The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1944-04-22
II h 8 B q B 3 B q 3 q 3 B q 3 5 D 3 J
OPINIONS
OPINI ONATED

cuSSed novel authored by Lii
Ian Smith of Georgia ariStoc-
racy, was read, 1t is a story
penetrating the heart of the
Deep South" The setting IS
as natural as the realities to be
found in any small urban CEN
ter of any southern state. Col
oerd people struggling for an
education and having no place
to put it to use is characteristic
of that section of our land.
White men, seeking the favors
of brown women is common
place. The rowing evangelist,
calling sinners to repentance,
shows that white folks too, fol-
low in the path of black people,
in their desire to receive re-
ligiouS emotional stimulation.
Tracy Deems and Nonnie An
dersonS have existed for over
three hundred years creating
a crop of mulattoeS that now
comprise a fourth of the col
ored population. Why the fur
ore in the "Athens of America"
is the Strangest of fruit to me.
Let those moral uplifterS from
Boston journey to Dixie for a
bit Of realism before they at
tempt to purge fact-finding,
analysing novels such as Miss
Smith has given to the public.
Strange fruit abounds in
these United States. Tt is not
only strange but forbidden to
many Segments of our popula-
ton. A few nights ago, my col
lege fraternity visited a nearby
camp to stage stag supper
for some fellow members who
were encamped there. Gath
cred in the USO building, I
scanned the faces Of these stall
wart, bronze sons who were
soon to offer their lives for the
perpetuation of the very prin-
cipleS so frequently denied
them. They were not afraid to
follow in the path of their an
cestorS because of a firm con-
viction that their contribution
to the war effort will result in a
still broader struggle for equal
ity among men.
The Atlantic Charter could
not square itself with our ma
tional policy regarding the
Chinese. Since the passage OF
the Chinese Exclusion Act, lit
tie thought has been given to
the inherent rights of a people
whose civilization runs back
thousands of years. The First
Lady" of China had a lot to do
with the change in attitude to-
wards the OrientalS from Cath
ay. At long last, this act has
been repealed which was the
only decent and humane thing
to do in the light Of our pro-
nouncementS to the world
Rightfully, o t h e eastern
groups are asking for similaS
treatment. During the past
week, the lovers of India gath
cred in Town Hall to arouse
nationwide support for the bill
| that has been introduced II
Congress by Representative
Celler which calls for recogn1-
ton Of the Indian through
naturalization. The church
spoke out through DR.. Gilmore
Mckee, distinguished rector OF
st. George Episcopal Parish
Fannie Hurst represented the
literary enthusiasts. DR.. Frank
Kingdom, radio commentator
and outspoken advocate of JUS
tice and equality, thrilled the
audience with his masterful
plea for Indian recognition and
Roger Baldwin, the old war
horse in the fight for human
rights, ended the affair with a
ringing appeal for democratic
principles to be applied to all
mankind. OF course this bill
will be strange fruit to many
southern representatives when
it comes up for either a hear
ing in committee or discussion
on the floor. Teheran is
crushed out of their souls and
whitewashed with the expires
sion, "White Supremacy"
Religion as a factor in saw
ing civilization was the thread
running through a conference
called by the New York YMCA
at the Half Moon Hotel on the
boardwalk at Coney Island this
past weekend. Led by a
Rochester clergyman and SEM
mary professor, the delegates
struck out on a deeper and
higher note for the applica-
ton of Christian ethics in saw
| ing mankind. Some Of the
strange fruit in YMCA affairs
is becoming familiar and pos
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