Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1945-08-24

lures OF Wnole ~
towns laid to
waste by our McALPIN
weapons of destruction, those of
our enemies and our allies. But
for much of it, we had to use our
imagination.
We are now on the verge of an
era of peace again. All of us will
have the opportunity of participat-
ing in what We hope will be a per-
manent and all-inclusive peace.
But the coming of peace will
not be without its descriptions.
We are entering this new era
much as We entered the war
somewhat unprepared. This is
particularly true concerning
the social and economic phases
of our life.
While the impact of peace with
its attendant problems of reconver-
sion, unemployment, returning
servicemen and their readjustment
to civilian life will weigh heavily
upon the entire nation, they will
be felt with increased pressure by
minority groups, and specifically
by the Negro. Added to his prob
lens which will be common to US
all will be the problems growing
out of prejudices and discrimina-
tons. The one agency set up by
the government to combat these
specific deterrents to a complete,
orderly and progressive solution to
many of this country's ills, the
FEPC, was established by Execu-
tive Order as a wartime agency.
Its life now is limited to not
more than six months following the
end of the war.
Much will have to be done to
make this era of peace peaceful.
While enactment of legislation
creating a permanent FEPC would
seem to be a "must" on the part
of our government, there is an
obligation and responsibility on the
citizenry and organized groups to
supplement and implement the
necessary efforts by this country
to solve one, of its most pressing
problems.
A large measure of this re-
spOnsibility falls on organized
- labor. II is faced with prob
lens of seniority, with layOffs,
with new and more efficient
methods of production, and
with determinations within its
own ranks. Organized labor is
not unaware of these problems.
1t has been discussing them
and planning with reference to
them for sometime. On some
of the problems it has reached
decisions and laid its plans.
On others, it has much to do.
The Negro must see that he is
fitted into the warp and wool,
and must cooperate and par
ticipate in a manner to realize
the maximum benefit as Amer
lean citizens.
Another group upon which
falls a large share of respOn-
sibility in the postwar era is
the church. In this new age of
peace, the church must bear a
responsibility beyond the feed
ing of spiritual food alone to
its constituents. 1t represents
one of the most potentially
effective organizations in the
life of the people, but some
times is the least active. Like
organized labor, it is begin
ming, however, to be cognizant
of the problems facing it and
the Negro in the postwar
period. In some sections of
the country, there has been real
awakening of the church to its
social and civic pOtentialities.
Only recently, Mrs. Belle Doug
las, a field worker for the Ma
tiOnal Council for a Permanent
FEPC, brought back a report
that the leadership in the South
in the fight for a permanent
FEPC is in the church.
Of course, whatever is done,
whatever happens, whatever is
committed or omitted, affecting Ne
groes, will be carried in the Negro
press. A lot of what it will have
to reflect in its mirrored pages of
current history and events will not
be in harmony with the stated pur-
poses for which we are told the
war was fought.
Peace has come to the world
again! Let's all work toward see
ing that America-domestically-I
is included in the victory!
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