davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
Evening star., 1944-05-26
8 Die as Army Plane
Crashes in Oklahoma
BY the Associated Press

..
OKLAHOMA CITY. May 26.-
Eight persons were killed and five
injured yesterday in the crash of a
combat mapping-type aircraft near
Will Rogers Army Air Field. Col.
B. S. Thompson, base commander,
said.
The ship was coming in for a
Evening star., 1944-05-26

ments at or near a seized airfield
the same troop-carrying planes
bringing the replacements can take
back the casualties.
Evening star., 1944-05-26
E"SASIAN
= ARTS

SELLiNC OUT. Closing Moy 81.
Last Of Chinese Stock. 209o Disc.
l5I8 CONN. AVE. TEL. pU. 4Sss
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
BeIittIing Jokes Disappearing

Harvard accent-was a sure fire laugh situation
The funniest thing ever is husky Negro
studying law is line that drove this writer out
of a theatre once. This form of humor is heard
only in the cheapest and most gaudy joints BY
social condemnation and protest and TO some
tent growing self-consciousness the part of
the humorst this stuff is finding its long overdue
grave
Eddie Green comedian, now blue pencils
his radio SCripts-cutting out all dSparagng re-
marks about his Rex Ingram does the same
thing with his Hollywood scripts Leigh Whipper
says there isn't Hollywood director who won't
listen to a Negro actor who objects to a line. stua
ton or characterization. He maintains that it is
the Negro himself who perpetuates this trapping
Of his cultural heritage Only handful of dull
witted comedians still use the black and white
cork to galvanize gales of laughter
In the legitimate theatre. the trap minortieS
fall into much more sophisticated. Take the
nit show The Voice Of the Turtle" Margaret
Sullivan tells Elliott Nugent that her maid won't
be in on the day ne calls. Why are you so sure"
Elliott asks. To which Sullivan says: Il know she
won't be in-bccause she is Negro Taken on
the surface. this might appear TO be perfectly
harmless line The afterthought suggests multi
plicity of inferehces l. G: she's lazy, she's unre-
liable, she's stupid. etc.
This policy of selling the race short has aroused
sufficient interest among the lai,y to cause AGVS
the association of vaudeville and variety to send
out warnings to gagmcn and comedians all over
the country They are being told that fun making
with reference to its sock line is making
for diSunty-rather than unity which we are all
striving so hard for in these days of dureSs. To
which thu writer only saw: AAiENl
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

that even people who are intimate will occasionally
lose their tempers and charge their dearest ones
with the sins of which they themselves most
guilty. This unpleasant trait of human beings is
limited to no one race creed. Fortunately for
all of U.S. however it asserts itself IT. most relation
ships only intermttently.
Such however, is not the case with relationships
involving differences in race Here the process Of
losing ones head and mputng to others ones own
worst faults is not intermittent but continuous
state of mind of prejudiced whites. Their chose
of an innocent person for scapegoat simply be-
cause of difference in skin pigment places that
person in unusual position. Unlike others he
has to be constantly on guard, not only to keep
his head, but to trust himself when all men
doubt" His is the most trying task; he gets no
rest
To trust ones self when others mistrust is not
easy. 1t is big order; for most people fall into
the habit of acting and thinking exactly as others
expect them to think and act. When prejudced
community expects one to be lazy, unreliable,
ignorant inferior, it is very difficult to be other
wise. In the face of such expectations 1t takes
wel-trained forttude and courage to be energetic,
and dependable, to pursue self-improvement, and
to maintain acceptable standards of conduct. Yet
this is the very mind-set that progressive colored
Americans have adopted for themselves. They have
not thrown in the towel despite the expectations
of certain whites about them They fight on, trust
ing themselves. knowing that the doubts of their
capacities held by some are scientifically ground
less.
This they do for they have long ago made
ALLOWANCES" Patiently they have examined the
doubts OF the prejudced ranging from charges
against the of supposed inferiority to alleged
Unborn laziness. Knowing the truth they carry the
battle to the enemy for equal opportunities for
themselves and the
The speed OF their progress is all that makes
them impatient More than better privileged
Americans they rightfuy resent being asked ITO
wait and not be tired by waiting" To have waited
since the Civil War would exhaust anyone's pa
tience Moreover the progress already made by
the race was not result of forever waiting; 1t
stems from action. Furthermore coored Ameri-
cans don't need reminders of what most OF them
learned long ago. namely to avoid building up
lies TO counteract lies, or returning hatred for
hatred The wastage and paralysis Of mind growing
out If such behavior they have observed too we'll
in the ways of the Southern super race" Neither
is there need of lady lecturer 10 remind sophisti
Gated Negro Americans mot TO look too good or
talk too wise
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

pay toy equal work. am eager 10
see the Negro accepted i'll all labor
unions. and am eager 20 see him
nave the vote everywhere 70 help
BRING these two things TO pass
Education Is the best remedy for
solving problems but education
alone will never bring about equal
opportunity for education and equal
pay for equal work. Human nature
being what II Is. we need q law.
with q fixed penalty for its viola
ton. against discrimination In edu-
cationsl opportunity and against
discrimination In wages for the
same kind Of work. understand
cur Supreme Court IL the United
States has all along held against
discrimination in pay for equal
work. gu: here seems 20 De no
fixed penalty for rs violation Law
should compel us 10 observe those
two principles 81 lair dealing
HER REWARD
This IS the story Of my personal
seact,on 10 my short study OF the
Negro question. Ny reward has
been my own mental and spiritual
enrichment and development. Like
y he few small things have done
have accom- pliShed nothing what
ever FOR the Negro. ! am a working
woman What can do is altogether
insignificant Al least am con-
cerned where ! was indifferent be-
fore. and that means others can be
Lai&xAat<l
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
THE WATCHTOWER By ROY WILKINS

conductor who apparently did nothing. Words
were exchanged and an epithet passed, whereupon
the Negro beat the white man fatally, leaving him
dead on the trolley floor.
The ST Louis Star Times Immediately wrote an
infammatory editorial, practically inviting the city
10 stage a race riot However the St Louis Post
Dispatch one of Americas greatest newspapers,
poured oil on the waters with one of the famous
common sense P-D editorials. calling for sanity
and restraint by both races, for the good name
of ST. Louis
But white people are still touchy and Negroes
are still going around with chips on their shout
ders. muttering lot of nonsense. Both races are
10 blame for the situation. The whites pull little
mean tricks on the Negroes and the Negroes get
loud. wrong obscene, and belhgerent toward
whites Whites are quick to the inflammatory
term niger or black sob. and Negroes retort
with loud and filthy language all over the car. In
fact; this filthy language by Negroes is no ST Louis
habit: il is practlced 10 a dSmayins degree IN all
large ccnerS of population One can never be sure,
no matter how trivial the item al hand, when some
colored man or woman Will not break out with a
string of vile words.
This kind Of conduct does no good whatsoever.
II does not brighten anyone; il only makes them
angry disguised and determined not to give Ne
groes break now or in the future. Negroes and
whites in ST Louis Chicago. Los Angeles. Phila-
delphia New York. Washington, Detroit and other
crowded centers need 10 call halt something
serious will break any minute The various Mayor $
and Governors committees and other nterracial
bodies would do we'll TO tackle the public trans
portaton systems first If they want 10 check pos
SbC riots.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

ripe for coored citizens to receive the rights ac-
corded other citizens. Who but colored person,
having achieved such superhuman self-control,
would consider it advisable to conceal his power
and wisdom land not look too good nor talk too
wise?"
That Kipling had Americas Negro citizens in
mind is however doubtful. For the concluding line
Of the poem says in effect that if you can truly
practice all of the foregoing then Yours is the
world :" One-tenth of our population knows
better than that.
This point. however, was completely missed by
the gentle and well-meaning lady who lectured to
a mixed audience the other evening. Those of you
who were there know You felt how sincerely she
believed that If carried special message for
colored Americans but like this column you
felt disappointed. For the standards of behavior
and thought laid down in IF are of general
rather than specific interest; this is not to deny
that it has particular appeal to all who are
oppressed and disseminated against.
The need of keeping ones head though while
being innocenty blamed by those who are losing
theirs is universal need. Everybody at some
time gets into life-situation where he becomes
the scapegoat for some other persons blind emo
tional need TO blame. Well-known TO all Is the way
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
(Reprinied from New York Amsterdam News
Nv ABE HILL

DEllTTLING STAGE JOKES, gags and puns
- which elicit outlaws Of laughter, but al the
Same time sting ones most sensitive racial instincts
sometimes resulting in painful CONSERVATION and
embarrassment are slowly fading from the Amer
tom score but not fast enough according To several
"undcrcover" individuals and groups that are cam
paigning agitating, protesting ana nsh'ihe against
solos made al the expense Of the Jews. Negroes
Indians and other minority groups-which some
folk call good old American Numerically mean
ing good old Anglo Saxon humor.
Oddly. il is the minorties themselves who are IN
the main the ones who make fun of themselves
according to a scholarly man who has been study
ing and tracing down the source OF American
humor for the past nine years. Negroes gag about
their complexion and hair Jews kibitz about their
thrift and business The Indians, though seldom
seen on the stage are the brunt for gags in the
traditional American circus
There's goldmine in the sky said Jewish
comedian on the stage of USO theaer IN Florida
recently Riotous laughter broke loose when he
continued: "The next day 10000 Jews applied for
the air corps" a Negro comedian pulled this one:
81 like my coffee strong and black-the same way
! like my women" Audiences listening TO both
jokes really had Keeling good time. But few
had the CUTS to protest to the extent thai the jokes
were eliminated from the variety bill and an
apology was made.
Just to see black face and white lips was once
enough to give any in the peanut gallery their
quarters worth The strictly Hollywood gag of an
American speaking to an Indian in broken English
only To have thu Indian respond in English IA
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

ride from most southern points. In the same man
ncr that the Negroes come, the southern whites
also come White MiSSourianS themselves are no
angels but they are not too bad on the race queS-
tion They have segregated schools, exclude Ne
rroes from restaurants and theatres, but they DO
no, have jim crow railroad cars, or trolleys or
buses
But lately. ST Louis, like many another town
has been having trouble between the races on
street cars Within the last TWO weeks NeRio
beat a white man 10 death on street car-with
his fists One story has il that the white man was
smoking CONTRARY to rules and the Negro ac-
companicd by woman. asked him to stop lie
refused The colored passenger then went to the
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

To few admirers. John Z. Rankin
OF Mississippi has arisen again to
defend America against the Jews.
But most observers see only bitter
old man playing out his string OF
clownish bigotry in the face Of the
elected Representatives Of the people
Of the United States.
Yes, the fiery little intransigeant
from Mississippi is a caution and a
contradiction. a bundle OF sound
and fury signifying any number Of
things. ONLY the unreconStructed
South could have produced him.
And only the tolerance Of q de-
mocracy would put up with him.
Usually, he gets away with il. for
many Congressman are supine. some
are occupied elsewhere. and all
cherish the rare delights Of con-
gressional immunity. But now and
then someone talks back, as did
Rep. Celler at the end Of foaming
TRADE by Rankin in which he had
sneered at Celler as this Jewish
gentleman from New York" Re-
piled Celler:
He singles me out in q way that
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

gested 10 one Of the teachers @. our
Negro school that she organize
book club Of dozen members. |
gave her list OF twelve books
written by Negroes or abou; the
Negro which ! had enjoyed during
the past year Each member WoD.d
buy one book and she would pass
on 10 ner nearest club mero Der a
book on the first day Of each month.
regardless Of whether or not she had
finished reading i, ! thought Il
would be nice for me CLUB - then
donate the books - the colored
school but each member could &C.
eide for herself whether she wished
To do that or keep her book Tor her
own home This colorcd teacher
Immediately went 10 WorN With
such a CLUB.
know I am not entirely rid OF
prejudice. which regret but | Am
trying 10 improve nv thinking day
BY day. have become civilized
enough so that I am willing for q
Negro woman to do the same kind
Of work I do and receive the same
pay for the same kind Of work.
PERSONAL CREDO
1t would be presumptuouS FOR me
10 offer advice on wha, the Negro
needs mos, am IN the primer
stage OF information on the subject
But the two things | wan, most for
the Negro are eQ al opportunity
Tor education and equal paw cor
equal work especially ha equal
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
PARENTS, Be GOOD

assured that their children will support
them in their old age just because it OF American
tradition.
II they crabby critical. medding jealous their
children going them in their homes, poll
Of the attitudes of than 1000 high school and college
students has revealed Robert Dnke OF the War Food
Administration.
Catholic young people and those from rural districts more
frequently expressed feeling of obligation be patient with
trouble and inconvenience old people might make in
home than did city students and those OF Protestant
bringing But rural Catholics about one-thlrd
declared that children should take OF aged parents
if il makes for Squabbing and turmoil all the time
If old people have feeling Of security regardless
of changes in temperament they DID, We must have
a system Of rest homes and hospitals,
N. Y. Times
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

.avy, when reading If" some
times suspected that its author
had colored Americans in mind
at the time of its writing. Who
but colored would be compelled
more than anyone else to exert
the supreme self-control of keep
ing their heads and trusting
themselves when no one else
did? Who in America as much
as its colored citizens would
have to strain so hard TO avoid
lying and hating while being
lied about and hated? - and all
the while being told to wait and
ba patient "fOr the time is not
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

I'll uaNiOlts
Strange as il may seem, a native
OF Nigeria. West Africa, was the
first person 10 bring me the realiza-
ton that the Negro has the same
hopes and plans and ambitions that
other people have. One day, In an
die momLnt. | ran across a letter
III a magazine from native OF
Nigeria. He lived IN village where
there was little recreation. He could
read English and wished Tor oId
maeazlneS and books, ! recognized
his letter as very fine one Read
ing happens 10 be one OF my great
est pleasures and that letter made
its instant appeal 10 NE. For I'VE
wears | have sent my African friend
a book every month and suoscrip-
tons 20 a few magazines. have
marvelled al the mans intelligence
and ambition. This native African.
so ambitious for the education o.
his two little daughters. created
new respect and appreciation III my
mind for the race as whole
This pleasant experience paved
the way for broader interest and
soncern in the progress al me Ne
gro. Two years ago | noticed an
"ad" in good literary magazine
from an educated Negro, requesting
letters from persons Interested IN
better racial relations. Had II not
been for the educaiiou my Niserian
friend had given me ! would have
passed IL bv without thought
This New York man was thor
oughly acquainted with the best
books written by and about the
Negro. ! would judge myself 10 be
an average citizen. graduated from
a small college. have worked Win
the public all my life, Yet | had
never before heard OF a Negro
magazine. Nor had ever read a
Negro book except Booker 7, Wash
.ns;ons Up From Slavery. written
more than thirty years ago. THIS
American colored man kindly tells
me wha, 10 read and occasionally
sends me literature. | am greatly
indebted 20 him. During the last
two years have read more Than
twenty five books on the progress
OF the race. as well as number
OF magazines. This reading has
opened up new world 20 ne
Until a few months ago | con-
tented ny self With Tsadlns and
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
Unfinished BUSINESS
BY CLARENCE ANDERSON

eff you can keep your head when all about you
Are losing theirs and blaming it on you
II you can trust yourself when all men doubt you
But make allowance for their doubling too -
II you can wait and not be tired by waiting
Or being lied about don't deal in lies -
Or being hated don't give way to hating
And yet don't act too good or talk too wise :"
YOU PROBABLY RECOGNIZE the above as the
first stanza of Kipling's "If' the immortal
poem which bespectacled English teachers intro
duced to us during school days. Most of us then
cared not for poetry. Some among the more
thoughtful, however, found meaning therein; and
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

shows his distorted point Of view.
his intolerance. his malice His
cruel and menacing observations
are all the more tragic In the light
of what Is happening to the Jews
In Axis-controlled countries
Two million have already persisted.
tour million await death or . slav-
cry worse than death Never
have I h .rd . word Of pity or Ia
ment or protest from the gentleman
from Mississippi"
For the first time within the
memory Of the oldest member,
John Rankin found himself without
an answer.
MAN OF EXTREMES
Trying TO pierce the shell OF a
mans mind is a precarious business,
but Rankin's frothing obsession
about Jews invites the experiment.
A study OF Rankin Immediately in
dicates that his thought processes
register in only two shades-black
and white. A thing is either wholly
evil or entirely OK. He saw the
Republicans as unmitigated villains
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

Alld NV w hAAh WV
phatically. AT the time OF the
East St. Louis riot in 1917. St
Louisans were busy explaining
20 all and sundry that East st.
Louis was in Illinois, whereas
St. Louis is ir Missouri.
The trouble here seems 10
stem from street cars and buses.
Ii is a no, town. one Of the hot
test in the United States. II Is
one Of the first big cities IN, the
border states 10 receive large
numbers of Negroes from the
Deep South ST Louis is right
IN the river" an overnight tram
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
Jim CROW IN The CLASSROOM By MARIE sret

ondensed from Ground the First Of Two Pats)
When we had George Washington Carver Day" in my
school, instructed by the Board Of Education students
displayed attitude Of enlightened Amercansm in regard
Negro question which feel that in
the North at any rate the battles Civil
had won They paid tribute to the blessings wrought
the Negro scientist and though they reduced his
accomplishments peanuts their admiration
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
NUA:s!CE

An army censor has reported 70
US An Insignificant but nevertheless
interesting variation In the literary
styles Of the white and eeIered
troops. In white soldier will make
. wisecrsck. then write "(hs hal 4"
after IT, The eelsred soldier has q
sentier teuch- He mshes his little
ouip. and after n he puts "IsmiIeI :"
The New Yorker
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26
What One WHITE WOMAN DID
By ELIZA c. ROBERTS
(Condensed from the Crisis)

Quite by accident became interested in the progress OF
the Negro race white. | born in Texas and have
lived here all Of life do think had ever been unknd
Negro had certainly felt unkndly toward the
had never given the subject thought simply assumed
the Negro had little ambition and happy in his
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

Reprnted in part from Rankin of Mississippi by Russell
Whean which appeared in the July 1914 American Mercury
Whenever Congressman Samuel Dckstein or Congress
Emanuel Cer of New York stand address the House
Representatives, little haired Congressman leaps
his the Democratic side and scurries with
precise ostenaon chair hard by the House mcrophonc
There his features into attitude OF furious aten
ton while other members and occupants OF the gallery
frown grmace grim their individual feelings dictate
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

talking about the future OF the race.
Recently New York woman ended
our conversation by saving that we
talked and talked and then did.
nothing. | felt rebuked. That was
exactly what had been doing. !
resolved 10 do whatever came my
way. These are the few little things
/ have done in the last three
months ! passed on 10 friends all
good Negro literature that came
into my hands When a Negro APP
preached the elevator where ! work
down al the same time. suggested
invited the Negro 10 ride up or
10 a good magazine that Il give us
condensation Of some fine Negro
book. | requested picture show
10 bring us the new picture. The
Negro Soldier" ! wrote the former
attorney general II nv state asking
him not 10 oppose the Negro vote
before the Supreme Court decI-
s.onl. asked the mayor vi our Gown
10 give some responsible position 10
some cSpable Negro asked he
superintendent ~ our city schools
10 pay our colored teachers the
same salaries our white teachers
received for the same Kind " work
and with the same qualifications
and experience. ! made the same
request ~ the president - our
school board. asked two state leg
lsla;ors 10 do what they could To
equalize teachers salaries Il our
state expressed the same desire
to our state superintendent Of edu-
cation.
started a shelf Of books on Negro
life and literature al Hardin
Simmons university, Abilene. Texas
"a Baptist white Schoon IN memory
Of my sister. Willie Beatrice Camp
bell. who graduated al this college
some years ago. II is only a modest
collection so far Within the last
seven weeks have given the school
about twenty-five books written by
Negroes or about the Negro ! hope
10 contribute az least one book a
month hereafter. ! also subscribed
for few excellent Negro magazines
FOR this library
ORGANIZED BOOK CLUB
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-08-26

CANT LOUIS. Mo. - A very few hours spent in
~ this big city on the Mississippi will convince
one that il is one of the racial tension areas
being mentioned over the country.
Saint Lousans are uneasy and disturbed. whites
and Negroes The city has never had a race riot