davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

politicians. In their anger they not only threw
away all pretense at practicing democracy. but
revealed how desperate they are in their self
imposed task Of keeping the Negro in his place"
The South does not lack for sympathizers among
whites in other parts Of the nation, but most
American whites OF decent instincts must have
been sickened by the stubborn and naked state
ments issued by Dixie politicians. They defed the
supreme court and the Constitution. They Dragged
of finding other ways" They talked of white SUI
premacy and Of the white mans primaries"
Some one of them even suggested that primaries
might be limited 10 persons whose ancestors came
from certain geographical areas.
Strangely enough it was the governor Of Ala
bama who made the sanest statement, that the
South could adapt itself TO the supreme court rul-
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

and an impatient get-it-over-with
look on her face. Instead ! found
her In he middle OF the bed in her
suite on the 22nd floor OF the Wal.
dorf- Astoria, blush bsthrobe
wrapped around her.
She certainly didn't look as II she
was expecting 10 dash over to the
Colony for a tete-a-tete with Noel
Coward or any other OF the world
famous names she hobnobs with.
Elsa Maxwell. you know. Is inter-
acknowledgements herself She first
made her mark in the world by
showing the ermire set OF America
and the Continent how 20 give 4
dinner without having the guests
fall asleep with one elbow in the
soup bowl.
Nationwide Readers
n other words. because Miss
Maxwell could I'D of a million
bucks how 10 keep from being
bored she became the toas. Of in
;erna;ional society. At present. she's
writing n column for nationwide
newspapers. including the New
York Post. that brings in an aver
age Of 1000 fan letters a week
She's also eolumnist for Photo
play. the oldest OF the motion pic
iure MAGAZINES. and a contributor
10 Chateleine. Canadian women's
magazine.
Common Sense View
want 10 make IL clear that Elsa
MAXWELL Is not one Of your mutual
admiration" cohorts. she's inter
ested I'm this race Of ours because
she's rot plenty Of good. sound
common-sense. and she knows
Americas future welfare Is inter
locked with that Of the Negro.
People often ask re why
write 50 much about The Negro
Sone o, NY friends tel ne ~
becoming an obseSS.on.
IL il is. is only because I know
OF re po.en;is.itieS sad pgomlS'
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

is race labelling to you?-and how come, I am
asked, you are not attending to the one business
of fighting discrimination in employment right
here in the places where you have it?
To which reply that you are right, that en-
ployment Is my principal business, but the group
OF people who hired me as their full-time rep
resentative has other jobs for me to do. Some
look generation ahead Anyway. as far as COM
plants are concerned, say that Eddie Swan and
Morry Weitz at the Presidents Committee on Fair
Employment Practice make this angle of the
subject their specially at least SO far as war in
dustres are concerned. And besides you know,
there Is another person doing extremely effec-
tive job at the War Manpower commission whose
initials are Mrs. G. B. Ever hear of her? II you
haven't guessed here's lead. One of her daugh-
tiers recently shook hands with President Roosevelt
But to get back to education (Which G.B. also
does effectively The council work for naturally
goes in for ending discrimination in employment
here and now---Thats- why we still share COM
plants with Eddie Swaziland remote as il may
seem. that is why we are today out to put an end
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
Sherlock Holmes
In Heaven

Carl Van Doren tells story about
Sherlock Holmes arrival In Heaven.
The angels turned out en- masse
to meet him: the Lord Himself
descended from His throne 10 bid
him welcome.
Holmes" He said. TO be per-
fectly frank. we have . little mys-
terry Of our own up here which you
be able 20 help Ms solve. Adam
and Eve seem to have disappeared.
Nobody has been able 10 locate
them for seons n you could posi-
bly, uncover them for us -"
Holmes darted 10 the fringe Of
the assemblAge, and hauled two
frightened. thoroughly surprised
angels before the Lord. Here they
are" he said briefly. Adam and Eve
readily admitted their identities.
We got tired Of being stared at and
asked for autographs by every darn
new angel who came mp here"
they explained. We assumed aliases
and thesc-simple DISCUSSES and got
away with them for centuries until
this snarty-pants ferreted us out"
How did you do ~ mArveled
the Lord.
Elementary. my dear God" said
sherlock Holmes. They are the
two who had no navels."-tRe-
printed from Benet Cerrs Trade
Winds In Saturday Review OF Lit
erature.)
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

in the 1910 population 81 7,454, e95.
Between 1880 and 1870, the increase
in the Negro population has been
about 40 per cent as compared with
an 8 per cent increase in the total
population
The present Oe4p Negro popu-
lation of New York City is matter
Of conjecture. Contrary TO popular
notion that Negroes are crowding
into the city, Charles s.. Johnson
estimates a loss Of $4,000 since the
last census. This drop may be ex-
planned in part by the fact that the
great masses OF Negroes here are
not enjoying full employment. Some
workers have left the city for war
jobs elsewhere.
Poverty Of New York Negro
The poverty OF the great masses
OF Negroes in New York City Is
evident in the low average income
Of the group. In l935-l936. IL was
1897 for families with both husband
and wife as contrasted with $l,8l4
for white families. The number one
problem among NeeTOcS III hit Wy
was then. and now is. earning
living. During the depression years,
about half OF the Negro population
was on relief and WPA.
Today the jobs and income OF the
great mass Of Negroes are still such
that conditions among the group are
below an acceptable standard OF
decent, comfortable living. Employ
ment discrimination continues In
a number OF fields. The utility
companies, insurance companies.
department and retail stores there !
should be mentioned that a few OF
the large ones have recently begun
employing Negroes as stock and
sales persons,. and large concerns
processing commodities for pubic
use age among those refusing EN-.
ployment TO Negroes on the basis oil
their qualifications Although gains
have been made in placing negro
men and women In various occupa-
lions In war industries, In some
fieldsr-especislly aircraft produc-
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

was the final blow at the white
primary system 1t does not
mean that Immediately all Ne
groes will vote in the pri-
maries, but il does mean that
this particular system of dis
frapchisement II ended. Our
good white folks In Dixie viii
think up othar ways to bar
Negroes from voting, but, as
Arthur Krock In the New York
Times phrases II, their devices
are running thin.
Best indication Of how thin
they are running is seen In the
howls which arose from the
professional southern white
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
Can CoIored
Go There?
By JOSEPH M. STONE
Reprinted From The ProtestanN

1t happened in Washington
this year and l think you'd
like to know. Though it is not
Of particular Importance to a
world in flames, nevertheless
il is significant and poignant.
!: was Lincoln's birthday and as
was customary and 10 be expected
simple ceremonies concentrating
the occasion were 10 be held at the
Memorial. Being both a visitor to
the Nations Capital, somewhat I'M
familiar with its geography and an
ardent admirer of Honest Abe.
started out a bit early so as TO be
able 10 visit alone for awhile and
10 secure a vantage point from
which to see and hear.
After spending some time reading
the inscriptions and giving free play
TO the emotions which come 10 all
when standing before the strong
life-like seated figure. I partly de-
scended the rows O. steps leading
10 the shrine and sa. down 10 enjoy
a few moments OF meditation and
the majesty OF this monument over
looking the Potomac
didn't roice the children FOR
quite a while but suddenly their
presence became real. Three little
Youngsters. all Of pre-school age,
were solemniy walking back and
forth on the sidewalk fronting the
Memorial. No words were spoken
but their group action bespoke
common understanding They were
Immediately washed, their clothes
were worn but freshly laundered
and their demeanor much too quiet
for children unaccompanied by
adults. or course. the Youngest, like
younger sisters and brothers gen.
orally, was slightly 10 the rear.
partly walking and partly being
dragged Solennly they walked 10
and fro. stopping each time they
we're directly in trent Of the Me-
mortal 10 look uncertainty at the
Great Emarcirrtor and the guards
who were standing near me.
Finally they started slowly %
ascend the stems. pausing frequently
10 glance fur.ivelv az the guards
stopping completely when they
reached the steps on which the
guards were standing. They stood
there for some time before speaking
10 each other and then the eldest
detached herself from the group and
approached the guards.
She waited patiently until ;heir
/ conversation ceased and they :ocS
notice OF her before she ,lmldly
asked. Can coiored so in there
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

tion--very little progress can be re-
ported. The city government is not
beyond criticism in the matter Of
discrimination for only
recently was the first full-time,
regular teacher hired on the stan
OF city college and have nurses
begun 10 be employed in the various
hospitals. There Is notable lack
OF administrative assistants and
physicians in municipal hospitals.
Many Professionals
In all probability the New York
community has the largest concen-
tration Of Negroes In professional
positions and responsible Jobs Of
any city In the nation. Evidence OF
this can be seen in the respect COM
manded by the six judges. the City
Council and State Legislature repre-
sentatives, the several city commits
sioners. the city's buyer OF drugs.
the locally placed member OF the
State Unemployment Insurance
Appeal Board, and hundreds OF
civil-service employees-running
The entire ganut, lncluuinB tnose
with the Board OF Education. those
i'm private health and welfare work.
and those who operate their own
businesses.
Housing Inadequate
Negroes In New York City con-
tinue 10 pay more for what they
get In housing than do other resi-
dents Of the city. Apartment over
crowding and high rentals are two
factors that make living very DIM
cult. The economic opportunities
for the Negro have not kept pace
with the rise In the cost Of living
Housing projects have been built
in many sections OF the city. In
these dwellings. with the exception
OF Harlem River Houses ia project
Of all-Negro occupancy. Negro and
White families live together. The
number OF units provided serves
only as a demonstration In decent
living at low rentals. but by nc
means solves the prohiAR
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

except that they were slaves.
In other words, ! am taking
this opportunity to answer at
least two questions which many
of you have asked since talked
about race labelling in crime
reporting, the doings of the
Michigan Sociological society,
and about the Intercultural
Education Conference of South
eastern Michigan. What, sew
eral have asked, Is the executive
secretary Of the Metropolitan
Detroit Council on Fair EN-
ployment Practice doing at
educational conferences? What
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

night you want to name Maybe
it's because Elsa Il q product OF
Keokuk. Iowa. western gal, but
probably because she's an unusual
persons.
She came into the world during
performance of "Mignon." Her
mother loved music 90 much that
even a date with the stork couldn't
keep her away from the opera, 30
Elsa's first earthly wall echoed In
an opera box.
In Name Only
That's by I've had 10 have
sense OF humor." she said. giving
that hearty laugh Of hers. you
know, MiGnon' means srnallr' II
you know Miss Maxwell. you can
understand the point
On. yes. her famous recipe for
uNboring dinnerE always invits
twice as many men a women this
was before Pearl Hsrbo-': sest the
dun guests together In . group;
IL you owe q bore q dinner. send
IL 10 him but don't 20 .ourseif.
weed out ell uneongenial people.
OF course Il works
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

the Negro race holds. I am obsessed
about anyone whose art springs
from the very soil itself"
She spoke Of Marian Anderson.
called her one OF the greatest artists
in the world today.
II first saw her In Vienna. She
SANG Brahms. mind you. in the home
OF Brahms She sang Brahms Lieder
in German in Vienna and il was one
OF the greatest musical triumphs
rye ever seen. In Rome heard
her sing Italian. Italian folk songs
at the Royal Opera House. In Parts.
she sang In fsultless French. and
the late Maurice Ravel rushed up on
he stage 20 kiss her hand. In Eng
land. she was acclaimed the greatest
singer ever heard at he Queens
Hall. All OF that before she could
be recognized here In her own coun-
iry!"
Land Of Opportunity?
Elsa was talking fast now. The
famous Maxwell short bob stuck
up in little cowlicks over her head
She looked out Of the window at, the
skyscrspers OF Manhattan glinting
in the late morning sun. Town Of
Opportunity In Land Of Oppor-
tgnity.
And Paul Robson. God, what a
nan, Anderson. Robson. Msynor.
Hayes-there's a quartet for your"
Elsa said the academy Of Arts
and Sciences has never given an
award 20 a Negro artist, but under
the new leadership Of producer
actor Marc Connolley. may have
a change OF heart
she believes that the Negro d
coming into his own and that 10 h
through our great artists that the
way will be paved. Education b
what the Negro needs now.
/ think that's pretty good for
IL am. IN the morning. In fact, ia
damn good iog anytime OF day Oh
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

qualities in peoples. any more than |
bay horses are better than black
ones. They know that TO prove that
bay horse is superior to black
one you have 10 do more than
identify its skin color on a color
chart: you have to test its abilities
Science therefore treats human
racial differences as facts to be
studied and mapped. 1t treats racial
superiorities as separate field OF
investigations; IL looks for evidence.
When a Nazi says II am blue-eyed
Aryan and you are non-Aryan.' he
means 81 am superior and you are
inferior" The scientist saws: "Of
course. You are q fair.haired. long
headed. tall North European (the
Anthropological term Is Nordics,
not Aryans). and I am a dark
haired. round-headed. less tall South
European. But on what evidence do
YOU base your claim to be superior
That is quite different"
Race prejudice turns on this
ooint Of inferiority and superiority
The man with race prejudice says
Of a man OF another race. mo
matter who he Is, don't have to
compare myself with him. I'm sti-
perior anyway. was born that
way"
II Is the study Of racial superiori-
ties and inferiorities, therefore.
which Is most important in race
relations This investigation, to have
any meaning at all. must get evil
dence for and against the man who
says, 81 was born that way. My
race Is proof that I am the better
man" II must be an investigation
OF what Is better and what Is worse
in traits passed down by inheri.
, lance. Such traits are. by definition
racial. The first think We want &c
know scientifically Is what trait.
man Is born with and what thing!
v happen to him after he Is born
r II he Is lucky after he Is born. HI
{ will have good food. good care
r good education. and a good start II
o life; these are not things of which
G he can boast: Il was born tina
way"
el A man learns the language h
y speaks. II he'd been born Of Nordi
d parents and brought up from II
d fancy In China he'd speak Chimes
= like q native and have ~ muc
. difficulty learning Swedish when b
d was grown n II he'd been born Q
o Chinese parents. He wasn't "born
! to speak Cockney English or I
p speak with q Brooklyn accent; h
h speaks the way people around hin
e speak. It's not q racial trait: h
: didn't inherit II.
Customs Not Racial
Differences in customs amonl
i peoples OF the world are not a mat
ter Of race either. One race is no
born" to marry in church aftel
boy-and-g girl courtship. and an
. other race to marry blind" with 4;
5 bride the groom has never seer
5 carried yelled to his fathers house
! One race is not born" equipped
/ TO build skyscrapers and pu
plumbing in their houses and an
, other to run up flimsy shelters anc
: carry their water from the river
: All these things are Learned be-
: havior." and even in the white ract
I there are many millions who dom
have our forms OF courtshiu anc
= marriage and who live in shacks
. When q man boasts OF his racia
I superiority and says that he wa.
5 born that way" perhaps what he!
really saying is that he had a lo'
OF luck after he was born. A mar
OF another race MIGHT have beer
; his equal II he'd had the same luck
in his life Science insists that race
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
WHAT WOULD NEGROES
THINK OF?
By EDNA SHAW

What would Negroes think -
II they should all tnrn white?
What might brain power - sssd fse
Except - wage . Aght
Fer liberty and Justice.
Equality and right?
Where every generation
Re-words our meurnful story,
The stony psth o: duty
Il the quickest path 10 gfsry.
II all the words and all the theught
Our status que expressing
Fer ether purpose could Be used.
How manifold the blessingi
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
LIGHT In Dixie

All II not dark In Dixie. Georgia
has become the first state I'm the
Union to sponsor . statewide Sew
or-Russia campaign among Its
high-schocl students. The home
making Division Of the Department
Of Education expects $1,000 gar
ments 10 be made by girl students
lhis month.-The Nation.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

does not account for all human
achievements.
What About Intelligencef
The most careful investigators OF
have been made In
America among Negro and whites.
The scientist realizes that every
time he measures intelligence In
any man. black or white. his results
show the intelligence that man was
born with plus what happened to
him since he was born. The scienz
tist has a lot of proof Of this For
instance, In the First World War.
intelligence tests were given to the
American Expeditionary Forces:
they showed that Negroes made
lower score on intelligence tests
were given TO the American Expe-
dictionary Forces; they showed that
Negroes made lower score on In
telligence tests than whites. But the
tests also showed that northerners.
black and white. had higher scores
than southerners, black and white
Everyone knows hat southefners
are Unborn equals OF northerners.
but In 1917 many southern stateS
DER capita expenditures for schools
were only fractions Of those In
northern states. and housing and
diet and income were far belo-7
average coo. Since the vast majority
Of Negroes live in the South. their
score on the intelligence test was
a score they got not only a. Ne
groes. but as Americans who had
crown 10 under poor conditions In
the South. Scientists therefore COM
pared the scores OF southern whites
| and northern Nearoes
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
Interview With Elsa Maxwell
CONDENSED From The Peoples Voice

interviewing famous people before Is usually
tcksh business they either crochey from being up
late the night before in rush to make luncheon
appointment When scheduled interview with Elsa Max
We'll at IL last Wednesday morning. expected find
Miss NJ awaiting with her hat perched atop her head
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
Peeping Tom

In London, Stanley Ga.Sworthy.
twice before convicted Of peeping.
vas found unconscious beside an
overturned stool under a bedroom
window. He spent three days in a
hospital. then explained O. a police
magistrate: Il never ;o7k " nerve
medicine that day. mus have got
excited Time
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
Democracy And The Negro
CONDENSED From The AMERICAN Soho
or SHuF MAcIY/NERY,


CONDENSED From The AMERICAN Scholarly
The Negro and his friends oppose segregation because
segregation connotes inequality Although often claimed
in the separation groups there Is necessary impi-
cation Of inequality equality In segregation is at most an
theory Compulsory detachment exclusion OF
anv one group leads swiftly inevitably to reputation
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
Roses Are Red

A. Tacema. Wash. Pelice yU1ge
w. A. Richmend esntribo1oa his
Bit - The mersls ~ tAs armed
forces BY Diminishing . traAhs charge
against Q soldier whe nailed the
summons In with these llnes - he
back:
"Rsses are red. vielets are blue;
I'm In the Army-ts hell with yea."
I'm
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

Tor THE THIRD time in twenty years the
NAACP legal staff has taken the Texas white
primary to the United States Supreme court and
for the third time 1t has been victorious. The
opinion delivered April in Smith " Albright
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15

ship In the campaign against lynch.
ing. in similar spirit fs..h in the
righiness OF its cause could support
measure designed 20 eliminate
unfair practices toward the Negro
IN institutions aided or supported
by the federal government
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
RACES OF MANKIND
By BENEDICT and WElTFlsH

RACIAL SUPERiORiTiES AND lNFERiORITiES
When they study racial differences scientists investigate
the way which particular traits passed from parents
to Children They head form and identify skin color
on color chart They map the distribution Of different
kinds in the world Scientists recognize
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
PROFILES: New York
By WARREN N. BANNER

Reprined The Journal Of Educational Sociology
The growth Of the Negro population in New York has
This total increased from 152 ACT In 1920
32 706 in 1880 and 45S444 In 1910 The ratio OF Ne
in the population of the entire city has increased
Al in 1890 and TO 61
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-04-15
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
sy cLAReNce ANDERSON

To be prejudiced IL to be ignorant And the
greater the ignorance the stronger the prejudice.
Thus. one way to attack prejudice is to attack
the ignorance upon which 1t Is based
THIS is the reason your columnist has been
- pushing for changes in our educational system.
He thinks that white children should be taught
the true facts regarding colored fellow Amer.
leans. At present they learn little about Negroes