The Omaha guide., 1948-05-22
ACT
THINK
READ

The Freedom Train was in Omaha today. we walked
its aisles and read the documents that capture on paper the
spirit of our nation. We Americans, we human beings, black
and white, red and yellow, Catholic and Protestant and Jew
and woman and child, student and teacher, laborer ana
professional man, Nebraskans, Iowans, we Americans. a good
feeling it was to read these words; a good thing to see them
. solid certain. permanent sort of sensation. And like how
manv other feelings SO easily blown away, SO readily shattered
by a common, ordinary incident The Freedom Train came
to town and, we Americans were proud untnl ;no
One cold spring night this week four girls went into a
small cafe to get some hot cholocate and a donut "A clean ana
pleasant place, with good, Inexpensive TODD with ohte walr-
resses. a place that is frequented by many people at a transfer
snot in downtown Omaha. We went in and sat down cheered
at the thought Of the food to come. The manager came over
awav. The cafe was not crowded, there was plenty OF help,
there were others eating there They looked at US ana they
knew why the manager spoke as he did. They looked en-
barrassed but they made no protst. Il IS much easier ~ =
and after all it wasn't happening to them.
49, 90 OFT With one either. One girl went out at once
seriously close to tears. The other three Of US talked quietly
to the manager. He was sorry to hurt our feehngs ,d D En- Nc
wouldn't serve us. 1t made no difference that we could nav
eaten and left in five minutes. 1t made no difference that we
were quiet and wen-behaved, respectfully dressed, that we
had the money to pay for our order, that we were MS I Chr;o
citizens and fellow countrymen, in this case his fellow Chr1s-
tians. He didn't care that one Of us was a student at N o.
the Catholic girls colleges in Omaha, that two Q US were
a1umnae. of Creighton University, that the other girl was a
housewife with two small children whom she is Trying %
rear in keeping with all the Freedom Train implies. !,
No. none of this mattered at all. Because you see ne dGn I
really believe that call men were created equal ne ddn :
care that according to the Nebraska state law-9 5a 4oni
ali nersons Of this state shall be entitled to a full and equai
endowment of the accommodations, advantages cue u lns
barbershops, and other places Because you see TWO q u
yer II 49, 11s-
II would hurt trade to erve a colored person on, ne dldn5
thinkranv OF the people out there as customers right then Would
object. and he didn't think he'd be over-run with colored udde
and yes. it was a pity to do UGH a thing in this day ana age anu
citv and country. But he wouldn't serve US.
We left feeling as though we'd been kicked IN tn stomacn.
Two of us went home knowing that to US the Insult was q
nassing thing. We could walk in the same place tonloiro"
and be served. Wed never have any difficulty III omaha
Nebraska. in getting a hotel room, a job, a meal, an educauon,
! church utilization, a seat in a theatre, service IN a store u
beauty Darlor. a home to live in in a certain ne1gnDorhoou-
Rn+o orr to friends? The situation doesn't change @ hel
They can 90 down and see the Freedom Tram and they can
come home and live in a city without freedom. lney can
read about enlightened progressive city government anu Il
doesn't apply to them. Human beings, college tralnea, c1zens'
81 ] civ. 4 state. a nation, fellow Americans, no, 1t doesn't
.nn1v TO them. They're a different color and you see the
Freedom Train just isn't meant for them.
Or is it? Are you going to go through that tram ana y1
make it, mockery in your lives? Are you going TO be az stupld
and nettv and prejudiced as that cafe proprietor! " are
vour intentions good and fine but you don't know what t Q 40
sbont tbe whole situation? After all, "t isn't up to me!
snt II? You have a new city administration Just come INTO
office. a new Mayor. Will you write to him, petition MN, IN
dividua11v and in civic groups, to set up a Mayors committee
on Interracia1 Matters? Minneapolis has done great things
in their city through the Mayors Committee. 1t IS at least a
beginning. a means to an end, a positive help to make reality
correspond with ideals. -
The Freedom Train came to our town. Did all II brought
mass away when the train pulled out? Or are you gong to
help keep that spirit Of America, that spirit OF Freedom alive!
It's up to you!
Peggy Wall
Bertha Galloway
Alma Hodges
Mary Clare LAWYER