The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-03-17

say TOUR wears ago mat change
IS best expressed by the one word
migration; the%dircct opposite OF
Segregation.
SEGREGATION, Of course. has
existed IN mos, sections OF this
country ever since slavery was
abolished. but IL had little or no
acceptance among thinking Negroes
until shortly after the turn, OF the
century. During the Reconstruc-
ton period. as Howard Fast has
so ably pointed out in his book
Freedom Road. Negro leaders in
the South resisted segregation with
all the force al their command
Their demand then was for full
indignation into all aspects OF the
nations life.
Then followed period Of
wide sponsorship and acceptance
of tho theory that race relations
In the South could he AS one
as the hand in things economic.
hut as separate as the fingers In
things purely social"
or course. neither the sponsors
OF this segre gated way OF life
nor their Successors N thought
ever have been able 10 satisfac-
torily dclineate the Inc which di-
vidcs the social from the eco
monte phase OF human existence
For who can say where the eco
homie benefits which flow from
better housing. better schooling
and better transportation merge in
70 social considerations and thus
establish pattern Of social equal
ity
But PARTLY because the South
wanted II that way and partly be-
cause Negro leadership in the
South expressed acceptance OF 1t
that way. Southern whites 10 this
day cling 70 their philosophy OF
segregation and they characterize
almost every human desire ex-
pressed by their Negro fellow-citi-
zens as demand for social equal
ity" The obvious inconsistency
OF a community OF citizens equal
before the law yet sharing equally
but separately" all Of the attributes
Of that citizenship. is completely
overlooked
Having accepted the philosophy
OF Segregation. Negro leadership in
the South was logically and un-
avoidably driven 10 the next in
consistent step-the advocacy OF
economic emancipation FOR the Ne
gro through the medium Of es-
tablishing Negro places OF business
which would hire only Negro per-
sonnet and virtually demand in re-
turn that these segresated bust
nesses receive all Of the Negro's
trade and patronage
Gradually this philosophy was
imported In the North and now
II Is the accepted thing here also.
Negro business employing all
Negro help and catering cspe-
ciallv to the Negro public. This
Is discrimination with a ven
geancc II there ever was.
And, yet, there are Negro lead
NAS tONds WIZ SblAA IllSlSN VII iIliS
point OF view while. at the same
time. demanding that discrimina-
ton in the employment OF Nc
groes cease and that there be full
indignation Of Negroes and all 9TH
err so-called minorities into Ameri-
can industry Those who take this
position pride themselves on their
presumed race consciousness" but
in reality il simply is another ex-
ample OF trying TO eat ones cake
and have il too.
Those OF US who oppose this
"separatist' way OF thinking: we
who insist upon being accepted
and. treated as Americans rather
than as Negro-Americans, are ac-
cused OF being lacking in race
consciousness and race-prde, II
is said we do not have the best
interest OF our people at heart.
FOR MYSELF, have never re-
garded race-consciousness or race
pride as a particular virtue; and
am hopeful that more and more
Americans will become less and
less "race-conscious." Hitler and
his followers should be an ex-
ample to these extreme racial chau-
vinists. The sooner we begin 10
think. act and react as Americans
and not as hyphenated Americans,
the sooner we shall find that COM
mon basis OF understanding and
partnership. which is a prerequi-
site 10 any solution for Americas
race and color problem
The phrase "our people" has no
racial connotation for me Indeed,
all Americans, all humanity. con-
stitute "my people; and assess
no greater value 20 the Negroes
claim for full membership in our
American family. then give to
the claim Of each and every other
group in our national life And
by the same token. ! claim no
greater privileges FOR nv brown
skin brothers in their legitimate
desires for all that makes lifc in
this country worthwhile, then
am prepared 10 claim for all other
Americans.
For the same principle which
makes me oppose a segregated un-
ion. makes me also oppose all
forms az segregated industry
whether il be owned by Negroes
or whites; and the same principle
which leads me 20 demand a per.
manent Fair Employment Practices
Commission 70 enforce equality Of
lob opportunity fsy~ all Americans
Lkew.ses compels me to oppose all
such special enp'ovmcnt pr;vi-
leses' as the much discussed
scheme 81 proportional seniority
for Negro union members.