Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1953-12-25

ny Dean Gordon n, Hancock
Richmond. Wa vacation trip
that took this writer to Detroit,
81. Louis, Birmingham, Atlanta
and Columbia, =, C., gave occasion
for some serious reflections. IL
was In Detroit that we bumped
into a situation that wrought an
apprehension that we are passing
ON 10 our readers for serious de-
liberation,
While In Detroit We had the
pleasure Of dining with a worthy
widow. whose husband was our
playmate In boyhocd days In sun.
ny South Carolina. The children
Of this gracious woman are rally
ing heroically around their wild
owed mother. Two OF her sons are
bus drivers for the Detroit Tran
sit Company.
While at dinner. one Of these
sons CHANGED Co remark how tired
he was, duo 10 the fact that he
had 20 double back In place OF n
fellow driver who arrived twenty
minutes late ON the job, The fell
low driver arrived but only after
another had been drafted to drive
IN his stead,
The writer was somewhat dis
treaaed 10 hear about this late-ar-
irving Negro bus driver! for late
arriving seems to be one OF the
incurahle weaknesses OF far too
many Negro workers Knowing m
We did through what travail Me-
gro drivers were given the oppor-
tunity TO drive the buses In our
urban centers. = special series OF
personal investigation was en-
ployed TO satisfy ourself that the
case mentioned was an isolated
one and therefore not an occasion
Of serious concern.
But that aame evening we were
riding n bus across town 10 noe an
old friend and happened TO ride q
bus driven by . young Negro who
was q fine physical specimen and
who looked the part and my
breast was filled with pardonable
pride AZ tho driver manipulated
his bus and handled hIn fares,
We arrived at a junction whore
q driver.leas bus was standing.
Our driver called out, IAN pas
aengers change 20 other bus"
Everybody rushed into the driver
less bus and waited while the
drivers chAttsd on the outside.
After waiting half an hour or
more. our driver called out again,
IAN passengers change back To
same bus" and Of course there
was q rush for seats a. In usual In
q rush.
Upon inquiry Il was found that
q Negro bus driver had failed 10
show up for duty. There was
general miN-up, all because this
Negro driver failed 10 take over
on the job m expected, There was
general evaporation among pas
aengeru. white and colored a.
might BE- expected.
WIN iris writer 10 was morn
than the mere fart that y bus
driver GaiIed 10 report for duty, II
was the fact that . Negro driver
had failed. The writer knew what
. stubborn fight Negroes and
thrlr white friends had 20 make
10 land those FIRe Jobs for Ne
Rroea. To Ree o Negro faIi down In
the clutch filled ne with profound
distress.
Nor was this all Ny brothsr-in.
law who cnmmutss 90 Dearborn
daily had this 10 relate. Recently
he was riding q crowded bus en-
route 10 Dearborn early In the
morning while the rush was In
full swing. The bus was crowded
10 OVERLOOKING with many Of the
passengers anxious IN arrive on
the Job in time. Whites ana Ne
Rroes were aboard,
~ . certain Junction thsi.
driver stopped ths bus wtiie be
aIIRhted 30 Tire sidewalks and hall
"a oBs of his old cronlea and en-
gagged In o paSiey that lasted
neaSIy ten minutes. They were dis.
cusnlnE "the tims We had last
night" with great BSnchalaBes,
he returned 20 his bas and sped
ths angry passengers on tibei'
anxious way.
This took place in Detroit IN The
critical year Of 1868 while the Ne
gro IL stiii struggling for Oppor'
tunlty.
The point here being made IL
merely 20 call attention 10 . sit-
uatlon that posea an awftI