davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
THE WATCHTOWER 8, ROY WILKINS

got the benefit Of labor legislation and social
security. They had to fight their way in many
cases, but il was there for them and it was put
there by the Roosevelt administration They
shared in the benefits Of iva and got cheap
electricity from the REA in many cities and
towns their light bills were cut in half and in
the country they got new conveniences.
II is this feeling Of being included citizens
that weighs most with Negroes. OF course the
southern die-hards have tried to block Negroes
and have succeeded in some instances. but even
so, even in the midst Of anger and humiliation.
the underlying feeling of inclusion is there.
Through FEPC the government (under pres
sure, 1t Is true) put forth on-discrimination as
a policy in employment 1t is a war measure.
but II has been a powerful educational force for
fair dealing as a national policy.
Then, Negroes believe in Mr.. Roosevelt as a
war leader and as a man who will do every
thing possible TO secure real peace and post
war world worthy of the terrible sacrifices man.
kind has made. They believe he will try his
best to give them break" in postwar America
And then, to be sure, Negroes like Langston
Hughes's Simple Minded Friend Tin his De-
fender column are voting for Mr. Roosevelt
There is no need 10 dwell upon this woman's
good works For every time she has been of
the beam" she has been on il nine times Her
heart Is right and il she is so right. F ID. can't
be so wrong. or else he would not let her say
her say so plainly That is the reasoning
Mr.. Roosevelts greatest handicap with Ne
groes has been that group of evil men from Dixie
within his own party. In the hard game of
politics he has had to play ball" with these
men. II il gals us, think how II gals them
when he plays ball with us land il you don't
think II gals them read the speeches in Con-
gress or The Alabama SUM.
This is the way the 10 per cent is thinking
about Nov. 7.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04

course all the Negroes do not
live in these three cities, but
this sampling may well indi.
cate how the big urban CEN
tiers will vote. I thought about
this when man wearing q
Dewey button asked in all
sincerity: Why are your PEG.
pie voting so heavily for
ROOSEVELT
There are. Il seems to me,
very good reasons, and all this
does no, say that several hun
dred thousand Negro votes
perhaps even half million
u,ill NOT ca IN Dewey First
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
TRIBUTE TO GANDHI

The figure Of Ghandi Is incomprehensibe to the West
He is derded by ignored by many and admired by
those who wise. Because he, has taken literally and
upon the teachings OF great men, Christians
puzzled by him. and he Is reproached But al great
have been eproached and derded and sometimes laughed
Is andhs greatness that he has ignored the derision
and accepted the laughter and has continued to be him.
self Somehow that self still stands intact and laughter
dying down and derision is becoming futile.
He Of the greatest leaders OF people that there have
been in human history Such leader only at the
confluence OF peoples need and desire with the birth OF
an individual able by his gifts feel that need
and epress that desire doubt for a moment that
Gsndhs purposes will be achieved He has brought HE
people the very gates Of liberty II they not opened
the people OF India will open them
Pearl S. Buck. Voice OF India
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
UNFINISHED BUSINESS
By CLARENCE ANDERSON

Al the request OF Clarence Anderson Victor Reuther
assistant director. War Policy Division UAwCIO this
week reDroduces portions OF the speech he delivered
october before the FEPC Rally OF Metropolitan
Detroit Council on Fair Employment Practice.
THE NECESSITY for equality on the job, for
= equality of job opportunity, and for equality
In the councils OF workers, has been recognized
by the UAW-CIO as basic tenet of trade union
ism. We have not merely paid lip service to
this basic concept through constitutional phrase
ology, but have fought for it in contract nego-
tiations, in representations before government
agencies, and on the picket line.
Long before the establishment Of the FEPC,
we in the UAW-ClO were writing contracts stip-
ulating that discrimination because of race creed
or color would be violation of the contract
We have had to fight, and unfortunately, Il
has not always been with management but with
some elements in our own membership, to de-
fend the position we have taken, but we have
recognized that the fight for equality between
workers in the shops can be the fight on which
the union stands or falls
II is significant that the greatest gains toward
full participation by Negroes in our industrial
life have been achieved in wartime, in period
of full production. We recognize and salute the
tremendous impetus to anti-discrimination eff
forts afforded by the FEPC. It's work has been
of neStimabe value in promoting decent rela-
tions between industry and members of minor
ty groups who go to make up the total work
force of the country. But the greatest impetus
to employment of minority groups has been the
need for men to man the machines producing
for war.
While many thousands of the Negroes and
other minority groups who have been drawn
into industry during the war period will be pro-
tected against unemployment after the war by
reason of their seniority rights guaranteed by
union contracts. many thousands more will, by
virtue of their recent employment be the first
10 be lifted from the payrolls
These workers. who lose their jobs because
the machines of industry have been slowed
down stopped. cannot be aided by either the
FEPC or by union contracts Their loss of jobs
will be symptomatic of sick economy, of a
half-live industrial machine, And that is the
crux of the problem of employment Of minor
tiles after the war-it is the crux Of the whole
postwar employment picture.
II is this problem which must be attacked
the problem of jobs for all-jobs for all which
can only result from an economy geared for full
production. This is the fight we must make. II
involves all of US, Negro and white. Jew and
Gentle. foreign born or American born-we
are all workers and We all need jobs. We can
only make it effective fight il we work to-
gether. If our voices raise as one great demand
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04

instead OF q caterwauling or competing voices
for what jobs there are.
The FEPC is certainly needed We shall hght
TO see that II is made q permanent institution.
But just to have a law passed does not solve the
problem. There must be jobs for all people.
With the greatly increased skills OF workers In
our industry. with the thousands Of new mach
ines that have been introduced. we are not going
to have jobs for everyone unless the objective
Is full production. .l.N
l am disturbed because management talks
about having, reasonably high levels of employ
ment after the war. Why can't we have as high
levels in peacetime as we have had in war. Why
can't we team up idle men and machines to keep
up employment This must be done.
/ shall never forget the experience I had In
Germany. l talked with young fellows who
were no different than men you might meet in
any country, but these fellows had no jobs and
no food. There were no jobs in the German
economy. The young men were depressed and
thought of taking jobs away from others who
were lucky enough to have them. Then Mr.
Hitler came along and played on their fear and
insecurity. AS long as people are economically
insecure you will breed hatred, fear and dis
elimination
The Negro was the last to be employed I'm
less we can provide full employment, they will
be the first to be turned out. They will need
jobs at the end of the war. but with thousands
of others they will be turned out. Shall we pit
them all against each other! Shall we promote
the growth of reactionary groups1 Shall we
give veterans jobs by cleaning out Negroes in
the shops?
Some people In America think we should But
II must not happen Every section and group
Jewish, Negro. white. Gentle must pledge
their all for jobs for all
The problem Of racial discrimination Is not
one which can be met by any single section of
the country. Each section has an obligation to
work with every other section.
The UAW-CIO has . program toward that
end. We recently negotiated with the FEPC
formal agreement whereby the JAW has taken
the responsibility of giving directions to all war
plants with whom we have contracts about
whom to turn to for assistance minority prob
lens; and whereby the International Union will
take action against any member who violates
the anti-discrimination policy Of our union. This
will not solve the problem. but it Is . step to-
ward the solution.
We are planning q National Minorties Con-
ference. where men and women. of all races.
colors and creeds will gather to discuss minor
ity problems. The central theme of that con-
ference will be how best this nation can pro-
vide jobs for all Unless we can find Jobs for
everyone. we will revert to the old principle of
dog eat dog
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04

| IniS right - the rfgnt or every
child in the world today TO grow
freely and to mature as human
being; 10 feel completely at home
wherever he happens to live.
There are thirteen million Amer
leans In the United States today
who do not feel ut home here
whose children do not have the
chance to grow freely as human
beings. Their failure TO feel at
home. the lack Of opportunity for
their children to grow. concerns
us all deeply. perhaps more than
We can realize-even those Of US
who think We know. This failure
is on Americas conscience today
We are made uneasy by il. We are
deeply troubled. And we. n people
always do. have found q name for
our trouble. We call il the Negro
problem. Again and again and
again we ask our selves q question:
How are We going 70 solve the
Negro problem?
I'VE Form Committee
For eighty years we have been
asking il And for eighty years
We have failed TO answer il. Be-
cause no one seems able 10 find
out why the Negro is problem.
Most white southerners and many
northerners think he is a problem.
but they don't know why And
science cannot discover one thing
in the Negro that makes him a
problem. No inferiority Of mind
or body: no difference in the way
his emotions function: no differ
ence in his Ably 70 sd>St success
fully 10 any cu/ire. AL that sci
ence has been able 70 discover
about the Negro is that he can
fight as we'll as the white man: he
can learn as easily: he can build
as quickly and tear down a. ruth
lessly: he can invent and dream:
create and destroy what he has
created. as can men with white
skins; he ca. love and hate. sing
and laugh. weep and rage and
suffer he can be stupid and ter
ribly wise. strong and compassion
ate and weak and resentful. He.
like you and me. is human being
in search Of world where he can
feel ~ home.
That Is all science can tell us
about the Negro problem. But We
are not satisfied with this No. So
we form committees. Our gov
ernors and our mayors form COM
mittees TO study this Negro problem
further, and sometimes for q
change they cali il the race prob
lem. Hundreds OF books are written
on IT, thousands a reports. pam
phlets. brochures are published.
There have been more studies made
OF the Negro than OF any other
group Of people on earth. More
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04

biography. "A Helluva Life" which
I hope someday TO complete. he
would stop and reminisce. One OF
his favorite stories was about Bob
Cole and the johnson Brothers.
Back in 1898. Dunbar and Dad had
introduced a new kind OF music to
America with their "Clorindy. or
Origin Of the Cakewalk" Dads
"Darktown Is Out Tonight" had
swept the country. and. with his
ION Emancipation Day" and Who
Dat Say Chicken in Dis Crowd"
had gained him an entree with all
the music publishers While Dad
was enjoying this popularity. two
young writer's from Florida came
up to New York: Rosamond and
James Weldon Johnson. They be-
gan TO collaborate with Bob Cole
Though Dad did not particularly
like the latter. he admired his
talent. and he helped the three 70
get their famous Under the Bam-
boo Tree" published
Other memories OF the early
wears would include his first con-
facts with now famous artists like
Belle Baker. Fannie Brice. and Al
Jolson. He found Jolson one eve
ming playing in a third-rate vaude-
vile house.
"Whst are YOU doing here. boy?"
Dad asked. You're great! You be-
long on Broadway"
Then. according to Dad. Jolson's
ewes filled with tears as he said.
They won't give me chance"
The next dav. Dad had raved so
much about his find" that the
Schuberts looked Jolson over and
signed him up. thus beginning a
successful association which lasted
more than a decade.
One day. during conversation
with a leading Broadway producer
1T was either Erlanger or Zeig-
seld-Dad said. The two greatest
artists In America today are Fan
ME Brice and Bert williams Whv
don't you co-star them In . play"
The public won't stand for it."
the producer replied.
One year later. the public stood
for Il literally. for there wa:
standing room only" TO zee Bert
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
Neqroes Want Freedom From Shame


the erosivs effect OF segregation
upon the personalities Of Negro
children; Of the warping of char
acter caused by the shame and
humiliation which the Jim Crow
system imposes upon them. But
no studies have been made Of the
heavy damage to the personalities
OF white children which arrogance
causes; no analyses made of the
blocking Of emotional growth that
Is imposed upon those who are
taught from birth that they have a
right to be hrst and a duty to $50.
late themselves from human beings
Of other color.
No surveys have been made OF
the effect pom mems sanity of a
culture which teaches them To
withdraw from the world they live
in and isolate themselves with
their delusions Of grandeur. There
have been no extended studies
done even by our anthropoIogists
and psychiatrists comparing the
schixoohrenia and paranoia Of the
mentally i'll with the concepts OF
segregation and white supremacy
accepted 30 fully In our culture.
We have not yet faced the pain.
ful fact that whatever the problem
Ii concerning white people and
colored people. il will be round in
the ideas and feelings which we
white people have about ourselves
and our color.
Just recently a book was pub.
lished by a Southern university
Dress titled What the Negro
Wants" II is book written by
Nesroes at the request Of the white
editorial board Of this press. The
title is q strange commentary on
human relations in q world fighting
for human freedom II is not called
What Human Beinss Want" but 10
called What the Negro Wants" I
have not rad the book But know
what the Negroes went. As a white
southerner born in the deep South
whose family has lived there since
before the Revolutionary War. ]
think know:
The Nero wants for his children
exactly what you and I want for
ours: freedom 70 grow physically
End mentally and emotionally into
a N,ll majority.
The NEGRO wants for his sons In
NE armed forces exactly what YOU
want for your sons: the same Just
and GOOD treatment that il given
every other man who Is defending
our country. Above all else no
wants Cor his sons the right 10 live
ne freely and with as -'uch dignity
&C our sons and to die alongside
tSem-if need be-with dignity
alco
The NEGRO wants the four free-
IONS that the rest 81 us wasn't; but
40 wants another He wants free
Som from shame. A freedom that II
Nis profound need and his right
- have. Yes. the Negro wants free-
dom from shame for his children
and we went II for ours also.
Neither his children nor ours can
ever have il as long rs Segregation
is the way Of life i'm America
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04

than any Of Us can ever read, how
ever serious our interest. however
scholarly our habit. Still we are
not satisfied. Surely there Is a Ne
gro problem II only we can fnd
1t So We form more and more COM
mittees to search for II.
II II doesn't exist. then what,
II it doesn't exist. then we may
have 70 look in another direction
for the answer to why thirteen
million Americans do not feel at
home In the United States today.
We do not want TO look in another
direction for that answer. for we
know that when we look we shall
have to look inside our own hearts
and minds And we know what we
shall find there.
It must s>em to people watching
us q strange and curious thing that
when we America study race rela-
tons We study the Negro-not the
white man. No governor. no mayor.
no President has ever appointed
q committee 10 study the white
man and race. No surveys have
been made 10 determine the cause
OF that desperate feeling Of inferi-
ority which drives white men 10
shout et1ud to the whole world
that their skin color gives them
priority over other human beings.
No studies have been made Of the
white mans infantile desire always
to be first. always to sit in the front
seat. always to have the biggest
and best OF evervthing-a desire
that makes a nuisance of . child
but makes = menace of a man who
has the power 10 get what he
wants
Effect OF SEGREGATION
Many studies have been made OF
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
Williams and Fannie Z
Ziegfeld rollies.
INTRODUCED LONG
LIST OF PROTEGES

ANIROUUCEU LONG
LIST OF PROTEGES
As the years passed, Dad picked
up one protege after another. A
partial list would include: will
Vodery: Luckey Roberts. that
prince Of good fellows; Harold
Arlen. composer Of Stormy Wealth
err" Over the Rainbow" etc. F.:
James p. Johnson, Sidney Bechet.
Opal Cooper. Duke Ellington, and
the inimitable Southernaires, who
have done more than any other
Negro group to keep his music
alive. Because he believed in Ethel
Waters artistry. he persuaded the
late Otto Kahn to back her show
"Runnin' Wild" together during
the turbulent try-out DAYS Char
acteristically. after the show had
become a success. he withdrew as
musical director.
BY taking his New. York Syn.
copated Orchestra 10 Europe in
1919. he was instrumental in ere.
ating the vogue for Negro must
clans in England and all over the
continent. One OF his most valuable
legacies has been the statement
which have heard so often in
Paris and New York: Your Dad
gave me my start"
In 1925. q woman named Caro-
line Dudley was planning TO pro-
duce Negro revue in Paris. With
a six-week contract for the
Champs-Elysees Music Hall. she
came to New York to select her
performers. When she told Dad of
her plans, he insisted that she star
a girl who had enjoyed some sue
cess In the chorus Of Shuttle
Along"
But she's only a chorus girl!"
Never You mind. Paris will eat
her up" Dad assured Mrs. Dudley
Once again he was right. Within
two months all Paris was at the
feet Of the ex-chorus girl. Jose
phine Baker. Dad hadn't even both
cred to 60 along and share the
profitS He had walked out lin .
hun" one day during rehearsal.
That was my Dad-excitable. I'M
compromising. often impractical.
but always unselfish. In my grief
over his passing. ! wanted to say
iuSt that.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
7. {. DEWEY

He Was nice 70 me and I hate to
say IL, but he's sort Of dull. I'm
dull myself. I'm the clammy type
who, with . few bright anecdotes.
can charm any party right 70
sleep. Listening 10 him talk to
some Of the regulars in the club
car, I suddenly thought, Il wish
were somewhere else" I wasn't
fascinated. - Earl Wilson. N. Y.
Past
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
MOTHER AND FRIEND
LASTING INFLUENCES

Those who are accustomed to At
tribute characteristics 10 heredity
or to early associations might find
the source o Dads unselfishness
in his mother. who taught sewing
AT Howard 10 help raise her three
fatherless sons. and who was never
known 10 give thought to herself
as she sacrificed first for her favor
lite. Willie. and then for Willie's
two children. The other lasting in
nuence on my fathers youth was
Frederick Douglass. who disinter-
estedly helped him 10 continue his
musical education In Germany.
These were Dads first two loves.
To the end. Fred Douglass re-
manned his hero. As for his mother.
his repeated request about his
funeral was that someone should
play Nanny" which he had SUBJ
titled my Song to NV Nanny"
don't pretend to know oil the
people my Dad helped. nor would
intimate that all Of his benefici-
aries were foreetful OF his favors.
Because OF his erratic tempera-
ment. Il was not always easy to
remain on close terms with him
long enough 10 reciprocate, do
know. however. that he found a
publisher for many an unknown
composer. or an opening for many
a deserving performer. have seen
him. with less than fifty cents IN
his pocket. enter the offices OF the
Shapiro. Bernstein Mu~ic Corpora.
ton to get twenty dollars to send
an ailinR Negro singer to the coun-
,ry-a singer whom he scarcely
knew have seen him. after an
improbable week at the old La
fayette. pay out every cent to his
men and 20 to his furnished room
without his own rent A1d I have
seen him object TO a small daily
allowance merely because il would
not permit him to treat unfortunate
chance acquaintsnces to lunch.
INTRODUCED NEW
KIND OF MUSIC
At times. during the last years.
while he was writing his auto
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
FOREWARNED

yostIed by the Coaey Island
crowds. . private and hh girl
stood in front Of the Tunnel Of
Love. Come on" he urged. come
on"
She pointed 10 the Re6 and
white striped ribbon on his breast
and asked II he remembered what
Il was for. Good behavior" he
said. and looked puixied.
ok" she said. don't forget
t." Then she Moved toward the
tunnel.-PM.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04

FDR's little dog. FslA heard
what the Repubs had been saying
about him ran ever to the
Senate building and bit three Re-
publicans and was immedi-
ateiy stricken with acute ptomaine
poisoning .-Peepie's Voice.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04

T,HE FORTUNE poll has revealed that more
than 20 per cent OF the Negroes in New York
and Chicago will vote for Roosevelt A poll
conducted by Philadelphia's big daily. The Bull
letin. shows IS per cent of>thc Negroes in the
City OF BroihCrlY Love will vote for FD.R. OF
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
BY LILLIAN SMITH
a speech delivered at the Herald Tribune Forum
In New York City)

short while ago. southerner talked to you about
states rights l. too. a southener and talk
to about rights. but about states rights should
like to talk about right profound deeprooted that
pushes aside political theories and political
claims priority all system and creeds and traditions
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-11-04
WILL MARION COOK: He HELPED Them All

Four months ago my Dad for the last time. He had
come to Haiti in December thus fulfilling seventyfve
lifelong ambition For WHILE 1t seemed that the glorious
sunshine beauty of the Negro Republic had
pshed miraculous reuvenaton but eventually the old
ills returned and at Dads request took him to Saint