
Of culture and since the Revolution of freedom and
democratic government based on the principles of
equality, fraternity and liberty. Names like Mon
tesquieu, Jean-Jacques Rousseau, Votaire, Diderot
and the other 18th century Encyclopedias are i'm
portant in the growth of the democratic ideal not
only in France but in this country well. The men
who drafted our Constitution were familiar with the
works Of these Frenchmen and were influenced by
their pleas for freedom for all men.
Frances democratic traditions were we'll illus
trated by her treatment of coored peoples who found
little prejudice there. DR.. Ralph Bunche of
Howard university, writing in 1886 of France and
her colonial policy had this to say: There is no
real color line in France and none in her colonies
though individual instances of prejudice and dscrim-
ination may be encountered in both places" In this
war at her darkest hour when the government in
Paris had surrendered the late Felix Eboue native
and Governor General of French Equatorial Africa,
was the first to rally to the Free French movement
Today native leaders have a voice in. Free French
councils During General de Gaulle's recent visit to
this country number of Negro reporters at his
press conference heard him praise the record of the
fighting colonials and promise them eventual self
government
Frances treatment of her colonials, and partic-
ulary of her colonial elite, was such that e r
loyalty in her grave crisis not unexpected Ac-
cording to DIR. Bunche There are exceptions, of
course but the whole can be said that the colo
mails of African descent of no other nation including
the British West Indian Negroes, evidence spirit
of loyalty and cordially toward the peoples of the
dominant country equal to that expressed by the
French Negro elite" Today these subject people
who have fought bravely and contributed to the
strength of the Free French Movement may we'll look
forward to new era - not one of special privilege
for the colonial elite but for the masses as we'll No
country more than France which has felt the full
power of Naz oppression should be more ready to
listen to the just demands of her native peoples for
full seH-government in the near future.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02

given In an army camp shall be
denied TO any member stationed at
that camp because Of his race and
color. For a long time. many out
standing actors have protested
against the fact and they were de-
MED the right to perform for all Of
the soldiers In = given camp. Many
Of the soldiers came home and told
their parents and friends of this
nasty little discriminatory policy
carried on by the army. II served
no purpose except to increase the
distrust Of democracy and dcmoc-
racys army. In many instances,
weak souled individuals would ask
for what they were fighting when
they read or heard Of this little
dirty policy of discrimination in
the army camps.
The army people. generally, have
not discussed this new order from
Major General Ulio. They say that
the order was not for publication,
but was FOR army people exclusive
~. However. ut Maxwell Field the
commanding officer called together
his army personnel and civilian
personnel. and read the order 10
them. Upon hearing the order.
some Of the civilian workers Quit
their Jobs in army post exchanges
Maxwell Field Is located near
Montg emery. Ala.
II the army. backed up by the
great majority OF American people.
can take this step in the matter OF
discrimination, il has already pre-
pared itself 10 take every step neces-
sary TO rid the army OF every ves-
tige OF race discrimination. II be-
comes the task OF all lovers Of
democracy 10 see 10 IL by every
thing that they can do that race
discrimination is eliminated from
every part OF our armed services.
This Is a big order, but II must be
fulfilled IL We are to continue 20
develop along the democratic lines.
This little meaEre order from Major
General lilo should serve 10 saw 10
the struggling masses of our people
that change Is possible. and Is pos
sible only when we the people con-
tinue to be concerned about In
justice and discrimination wherever
IL Is found.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02

troit is totally unrealistic one Bigger and better
ghettoes for Negroes will only result in greater frc
ton between the races a period of time Here
as elsewhere the Negro resident deserves the right
to home wherever his means permit him to buy or
rent Government financed housing should be open
to all regardless of race creed These simple
democratic principles which would be followed as
matter of course in democracy. Failure to follow
these principles does not alter their democratic char
acter but only weakens our democracy.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
5 THE FACTS
) m OUR NEWS

ARMY ISSUES ORD Z X 5
AGAINST DISCRIMINATION. :. e.
Our War Department on July 8 Is
sued directives against discrimina-
ton I'm all army camps where thh
discrimination has been practiced
In post exchanges. Post exchanges
will need some explanation for the
layman to get 4 clear picture Of
what Is meant. A post exchange Is
where soldiers buy some OF the
necessities of life, such as Ice cream,
cigarettes. moving picture houses.
recreation. and the like. II also
includes transportation In trucks
and buses owned by the govern
ment. The army has issued an order
that In no camp operated by the
War Department shall there be dis
elimination In the post exchanges.
This order Is important even though
Il does not hit at the basic methods
OF discrimination carried on in our
armed forces. Post exchanges dis
elimination have been the little
gnats." and nasty little "gnAts" they
are. that have been getting In the
morale eyes Of Negro soldiers.
The order says that post ex-
changes must not be reserved at
any time for the exclusive rights
of any group within the armed serv-
ices Of the United States because
this group happens to be OF a GER
tain race, color or religion. The
value OF this order lies in the fact
that groups OF people throughout
Major General James A. Ulio 10
deal with this matter Of discrlmina-
ton on post exchanges ever since
the beginning OF the war Major
General Ulio has usually side
stepped the issue on the grounds
that the army practiced the Gus
toms prevailing IN given locality.
This was silly, OF course. from the
beginning. The general now issues
an order TO the effect that there
shall be no discrimination in army
post exchanges, the prevailing Gus
tom of race discrimination among
the civilians Notwithstanding
This order ought To give courage
to Negroes who are fighting for
equality and decency in American
life.
In many camps. especially In the
South. movie actors, singers and en-
tertainers generally would 20 to a
camp expecting to perform TO all
of the soldiers In that camp. Many
times thousands Of Negro soldiers
in the camp would be denied the
pleasure Of seeing these perform
ances. The order says further, In
this regard, that no performance
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
THE CHRONICLER
By CONFUCiUS

SN<s<se~SS~e->~~~~~~s~~~s~~
The Rev. Marshall Shepard OF
Philadelphia got that $4,000 poll
teal plum when he was appointed
recorder OF deeds for the District
OF Columbia 10 succeed the late
Dr.. William J. Thompkins Shep-
ard. longtime Democratic politico
from Philly. has been member
OF the state legislature as well as
a power in local affairs.
The Rev. Shepard reminds Con-
fucius that the minister in politics
is purely Negro phenomenon.
Just offhand there are the Rev.
Powell in New York, the Rev.
Shepard in Philly, our own Rev.
White. all pretty important in their
own bailiwicks. Then there are
the good bishops who have long
welded power in politics like the
newly-wed Bishop Ransom and
Bishop Wright Vho was influen-
tal in Democratic circles during
the last campaign.
most influential Negro woman
title. Mrs. Beulah Whitby, got
some much deserved publicity In
the dailes last week. In poise
and graciousness Confucius thinks
she already rates first place. It's
a good sign when someone who
talks straight like she does is in
a strategic position like hers.
The local brethren and sisters
are getting ready TO leave for the
JAW Convention in Grand Rapids
where a lot OF important issues
are 10 be settled. Confucius hope;
they'll forget AL that factionalsm
which made the last convention
disappointing spectacle II they
get that vice presidential thing
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
THE DIGNITY
OF LABOR
BY RTTH TAYLOR


When We speak of the dignity OF
labor Just what do We mean? The
dignity Of man or the dignity of
his work? After all why should
we differen,ia'e? Wherein does the
difference lie?
To many people the dignity OF
work is what separates the busy
man from the idler, the thoughtful,
serviceful man from the drone
But when they think Of the dignity
of labor they mean the dignity of
those who work with their hands
We are all Wnrkers-With the
tools which We are best equipped
TO use. whether they be a pair
Of trained, skilled hands or a dis
ciplined and agile brain
II takes all types of toll 10 keep
the wheels of industry running
smoothly. We need doors plus
thinkers. acton plus planning. We
need men Of vision who can look
ahead-if there IS 10 be work in
the future. and We need men who
can put those visions into prac-
tice. We need constructive thought
plus coordnlted effort.
Today all types Of workers have
TO get together and stay together
if We wish our American way OF
life 10 be retained. Each is en-
tirely dependent upon the welfare
of the other. For one 10 profit
at the expense of the other would
be fatal TO both What is needed
is an ordered opportunity 70 serve
and a just reward for service for
all men.
There is dignity in both Work
and Labor But the dignity lies
not entirely n what is accomplished
but in the spirit in which the task
is undertaken We need men with
an infinite capacity for not know
ing what can't be done, for stick
ing TO the job through good times
and bad, for not giving up when
the going gets tough.
We have learned in this war what
Work and Labor mean and what
they can do in cooperation. When
the blessed day Of peace arrives,
we Will have TO do, with the same
zeal and ardor, the bigger job OF
demonstrating our high standards
Of living. The war has proved
that unemployment is unnecessary.
that We can, If We try--and If we
invest but a small fraction OF what
the destruction Of war coSts-bring
in an era ot prosperity, based on
constructive productivity, that viii
surpass anything ever before
known.
This is the task that is before
Labor-and Copital-one worthy OF
il, the doing Of which viii bring
dignity and honor to the doer.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
~ BOOK NOTESk4
GERTRUDE SCOTT MARTIN

A new Public Affairs pamphlet.
The Negro In America" by Max
we'll S Stewart The Public Affairs
Committee. Inc, New York City;
l0c) is a summary Of "An Ameri-
can Dilemma" the two volume
study on the Negro problem by
Gunnar Myrdal Mr. Stewart does
a good job OF bringing out some Of
the most important points in the
book in this short pamphlet The
Public Affairs committee 20 date
has published 95 pamphlets on
various subjects dealing with ma
tional and world affairs. Some OF
the titles Of espccia interest to Ne
groes are The Negro and the War"
The Races of Mankind" why
Race Riots" The South's Place in
the Nation" What About Our
Japanese Americans" Many OF the
other titles are equally important:
Freedom From Want: A World
Goal" "Reconversion - The Job
Ahead" Doctors. Dollars and Dis
ease," Prostitution and the War,
etc.
y X X
Golfers Weekly is currently run
ming in serialized form a story Of
the love of a Canadian girl for a
Jewish lawyer and the opposition
Of her parents-particularly her
father to the match 1t Is the first
time | have seen such direct treat
ment of the problem of anti-Semit-
ism in any of the popular mass cir
culation magazines Called Earth
and High Heaven" the story is
more or less typical OF magazine
fiction but il is worth reading for
its authors treatment of her SUBJ
ject.
X X x
Here's a New Thing Altogether"
an article by J Saunders Redding
in the Angus Survey Graphic tells
Of the important new work being
done in many communities by the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
Ethiopia Envoy
Meets Sec'y Hull

WASHINGTON. - (ANP) - The
Ethiopian minister, Flotta Ephrem
T. Medhen, met with Secretary of
State Hull on Tuesday morning to
discuss routine matters"
He is understood to have in
formed Mr. Hull that the Ethiopian
government would assume respon-
sibility for the operation Of the rail-
road. water facilities and other pub
lie works on and after Aug. Is when
his governments treaty with Great
Britain was abrogated.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
Negroes Publish
1874 Newspapers

WASHINGTON. D. CAMP
One hundred s.xty-four Negro
newspapers with a combined av-
erage circulation for IA Of them
amounting 10 l6l3.255. were being
published in g states and the Dis
trict OF Collin oia. according 10
a survey made in 1913 by the bu-
reau OF the census Twenty cities
accounted for So or 35.4 OF these
newspapers
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
SOLDIERS SEND MONEY

CINCINNATI. Ohio. - Apprecia-
ton for the constant fight that the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement Of Colored People has
waged through the years was evil
denced this week by the spirit and
contribution Of Negro soldiers in
the South Pacific.
Contributions totalling $4,000
were just received by NA.AC.P.
from service men in the Paciac
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-02
PRIZE FOR FIRST BALE COTTON

MAGNOLIA, Ark.-tANP) - Err
nest Thompson. Negro who raised
the first IA bale OF cotton for Co.
lumbia county. was given a pre-
MUM which totaled $50 last week
as the bale was placed in the Mid
South Cotton association at S2i.55
cents per pound.
Evening star., 1944-01-26

At the press conference \ ro-
mance-seeking reporter asked, ITS
it true, Miss Pons, that Mr.. Kos
telanetz proposed to you 13 times
before you accepted?"
Lily Pons laughed and shrugged
answering, That is what they say
in the papers
"And If 1t is in the paper, how
can we cast refiection?" amended
affable Andre Kostelanetz with q
grin.
The French opera star and her
conductor husband are in Wash
ington for their joint concert to-
morrow with the National SYM
phony Orchestra at Constitution
Hall.
But do you really call each other
before beginning performance, nc
matter how far apart you are?'
persisted the interviewer.
1t was, of course, sometimes diff
ficult to make connections these
days, the coloratura said. 81
Someone pulled two chairs to-
gether for Miss Pons and Mr.. Kos
telanetz to occupy during photog-
raphs. The first photographer re-
moved one.
Gould you sit on the arm Of her
chair?" he requested. The maestro
sat on the arm.
How about putting your arm
around her?"
The conductor declined gently but
firmly g.,
+ "A little cheesecake?" surrepti-