St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1949-11-04
THE Negro Advances"

the nation 1 thought readers
would be interested IN the follow
ing information. I have Just fin
ished reading q pamphlet entitled
The Negro Workers Progress in
Minnesota" and I'd like to tell you
about some Of the interesting
facts that were disclosed In this
book.
The book, put out by the Gov
ernor's Interracial Commission,
has been conveniently divided In
to four main divisions:
"a What is the Negroes oppor-
remind you the book reveals that
tunity for securing employment
in Minnesota? (2) Who prevents
Negroes from working in Minne-
sofa, and why? (3) How valid are
the reasons given for not employ
ing Negro workers, and a. can
equality Of opportunity be realized
in Minnesota? I can't attempt to
tell everything that is printed in
this pamphlet, but I win endeavor
to give some Of the points that
stand out in my estimation.
Let's take topic number /. This
chapter deals primarily with the
jobs that were obtainable for the
Negro during pre-war years. For
example, don't believe I have to
remind you the books reveals that
20 Negroes were employed in the
Public Utilities field-a field in
which a total Of $500 employees
worked; there were only a few
Negroes employed in department
stores, in the manufacturing area,
the local transportation industries,
Negro girls were not given very
much opportunity for clerical en-
ployment in large offices. Min
neapolis, recognized Of one Of the
milling centers of the world, en-
ploying many thousands Of work.
ers, used only a handful Of Ne
groes as jsnitors and unslIiIled
laborers prior to the war.
Where did the Negro work be-
fore the war; AS you can tell by
the information above most Of the
work that was able to be secured
by the Negro consisted mostly Of
jobs as attendants in clubs, ser
vice workers In hotel or domestics
in private families and as jani-
tors.
However, the trend changed
when companies and corporations
did begin to hire Negroes, such
corporations as Ford Plant and
Minneapolis Moline, (who incl
dentally not only hired Negroes
prior to the war, but up-graded
them to skilled jobs as well) the
packing plants, and the railroads.
Next to these industries the
United States Post office depart
ment in the Twin Cities hired a
considerable number of Negroes
as window or postal clerks, car
riers, one supervisor freight
handling to branch superintend-
ent. Incidentally Duluth was rep
resented with one Negro postal
clerk and a custodian.) More Fed
eral, Municipal, County and State
jobs are mentioned, and as /
turn to page 10 I see that title
War Years.
This brought about a decisive
change in the employment position
for the Negro due to: ~ a defin-
lite shortage Of manpower, espec-
tally in the more skilled jobs. (2)
The wartime presidents Fair EN-
ployment Practice Commission
which prohibited any employer
holding a war contract to deny
employment to persons based on
race, color or creed. (3) Contin-
ued activity by the Twin City
Urban Leagues and "a the in
creased campaign to promote
patriotism which tended to de-
velop a sense of unity among
American citizens.
Some Of the many corporations |
that added Negroes to their per-
sonnet in groups of ten or more in
cluded: Twin Cities Ordnance
Plant G,2OO Negroes at peak
load, Northwest Airlines, Mum
singwear Inc. of Minneapolis,
Griggs Cooper and Company, Ray
mond Laboratories, D. w. Oman
and Sons, Seeger Refrigerator
Company, Minneapolis Honeywell
Regulator Co. and many more.
lin the booklet it lists the number
of people that are employed in
each company and the duties that
are heidi
During and Immediately after
the war years a decided advance
was made by the Negro worker.
Besides the corporations and COM