The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1956-01-14
Stupid Bowl Official
Stirred Racial Issue
Continued From Page One

And in all sections of the country the negro popHla-
ton asking the question.
Did the official deliberately call foul on the first
negro boy to play in the Sugar Bowl?
Our answer is NO. He just stupid official who
watched harlne play being made ana lacked the COM
to keep his mouth shut
The pass play close that the Georgia
Tech coach refused to defend the officials actions
at could have gone either way" he said.
"The official apparently called it he it,"
In the locker after the game, young
Grier cried like baby as his coach talked with
reporters.
81 am sorry this had to happen. Bobby says
he did not interfere with the pass receiver
believe him."
In view of all these statements and all the con-
roversy surrounding Grer before the game is regret
table that an official honest he may be, fit to
make this razorthin decision against the colored boy
Especially when it quite evident that the decision
going to lose the game for Pittsburg.
1t is regretable when you consider how much
effort is being made the country to eliminate all
suspicion of discrimination against with skin
Only last week. former heavyweight boxing champion
Joe Louis admitted he the government 100000 in
back taxes
Here is a unique situation in itself Hundreds of men
have been tossed into jail for owing the government
much less
There are circumstances, we would gather,
that has dictated lenency in this case. Suspicion
has long been prevalent that greedy managers
and silent partners chopped JOes share of his big
fights into pieces before they paid him Off
But inner most in their thoughts, we imagine,
is the important fact that Louis is looked
upon a great hero by his people, and any deci-
sion to make him pay, to jail, would carry with
it the danger of creating racial revolt in this
country.
Everyone from the government down. is handling the
colored problem with kidgloVeS Everyone, except the
stupid official who did not hesitate to make hair
splitting decision that bound raise the loud cry
OF discrimination all again.
We are being very charitable by the way, when we
suggest that the official called the play as he saw it
happen For have been in the southland enough to
know that all the population, including football officials
hate the very sight of the negro, a population.
Now that the damage is done, it is easy for us to
say now that the coored boy should not have played
1t is true that both Michigan State and UCLA had
negro players in the Rose Bowl and no one gave it
second thought.
But the negro boy is accepted in the west
In the south, it is forbidden territory young
Grer should have been protected from any chance
OF embarrassment to himself, and humiliation to
his people.
No will ever fully appreciate the vicious
ness of SOutherners toward the negro until they've
watched it in action.
We wildly recall incident back in 1929, when we
football game
On the way down, members Of the Salem party he
came deeply attacked to young colored boy working on
the train valet.
He was clean-cut, mannerly young boy and great
Being totally ignorant of the racial issue we all de-
claeo TO adpot The boy Salem highs mascot and have
MIN sit on the bench with the team
When informed Of our plan however, the negro lad
promptly set straight. 500
They would never allow him to sit on the bench, he
SAID he even doubted that he could get into the game
Inc thought OF such condition existing in anoarc.
do protesting " Uo0 W
O1Ce III Miami, we Immediately contacted a high
SCHOOL official and discussed the coloed boys status
he smiled, and assured that the bow most
certainly could attend the game if he desired
de pointed out, however that the presence Of
cOlOreo boy on the bench roofing for the northern
team might not be taken too kindly and Sug.
sesteo we drop the idea. We accepted this argu-
menu with some logic and pressed it no further
% te Gay OF the game arrived Before the game START
60 some OF US glanced through the gandsand above our
figuring mats where the colored boy would decide
S 4ney was no signs of him. any other colored fans
and we got our answer. W
sehlnd the goal line was an enclosed section Thar.
were no seats AS you looked toward it. Won were rs
Hanueo Tor some reason of pig pen -
anu STANDING inside the pen, not even with some+bno
70 lean on were couple of hundred negroes
0uI AoGeI later, we learned from the colored how
'iAO ne saw the game from the pen ~
nu as tnough the pig-men ARRANGEMENT wasn't crro
enougn we were told something more about n 49,
-hortnerner working at the hotel " At0n q
IL seems that the bigoted southern .u4L,
HSS aenDerately built the pen at the end of a..
lIiu where the negroes would be exnosed ~ az
tun power OF the blazing afternoon sim 80
ana there they stood for two Iono hour ,..
RsVnsrs Oelng slowly tortured, willing to undar@
ne ABUSE In the hope, we imagined tba+ az
beating. 'uen aDuSers sound
go I ha tne way it was down south Is wears orr
DtAereeneo DIT with the years eto mash
oIui later generations change rnatters ~ 49,,
Laielu tnat the negro boy Is saved fro, uIu DC
~ oul nauuS and also from the mental st,.i1;
i otclas IKE the who went ora ae ~: u 4oos-
maze young Bobby Grier the goat in tbo 60. way 70
last Monday afternoon e' III tne sugar Bowl