The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-08-18
South
Continued from Page II

lSOntinueu from rage
states, most Of them on an inter-
racial basis.
FOLLOWING rs the text of Mrs
Douglas statement on her trip:
In travelling through the South
one finds a new spirit among both
Negroes and whites. There is an
increasing willingness on the part
OF the white South TO recognize
that onomic discrimination
against the Negro hinders the de-
velopment of the entire region.
Having recognized the problem,
they are also manifesting a will
ingness to work towards a solution
of the problem through study, con-
ferences with labor and Negro
leadership and action for the amel-
ioration of economic discrimina-
ton.
Nowhere is the change in the at
titude Of Negroes in the South
more evident and more significant,
perhaps, than in the Negro church.
Where formerly its concern was
wholly other world, today its en-
phasis has shifted toward concern
with building better life in this
world and realization that eco
nomic discrimination is a basic
problem. Much of the leadership
as we'll as financial backing for
progressive organizations is COM
ing from the Negro church in the
South.
There is also growing aware
ness in the South that all their
problems cannot be solved on a re-
glonal level, but that many of
them are national in scope. and
must be dealt with on that level.
A desire for full citizenship Is
increasingly evident among the
Negroes in the South, along with
the will to implement that de-
sire. Fully cOgniZant that there
are still powerful forces arrayed
against them, and that in some
cases they risk loss Of jobs and
even physical violence, they
openly organize and support the
movements which they believe
will help them realize their
goals.
AT THE SAME TIME, tolerance
is slowly but surely growing IN
the South. Measured by absolute
standards, of course, the South is
still intolerant. But the very fact
that a tour such as this could be
made without incident is an Indl-
cation Of increased tolerance. Ten
years ago, anyone attempting such !
tour would certainly have been |
violently driven out Of some south |
ern communities. Much of the |
work would have had to be done
furtlvely, and inter-racial Coop
Grafton would have been practical
ly non-existent. AS it is, in many
OF these communities our program |
has been publicized in the white
press, and the extent OF inter-
racial cooperation achieved has
been most gratifying.
Following is a list Of the cities
in which Mrs. Douglas has helped
20 establish Local Councils for
Permanent FEPC. Besides inform
Ils tne community ABOUT the Leg |
islation, writing TO their Senator's
and Representatives in its support.
they have contributed financially |
toward the work of the Nauonal
Council:
VIRGINIA: Richmond. Norfolk. ]
Roanoke; NORTH CAROLINA: /
Greensboro, Winston Salem. Char
lotte; SOUTH CAROLINA: Column /
bia, Charleston; GEORGIA: Savan-
nah, Atlanta; FLORIDA: Jackson
vile, Miami, Tampa; ALABAMA:
Birmingham, Montgomery, Mobile.
MISSISSIPPI: Jackson: LOUIS |
lana: Baton Rouge, Shreveport;
ARKANSAS: Little Rock; OKLA /
HOMA: Tulsa, Muskogee, Okla
homa City; TEXAS: Fort Worth.
Dallas, Houston; also New Orleans
in LOUISIANA.
Previously established Local
Councils for Permanent FEPC in
the South are in Chattanooga and
Nashville, Tenn; Durham, N. C.,
and Louisville, KY.