The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-12-08


little out 81 touch with what's 20
ing on here know. Of course. Of
the school strikes and that whole
situation. The fundamental thing
the trip has done for me is 10 see
the Negro problem IN us broader
aspects and don't want 10 be
s'uffy about this) and To see il
moreover as part OF the whole
pattern Of depression"
Part Of World Problem
Leaning back in his chair. he
continued The Negro problem is
only ono segment ~ the big prob
lem involving oppressed peoples.
peoples seeking Self-dcvclopment
whether they be black. white. vel
loW or brown Thouch the Negro
may make measurable advances in
ne | s, the fundamental over
u. solution ~ his problem will
only come with nc advance o!
other oppressed peoples
He SAID that the Middle Eastern
pcople did not see tho kinShip Of
heir problem With that of the
American Negroes and he ex-
blamed Their struggle is on a
different level They're seeking
national independence. and the Ne
gro IS seeking Indignation IN
American life But" and he en-.
phasized his words. they see the
arti-colored feeling Of clements
OF the white community as an OBJ
Structi6n 10 their aspirations"
Mr.. Ottley took particular pains
10 stress the fact that there's no
race problem in the Middle East as
We know it The division is be-
tween the native and the Euro
nean. The Negroes treatment in
that part OF the world is as an
European, but without attendant
anti-whlte feeling He reiterated
the widely known facts about the
acceptance Of Negro troops in
Europe and said. They were re-
ce!ved even better in Europe
though the troops like North Az
RIGA best where the French and
North Africans treated them like
blood brothers"
Responsibility Of Negro Press
Mr. Ottlev is a tall. 1.-THE. brown.
conplexioned man black hair.
heavy. black eyebrows and mus
tache which seem like heavily
painted brush strokes on his mar
row face. He was dressed in light
brown Stacks. light tan shirt and
lnnCn ell ,rk "a
typewriter and notes stood on a
desk under a tall. bult-in book
case, several cases wide, which
rose over his chair.
He is skilled. practical man
who feels very deeply the reSpon-
sibilIty Of the press and particu-
larlv the Negro papers Inherent in
his calm. assurance that he can do
his job is his whole approach OF
personal study. research and fer
reting out Of the deep-seated
causes OF events
He thinks AL reporters. and
especially Negroes. should be
aware of the big forces at work in
the world which shape events but
often 60 unnoticed. As an example
he stated that the outcome of the
present controversy over Pales-
tine will be determined by the
need Of certain nations for oil. and
that need would count heavily re-
Eardless OF moral issues He added
Your enemy always wants you "a
attack straw man" He smiled
once and remarked as an aside that
many people who may think he is
getting ahead now forget all the
years ! srent reading. reading
reading" He considers il Of the
utmost importance for Negro re-
porters % adequately equip them
selves % understand the issues OF
their day
Foreign Women
When the conversation returned
again 20 the Negro troops overseas.
the veteran correspondent re-
marked. The delicacy with which
they handled their relationships
with women abroad would amaze
their mothers. their wives and
Sweehearts They were much bet
ter behaved" He stated that there
vas no difference IN the reception
given negro els in pro-Nazi and
democratic countries: "Unhappily
Negroes liked the when
they compare their treatment by
ne Germans with that Of white
Americans they must conclude
these people-that there's some
thing wrong in the American equa-
iion. And this association is no;
on a cheap level-they visit their
homes and as equals.
The type ~ person a Negro
will Dc entertained by IS based on
his own personality development
II re IS a cultured, educated PER
son he viii be entertained by
nose people
Beng Ike white American SOL
dievS' he continued. politically
innocent. they dout see anything
wrong Bu, in a larger view. il has
,oe~ed his eyes :He Negro sol
der 20 MS own personal worth
Is human beng And this is
rue q the rnS: .narticulate and
he most humble. and well-edu-
Gated
ASKED whether German ac-
.cpa0ce q ire Negro could be a
subtle Ndzi means OF causing more
American diSuHity. te replied II
ne negative - Is not Nasi &C.
,s,'y and t-c illustration ~ Z Is
'~a, ~et NcCrNCS who were IN
Germany al during the Nazi re-
Eir,e AMI rad not experienced any
special hardship and the reason j,
,ga' .hcre weren't enough in Ger.
many - dramatic stand or
'Nc-,. b.; I'm convinced that Il
there Rad. been thousands o. Ne