Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1944-09-29


import Of this fact.
Worldwide RepercussiOns
The war has given new oppor-
tunities to the Negro and at the
same time has emphasized the in
justices in our attitude toward him.
More than that, it has made us con-
scious of the contradictions be-
tween our treatment of our Ne
gro minority and the ideals for
which we are fighting. The equi-
table treatment of racial minorities
in America is basic to our chance
for a just and lasting peace. For it
cannot be too much emphasized that
IN the world today whatever we do
at home affects our foreign policy,
and whatever we do abroad affects
our domestic policy. The two are
necessarily interrelated. On no
single question is this truth SO in
escapable as in the repercussions
all around the world that result
from our treatment at home of
our colored citizens.
MinOrities Determined
One of the widespread conse-
quences of this war is the growing
determination among colonial, sub
ject and minority peoples every
where to win for themselves a
share of the freedom for which
the Allied Nations are fighting.
This Is the great quest of our time.
To future historians it may well
overshadow all other aspects of the
present conflict. We as Americans.
cannot be on one side abroad and
the other at home. We cannot ex-
pect small nations and men of
other races and colors to credit the
good faith of our professed pur-
poses and to join us in interna-
tional collaboration for future peace
if we continue to practice an ugly
discrimination at home against our
own minorities, the largest of
which is our thirteen million Negro
citizens.
Long List of Negro Grievances
The list of grievances of the Ne
gro people is a long one. Not only
is the Negro in many parts of the
country denied his legal rights in
violation of the Constitution, but
he is denied the substance of free
dom and opportunity in such matters
as equal education, equal chance for
economic advancement, and his just
share of such public services as
play grounds, hospitals and COM
munity provisions for health and
welfare of all kinds. He Is syste-
matically housed in the worst sec
lions of our large cities, and for
his poor housing, is frequently
charged exorbitant rents. He is
additionally the "last hired" and
the "first fired" He is too often
denied protection under the law.
But of all the indignlties and in
justices Negro men and women suf-
fer today, the most bitter and ironic
is the discrimination practiced by
the Armed Forces of their country
the country for which they are
being asked to give their lives.
The Right to Liberty
In short, the Negro lives in our
midst under determinations which
differ from the racial discrimina-
ton practiced by our enemies, the
Nazis, only in that ours are illegal
and that we are free-if we wish
to fight against them.
The deep patience of the colored
people is nearing its end. The war
has pointed the issues for them.
They feel-and who can deny
them THAT if they have the right
to die with their white fellow citi-
Gems IN the protection of liberty
they also have the right to live with
them in the enjoyment Of liberty.
We have granted them the first
right. It is our obligation to see
that they get the second. The most
effective means at hand toward that
end is political-effective as a
bargaining point for the Negro
whose vote at the moment is sought
by both parties; and effective as an
instrument of justice in the hands
Of all Americans who desire to re-
dress wrongs of which most Ameri-
cans are ashamed.
It must be said at once that both
of the 1914 political platforms, in
their pledges to the Negro and
their programs for him, are tragi-
cally inadequate. It must also be
said that the Republican platform
is distinctly better than the Demo-
cratic. The latter, in a brief para
graph, gives lip service to the laws
we already have, and to the duties
many Of our elected representatives
have systematically disregarded.
Negroes Know
Negroes know that under state
Hesitation. even under state adj