davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
By HOWARD FAST

Editors Note; Tn. following article is reprinted
from the May issue OF Ammunition official publicA-
ton of the UAw-CIo, Education Department 1t
was written by Mr.. Fast in answer 10 Ammunition's
request for information as to whether his novel is
based on authentic facts and where ne cot the
facts Freedom Road" : the MAY selection Of the
LAW Labor Book Club
During the nine months since Freedom Road
was FIRST published, two main lines have emerged
as the arguments of those who do not like the
book The first states that II is simply false,
and that the incidents il is concerned with never
happened; the second modifies that bit by
admitting that some of the things in the book
might have happened, but insists that ! was
prejudiced in telling the tale.
admit 70 being prejudieed. nos do ! think
any human being Is exempt from prejudice.
Prejudice indicates 4 strong belief in one d.
rection or another; try TO be prsjudieed
toward the truth insofar as ! can make II
outs admit 10 being preiudiced toward the
basic democratic principles: admit 10 being
prejudieed toward the whole peoples struggle
in America and toward the labor movement
in particular.
II is curious how often when the prejudice
is the other way, II is elbly Gnored books which
Sc; out 10 SANDER the labor movement, the
growth Of American democracy, minorltes and
so forth are very often called artistic, objective
works; books in the line Of the peoples move
nent arc very often called propaganda and pollt-
ical tracts. aside from whatever artistic merit
they may possess.
There Are Many Gideon Jseksons
Now 10 return 20 the specific Of freedom
Road told the tale Of a Negro mass leader in
the decade after the Civil War In Gideon Jack
son, did not create supcrman, but rather
Negro not too different from round dozen Negro
leaders had known Historically men like
Frederick Douglass had done as much as Gideon
jackson and perhaps against greater odds. To-
day. men like Adam Powell and Ben Davis are
moving in the political world with much the
same poise and direction Gideon Jackson evil
dcnccd In the book, Gideon Jackson learns 10
read and write in so days. and those who scream
that this is impossible 10 a Negro indulge neat
piece Of chsuviniSm: for IN Yugosavia and in
SPAN during the civil war peasants totally IL
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
BACKGROUND TO FREEDOM ROAD

literate learned to read and write in three days.
AS for the facts, the historical facts in the
book, performed no miracle in obtaining them:
indeed. 1t was not even difficult You 60 10 the
Library OF Congress sign a voucher, and the
facts are brought to you.
Every line of the Constitutional debate
reproduced in the book was taken from the
records: every incident Of Carwell was taken
from the records. And the records are all
there for anyone who cares TO see them. Why
historians have ignored them for near a hun.
drsd years Is another matter; they ignored
fhsm because. eravsnlY. they bowed 10 those
who wished to continue the anti Negro SANDER.
There are several very important lessons 10
be learned from the Reconstruction period
wrote OF. For one thing, during that time when
the Negro was given sef-government in the
South ne used his right wisely and constructive
ly; for another, he began 10 advance the South
economically with leaps and bounds for an
other, he introduced the finest educational sys-
TENS America had yet known In that brief
period. by constructive action, he proved his
demand for equality And. most important Of
all during that period he proved that black
and white working men could live together
peacefully, with mutual respect and co-opera-
ton
When the Reconstruction was DESTROYED when
the South was handed back 10 those same slave
owners who had attempted to destroy our de-
mocrscy, II was not thought wise that even a
memory OF the period should linger - for such
memory might be spark which would give
the Negro not only the arguments, but the cour-
age and confidence in himself that come OF such
past. and which would give the whites of
America reinsurance and respect for their black
neighbors.
With the sxpunsins of that memory.
whole vicious canopy was reared over the
head Of the Negro; lies were invented about
him. ISLANDERS: desradations were heaped upon
him - and among the foremost in the nipple
mentins Of all this were the historians and the
writers.
There is the argument behind all other argu-
ments against freedom Road. that in the book I
wrote Of the Negro as a person, rather than as
the scorned creation Of paid chsuvinists
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
Wayne Prof. Calls
For Race PLANNING

been dong more to stir up racial
antagoniSms IN Detroit than any
other single group.
These men real estate dealers). :
Lee said. are he ones who organ
lze. promote and maintain restric.
tive covenants and discriminatory
organizations, am convinced tina,
once II is possible 10 break the
legality Of these covenants, q grea,
deal VI our trouble viii disappear.
DR.. Lee also cited the rise Of
the Khan and similar erganiia-
tions after the last war as one
Of the main causes Of the spread
Of anti-Nesro and white SUI
premacy" doctrines. We will
have TO be very careful that the
men Of this war do not march
out Of the armies into such or
CARNATIONS rs they did In the last
war" he said.
EMPHASIZING that the people
themselves must do something
~ better relations between the
races. Dr. Lee suggested the fol,
lowing does and dontS as keys Il
SUGGEST, ! race relations: praise act.
~ courage and unity anywhere yol
observe them, oe courteous 10 al
challenge all un.Ameriesn ac,lvl
tea ..
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
(Rsprinied from The New Republic)

Representative John f. Rankin has discov-
cred. we ,rus, and hope, nfalllble way to be
defeated for election to Congress. For many
months now there have been we'll substaptated
changes that things arc seriously wrong with
the Veterans Administration particularly in the
handling Of men in the veterans hospitals.
Among those who have brought forward we'll
documcn,cd studies of the conditions is Albert
Deutsch Of tho newspaper PM Mr. Rankin is
chairman Of the House Committee on World War
Veterans Legislation, which is supposed to he
conducting an inquiry into this matter. From
the first however, il has seemed as though Mr..
Rankin's main interest was to whitewash the
Veterans Administration and to keep any OF its
employees from giving information which might
damage its unjustified prestige.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02

eschewed personal extravaganza as
politically unwise.
He was fond of Aims and liked
10 give private showings Of favor
lie screen productions before guests
at the Chanceliery after Dinner. He
enjoyed looking at newsreels Of
himself and entertained his guests
also with some foreign films. On
such occasion he would seat him.
self on the floor in the dark and
appeared TO be having good time.
Although he became the idol of
many millions he had no talent for
real friendship or intimacy. He had
few women friends His feminine
associates, too. were chosen for
political purposes. His only passion
was politics.
Women OF the people did not
rally 10 him until after he had
achieved a large degree of promi-
hence. He never became a hero
10 his valet because he did not have
any. Long before housemaids
locked 10 his support his feminine
supporters were women Of the up-
per class. But he could be very
charming 10 women when he chose
and, after achieving power, even
learned the art of kissing their
hands in the salon manner. He was
not without humor but OF q rather
heavy sort.
Although he had acquired consid-
cradle poise, he was violent in,
argument.
Hitler made what may be called
his social debut in the earlier days
Of his career in the drawing room
Of Frau Katherine Hanfstaengl IN
Munich, but his greatest woman
friend was Frau Victoria Won Dirk
sen, widow of a millionaire who
built the Berlin subway. She spent
large portion OF her husbands
fortune in helping TO finance Hit
ler'S propaganda. Although in later
years she fell out with the party,
he continued to regard her as q
favorite and for long time regu-
lsrly took tea with her at her Der.
lin home every fortnight.
Ito BE Csntinued)
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02

health program. which adds to Its
emphasis on specific diseases m
interest in nutrition. sanitation,
protection in industry and on the
farm.
3. Extension Of educational op-
portunity 10 young Negroes.
whereby they may secure training
in medicine. dentistry. nursing, and
allied fields.
I. Development OF hospitaliza-
ton program, especially in the
South. II the Halliburton Bill. S.
1871. is passed (see page ~. II Is
hoped that the new facilities will
be developed in terms Of the needs
o. the community as a whole.
S. A compulsory medical care
program, whether financed by gov
eminent or private funds. could
ease the impact Of illness on all in
dlviduals.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02

Finally. care available to Negro
mothers and infants leaves much
10 be desired. In 1912. 45.7 per cent
OF Negro live births were delivered
by midwives.
Problems Can BE Solved
IN any attempt 10 solve the prob
lens OF Negro health. il should be
borne in mind that they are merely
exaggerations Of the picture Of the
community as whole. However.
certain specific suggestions can be
made:
!. Abandonment OF the quota
system in sllocatlng health faclli-
ties 10 the Negro. Similarly. the
secondhand" spproach-the feel
INK tina; Negroes can ret along
with less than whites. and there
fore can use 10 advantage what has
been found inadequate for the
white community.
?. Development Of generalized
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02

counted on the fingers of two
hands. There are great many
Negro travellers today-bands like
Duke Ellington's. theatrical com.
panies like CARMEN JONES, pro-
fessional men and women. gov
eminent representatives-and al
OF them complain bitterly about
the bad accommodations available
TO colored travellers in most Of our
large cities. II would. I think. pay
a group Of Negro business men to
get together and open a chain OF
emciently managed hotels like the
Gotham all across America.
SECRET OF SUCCESS
Enacient management must be
the secret Of the Gotham's success,
because somebody sees that the
rooms are clean-and kept so.
Somebody sees that the halls are
not strewn with bottles and old
furniture. Somebody sees that the
switchboard really gets the right
number when phone calls are made,
and that a courteous greeting well
comes those calling in. Somebody
sees that the whole building-and
It IS big building ten stories high
lis kept spick and span and bright
and attrsctively decorated.
Those things do not just happen
by themselves. Yet they happen at
the Gotham in Detroit. And they
have been happening there now
for nearly two years. I remember
when the Hotel Gotham frs,
opened. skeptics said. 1T won't
keep up like that. In 4 year IT
will be all run down" On the con-
trary, this year the Gotham is more
attractive than last.
The halls have been freshly
painted. the rooms newly deco
rated. The suites have beautiful
new draperies in them, crisp fresh
curtains. and attractively designed
Louis XIV radios The dining room
has the whitest of table cloths and
colorful chintz-covered chairs.
Negroes OWN and MANAGE the
Hotel Gotham. II this can happen
in Detroit. il can happen elsewhere.
A good colored hotel need not for
ever be minor miracle. But right
now. il is.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
THE LORDS FRIEND
(Reprinted from Time)

Reprinted from Time)
James Walter Wilson born in the slave quarters Of
Georgia plantation in 1925. Though he learned to read,
and had religious "leanings the freedom that followed
the Civil War did change his life-lke Negroes
he right working in the fields But in 1925 when
he 100 James Wilson joined the Baptist ministry. He
preached for IL Four when he applied for
old pension he achieved considerable local fame
the Census bureau announced that he the oldest resi-
dent of the L. s Last he retired 10 his sons house at
Nidalia. Ga read the Bible.
When he celebrated his 10th birthday last week James
Wilson almost sound ever-he still anything
he wanted and could read the Bible without his specaces
His face almost unwrinked, his hearing unimpared
and he still had teeth When friends and relatives
called James Wilson stood the front porch and made
l5-mnute speech with sweeping gestures Nervousy. his
audience asked him TO sit down.
Let me alone said the oldest man in the I. s The
Lords holding up
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
SOUNDS FAMILIAR

Al that time Mr. SCttcvig de-
nounccd newspaper articles which
described living conditions as UNI
inhabitable and played up the pre-
valence Of rats and reaches. lie
spoke against rent ceilings and
other regulations haraSSing prop
eriy owners and complained about
building and other inspectors
AS long as men arc IN foNholes
why should Minneapolis demand
hrsi class housing he asked
Reprinted in the New Republic
from the Minnesota Daily.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
} WHITE MANS COUNTRY

John o'Donnell. Washington COL
umnist OF the New York Daily
News. on April IS defended the &C.
qui,tal OF three drunken men, two
OF them privates A.W.OL.. who set
FIRE to the packing shed OF an
American farmer OF Japanese
descent, on the ground that this
is white mans country" The
acquittal." said ODonnell. reflects
the honest thought OF the people
The editors OF the News. however.
apparently didn't think so. for sfte,
the FIRST edition that paragraph
disappeared from the column ana
was replaced by picture % Sif
Anthony Eden and Sir AlexsnderN
Csdossn.
! The Nstien
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02

GAN FRANCISCO

GAN FRANCISCO - The United Nations con-
~ ference on international Organization, to
give 1t the official title. should wind I'D its
basic work by June and all cynics to the con-
trsry. some steps forward have been made to-
ward world of peace and toward guaranteeing
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02


At the outset il was under
stood by all knowing people
that in any world organization
the member states would be
protected in their domestic
policies except where those
policies threatened the peace
of the world. 1t was under
stood that minority groups
within nations would have to
depend upon broad statements
of principle TO protect their
rights and influence their gov
ernments. Thus, the Negro
minority in America could
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
THE WEEKLY DIGEST
LESTER B. GRANGER: |nter-RaCid Specialist

| mission came through. however. he
had enlisted in the army and gone
10 France with the o2nd Division.
He thinks maybe the Ave law
yers who happened to be in his
outft changed his mind about a
law career for himself. At any
rate. when he came home he took
q job in the industrial relations
section of the Newark Urban
League.
Il didn't know what IL was all
about" he confessed. and after
seven months / resigned-to the
politely concealed relief OF my
superior"
HE MET AND MARRIED
SCHOOLS CHIEF BOOKKEEPER
In 1922 Mr.. Granger went 20
work at the State Manual Training
school in Bordentown. N. J. He
coached athletics, handled pub
licity. organized parent confer
ences, counseled boys and girls
and did. in fact. about everything.
"Golly. had fun" he reminisced.
A highlight Of Mr.. Granger's
l2-year stay at Bordentown was
his meeting and marrying Harriet
Lane. the schools chief bookkeeper.
Mrs. Granger who is celebrating
her 30th anniversary at Borden
town this year. comes to New York
every other week end. On the
alternate week ends her husband
visits her in New Jersey.
As Changers work al the school
involved SO many aspects OF social
service. he took courses at the New
York School of Social Work and
became interested and active in the
work that at the request of the
Urban League, Bordentown gave
him a year off 10 organize the
League in Los Angeles. In 1884 he
came TO the National Office here
as business manager Of its maya
zine. Opportunity" then ran the
Workers Educational bureau for
four years. After 4 two-year leave
of absence TO work with the Well
fare council Of New York City. he
returned to the League as assistant
executive secretary and in l94l sue
ceeded Eugene Kinckle Jones (now
general secretary as executive
secretary.
Mr.. Granger does not agree with
those who look on government as
the cure-all for the race relations
problem.
The education Of the public In
these matters" he said. should be
in the hands of organizations whose
people have studied the subject
thoroughly and have a driving will
10 put over their ideas"
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
The Facts In Our News
By HORACE A. WHITE

fetal in the Ions run The main
issue IN THIS fight may be. can
ciuzcnS through their government
gang ND 10 stop other citizens from
living IN any given locality.
Your columnist feels that Negro
leadership should support the
forces that are back Of putting
housing in the Ecorse Dearborn
section. This docs not mean that
we are unmindful Of some Of Its
had features. We arc not. II means
that we are aware that 10 allow
the opposition to putting Negro
housing In the Ecorse Dearborn
section to succeed. Is q great blow
to our general detectives.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
NOT NEGROES

Sirs:
We have just finished reading
IN article in TINE concerning
the 473rd Infantry Regiment in
which you referred to as rs
Negro troops We are def.
nitely a white unit and are sick
and tired Of being referred to
as Negro troops. This letter is
not being written TO further
racial discomfort but only to get
the facts straight, IS We are
satisfied to let the combat record
Of the Negroes speak for itself.
Letter 10 Time signed by
four soldiers.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02

The Hotel Gotham is one OF the
few Negro hotels in America where
the dresser drawers open without
a struggle and where when you
get them open they are not filled
with the debris of all the guests
who have occupied the room before
you get there-hairpins, spilled
powder. comic books, cigarette
butts. waste paper.
II is one Of the few Negro hotels
where the closet shelves are neatly
busted and clean. and there are no
beer bottles in odd corners that the
maids have forgotten to remove,
and no discarded bed springs lean
ing against the wall in the halls. At
the Gotham. too. the window shades
actually roll up when you pull
them, instead Of falling down.
The Gotham is one Of the very
few Negro hotels where the hot
water tap is correctly marked HOT
instead OF COLD. This odd little re-
versal in colored hotels has puzzled
me for years all across America.
AT the various non-Negro hotels
where I have stopped in this coun-
try and abroad, I do not recall ever
turning on the tap marked HOT
water and having il come out cold.
or turning on the COLD water tap
and having it jump out hot. But
in colored hotels this happens so
often that ii is most confusing. In
many years Of travelling. no one
has yet been able to explain to me
why the plumbers who install the
plumbing for our hotels cannot
mark the hot wster HOT and the
cold water COLD. At the Gotham
they have succeeded in doing this.
That, to me. seems like a miracle
in itself.
CLEAN BATHTUBS
Furthermore, at the Gotham the
bathtubs are clean, the showers
really work. and there is hot water
all the time. Simple things like
these should not be unusual but
they are unusual at inns catering
exclusively to our race. AS one
who travels great deal, l have
long lamented this fact and. since
have been DEFENDER column
list. have written about it several
times in my column. I have re-
ceived some angry anonymous let
t tiers from readers asking IL I ex-
pected Waldorf-Astoria service al
colored hotels.
No. I do not expect Waldorf
Astoria service, nor Waldorf.
Astoria luxury. But for three, oil
four. or Ave dollars q day-price,
often equal to good white hotels
one does expect ordinary cleanli
ness and common courtesy. A
many Of our Negro hotels across
America today. one receive.
neither. Halls and rooms are Otter
dirty and ought to receive the at
tention Of the Board of Health
Desk clerks and bellmen are fire.
quently rude and unaccommodat-
ing. Maids do only surface cleaning
as, evidently. nobody supervises
their work.
or course. this is not true OF ALL
Negro hotels. Hamilton House. the
Theresa. the Grand. the Clark do
their best) But hrst rate colored
stopping places in America can be
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
Continued From Page g.

Continued From Page g.
must keep In mind as IL seeks to
bring about a world in which men
are judged not on a false basis Of
color hut on individual worth. In
other words. can Negro leadership
afford Ia allow community or a
group Of communities to get along
with the practice Of saving that
Negroes cannot live here or there.
II Is possible that tho solution VI
The Negro housing problem IS more
realistically tied up in this fight
than Negro leadership has realized
IL appears that the points advanced
by Negro leadership may be SUPER
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
HITLER'S PERSONAL LIFE

EDITORS Note: Now that the Hit
Ter regime has come to an end the
factors which account for his rise TO
power need TO be known. Hitler's
temperament was TO no small extent
responsible for his craze for power.
The following Article. in two parts.
reprinted from the New York Times
gives an insight into his mentality
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-06-02
BY MARY BRAGcIoTTi
Reprinted from The N. Y. Post)

Lester Granger executive secretary OF the National
League for Social Service among Negroes had
railroad accident few hours before his interview
other morning The in which he had been riding had
jumped track and had been saved by grove
from tipping Mr.. Granger bumped his head the