The Miami times. [volume] (Miami, Fla.) 1923-current, 1949-08-20
Protests
Discriminatory
Practices
By ARLINGTON SANDS

For years the Waste Department
has found it convenient to go into
backyards of White residents to col
lect garbage but refuses to move
garbage in the Negro section unless
it is put on the curb. This has been
the policy for years and as far back
as pioneers can remember.
Last week, Coconut Grove Negro
residents led by Paul Roberts, ask
ed City Manager Hart to end this
unfair practice.
The city manager requested an
explanation from Waste Division
Superintendent Grady Phelps. After
two years of thinking the Superin-
tendent came up with this frivilous
statement: at is almost Impossible
for our men to find their way into
these backwards and when they do,
they always run into clotheslines on
the way out. We have had several
men injured in this manner.
The truth is this practice Of col
Letting waste in Negro sections from
the curb only was started many
years ago, even before the section
was densely populated.
The practice is carried on in the
Ne gro section whether there is one
or four houses on a lot. The Waste
Division superintendent state
ment sounds reasonable, but it can
not be accepted, for it isn't based
on any past experience and even in
the Negro section where conditions
are equal to that of some White
areas, no effort has been made 10
give backyard service.
The truth is it has long been de-
cided that the Negro residents are
unworthy of this service. It is about
time that we speak out forcefully
against this unfair practice and that
it be an issue in the coming city
election.
1t is refreshing to note the civil
awakening on the part of the resi-
dents of Coconut Grove. 1t is our
hope that Mr.. Roberts and his group
will not give up the struggle for
garbage service for Negro tax pey-
ers.
PAUL robson
In the weeks which we have been
absent from this column Paul Robe
son made his Paris speech. We have
read the full text of Mr.. Robeson's
speech and cannot see anything
harmful about it. 1t was to me a
great speech.
Last week in Washington, Mr..
Robson was quoted by the Associa-
ton Negro Press as saying No One
Can Challenge My Loyalty. I've
been so pleased with the contents
of an article written by Alice A.
Dunnigan. I'm reprinting it.
NO ONE CAN CHALLENGE MY
LOYALTY - robson
WASHINGTON - amp - NO
body can question my loyalty to
America and it's great traditions"
declared Paul Robson, but they
can question my loyalty to that one
percent of wall street interest which
controls 60 percent of the nations
wealth"
Speaking informally to a group of
reporters and friends at his Dunbar
hotel suite last Friday night, Robe
son implied that no one could help
situation by running away from it.
This implication came after Robe
son had related quite fully his eX-
periences abroad and the treatment
of minorities in foreign countries es-
pecially Russia, when a reporter
asked him to comment on the ques-
ton so often asked as to why he did
not go to Russia to live.
ROOTS IN AMERICA
To this Robson replied that he
happened to have been born in
America and in America he was 60
ing to stay. His roots are in Amerl-
ca. he continued, and he is honestly
interested in the struggles of his
people here. 81 owe it to them to
come back to stay"
He pointed out that the Negroes
in America are products of human
suffering and human struggle. 'The
solution Of human ills cannot be
settled by running away from them
Suppose everybody who achieved
fame would run on his struggling
American brothers to find solace in