The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-03-03

DC G4Sclrb2d and greatly disturbed,
but tfas IS not the subject NE
GroeS attending White churches)
The subJcct OF NcgrOeS end
ing While Churches is c. aca-
dcmic and viii be nothing more
for mdIg years 10 come. The rea-
sons arss Ao, tor 10 seek.
ID Negro churches give the
masses Of Negroes sense of unity
on the basis OF race. Whether this
l. desirable or Tot makes no diff
ference People have to have a
sense of unity. The tAWarting of
feeling ofFunl,y with ones fellows
on the basis of being an American,
because Of race determination. is
denied the Negro American. The
churches provide an acceptable
and workable basis of unity for
Negro people in America.
~ The Negroes mode of wOr-
ship as carried on by the masses
~ diStlnctivf in that il bleaIs a
strong African motif with new
wOria symbols. This Is as It should
DE- To abort TINS magnificent de-
Nclopmcnt just 10 see some Ne
-rocs sitting beside some white
people IN a cold non-responsive
,nJlca would DC tragic for rell-
s.un generally.
81 \ group of people feel Sc
cure only when lea by their own
leaders. In other words, Negroes
know that white leaders, a. IN
outstanding as they may be, can
not at tins point III our national
lie iecl the real thrOb of the We
,rOes' struggle. To take away the
leadership mat Negroes have pro-
Eded 10. themselves through their
churches would DE 10 throw the
y, -rO masses into the cCVll4sn
arms OF emotional insecurity. In
addition, churches dominated by
white leadership VIII have 10 take
tremendous strides before these
"a. Sass MIA snare tlCl. lCauc4-
s1lp with Negroes on an equitable
oas.S, NcgsO t.Cr3ympu KNOW this.
IHCy are otrdG -oi tn S. They
saJud be algJa of this. ihereiOre,
any academic demand made by any
group of Negro Clcrgymcn Tor
white churches to go out and re-
cruit Negroes, is only academic.
.. This harrasSing of white clergy
men on this score, is because SO
many people, both white and col
Orcd, feel that churches generally
have not lived up In their Old
CATION on more fundamental is
sues.
~ The Negro masses have no
desire 10 belong TO white churches.
Why should they? The Negro
churches are much more vital and
meduH2tul IN our national life
than most white churches. Negro
CaurCACs HttS It sense of cause.
Negroes are fighting with backs
10 the walls and the caurcHcS re-
NtOrcc the i-nt White churches
iol the most part have sense Of
Wc.l-Delns IN Il chaotic world Ne
gro churcnCS have Il sense OF cause.
destiny, and struggle even though
the world Is apparently gong to
nell
If one could be so completely out
of line with the facts as to plan
for any mcaningful exodus of Ne
groeS TO white churches such q
person would be substituting re-
ligious warmth and vitality for
sterile makc-belleve religious &C
tivity.
The Negro is becoming OF age
IN the neW world OF ours It's time
We stop hdrgass.IS innocent white
people With D-csScnlal acadCm-
Ic debates The things that are
really important to the masses Of
Negroes give US plenty Of subject
matter over which Ne can talk,
devise ways and means. The PROB
lens o.! GOOD and enough food,
housing and good housing, jobs and
ON a bass Of equality and fitness,
education and the right kind of
education for all our people. and
justice and cqial justice before the
.aW arc enough 10 over power
Negro leadership and our friends.
Frightened men and women who
feel that the enemy has them per-
mancutly fenced in" turn To
squabble over straw men"