The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-05-12
Condensed from The Atlantic
Monthly for May. 1945
BY EDWIN EMBREE

Democracy in human relations is
gripping the American mind and
conscience. Next 10 war. questions
about Negroes and other minorities
are the most discussed topics in
forums. drawing rooms. and bars.
Aside from morals and ethics. we
begin 10 see that our racial patterns
are hurting our economy and ham
dicapping US in winning the war:
keeping us from full Use Of Negro
labor and fighting power, breaking
the morale OF the millions who
make up our minority groups.
shaking the trust OF our democratic
allies.
Negroes have found special sig
nificance in the war. IL has given
them opportunities they have
never had but il has sharpened
their sense of the clash between
American creed and American
practice. Many thoughtful Ameri-
cans agree and are working with
a real not shown since the move
ment which abolished slavery.
Other Americans are equally per-
;urbed for opposite reasons. Fight
.rs for the status QUO, they are de-
teSnined iha; the Negro shall stay
IN his place
Here is the current balance shee:
in race relations as ! see II. This
review is not limited 10 any Sec
ton. but applies 10 the country as
a whole.
DEBTS
The most spectacular signs OF
the rising t.de OF intolerance are
outbreaks against various minority
groups: aniI-Semitic attacks in New
York, Boston. Chicago; the zooi-
suit clash with MexicanS IN Los
Angeles: mannandling Of Japanese
Americans But the chief victims
were Negroes: riots in Detroit.
Beaumont. and Mobile. outbreaks
N Newark and Dayton: violence
on all kinds OF public carriers
throughout the South.
The most groteSque Of the symp-
toms of CLASH we're The rumors
Housing. always inadequate in
black ghettoes. has become In
tolerable with the new crowdine.
A million Negroes have migrated
from the rural South since 1910,
some of them TO southern cities
bust most 10 already congeSted
centers in the North and West
Funds available for housing fol
- .taN~LA.s IN
than twenty-five northern cities
could not DC used for over year
because OF objection from white
residents.
In spite Of the Presidents orders
and the vigilance OF the Fair En-
ployment Practices Committee. en-
ployerS were slow 10 hire colored
workers. Upgrading Of Negro work
crs has brought on hate strikes and
riots in dozens OF centerS.
On the political front, Congress
has refused 20 outlaw lynchlng and
the poll tax. and has failed 10 pro-
vide Federal equalization of educa-
,onai expenditures tthe only thing
that would bring education OF Ne
grocS-and whiteS--,n the South
10 something like national standard.
Northern legislatures have
threatened 20 penalize American
c.uzens because Of their ancestry
IN this case. Japanese
Minority Faults
Minority groups Themselves have
not been Eui,tleSS. Catholics and
Jews have often Disseminated
agains, Negroes A Negro club in
Philadelphia ref.Sed 10 admit a
white minister 10 membership.
When a japanese American was
pat alongside her, a Negro Secrc-
, tary walked of the JOB in Chicago
as haughtilv as any Nordic. Ne
crocS and McxicanS vie IN looking
down on one another
The police and he courts have
no: always shown fair play or JUS
ice
F., In the news there has been sup