Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-05-23

pSJuuiNSo pCNuiIdl W the liz
way or another.
Under certain conditions.
liberal city, for the true native is 4
still a typical Minnesotan. The |
reason for this peculiar situation |
lies in the fact that there is prob |
ably a larger transient population !
than there is n stable one.
The normal population is re-
ported at something a little less
than 10000, yet it supports IS !.
hotels, 90 apartment houses, 10
trailer or cabin camps, 10 hospitals
and sanitariums, as well as an un-
counted number Of rooming houses. !
Less Than Dozen Negro Families
There are less than n dozen Ne
gro families living there. Colored 1
persons are not given job encour-
agement there, which no doubt ac-
counts for the population scarcity. |
As a matter Of fact except in rare
instances Negroes are not given
any kind Of encouragement there.
The attitude of the town might
be reflected by the police. They are
not a friendly lot; their slogan
seems to be, III you let me alone,
III let you alone"
When a Negro alights from a
train, a cop eyes him coldly. This
setback is usually countered by the
warmth and courtesy Of the taxi
drivers, any one Of whom will waste
10 minutes giving you minute in
structions or directions, whether
you are likely to become fare or
not. Railroad employees are very |
much like the taxi drivers.
Search For Food
When you sally forth TO find a
meal, you are playing a strange
game Of chance. Enter the right |
place" and you are bowled over
by the CHEEKY good morning, can
/ help you line. Make u bad guess
and the waitress discovers a dozen
chores that must be taken care Of
ahead Of the customer. II you wait |
il out, some other waitress may |
leave her station, come over and
give you the service you desire.
The reason: many hillbilly from
Arkansas, or sick Carolinian, on
coming to Rochester becomes strand
ed, and decides to stay up north |
where everything Is nicer. Those
who get jobs in the service line,
never forgot grandpappy's AdmOn-
ition to never wait on a colored
person. II Is likely that the girl
who left her station to serve you
was born and raised in the vicinity,
and thinks her southern cousin Is
slightly cracked.
Harassed restaurant managers
seldom pretend to notice the situa-
ton, and let the girls settle 1t
among themselves. In stores where
food or clothing are sold, they are
extremely courteous.
No Service In Bars
II you are so encouraged by the
treatment you may have received
in the stores, and decide TO buy Q
drink you are due for another let
down. Negroes just aren't served
drinks at bars in Rochester. March |
into a bar, and you are turned down
as coldly, and as efficiently as II
YOU had tried to borrow . tenspot. !
Mayo clinic and the hospitals are
decent enough, but . Negro spends
the rest Of his experience in Roeh-
ester. Minnesota, proper In q state
Of expeetant embarrassment
Hotels are very much like the
restaurants in their attitude, al
though 1t il more difficult to Ap-
praise them accurately. Many
time when they say that they are
without accommodations until the
3Oth Of June, they are telling the
truth.
There are two "colored" hotels,
one roominE house, also a eolOred
cafe which enjoys considerable
white patronage. |
Mayo clinic may well boast that
Il has no prejudiees, but the kAhler
CORPORATION, which controls most
Of the town would have hard time
proving its case. i
Mayo Clinic bigwigs, impressed
by Q Negro youth. one Of the few
TO grow up in the town, gave him
q Job, actually gave him . chance
70 learn things, and nov Kenneth
Brown IL m X-ray tsehnieiAn In
Q Detroit hospital.
We must reitsrats that kOches-
ter, Minnesota. may truly Be called
the Crossroads u the south" One
may stumble over any type d
prsindies peculiar 10 any section
b.low he Mason DiHon line. and
ofsnn IN unusual places The Negro
pOuulatioa can do little 10 correct