davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

it is unfortunate that Lampkin's ar
rest follows hard-on the discharge
by the Housing Authority Of the
last Of three Negro managers who
had been given the responsibility
for running the Booker T. Wash
ington apartments. and the employ
ment OF competent white man
10 supervise this project and the
Warren Williams Homes for Ne
groes.
PROTEST CHANGE
Negro leaders of Columbus have
protested this change OF manage
ment. making the point that a So
cleiy which will not entrust Negro
projects 10 Negro hands cannot
expect 10 keep and hold the best
equipped young men and women
Of the race in such an intolerable
environment.
Off-hand, this point seems
highly persuasive. but when You
70 into the matter q little deeper,
you find that the actual status Is
not quite as pictured. and you
come up again against the Ne
gro's own refusal to accept re-
sponsibility. coupled with an
other facet Of his character which
Is equally rs damaging-i.e.. his
reluctance to follow Negro lead
ership!
The facts about the Booker T.
Washington apartments and their
management problem are simple
and clear cut Three Negroes were
tried in the job. not briefly or per-
func'orily but over extended peri
DDS Of time. The record shows that
every one az them failed. and they
failed by any standard-white or
black,
Moreover. the Housing Authority
discovered the astonishing fact that
one prime reason for failure was
hat Negro tenants at Booker T.
Washington got behind with their
rents when a Negro presented the
oil. and were otherwise contemp-
tuous az rules s-' ~>~''',"ons pro.
mulsaied or enforced by a member
o. their race.
Finally. and in desperation al
most. the Housing Authority de-
termined that il would have 10
have white man on the Job.
simply 70 maintain reasonable or
der and discipline and 10 protect
the holders OF some $1,000 900 in
Housing Authority bonds. which is
a respectable sum OF money for
anybody Against the background
Of fact as il exists. we do not see
how they could have made any
other choice. and il seems 10 us
;ha, in employing former Detective
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

story about the origin Of the
Japanese and our newspapers
give II plenty Of space. We
are told that the Japs arc not
really civilized. that their
humanity is only a veneer,
that they have not had CEN
tunes of culture like the West
ern world whites.
Our hearts have been wrung
by stories of brutality, by tales
of atrocities. The Japanese.
we are told, are beasts and
must be exterminated. When
we liberated our prisoners in
the Phillppines, we told how
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
SOUTHERN LOGIC

The legislature OF South
Carolina. in revising the salary
schedules OF public schools. has
required recertification OF all
teachers in order 10 avoid any
possible discrimination between
races On the other hand. the
city council Of Columbia. South
Carolina. on March 70. unani-
1ouS.N rejected a proposal to
put Negro policemen IN Negro
districts.
The Nation.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
THE Negroes RESPONSIBILITY

Chief Hollice Adair the Authority
has man of proved integrity and
who should be able to
do an excellent job.
Here. as in the Lampkin affair,
the Negro OF the South must un-
derstsnd that white men alone can.
not lift him TO equality of oppor.
tunity" unless he himself cultivates
among his own people q sense Of
the dignity OF responsibility. and
Of discipline toward the law.
FAC-SIMILE OF EQUALITY
More and more individual Ne.
groes, even in the South. are slowly
and tediously achieving equality
OF opportunity" or q reasonable
facsimile thereof, and every laD1
one of them who u lucky or Struaa
enough to do 50 must remember
that he carries into his achieved
position an extraordinary responsi.
bility toward the whole Of his race.
Rightly or wrongly. the Negro
who raises himself to q place Of
distinction is watched more closely
than his fellows, and IL il by no
means an unfriendly scrutiny. The
white men who helped place him
there are, on the contrary. usually
interested in seeing him
make good. and when he fails they.
also. are saddened.
Summed up, perhaps what ne
are trying 10 say Il that . Negro
In q job must often show even
better capacity than = white man
In . similar Job, simply because
he Ii not yet proved quantity"
and the trust given him b at best
tentative.
And-however excellent his
equipment-he cannot succeed UNI
less other Negroes will respect him
and subject themselves to his disei.
pine.
Perhaps these are unfair facts
OF life, but they are very real none
theless. and there can be no such
thing as permanently improved
status for the Negro unless they
are taken into account.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
OUTSMARTING An EXPERT

On his way 10 California,
Nanny Harper noticed IN Indi-
an braye lolling indelently Ut .
Santa Re station platform. An
efficiency expert 10 The last,
Harper braced him with "Chisf.
why don't you ret yourself .
job" why" eountereA The In
dian pleasantly. We'll" said
Harper. slightly nettled. "ysu
get a job and pile up . bank ae-
count for yourself. wouldn't ysu
like that" why" said the In
dian again. $50 ysu can retire
shouted Harper. and never have
TO work again. I'm net work.
ing now" pointed cut the In
dian.
Bennett Cert
In Saturday Review Of
Literature.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
BY MALCOLM ROSS
Chairman. FEPCl
reprinted from The New York Pos

TN l942 one out Of "a persons on relief in New
York was Negro Employment among New
York Negroes during the first year Of war pro-
duc,ion was typical Of the nationwide exclusion
Of Negroes from newly opened war work oppor-
tuntics or al persons IN war industry IN early
1912. only an estimated three per cent were non.
whites
The FEPC was born out Of recognition Of that
disparity. An about war demanded the full use
Of all available man power To achieve IT, II was
necessary to apply the national policy against
discrimination in war industry and IN the gov
eminent service.
The wisdom OF This course has been amply
proven. From 1912 10 ls4S non. white employ.
meni climbed 10 more than eight per cent in
munitions industries reporting 10 the VINO,
II is not too much 10 say that by this policy
factory work has been fastened and American
lives saved.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
NATION FACES
DECISION PERIOD

Under the protection Of a non discrimination
policy within the government agencies, the Ne.
gro has made gains comparable to private in
dustry their government service" IN these DAYS
also includes actual war production Seventy
per cent of actual Negro employment is on the
production lines Of the Army arScnals and tho
naval shore establishments. The nation as
whole now faces decision period Production
may be shifted to suit requirements Of the Pacific
war Simultaneously some plants Will rCconvcrt
20 the production OF civilian goods.
Careful plans have been drawn up to make
this decision speedily and with minimum Of
temporary unemployment There arc however.
reasons which urge special care IN guarding the
intcecsts of Negroes Mexican. Americans, and
other minority groups workers in the progress
sivc change over from war to peace production
Thirteen million Negroes, and three million Mex
can-Amcricans arc placed first IN this category
because their numbers comprise the largest
group and because their visibility exposes them
TO whatever tendencies Of discrimination there
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

To those benighted people who still think in OF
racial purity and privilege these facts may be cited
- Winston Churchill is half American General Montgomery
is part Irish
President Roosevelt nherts the blood OF Dutch Scotch
and luxemburgers. Eisenhower and Nimtz German In
origin as are Pershing. Hoover and Rockefeller.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
BAN TOLERANCE PLEA

The "HMF." Of the Week: Ra-
die hlue-pencilers continue TO
talk through their Ounce caps
Variety reveals that CBSensors
banned q plea for racial toler-
ance on dramatic show-be-
cause the network mixes -con-
roversial issues on commercial
programs"
That means the Bill Of Rights
(which upholds religious toler-
ancel could not he read on q CHS
commercial program.
Walter Winchells Column
in Detroit Times.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

Joseph Stain is Q Georgian with
Mon soloid ancestry, Maxim Litvi-
noy is Jewish.
.Adolph Hitler IS an Austrian.
Benito Mussolini was named after
a Mexican
Francisco Franco. according 10
his name. is descended from .
Frenchman.
Supernstionalist canon de Va
lera is part Spanish.
Chang Kai Shek's family came
from near Macao and are reputed
10 inherit Portugess and Arab
blood
All Of which means nothing At
all. except that the tree test OF
quality Is performance, not racial
purity.
free world
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

a nation of nations kind Of
working model for a new world
federation or confederation-it's
only reasonable 10 expect that our
domestic racial relations will be
used as measure Of our inter.
national honesty.
Thus, an Atlantic Charter Is Pc
rused with one eye on q lynchinR
in Arkansas. A Crimca commune
que is studied in reference to q
Detroit race riot. A declaration at
Mexico City stirs memories Of q
place called Sleepy Lagoon.
That's the connection between
the hand Of American friendship
extended to Halle Seiassie, 20
Farouk Of Egypt. to the leader Of
Saudi Arabia--and the moose
around . Negroes neck In Ala.
bama.
The connection, Il would seem,
lies in the curious paradox OF q
federal government putting on in
ternational long pants before its
own states have had their frst real
boys haircut. It's the paradox Of
these states in the Union actually
debating our national policy
toward minorities.
The truth is, we're suffering from
a bad case OF growing pains.
Reprinted from N. Y. PesN
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
BY ISABEL cURRIER
CONDENSED from Common Cround)

never meant for moment to try to lose friends and
influence people when began private survey OF opinion
among the liberals with whom I've recently been assoc-
ated to learn If any preudiced and why. How could
know that 81 out Of 100 promoters OF the spirit of democ
racy would unconscousy exclude at least minority
eroup from universal brotherlY love-
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
DOMESTIC RACIAL
PROBLEMS
An Editorial - From The Columbus. Ca Ledger
"a Southern View Of the Negroes Responsibility

All human beings who believe, believe in more
complete life for the Southern Negro be saddened
when such Negro F. R. Lampkn ousted principal of
Spencer high is arrested for embezzlng school money
Perhaps it is harsh way of looking it, but Negroes
who achieve the very admittedly positions of distinction
available their under extraordinarily stern
obligation to discharge those Offices dignity and in
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
THE WATCHT0WER B,

NYONE WHO READS or listens TO the radio
or goes TO the movies knows that America
Is determined TO paint the Japanese in much
worse colors than the Germans We are told
that the Japs sub human Admiral William
F. Hasey takes time in press conference to tell
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
NATCHEz NEEDS IT

press Mr.. Wrishts book, among
other things, is plea for tolerance.
understanding ana justice between
races
The New Republic
swered up 10 the time OF going TO
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
FEPC PROVES WISDOM OF ITS COURSE

may be. For the sake Of brevity the following
dilemma is expressed solely as Negro problem
These are the factors which make the Negro
war worker vulnerable he is likely Ia be in one
Of these industries tslr craft, shIpbuilding muni
tons. etc) which will be cut after We day He
is likely to be IN semi skilled job and most
easily discharged during retraction He is an
immigrant TO a coneested war industry center
and he has little seniority
The jeopardy TO a war worker does not lie in
being laid off. The important matter is whether
he will get job in a reconvertsd plant Here
again the Negro war worker is in the weaker
position since he has no foot hold in consumer
durable goods industries nor in those indus.
tries which will apply newly discovered ieeh-
niques 10 peace production. There are some
exceptions yet the over all fact remains.
DOUBLE SQUEEZE
ON NEGRO WORKER
The double squeeze-frSt out of war industry
and next into recultivaed ndustry-coud put
the Negro back where he was in 1912, dispropor-
tlonatcy barred from industry and dspropor-
tlona;cly in need Of public assistance, National
tensions breed from such dSparites They did
so IN 1919 when Is race riots grew out of the
Jungle warfare for jobs between white and Negro
former war workers and returning veterans.
Forewarned Il would seem that We can handle
q, these things better this time
There is every reason to believe that we can.
The first thing from war 10 peace production
for all workers this time can be gradual and
orderly. For years now all government ssen.
eiss have learned TO apply the non .diserim-
inaiion policy. whereas in 1918 one had
ever bothered 10 think about II.
FEPC in the last Is months has closed 1900
cases Of alleged discrimination and has reached
certain adjustments in SO per cent Of them. The
remainder were dismissed as insufficient evil
dcncc or lack of jurisdiction or merit. This
should be proof that the application Of NATIONAL
non-diScrmination policy is not impractical
Financially there is a strong national determine
ton to protect the right of equal job opportunity
and the belief that II will he protected is hall
the battle in allowing the fall Of insecurity.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
NEGRO TOO REMOTE
FOR RIVALRY

My unscientific deduction from
the comparative popularity Of the
Negro among 81 prejudiced people
is that. as northern liberals" my
bigoted pals find the Negro 100 re-
mote for rivalry. hence too I'M
important for scapegoating.
There were three Negroes IN
Guided u ne 100 persons whom
| surveyed All three we're anti
Catholic. or more specifically. anti
Irish Catholic.
was fairly punch-drunk and
detected when had completed my
survey So many OF the preJudicial
blows had struck my own person
that ! had Won myself sTudge
Of black-and-biue marks which de-
faced the lilv-whi;e label ! had
borne as "a liberia, Catholic" APP
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

mutual friend who had suffered
nervous breakdown. The sick per-
sons physician was mentioned. and
! remarked. by way OF comfort,
that he couldn't be in the hands
Of more distinguished psychia-
trist.
Isn't that doctor JEWISH" the
priest asked, Most psychiatrists
are Jewish and all Jews are Freudi-
ans"
This one is Russian and a mem
Der OF either the Russian or Greek
Orthodox faith" replied, land is
certainly not Freudian."
"Humph! Nothing but a hereto
in any case" snorted the priest.
I'm going 10 telephone that Jew
ish doctor and tell him I've changed
my mind II the other tenants don't
like IT,. they can move. can't have
a thing like that on my conscience"
A soc!ologist with a long and
honorable record OF achievement
for the fair treatment of Negroes
disagreed violently with something
! said in the home of a mutual
Jewish friend II was just before
election and ! had affirmed my
political faith. LAS a Catholic. /
shouldn't thing you'd vote for
continuance OF Jewish Communism
in this country" the gentleman
snarled. Between the Jewish brain
trust and the Catholic part-sheep,
we Americans will be pushed into
the Mojave Desert after awhile"
Before falling into that tender tete-
a-tete had selected this individual
as sinE1larly nice person 10 avoid
on other counts. Therefore. | felt
no qualms az suggesting that he
might respect our hostess family
tree IL not that OF her guest. Oh"
he protested in genuine surprise.
She's not what mean by jew:
she's a refugee. And | was just
excited when l implied that you're
a Catholic part-sheep. | never think
Of YOU as a Catholic because you're
really intelligent"
I've wondered IL that mans work
with colored people IS effectively
sound only because he doesn't feel
the slightest sense OF competition
with Negroes. The four people on
my ilst who expressed anti-Negro
prejudice were certainly very few.
All Of them mouthed the sort OF
uganda with which southern
whites have justified their color
problem since the Civil War: I've
nothing against. but they're all
lazy and treacherous." There isn't
a Negro alive that YOU cat consider
from a white mans standards"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
GROWING PAINS
By ORSEN WELlES

Once upon time, the from Georgia could stand
up and say THE Negro strictly own local problem
and know how to handle it." Similarly, the gentleman
from California could smile expansively and you just
wouldn't understand not being westerner. Better let
take care OF the Oriental problem"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

MY survey began fundamentally
after I'd studied a handbook on
detecting propaganda, prepared by
DR.. Gordon w. Airport of Harvard
for the Good Neighbor Association
OF Dorchester. Mattapan. and Hyde
Park. Mass. The object OF the hand
book was 10 teach volunteers TO
combat 'unfounded rumors. II vas
prefaced with a clear warning that
one who listened for prejudicial
remarks should not be considered.
in any sense. a spy. Like many
amateur crusaders, / thought I'd
begin by determining whether or
not my first cause might be more
momentous than I'd dreamed. II
never once occurred TO me that I
AS well as you-could find bit
OF bigotry in my thinking il took
the trouble to look for il.
At my first meeting with eight
self-styled liberals" crusading
against prejudice. was presented
for the first time in either my
private or public life under the
label Of "a Catholic" and, what's
more. "a liberal Catholic"
Labels OF any kind seem 10 me
TO limit mature resilency Of mind
10 the picketlines of some fence OF
thought. Aside from its redundancy
10 my own religious understanding.
| didn't find "a liberal-Catholic"
an endearing phrase 10 court as a
public label. Liberal" God spare
the marko signifies TO many an
earnest reader Of the newspapers
taD that ones soul is being pois-
oned by atheistic handouts from
the back door OF the Kremlin: tb)
that the proud bearer Of the title
feels BIT more enlightened than
the conservative herd ! suggested
mildly that ! was meeting with my
fellows as a human being 10 pro-
mote democracy by combating
labels: why. then. should be
tagged al the outset? No one had
mentioned the religious affiliations
OF the other eight IN presenting
them 10 me.
Each and every one Of the eight
people with whom talked tina;
night was so convinced Of the I'M
spproschabilty al. Catholics IN the
cause o. democracy ard human
decency that ! BEGAN 10 wonder
II I'd wandered backwards in time
TO Ku Klux Khan meeting by
mistake.
LIBERALS" IN
NAME ONLY
That particular group Of "lib-
erals" were hardly the running
mates for me left them--deter-
mined. more in curiosity than in
malice. 10 find an unprejudiced
place for myself to combat preju-
dice. the while noted in my little
black book how many other sin
cere crusaders retained scapegoat
dungeon in their minds which
they'd never viewed from the road.
or course knew myself 70 be
as inocent OF prejudice as the day
was born Ths; is why il seemed
logical 10 me that Il. as a Catholic.
joined forces for civic action
with a group entirely free from
Yankee ProteStants. I'd be sure
wasn't aiding and sbetilng the sub
siitu,lon Of one prejudice for an
other.
Imagine my chsgrin 70 find the
next victim for my private poll IN
a priest OF NY own faith whom |
rad no. thought OF Surveying"
! happened 10 barge in upon con-
verssiion ne vas having soou: a
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
RAW DEAL" SOMETIMES

We stress this point because j. IS
one Of the graveSt facets Of the
Negro problem. which manifcSts II.
self almost daily in our courts You
hear great deal about Southern
injustice" toward The Negro in
court. and We would no; deny tina;
he sometimes get raw deal.
Equally as often. however
and everyone who has made II
habit TO observe court procedure
knows this 10 he true-hiS color
Is a benefit rather than a detri-
mcnt when he faces the bar Of
justice, because the Southern
white mans curious streak Of
paternaliSm manifestS itself. and
paroles or suspended sentences
are much more readily arranged
for Negroes than for whites.
simply because their crimes are
not considered so serious.
Negroes themselves mus, pc ne
very last 20 cultivate or encourage
This attitude toward themselves. IL
they ever hope to achieve he
equality Of opportunity which
they say they wsrt
You cannot have EQUALITY Of
opportunity" without equality OF
responsibility. and responsible Ne
gro leaders do a dlSSerV.se for their
race when they ask special ieni-
ency for ore 81 their fellows &C.
euSed Of felony
II +. r. Lamokin is guilty as
charged ne deserves no lenic0cv.
because there Is no more despicable
thing than FOR a public servant 20
violate his tr ESPECIALLY when
that trust. involves contact with
the IS enable minds Of Youth
Special lcricrcv would ~: DC
asked for a white man thus cir-
cu1'S'sHccd II must not &c sought
FOR 2 Nesro
Further N tbs sam. connection
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

Among the type OF perishables
likely to be first to move In guam.
tity VIA air are berries Of ali kinds,
seAfood. lettuce. tomatoes, asparagus.
fresh figs. cherries. and apricot:.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14
ASK LENIENCY

Insofar as Lampkin is concerned.
We are in no way vindict.ve. II
guilty as charged he is simply an
other individual who has gone
wrong. and he deserves nc greater
penalty and no less a penalty. than
would DC nIeted out 10 a white man
IN similar circumstances
We have emphasized no less"
because we not that other Negro
c ders- including ministers.
strangely enough-are already cir
culat.ng petitions asking leniency
for Lanpkln, although we cannot
imagine any grounds for such a
request.
II Lsmpkin Is gui,;y-and he is
Untitled along with al other Amer
,ans 10 fair trIal--there IS no
'arthly reason why he should not
Ne treated as any other e-r oczz.er
The fact Of his color must no. be
c,d against him. but neither must
be accepted as a special plea in
is behalf. unless the other Negro
LADDERS Of Columbus are prepared
. confess that they. as race. are
deficient IN morals. and should not
therefore. be held snCr,ablc % the
same laws which would punish q
white man ~ the same Sc; OF facts
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-04-14

NCSihys
When they fail to do so. Il
amounts to infinitely more than a
personal disaster. and becomes, in
point Of fact, betrayal OF their
race.
In Lampkin's case, We are sober
" aware that the extent of the
thefts alleged raises very serious
questions as TO the alertness and
efficiency Of the white administra-
ton Of our school system. because
h.w could such things have oc-
CURED over so extended a period
II there weren't an irexcusable
laxity somewhere
This, however. Is matter OF bad
or careless management. at worst.
and We assume the Board of Edu-
cation Will be quick 10 get someone
on the carpet, and ind out how
such thing was permitted 10 hap
pen without being discovered long
ago.