davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

swer which was way above her head in that it
was too advanced for her kindergarten ignorance
OF racial discrimination.
Little wonder that with tears standing in her
eyes and looking angry enough to strike some
body, she left Immediately after.
My purpose in relating this incident is not to
criticize the members of the audience. of which
i was one. Neither is il to criticize the persons
who were on the platform. / only wish to call
attention to a couple of matters which many of
us, including myself, too. often overlook. One Is,
that except in a select audience where we know
that the persons are already informed we must
always be prepared TO explain patiently TO some
newcomer the simplest fundamentals. Many of us
also have habit Of assuming that other persons
know as much about particular problem as we
do. On the subject of race relationships we ask
white persons who don't even know their racial
ABCs to get the facts through reading. We for
get that the things which to us are plain as day
are actually very difficult for the beginner to
grasp. Even doctors sometimes fall into this habit
by using high sounding language. All Of which
means nothing to the patient no matter how edu-
Gated he may be in other lines.
The woman we have referred to was not only
q beginner; but as you can see she had lot to
Eunlearn Undoubtedly she is typical of millions
of Americans who although learned in other ways,
know practically nothing about the widespread
discrimination against Negroes. They could ask
100 equally dumb questions. However, if these
persons, most Of whom are fair-mnded and decent
individuals only had the correct information, their
eyes would be opened and their attitudes would
change. So would their actions. And they would
insist upon more democratic practice for all citi-
zens. This column has often pointed out the
lationship OF Ignorance and prejudice.
When, for example. at that meeting one Of the
speakers had stated that most white church mem
bers not yet ready TO 60 along with their more
advanced leaders, he was, take IT, talking about
persons uniformed as the woman under dis
cussion! These persons need information OF the
most elementary kind, before they accept the
more advanced. This must continue giving
them even while we are waging our many battles
for democracy in housing employment, recreation,
politics and education.
The NAACP has been doing this for years
through its publicity releases The Urban League
does il through its publications and 50 do many
other organizations. But this is not enough Every
organization and every individual must shoulder
the increasing responsibility for imparting obvious
but unknown acts 10 the ignorant. Just how can
this best be done? What are your ideas?-
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

of asking question. But I'm wandering of the
subject!
The woman sitting in the last row raised her
hand she, too had a question-one which was
different from the Others for it revealed an abys-
nal and shocking ignorance Of the difficult prob
o lens which hourly beset the lives Of her coored
brothers Why she asked, don't colored people
90 out and build their own homes and recreation
places and 60 into business for themselves? If they
ere so badly treated why don't they do these
things for themselves" For such an ignorant
question she was laughed at. To think that any
body could be so dumb.
Another member of the audience took il upon
himself to answer the lady's question This he
Gid with command of vocabulary and display of
knowledge which would have done justice to the
exposition of a learned college professor. He
talked Of the difficulty OF Negroes taking over the
steel trust, and the impractcality OF taking
other big business for Negroes only" He did
swell job-but he said nothing Of the common day
to-day barriers which impede every effort Of Ne
Groes 10 help themselves. He forgot that the facts
which TO him were elementary that everybody
ought TO know them, were the very simple facts
that the lady needed 10 know. When he finished,
the audience, except for the lady, applauded. The
things he had said so well, informed people knew.
hutfed first OF all by being laughed at Here, OF
her own free will, she had come to an interracial
meeting which was advertised as open 10 the
public. II probably her first. Unlike some
white people, she was willing 10 receive infor-
nation. In her ignorance she asked for il. But in
return, she received not only ridicule but an an
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
THE WATCHTOWER B, ROY WILKINS

the party repudiates the Texas primary decision
Of the Supreme Court ~ the party repudiates
Roosevelt policies the Negro in general and
CD the party repudates the anti-poN tax fight by
northern and border states.
Texas has advanced practically the same plat
FORM eiccting two sets Of delegates 10 the national
convention, one for Roosevelt and one for white
supremacy.
Meanwhile IN the Senate IN the next week or
ten days il not sooner, the Anal test on the Negro
will come up before conventions and the election.
That will be on the budget OF S5000o0 for the
FEPC. II the Democrats n,uf this one they will
lose valuable necessary support. II the Republi-
cans fail 10 support the appropriation. they will
have another black eye The COP cannot tell 10
million black people that the party is for" them
and al the time vote 10 let prejudice de-
termine whether man shall have job 10 feed his
family.
So brothers and sisters don't let anyone tell you
the Negro vote Is not important this year and that
the parties worrying mostly about the invasion
strikes. or something. They worrying abou;
these things. but they have eye the dark
American, also. They are wondering how much
he will stand for.
II this columnist could venture Wild guess Il
is that Negroes would be high the Roosevelt
bandwagon. waving flags and shouting EXCEPT
that they cannot swallow his Dixie followers They
still for Roosevelt; against any other candi-
date. but Unless the Roosevelt camp makes
couple OF positive moves in their direction 10 show
that the RanknS are not in absolute control they
may forsake the Squire OF Hyde Park
The Republicans. II they were not SO anxious 70
recruit Dixie demagogues 10 defeat Roosevelt
might make few moves 10 really convince Ne
GroeS Of their sincerity As of today the Admin
istration has the upper hand by slight margin,
but II can lose
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

Rankin with the declared purpose Of maintaining
white supremacy. Senator Taft OF Ohio, one of the
leading Republicans. lectured the southern Dem
oCra,S on the dangers " mixed schools and thus
helped 10 Kill the federal aid TO education bill.
Along came the anti-poll tax bill and the Republi-
cans again gave II the cold shoulder proving love
for the colored brother. Governor Dewey Chimed
in on these shenanlganS, wrapping his arms around
Bilbo and Rankin as a friendly comradc.
The Democrats on an equally hot spot, but
they are making more motions and saying more
right things than the mealy-mouthed COP The
southern wing OF the party is sore as he'll about
the Roosevelt Negro policy" They think II means
social equality which. 10 them, Is the same as
lcproSy South Carolina is up IN arms, hollering
the equivalent Of secession. Mississippi, as might
bc expected, has come forth with threat to send
an uninstructed delegation 10 Chicago unless Cd
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

Learning TO walk the Southern way,
these children's lives were shaped
and twisted by their learning-ss II
their personalities had been placed
in a steel frame within which they
could grow but only according 20
the limits defined by the rigid de-
sign Of the frame.
Strange Fruit Is concerned with
this restricting. gripping frame Of
segregation. yes; but far more with
the children who grow up N il. who
are forced TO bend their love and
their fear, their hate and Their
dreams to It's pattern.
EFT is pattern not Of. the South
only. One finds 1t in every corner
Of the earth. wherever men because
Of their deep trouble try 10 shut
themselves away from each other.
from reality which they feel too
weak 10 face and identify them
selves with. which seems too full Of
danger for them 70 dare TO face.
There is Violence in the book as
there is violence in mems hearts to-
day throughout The world II IS this
violence that We need 20 under
stand. that We need 10 search for
the roots o.. N our own past lives.
For seven years ] wrote Strange
Fruit slowly. carefully. searching
for the answer 10 questions which
had been asking myself al Of my
l!fe-the same questions. perhaps,
that you have asked yourself !
have rot found al Of those answers,
but ! have in the writing Of the
book found a few.
IT Is book FOR men and women
who are able 10 face truth, who are
capable Of change"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

OF Van Cortlandt Park.
Most OF the players and onlookery
are West Indians. There are ten
eleven-man teams in the New York
League. six In the Cosmopolitan.
After a summers play IN Van Cort-
.srdt Park, world series is held
between the leagues in the Randal,s
Island Stadium.
New York-Cosmopoi!.aa cricket
has something OF the quietly gala
atmosphere Of matches az Lords in
London. The teams bearing such
names as Grenada. Windsor, Trini.
dsd) d!sport their fannels, blazers
and visored besries against q back
ground Of picture hats and psrasols.
The crowds applause almost never
Uses ABOVE musical murmur. Be.
tween innings. there Is q tea inter.
val. srs
The equipment IS Britixh-made.
and the best A bat costs $i8. Bat
ting gloves are s. pair. kneepads
$40. The ball costs IS. Because the
fields are no; surfaced for cricket.
each team has - bring its own 20
yard ,ong foer mat SIS apiece to
cover The pitch bowling area. Tho
supply of oalls IS running low but
a Shipment from Britain is expected
. ease the situation.
War has spared the sport because
=. 5 ~ no means young mans
game. The best ba.sman In the
leagues s Cl!h DAILY. a real-estate
salesman n MS +0s. The best wick-
e;keeper IS probably Evans Hackett.
nearing so. One Of the star all.
round PLAYERS IS Edmund Holder.
az elevator man IL his Sos. War
did. however, take the top bowler,
Roy Higgins 4 former shipping
clerk. re IS one Q. twelve Negroes
cow working tor a commission at
ne Great Lakes Naval Training
Station.
Higgins 5owled .o- the Trinidad
cllo, the present holder Of the
championship cup. An all-round
dependable .. the Trinidad team 10
Joseph Cameron, who with Hacke,t
scd Holder vas among the pioneers
% Harlem, cricket sore 80 wears
ago. Cameron and bis brother.
Herr, operators ot ar employment
agency are also leaders In the So
c.sl.y desirable Royal Exiles cricket
SO. "h.ca i rot n the leagues.
TIE Royal Exles are a group OF
~ Harlem Businessmen who PLAY
, ,5- re.axsi.on. occasionally travel 10
Bosom, Newark and Pniladelph!a 10
engage other amateur clubs. The
Cd-ue-orS keep open house for the
crcke. eiec, ~ their place OF bust
ness. Photographs II noted players
cover the walls; OH display In the
T-.r dad trophy cup; In a billiard
room are Kept the wickets. bats ar 4
balls: there or IN the yard al the
rear. ne Rovsl Exlles foregsther %
practice Batting strokes and sx-
caorse tie news OF the erleke,
, ...s1-LA
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
THE WEEKLY DIGEST
PRIkAUS (pEARL) IS THE WORD

nomic struggle OF modern dancerr
who have TO work for months on
ore piece, has forced many talented
and competent dancers out Of the
field.
TO PERFORM FoR TROOPS
You just don't understand The
physical exhaustion and waste OF
energy involved in having to worry
about creating dances az well worry
about how 10 pay for performers.
musicians and costumes. Your mind
Is distracted in one hundred differ.
err. ways"
II only modern dancers could de.
vote their energies 70 dancing alone.
she sighed.
And too many OF them get 50
tangled up that their themes are 4
maze Of Illustrations and triansles."
Miss Primus intends to tour
Southern camps 10 perform for SOL
diers.
AT first felt that didn't want
10 appear in Jim Crow camps but
our Negro soldiers are in need OF
entertainment and that Is the most
important. thing"
Primus Is the Latin word for
"frst." II is also the American dance
term for a foremost dancer.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
A REPUBLICAN, PRAYER

pass me miracle like the one You passed for Tom
Dewey.
Tina, a real miracle, Il say so myself Yes.
Sir Tom got EN- coming and going. He got the
Negroes by pralsing the anti discrimination bills
to the skies. And he got the anti Negroes 10y not
dong anything about them bills.
Toms real Republican, he is.
What's tins You say about 4 Constitutional
Amendment 10 Abolish the Poll Tan? That don't
sound 80 good TO nc. There's something awful per-
manent about a Constitutional Amendment That
getting right down deep into American -.
HoWs that, again
You mean II takes two-thrdS majority in both
houses TO pass a Constitutional Amendment And
in our history 10 such proposed amendments have
passed in the House only 10 fail in the Senate and
Is have passed in the Senate and failed in the
House?
You mean. II Constitutional Amendment is TO
be adopted by the states instead Of by Congress.
requires approval by threequa OF the states?
Lcmme See now; femme do little figuring
Forty-eght StatcS-three-quarters Of EN- make SO
that means Is states can stop ratification
And there eight states that got poll taxes
now and would never ratfy such amendment
That would leave only five states more needed
TO stop the amendment Well. there's Oklahoma
South Dakota. two or three of the New England
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
DEFEAT

BY WITTER BYNNER
On train in Texas German
prisoners eat
With ~hite American soldiers, seat
by seat.
While black American soldiers sit
apart.
The white men eating meat. the
black men heart.
Now. with that other war q century
done,
Not the live North but the dead
South has won.
Not yet a riven nation comes awake.
Whom are we fighting this time. for
Gods sake:
Mark we'll the token Of the separate
seat.
IL is again ourselves whom We
defeat
The New Republic
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

relationships.
1T is a story Of mothers ard sons
in search OF each other; Of brothers
and sisters who remain forever
strangers; OF man and q girl who
love-not according to the rules
their culture dictates. but accord
ing 10 the dreams and fantasies each
child makes up In his heart before
he even knows words and continues
20 tell himself until he dies.
Although the characters are
grown men and women, Strange
Fruit is concerned with childhood.
II is concerned with love and fear
and hate and guilt: feelings tina,
grow SO early IN each OF US that no
one quite remembers their begin
nings; feelings that drive US out into
the world and sometimes back home
again; that nov ard then bar the
door and force Us 70 spend our emo
t!onal lives In the room where We
were born.
The characters could have lived
anywhete They happened to live
IN The South.
And living there. they learned 70
walk. as all Southern children learn
20 walk. in the way OF segregation:
a way that leads not only 10 White
Town bat into Colored Town. not
Only down College street, but down
Back street. over into Mill Town.
on; 20 The farm shsnty. ard into
White Church and Colored Church
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
G.. |. ORGANS

Here am. Deep in the Heart OF
re~as"
Damn IL.
ST. C.S.A.
y !; X
Conditions stink down here In
North Carolina.
BIS, J.S.A.
:: :. :.
am gradually becoming &C
climatiIed and have finally learned
the monetary system. which works
OF the same principle as in the
tSA-it doesn't last long.
MI. England
The Call
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

Perhaps this little action explains
Miss Primas' art.
The young woman who started
her modern dance career three
years sgo and Is now considered
foremost IN the Acid (much 10 her
oTr surprised. considers her work
not form OF entertainment but a
means for communicating the Ne
gro's desire for democracy. To her.
the Negro people want a place IN
American life and she picks her
theme 70 drive the point home.
Miss Primus. OF whom one Of the
slick magazines said "can bounce
like ruober ball. achievement
rarely found In young girls on their
way 10 their masters degree at
Hunter college is what one calls
N the profession a natural Her
wonderful agility, strong stride.
dextrous hands and torso and nat
ural rhythm made her d dancer long
before she leaped onto a stage.
TO GIVE RECITAL
At The present moment. she Is
preparing for a Hunter college re-
c!tsl 10 be held Thursday, June l.,
under the auspices Of the Citizens
Committee of the Upper West Side.
For the first time, she will appear
in a duet with male dancer.
Although az her present dances
deal with themes calling for Negro
characters, Mss Primus hopes 1)me
day 20 have a group Of mixed dane.
srs. She is working hard on he,
solo Our Spring Will Come in
spired by a poem by Langston
Hughes dedicated to the under
ground IN Europe.
Where does Miss Pr.mus &c. her
themes Or this subject she is very
art.culate. Unlike most dancers
= Mss PriHlus can express herse.t
equally well with words as with
movement.
Sometimes rs q poem ira.
prompts a dance idea. sometimes a
speech, letter. something she
reads. For instance. she was very
moved by three-l.re In Nemor;an
notice appearing il the Daily Work.
er which sad: Some other day
We. mourn. There are 100 many
th;rgs 70 be done :oday" SEE pu
he clipping away for future yet
j ererce. .ns
GOES TO THE PEOPLE
She goes into the churches, mar
/ ket places marks ard playp-Ourd
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
TIE GENIUS OF
HARRIET TUBMAN

J think Z; : .rou;c ,ha: tAe story
- Harr.e; Beecse. Stowe appears
on-thc sage While tat " Harg e.
T-eman remains untold. lror.c. ~
Harriet Stowe truly knew he
genius 81 H3~riC; TGbmdv and
meant. sS her croNuirs literary
WORK, 20 do he biography Of Hsr-
r.e; Tu5mar. on, SIC did not I've 10
realize L. lron.c because the WON
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

al who wrote about slavery Is II the
Hal. OF Fame and was recently the
suojec; OF fine Broadway play
while the story OF the woman who
wAs q slave who wang uished slav.
cry. who Is the symbol OF the world
Negro-rena!ns neglected.
Negro culture has made q great
trnpac: on white America. but :here
has been nothing as yet comp red
with the grea: wallop coming. when
the story OF the Negro is az last
portrayed n the theatre AID or the
screen.
HARRIET WILL LIVE
Tee cher day I vas taking T.:h
a modern spiritual descendau: q
Harriet Tubman ttAere are scores
bless 'e:rl-Audley Moore She
came back from Auburn. y. y.
Were Harriet Lived - her declining
days and she tod ne q aer sur
Prise 20 discover what living.
breathing realty Harriet was in
that toWn-30 years after her death.
found that she was rs alive there
IS she was the day before she died
and ] predict that Harriet will be
that alive, all over. some day. For
so long as she lives. she fights. and
so long rs the Negro people keep
her memory alive. THEY fight-and
keep alive their own memory. their
own heritage and history and mean
ing for the future.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

Russia and the post war world.
about the New Deal, about Or
sanized Labor, strikes, Dictator
ship and Montgomery Ward.
Bat they are also talking about
winning, and when il comes 10
winning the election they must
have the Negro vote.
You would not think, from
tie way they have been acting,
that the Republicans really
wanted the vote OF the dark
brother. They have been hug
gng and kissing Rankin and
B.lbo. They went along with
the states rights soldier vote
bill which was engineered hv
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

rs many whites as colored scat
tered through the audience.
The speakers on the platform
had just finished. One of these
during his speech had remarked
that most white church people
are completely uniformed re-
9arding the problem of Negroes.
Then the speakers began an
swering questions put to them
10y members of the audience.
Several questions were asked
and answered. One member of
the audience, as is usual with
al such question periods, insist
cd on making a speech instead
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

70 watch people In their daily do
inss. She searched high and low
for the main movement for Our
Spring Will Come" One day walk
ing on the street. she saw children
playing the game Of statues The
leader called: Be hungry. All the
youngsters fell into poses portraying
hunger. II was there she found the
mood ard movement for her new
work.
The dancer feels that limiting the
art concert audiences is very
wrong" Dances should be created
to be done in large spaces without
theatrical conveniences.
She feels keenly that the eco
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

! comfortable. Th0v notiea1 ~ Ajaod
in anazement and then turned their
backs on her.
But after the second act X was
different story" Miss Burke said.
One Of the girls turned to my
friend and said apolosetically, Isn't
this 4 wonderful play?' and pro-
ceeded 70 talk her ear or"
Miss Burke was silent q minute.
Then she said simply, Think OF the
good the play does right there in
the audience" She has her reasons
FOR wanting every American, white
and black, 10 see Il.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
M0ANING LOUD

49,. Sellers tAttorney General
OF Texas declared the Courts opin-
ion was SO broad that apparently
there was no possible device TO en-
clude Negroes from party primary
elections rs long As the state on the
general election ballot recognizes
the party nominees.
In view Of this opinion. I would
not be surprised 10 see the Jim
Crow law TO next" Sellers asserted.
ZAP dispatch from Austin. Texas.
The New Republic
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
LILLIAN SMITH TALKS ABOUT HER NOVEL

paid Advertisement
Strange Fruit is story, not about ynchng-though
this evil in the book not about poverty and low
wages. cropping wasted land ignorance-though
these too are there.
Strange Fruit story about human beings and their
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
LOST: ONE GREMLIN

The article in last weeks issue
called Harlem Down Under" was
written by Langston Hughes. The
article the previous week or Dewey
was by Arnold Beichman and was
condensed from Common Sense. 10
East 49th street. New York l.. NY.
We're still looking for the srsmlin
who takes authors names from
their articles.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10

I Sky and Q role In the short-lived
The Sun Field" On the side she
played summer stock and appeared
in radio.
She is Jolly and smiling except
when she speaks Of the impact OF
Decision" She believes everyone
should see Il and is doing her part
TO help Recently she gave a ticket
20 her ha!rdreSser.
"It was good seat in the twelfth
row." Miss Burke related. Two
white girls came in and sat down.
They urwrapped themselves from
their fur coats and made themselves
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-06-10
HOUSING SHORTAGE

Printers Ink reports that the
housing shortage in Knoxville.
Tennessee. Is so acute that people
watch the obituary columns Of the
newspapers and call the owners of
houses and apartments as soon A.
vacancies occur. some even watch
the hospital notices.
The Nation