The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-08-25

them acted upon by the other
fellow"
The Negro population is worried
about the future AS we enter an
era OF peace The emergency of
war has given tho Negro people
an opportunity 10 participate in the
productive power Of the United
States on very encouraging
scale Before the coming OF war
the Negro people were given The
crumbs from the industrial table
ot our beloved country. viii the
American industry 20 back 10 the
use Of the Negro as a margnal
worker? VIII Negroes be pushed
on the public relief rolls. All out
Of proportion 10 their numbers in
the population. because Of race
prejudice Will the returning Ne
gro veteran have 10 hope that he
will be treated second best among
the veterans groups rather than
be treated equally among all vet
Grams?
Will Americans say after the war
as il did before the war that the
time is not ripe and that the people
need a great deal more education
before the Negroes OF our country
can be treated as citizens? These
and many more questions are rum
ming through the minds of the
American Negro population
American industry may try to
use the Negro worker to weaken
the labor movement in this coun-
try. The white workers In the
labor movement may try to grab"
false security at the expense Of
the Negro worker. American in
dustry can easily pit black worker
against white worker when there
is a shortage Of jobs for the work
erS. White workers who may be
too desperate to see how they are
being used will seek to use the
Negro workers difference in color
TO keep a job. without thoughtful
leadership the Negro worker will
he likely to take anti-white worker
attitudes. II the Negro worker
takes an anti-white worker atti-
tude the stage will he all set for
some industrialist To break the
back Of the union on the basis Of
race prejudice. His arguments will
he that Negro workers and white
workers cannot get along.
The danger in our era Of peace
will be that race conflict in Amer
lea will overshadow the real issues
before the American people. Sol
diers will be returning and there
will not be enough jobs for them
There will be an effort. in face Of
this situation. 10 push the Negro
Oft the job for the white soldier
All kinds ~ tricks will be used
10 bring about the dismissal Of
the Negroes from jobs for white
persons Negro workers will be
charged with everything in the
book" n justify hiss losing the
Job to non-NeGro. This will mean
race bitterness.
The Negro veteran will return
to America with a feeling that he
fought for something important 10
him and his family democracy.
There will he those among our
population who will think that the
fighting was done for the white
Americans. Such people will seek
10 remind the Negro soldier Of
this notion" The Negro soldier
will not he reminded. He would
not have heen worthy soldier IL
he could he reminded.
The Negro soldier Will expect
exactly TO say he fought for dem
ocracy.
The American people will need
to put their political house" in
order. The problems that are now
confronting the American people
will have In he, met with vigor on
the part Of the people. Many
Of the men in high political office
are unfit for domestic job Of
change and-progress-Th e-thines
that divide the American people
are only smoke screens To prevent
change and progress. The Ameri-
can people want jobs for all the
people. America can provide jobs
for all the people. On this the
people are not divided The great
majority Of people in this country
know that race conflict Is only
symptom Of too few jobs on basis
Of equality. too little housing for
all the people. too much made
quacy In education for all our
people and too much disease both
mental and physical None Of these
can become adequate without the
control Of government. Govern
ment will just slide" along talking
feverishly about private enter
prise" unless the people demand
that their government take steps
to bring about the American
nraa.V