davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
NEW HOUSING

1t was announced last week that the National
Housing Agency has launched new housing pro-
gram which will relieve the present shortage in the
Detroit area. We welcome this move on the part
of the MIA as a step in the right direction. The
most notable aspect of the program is the open
ing of the y-white development at Willow Run to
Negro occupancy. The spectacle of hundreds of va
cant homes at Willow Run on the one hand and of
hundreds of homeless Negro workers on the other,
finally led the MIA to exercise little common
sense.
Last week, however, at meeting of Willow
Run tenants an official of the Federal Public Hous-
ing Authority the agency which carries out the pro-
grams of the MIA, almost apologized for having to
permit Negroes to live in the empty houses. The
majority of the whites at the meeting voiced no OBJ
lection to Negro occupancy, and the official seemed
to identify himself with the bigoted few who wanted
Willow Run lily-white. This attitude on the part of
housing officials helps strengthen the very forces
which have caused so much trouble and distress in
Detroit
We believe that the housing problems of our
city and of every major city in America will never
be solved until the silly anti-democratic theory of
racial housing is scrapped Jim-Crowism in housing
is not merely unjust and discriminatory, it is thor
oughy impractical in this busy period of American
life. The MIA is beginning to discover that it is
impossible to plan adequate solutions to housing
problems and at the same time satisfy the various
popular prejudices of the people. This is partcu-
arly true in large urban areas where all the races
of mankind have come to make their home.
The plight of Negroes in Detroit has resulted
in great part from official nsistence segregated
housing. No honest student Of the problem will
deny it. What price human beings pay in order to
maintain this principle Of outright bigotry? The
entire community, white and black, suffers in one
way or another Certainly in this period whe n
racism is being repudiated on all sides and demo-
cratic concepts are being championed by force Of
American arms, it is time for Detroit to get in step
with the future.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
s. Sgt. Thomas F, Powell 36ll5655
74lst AAA Gun Bn. Med Oct
APO. No. 928, CO Postmaster
Ta1tfOrpta

s. Sgt Thomas f, Powell 36ll565J
74lst AAA Gun Bn. Med Det
APO. No. 928, co Postmaster
San Francisco, California.
Dear Sirs:
too am another Detroitcr sta
toned somewhere in New Guinea.
Having read some OF the fine letters
sent in by fellow-servicemen, I
thought il would be fitting to inform
you OF my units welfare.
We are a Medical Detachment at.
tached to a we'll known antisircran
gun battalion which will have been
activated nineteen months by the
time this goes 10 press. We have
found il pleasant experience 10 ad.
minister TO the mems medical needs
There is the common saying that
medics have II eaSy-l don't always
agree with that saying.
There have been times when nix.
ing fifteen or twenty miles that thu
medics went through the same trials
and tribulations OF the other mer
but they had 10 continue admins
tering treatment all the same
Therefore, as you can easily imag.
inc. there was no rest for the medi'
cal technician during the entire trip
We are not complaining. but ths
desire to let you know the truth OF
the matter in order that others may
receive better understanding 81
what the medics really have 10 con.
tend with.
Here's hoping to do our best until
victory is ours am,
Sincerely yours,
s. Sgt. Thomas r. Powell.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
~ BOOK NOTES *
GERTRUDE scoTT MARTIN

a short story, Low Sky" in the
collection. 1t is an unpretentious
story of Harlem life which. al
though not as original in conception
as Mr.. Ellison's story. yet is more
successful in its presentation.
Three other short stories by white
authors are also about Negroes:
Trouble Keeping Quiet" by Leon
ard Wallace Robinson; Oak Shad-
ows' by John D. Weaver, and Fin
gers" by Robert Ramsey. The latter
story L. perhaps the best Of the
three but II suffers from too abrupt
ending az well as not too careful
outlining Of the situation and char
acters. II does succeed in giving
good presentation OF the helpless
ness OF the poor Negro in the South.
Mr.. Robinson's story, Trouble
Keeping Quiet" reveals an aware
ness OF the Negro's caution IN a
strange situation and of his eager
ness 10 accept kindness when Of
fered il. Oak Shadows" Is inter-
esting for It's imagery but like the
others falls short Of skillful story
telling.
There are three poems by Lang
ston Hughes-three OF his Madam
poems which do not do their author
justice in my opinion A poem. De-
troit: June l943' by Irwin Stark is
a fine, thoughtful work. The closing
lines Of the short poem give an
idea of his style:
Deep in the cankered crop we
reap.
Deep in the muddy trenches OF
our minds.
Deep in US still the enemy COM
mands"
One of the two plays included in
the collection is Nat Turner by
Paul Peters. Like a number OF the
short stories this play is better con-
ceivei than executed.
Although ii Is hopeful sign that
! such a large percentage OF the ma
| terial in this collection is concerned
with the Negro it is disappointing
| that the writing as a whole is not OF
a higher quality. I have read all OF
the book and the material on the
Negro as would be expected Is OF
more or less the same quality as the
bulk of the writing. In his Intro
duction" Mr.. Seaver points out that
IAN astonishing number of the man.
uscripts received, had to do with
racial injustice In this country;
specifically. with what we call the
Negro problem" when we want 10
avoid being troubled about il UNI
duly Cautiously enough, there were
hardly any that had TO do with the
Jewish problem" and this in a
time of unparalleled catastrophe to
the Jewish people)'
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08

CROSS-SECTION, a collection OF
new American writing edited by
Edwin Seaver. O. B. Fischer Pub
fishing Company. New York: 1914;
$3.50 has number OF stories by
Negro authors or about Negroes.
Perhaps the best Of these is Richard
Wrights The Man Who Lived I'm
derground" although there Is not
a great variation in quality between
the various stories on this theme.
AL are of a fairly high quality but
none is greatly superior to the
others.
Even Richard wright's novelette,
Is vaguely disappointing - for a
number of reasons. Its theme-that
of a man hiding out from the po-
lice reminds the reader OF Bigger
Thomas similar experience. Over
and above the similarity is the fact
that the story does not quite get
over, it is not as effective as a num-
Der of others OF Mr. Wrights short
stories. In The Man Who Lived
Underground" the unreality OF the
experience is greater than the sense
OF the mans fear and the sympathy
which the reader might feel for him
is lost.
Although Native Son" was han
died far more skillfully than the
present story the characters were
composite types rather than indi-
vidualS. In Bigger Mr.. Wright pre-
sented not only the underprivileged
hate-ridden man but also the reac-
tons of the more thoughtful Ne
gro I think that is why the char
acters did not seem consistent
throughout. 1t was the authors gift
for suspense and swift action which
held the readers interest. In The
Man Who Lived Underground
there isn't the same action and the
reader is more aware Of the fact
that this character does not come
alive enough 10 call forth his SYM
pathy or even 10 hold his interest
too closely.
Ralph Ellison who was editor OF
the now defunct Negro Quarterly,
is represented by story about a
young Negro aviator, Flying
Home In il Mr.. Ellison presents
the old and the young Negro and
the fears and reactions OF the two.
The young student pilot Is injured
when his airplane crashes and the
old man talks 10 him while help
is being sought from the nearby
airfield. Into this frame the author
puts the younger mans hopes, as
pirations, and fears and shows how
different his outlook is from that
of the older generation. Yet in the
end in the face of the cruelty of a
white man, the two are united. The
idea for the story vas an excellent
one but here. too, the author seems
10 have failed 10 bring his people
alive. One knows that Todds reac-
tons are those Of many young
Negro flier and they need 10 be
written about, but Todd himself is
not real.
Carl Ruthven Oxford, author OF
the novel, The White Face" has
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08

At Duke Hospital DR.. Kenneth l..
Pickerell. associate In surgery In
charge Of plastic surgery, Is con-
Quoting experiments TO develop
tattooing ~ an aid In plastic surgery.
The purpose IL 10 give . natural
color to skin grated from other
parts Of the body on the face. Lips
and eyebrows may be simulated.
One patient had skin grated on his
chin, but could grow no beard. Now
he has tattooed embryonic whiskers.
II will take some time 10 tell how
long the tattooing will remain on
the skin without fading.
N. Y. Times
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08

is the time for some organized eff
fort toward calling attention TO the
great loss America suffers by dis
eliminating against he Negro doc
tor.
Who can ever tell how much
America has lost by discriminating
against the NEGRO doctor?Refusins
them admittance 10 the best hos
pitals-ani the best schools Once
ne NEGRO doctor has completed his
raining he must have the oppor-
'ani'ics offered by good hospitals,
ust as white doctors. The man who
carries within his brain the power
% cure Some Of our most deadly
diseases nay ~ IN very time be
u Nero doctor. handicapped az the
gas!4e.s If pgejud.ee-Who knows7
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
FASCISM DEFINED

A Fascist II one whose lust for
money or power Is combined with
such an intensity Of intolerance
toward those Of other races. parties,
classes. religions, cultures, regions
or nations a. TO make him ruthless
In his use Of deceit or violence TO
attain his ends. The supreme god
Of q Fascist TO which his ends are
directed may be money or power;
may be . race or . class; may be .
military clique or an economic
group: or may be a culture, religion
or Q political party.
Henry Wallace
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
MIR. DEWEY RUNS

All along DR.. Gallup and the poll-takers have
assured us that the nomination of MIR. Dewey at the
Republican convention in Chicago was a mathe-
NAUTICAL certainty BY what someone has called bril-
liant flashes Of silence Mr.. Dewey had swept the
Republican wheelhorses off their collective fe e t.
They had concluded that is the wheelhorses, that
Mr. Willkie talked too much in 1910, so they wanted
a candidate in 1914 who could keep "a civil tongue
in his head"
The profound hush of Mr.. Dewey prior to his
nomination naturally led us to state of animated
suspense over what he would say when he broke his
silence. Now that he has spoken, we have learned
that all the credit on the conduct of the war must
be given to the generals only and no credit at all
must be given to the COMMUNICATIVE Chief IN the
White House. that we have been living under "one
man rule that wisdom is the quality of youth and
that the Chief Executive should leave the fufilment
of the functions of his office to bright cablneteers
Then standing on the same platform with Mr.
Hoover, Mr.. Dewey said only the Republicans un-
derstand the complex matter Of jobs and full en-
ployment
Listening to his speech over the RADIO we had
the feeling one gets on reading newspaper upside
down We could make out the letters but we had
a hell of time trying to string the words together
in a fashion that would make sense. We are not
without tolerance, however, and we are always IN
terested IN good clean pontlcal 1lght. we 40
object to unauthorized nonsense. Mr. Dewey has
an opportunity to offer constructive criticism as a
candidate of the opposition party which will benefit
our country.
Sly cracks at Mr.. Roosevelts age and charging
him with being dictator constitute so much twaddle.
Our President is much younger than either Churchill
or Stain and he has been on the receiving end of
more dictation from Tory-minded Congress than
any President since Lincoln. Mr.. Dewey's crack
about the Roosevelt cabinet sounds ridiculous when
you reflect that almost every national leader with
an ounce Of brains is working in Washington with
the administration, including host of Republicans
The only persons left for Mr.. Dewey who are not
now in Washington are such men as Samuel Avery
of Montgomery Ward and Herbert Hoover who has
the strange gift of seeing things around corners.
Mr.. Roosevelt will not be repudated by the
American people for any reasons advanced by Mr.
Dewey thus far. His weasel words will register only
among those die-hard Roosevelt haters who would
vote for Joe Paooka just in order to get the Roose
velts out. Fortunately, the great majority of the
American people cannot be fooled very easily and
Mr. Dewey will have to change his line considerably
if he hopes to persuade that he could do better
job of running this great country than Franklin
Delano Roosevelt
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
ALL FOR FREEDOM

ONE PLEA-A somewhat embit-
tered Missouri woman labored under
the belief the ODB had judicial
power. I'D rather be free from
him." she wrote, than draw all the
money in the world. Please send
me a paper saying that I am a free
woman. A divorce Is all I ask. lie
don't have to give me a cent"
N. Y. Times
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
1000 BRASSIERES

A French captain out here Is very
much upset about a recent trip his
ship made to Brooklyn, N. Y. The
ship was In need Of supplies and.
said the captain, II sent In Q requi-
sition for 1000 Brassieres de Sauve-
tage life belts using our usual
term. 1000 BraSsiercs.'" From the
supply center. the Frenchman said.
II got a very curt reply: We do not
understand your needing 1000
Associated Press Release
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
THE underground

Scrawled on the walls In France
II the advice: Choose your Hun;
there won't be anough to 70
around" And the Dutch Of the
Netherlands are said 10 be all whet-
ted up for "Hatchet Day" The Mas
ter Race IL going 10 do some tall
racing In the near future, by the
looks Of things.
m. Y. Times
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-07-08
We~, Th'e~
Negro
oY WILLIAM L. RRitl

il fair or right TO discriminate
against people simply because
they are from the South-But these
southerners should understand, -
have not they been the trailblazers
in the practice Of discriminating?
Perhaps the northern managers OF
the Planning Committee got the
idea from Georgia. It's good that
few Of them got a taste of how il
feels TO be "Shunted' 10 the back
seat and publicly labeled "nobod-
les" ...It will help them 10 unier-
stand little n ore clearly the COM
plants OF Negroes.
X y X
NOW IS THE TIME
! read in recent report that the
mum Der Of Negro doctors IN Amer
lea is rapidly decreasing while the
need increases. .....Of course we
know part OF he answer 80. This
decrease is due, first 10 the fact
that there are only two medical
schools in the country for NEGROES
and these are compelled 10 limit
their number OF admissions because
Of limited facilities and second.
because The Discriminatory policies
OF northern hospitals cause many
white schools OF ne Nor,h 10 urn
down the applications OF Negro
Students my Information is
correct. there arc today only about
ten students Negro In al he
medical schools - 'hc Moth
t'r-rrk NV. q .e0 tac services Of
medieal men Is 80 mach In demand,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12
Lewis Business
College Ends
Five Years Work

Activities FOR the scl6tiffx cf sfh&
school year at the Lewis Business
college began with a baccalaureste
sermon at Plymouth Congregational
church, Sunday at II am. A gradu-
ating class of 30 members for this
season will be conducting activities
all week in honor Of their COM
mencement. Open house will be
held on Friday, August II from
8 to 8 pm, at the school. Other
special features OF the program in
ciuds classroom demonstrations and
a lesson Of shorthand in which the
president OF the school, Mrs Violet
T. Lewis will teach a group Of
visitors 100 words in IS minutes.
The annual program was the first
in q series Of social activities during
the week. Thursday. Aug. 10, is the
date OF the sorority luncheon, Phi
Delta Gamma. The president OF the
college will be hostess at a banquet
at the Gotham hotel on Saturday.
The closing activity viii be the six
teenth annual commencement TO be
he'd at Plymouth Congregational
church. August Is. Rev. II. H. Cole
man, pastor. The commencement
address will be delivered by John
e. Dancy. Music will be furnished
by the DuPre Victorian choir. This
year marks the end OF five years
Of service by the college to the city
Of Detroit.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12
H|LLMAN HAS
PRAISE FOR
POLITICIAN

NEW YORK. N. Y.-Sidney Hill
man. CIO Political Action commits
tee chairman. hailed Adam Clayton
Powell jos victory in both the
Democratic and Republican con-
gressional primaries here as "a
tribute" TO the Negro leaders CON
sistent and courageous work on be-
half OF the people OF Harlem"
In his congratulatory message 10
Powell, Hillman stated. The victory
is a demonstration that your con-
stituents realize that the cause OF
liberalism will best be served
through the election OF progressive
Congressman committed to the sup
port OF President Roosevelt's lead
ership"
Under that leadership, Hillman
declared. the country may look for
ward TO speedy and conclusive
victory in the war and a peace with
full employment and equal rights
for all"
The clio Political Action com.
mittee Is happy to congratulate
you and the people of Harlem"
Hillman wrote Powell.
Charlotte Carr, PAC regional di.
rector, spoke twice for Powell or
the eve OF the election. She asserted
that his record gives every indica.
ton that he will prove one of the
country's more progressive Con
gressmen.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12
CITIZEN GROUP
ADDS MEMBERS,
D P " REPLIES

The Better Citizens League an
nounced this week that new COM
mun.,.es are coming into the organi-
zstion dedicated 20 the cleaning up
Of alleys in the area east OF Wood
ward avenue.
The latest addition, according 10
Miles Faison, president, is the area
on the southeast side bounded by
Russell. MeDougall. Cratlot and
Congress streets.
Fred Wesson Of 1928 Antietan has
been appointed supervisor in this
new area. Edward Pearson Of Pear
sons Enterprises, 2l25-2l4l Joseph
Campau, Is the sponsor.
Fsison reports that the Public
Works department has promised
that garbage will be collected from
the complaining area every week.
The league is planning public
mass meeting in the communities in
question for the purpose OF foster
ing education OF citizens in COM
munity interest Alvin D. Loving,
Miller high school teacher. has
promised the aid OF the Miller high
school alumni Of which he is spon.
sor.
I'VE are asking for enforcement
OF the sanitation laws" Faison said
and offenders who contribute TO
Nth will be subjected TO fine or i'm
prisonment."
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12
BY HARRY McALPIN

WASHINGTON, d. c. NNPA)
The army, the administration, the
Negro and the war effort all have
been sitting on key OF powder in
Philadelphia, according TO political
observers here.
AS Of the time this story is being
written Saturday. the wildcat
strikers OF the Philadelphia Transit
company are defyins the army and
the orders Of the President of the
United States. but beginning to
show signs of weakening in their
refusal TO return TO work on the
much needed and vital trsnsporta-
ton system Of the City OF Brotherly
Love unless given assurance that
no Negroes will be hired 10 operate
buses and streetcars and that the
training Of eight Negroes already
hired is suspended.
Their weakening has been due to
an order from the director Of the
Selective Service System just issued
at request of the Secretary Of War,
cancelling the "a and 2B defer
ments OF all strikers between 10
and 81 years old. The strikers asked
for an eight hour delay in which
10 reconsider their position.
How the federal government
handles the case probably will have
considerable bearing on the coming
elections in November. and there
are now signs 1t Is moving ahead.
The army. through Maj. Gen.
Philip Hayes who has taken posses
sion OF the transit company's prop
erty and is in charge of operations,
has said the army will proceed urls
der conditions existing at the time
! il took over. This was at first in-
terpreted by jarneE1 McMenamtn,
spokesman for the committee rep
resenting the striker AZ meaning the
Negroes would be kicked out and
none hired in the future. On this
basis, the men voted to return TO
work. But later, he advised the
strikers they had been misled, that
the Negroes were not out, and that
they should not return to work
unless they are given guarantees
that no Negroes would operate
buses or streetcars as platform
men.
Beside the Selective Service an
swer, the army has sent for 5000
soldiers, former transit employees
TO start operating the strike-bouno
vehicles.
Attorney General Biddle has or.
| dered an immediate Investigation IL
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12
Say Powell Plans Congress Fight On Racial Hatred

pended sentences for lettering in
what police say was blind pig and
gambling establishment.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12
Hate Strike Cuts
Philadelphia By
One Third-W.D.

Production OF radar. heavy artil-
lery. heavy ammunition, military
trucks, incendiary bombs. flame
throwers and other critical supplies
vitality needed by the army has been
seriously affected in the Philadel-
phia area by the strike Of the en-
ployes Of the Philadelphia Trans
portation company, the War De-
partment announced this week.
The output of vital war materiel
from scores Of Philadelphia plants
and installations fell of, the War
Department said, when one third Of
the city's war workers were kept
from their jobs by the walkout of
trolley, bus, subway, elevated and
electric train operators.
The War Department pointed out
that the tie-up of heavy artillery
and ammunition. heavy trucks and
radar equipment was particularly
serious because of the urgent need
for these Items at the fighting front.
Production of all these items have
been behind requirements, the de-
partment said.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12
|NAACPHasPlans
EorNeigh borhood
Jam boree Soon

Cooperating with the lntertacial
committee OF Detroit, to alleviate
tension in neighborhoods through
out the CITY. the NAACP will spon-
sor series OF neighborhood jam
borees August l4-l8, DR.. James j.
McClendon, president, announced.
Ames playground, Vinewood and
Milford, Monday. August IA; Miller
high school. 1922 Dubois. Tuesday,
August IS; Sherrard school. $500
Cameron. Wednesday. August l6;
Brewster playground. 637 Brewster.
Thursday, August II: Washington
school. 1900 Dequindre, Friday,
August 10.
The programs will include show
ings Of the motion picture. The
Negro Soldier" and outstanding
speakers Will discuss problems OF
the Negro
The Department OF Parks and
Recreation mas been asked to issue
permits
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-12

persons were arrested during a raid
at the above address Others ar.
rested with Miles received sus-