The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-09-23
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
By CLARENCE ANDERSON

Metropolitan Detroit Council on Fair Employment
Practice would never have met him. Neither would
AL have gone to Washington to testify in favor Of
a permanent FEPC. BY that don't mean that the
Council represent is government agency. That
il is not; it is citizens organization, supported
by YOUR contributions to the War Chest. The point
however is that as result of Mr. Barnes desire
TO contact government, he and this column became
acquainted in the process
Hence, when the Council on Sept. recognized
the value of sending a veteran with personal
knowledge of job-discrmination to testify thereto
in Washington, we knew about Al Barnes. He was
the man for the job and he jumped at the chal-
lenee Before train-time he brought his clear-cut
hand-written statement which he was TO read TO
the Senate committee. While it was being typed
we discussed details Thinking he might have
stage fright feel nervous about the new
perience he was about to have, the physical lay
out of the hearing room in the Senate Office Build
ing was explained. 1t was pointed out that he
would sit with his back TO the public audience
like in courtroom, and that as he talked he would
be facing the Senators of the Committee. who
themselves would be behind raised platform
resembling judges bench.
Then said this column 10 AL If you should get
nervous in reading your statement, may ! suggest
that you remember just one thing - that is that
you think about nothing but your testimony and
forget about yourself. It's the story you tell and
how well you tell it that are important Concern
has no place in this
This was very interesting to AL and continued
with Remember, you as person don't really
count any more than did two days ago when
was there. This is something that is much bigger
than any person; il is Job that you actually
do for the
For the race" interrupted Al and for millions
Of otner people.
AT this point we realized that al is no ordinary
young man. AT the age Of twenty lone he has a
social point Of view; he thinks of his fellows as
well as OF himself To talk 10 him is 10 know that
he mas lot on the ball: for one so young ne has
remarkable insight and intelligence In appear.
ance he looks older and more mature And lastly
he mas self confidence which - despite the con-
fdence sitting environment OF all whose skins are
dark - is still undaunted. He knew what his job
was; he also knew that he was going 10 60 through
with II, like good trooper, right 10 the finale
No one needed to tell him that
After he had left, the contemplation Of this young
mans capacities kept cropping up. We thought Of
the millions Of others who have extraordinary
abilities persons who have the capacities TO
make great contributions 10 human welfare and
TO advance themselves If only their total en-
vronment offered the stimulus and opportunities.
All these were symbohzed in Al.
In Washington Al did a splendid job Senator
Chavez complimentcd HIM on the excellence of his
presentation Returning 10 Detroit Al took a job
the best he could get, which is not one 10 brag
about. Who wouldn't when the cash is low? But
what of the long run? Must Al remain truck
driver? VIII he get chance TO show. and TO de-
velop his talents in other jobs? He is still carrying
on the fight for permanent FEPC He needs your
help.