Indianapolis Recorder, Indianapolis, Marion County, 7 October 1944 — Page 10
Section—PAGE TWO
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SATURDAY, OCTOBER 7, 1944
• •
OPINION
» •
The Ground of Liberty it gained by inches It takes time to persuade men to even do what is for their own good.—Thomas Jefferson.
THE INDIANAPOLIS RECORDER
rounder and Editor—^.1124
LI ncoln 7574, 7575 MARCUS C. STEWART
Editor
Entered as Second Class Matter at the Indianapolis Post Office, July, 1910, under the Act of March 7, 1897.
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ARMY BANS SEGREGATION IN GERMANY BUT ENFORCES IT IN UNITED STATES
What kind of people do the officials who run the United States Army think Negroes are anyhow? Do those who control the Army, those who make the rules and regulations, think that Negroes are a bunch of ignorant nitwits, who possess none of those human attributes which place men above dumb-driven animals? They must have such thoughts when they refuse to treat colored fighting men as they do all other soldiers. In fact, they make rules and regulations which embarrass, insult, and humiliate every colored person and many white men who are fighting with them to protect America. The latest insult was hurled in the faces of Negroes last week wffien the Army decided to take over the Pershing Hotel m Chicago and the Theresa Hotel in New York as special and exclusive redistribution centers for Negro soldiers. * The Army had selected 49 hotels in the resort centers at Miami Beach, Fla., Asheville, N. C., Hot Springs, Ark.. Santa Barbara, Cal., and Lake Placid, N. Y., as places where the men who had seen action could be given a psychological “lift” to prepare them to again go into battle. The idea seems to be a good one. However, the question arose, as it always does, what to do with Negroes? It has never entered the head of the Commander-in-Chief nor any of his policy-making generals that*£he only just thing to do is to accord equal treatment to colored soldiers. This incident focuses attention on the whole damnable policy of segregation which is rampant in the Army. Aside from what this Jim Crow policy does to the morale of every colored man in the Army, it removes from public service the two finest hotels which colored Americans can use freely. • Because of custom Negroes are barred from first-class hotels all over America. The taking of the Pershing and Theresa hotels creates a housing shortage for colored Americans in Chicago and New York; and it is not necessary. During the same week that the plans were made by the United States high command to segregate battle-worn Negro veterans, General Eisenhower issued a decree that the anti-racial laws of German were to be abolished. In other words, the United States Army enforces antiracial laws in America while seeking to destroy them abroad. This incident proves conclusively that the Army has the power to abolish segregation within its own ranks. The .fact that it does not do so proves that those in control do not w T ant to do so; that they consider Negroes as less than men.—Washington Tribune.
When such members are neither hot nor cold, they expect the preacher to be a mechanical spiritual stoker.
In praise of them, they want the preacher to be a loudspeaker; but concerning their spiritual needs,a speak-easy.
If wrong thinking is the cause of this present world disorder, then let us all get more of God whose Bible writers thought perfectly, and in order.
Men are not a whole lot different than they ever were, and their ungodly thinking further aggravates the world’s festering sore.
Learning what is right, and all daring to do it, is the only sure way of helping to cure it.
Things that shine, have caused many a person later to pine.
GUIDE RIGHT Guide Right, sponsored by The Federation of Associated Glut}*, Inc., and The Indianapolis Recorder in the Interest of Correct Guidance, Proper Conduct, Better Interracial $l«lation«hip, and Cultural Advancements
in 'these modern tumultous times, we, the people, are forced ■to face many public issues. Should we take a militant stand on the “RACE” question or should we .maintain a conservative attitude? Fhould we be ag&ressive on the “Housing” question or be guided by the facts? Should we take the offensive in the “BETTER JOB CAMPAIGN”? Should we allow our enthusiasm to run riot on the sure-to-come "D-DAY" or should we curb our feelings to a cultural standard? "IS USING OUR FRANOHfSE A RESPO^SIBrLfrY'*? Are our social agencies curbing “Juvenile Delinquency"? What Books Should We Read?” How to conduct our "PUBLIC CONDUCT CAMPAIGN” and what shall we do for , “OUR RETURNING VETERANS”? These are only a few of the topics that will be discussed In this fhiide right column weekly. So varied, so urgent, so new, In our experience, and so prevalent are these issues, that we are, sometimes. In a quandary as to what stand to take. We cannot always rely on, and trust our natural, spontaneous first reflexes and reactions. We. serious-minded, folk know that our actions and attitudes should be based on wise, straight-thinking. We know that hot-headed decisions, springing from too-hasty. Impulsive feelings are the stuff from which mobs are made. , We will welcome this GUIDE RIGHT column, for it will do just what the name implies. It will guide us right in our thinking. * We want this to be your column. We want yen to road it—digest
it—be aroused by it and contribute to it. If you have a question, in which you are interested in having publicly discussed or in having published, please write The Indianapolis Recorder or S'. W. James, president of the Federated Clubs. These two organizations are sponsors of this colnmn. There are certain citizens, who have already signed up to contribute to this column. Among them are Mesdames Denver Hinton, Ulysses Orrid. Robert Marbury, Robert Johnson, John Powers, P. Lavelle Walker, Lorenzo Ervin, Henry Greer, and William Brooks; the Misses Ora B. Skelton and Anna Stout; Professors Starling James, J. L. Simpson, and Walter Harris, Atty. Frank R. Beckwith, Rev. Marshall A. Talley, Dr. Scohie Linthecome, Patrolman John Metzger, and Dr. Joseph C. Carroll. These citizens are crusaders, who are not content to stand complacently and idly by. and see their fellow citizens thrown into confusion by not knowing what stand to take as regards the welter of public questions, that arise daily. These citizens are not attempting to force their opinions on the pubic. but with the spirit of the good Samaritan, they are attempting only to iielp by voicing sane, unbiased views which may steer some one aright just as the poem, “To a Waterfowl,” by William CulIn Bryant He, who, from zone to zone Guides through the boundless sky in certain flight In the long way, that I must tread alone, Will lead my steps aright.
PLAIN TALK: By DAN GARDNER HOW THEY KlfOrLl) WRITE ABOUT NEGROES IN FICTION: MISCONCEPTIONS DO US
HARM.
Dr. Harry A. Overstreet, in a m-ent issue «>f the Saturday Review’ of Literature, wrote understandingly of the problem. “Im*ages and the Negro - Do Our Writers Really Know and Understand This American?” The editor’s note on the piece, the first of a series of two articles on the subject, indicated that Dr. Overstreet was dealing with the vital role of fiction writers and psychologists iu relation to the Negro problem today. Dr. Overstreet said. "How we behave toward people is chiefly determined by the images we have of them. If we have been taught to regard people as untrustworthy, shiftless. of no account, or congenially inferior, we inevitably tend to treat them as if they were really that way even though they may l»e quite otherwise. The image is more powerful than the reality. This applies with partkmar force in our our relations to the Negroes. It is inconceivable that whites can ever do full justice with the Negroes’ solution if they retain the images of them that they have held in their minds. These images have wrought immeasurable harm. The image of the Negro as a kind of clown with comic turns of speech and ridiculous behaviour has robbed him of dignity. The images of him as lazy, childishly dependent, and dishonest has excused us from having confidence in him : while the images of him as vicious and sexually irresponsible have put him outside the pale. TRAITS NOT ALL
RACIAL.
"No doubt, each of these traits is to be found among individual Negroes as each is to be found among individuals of any group - particularly a group that has becu kept outside the oppor-tunity-structure of organized society. hut to regard these traits as if they were typical of the Negro ’race' has betn most unfortunate. Writers and speakers who have thus regarded them have couiniitteed the fallacy of generalizing from too few par-
ticulars".
Dr. O v e r sire e t. in this profound and learned pi;* e. declares that inestimable burn: has been done the Negroes by professional humorists who hav< made him into a literally laughing stock. Iu this connection, it might be said that there is a tendency on the part of tin* average novelist and writer, who is white, to deem the Negro as child-like in behavior and in character: he is always laughing with eyes rdlling. feet shuffling, teeth showing and. as such, lie is a comic piece r«*sistance of any literary menu. Acording to the doctor. even writers "who have no particular anti-Xeg.ro or proJwhJte ,blis have frequently don-* the Negro disservice”. CREATE STEREOTYPE
NEGRO.
."Attno-ted by his engaging side, they have magnified this in their stories, thereby creating the stereotype of the easy-come, easy-go. laughing over-generous, hedonistic child of nature. Tills may a'll seem innocent and bright" ovserved Dr. Overstreet, hut a hedonistic child of nature is hardly the kind of individual the white man trusts to build a strong society. These images, and others like tln^n, have added and built up a false estimate of the Negro's actual and poten tial powers. They have made it hard for the white man to see the Negro save through a haze of misconceptions”. These findings, as propounded by Dr. Overstreet, are of great significance to all Negroes because in them are perhaps the key to the answer to the disturbing problem of creating the right point of view in the white man's eye of the Negro minority in this country. It is principally thru the written and spoken word that opinions are made solid or congealed for posterity. The fact that white children, from infancy. have read stories about "Little lack Sambo”. "Little Black Munibo”. “Ten Little Niggers", later graduated to "The Leopard Spots” by Thomas Dixon and . . . “Tin* Clansman”, also from the bigoted anti-Negro ih*ii of Dixon: and to Margaret Mitchell's "Gone With the Wind", the . . . youthful white cannot Iielp but have the conception deeply rooted in him that the Negro is a sec-ond-class being, undeserving of contemplation as an equal in any respect and. when found intelligent and articulate, to he regarded as a freak or phenomenon dressed up in party clothes and a fit subject for a waiter’s trade or maid’s cap.
Uncovering ... JVashington...
By HARRY McALPIN
Maybe Westbrook Pegler set the pace for retractions and retractions and re-evaluating one’s opinions when he acknowledged in one of his colnni'us last week, speaking of Negroes, tliut "it all seems reasonable and feasible when you just sit down and meet as men and colleagues in a business and begin to uderstund each other, instead of heating one another over the head with nicatax editorials as total strangers on opposite sides of town". I'm in that mood this week. 1 have witnessed two performances by u man of whom I, along with many other Negroes, have ■been very critical. What he did has warmed my heart, caused me to cast aside an emotional antagonism, and make an objective evaluation of his worth and tin* handicaps under which he must operate. Perhaps I should wait to write tins column until events and circumstances make it possible for me to call that man's name and give a blow-by-blow description of the light, he put up for Negroes in these two performances. To do so now, however, probably would do him more harm than good. His opinmehts in these fights would welcome the opiMUtunity of attacking him for having let out the story — which
he didn't. * Another reason for this vagueness is that a lot of people who would prefer to see a different winner than I iu that great American event which climaxes on November 7, would accuse me of playing politics through this column. I could not give that blow-by-blow' account without in * one case seeming to throw bouquets at one of the presidential candidates for his forthright stand on an economic matter, in which the principle involved! touclied tlM hen rtstring and iiocketliook of every Negro in America — where the might of the United States Army was used to hack up that principle. And in tin* other ease, too, it would sound like political "stumping" because to describe the performance would necessitate divulging how one of the presidential candidates stood four square and insisted upon the elimination of segregation in a phase of operation in an istitutio where jim crow has been one of tin* Negro's jM*t i>eeves. But the events have so impressed me that I could not resist the urge to say that 1 have laid to reevaluate my opinion of this unnamed man. * I regret I can do no more at this twne than pin a nclmlous medal on an anonymous hero.
Between the Lines By Dean Gordon B. Hancock (For ANP) SUPPER RAC TSM-IHHBLE DOSE. Praciudicium generis deienduin ets.! It is fervently to he hoped that at the conclusion of this terrible war supi>erraeism will lie dead and burled beyond hopes of u resurrection! We are told that there are some blessings in disguise and if so. Hitlerish may prove to be such blessing, if it reveals in all of its Uidt'ousness the dreadful spectre of sujierracism. the super- scourge of the world. Superracism made .a just and lasting peace .impossible at the conclusion of World War If. H. G. Wells said a few years ago that only by the destruction of race prejudice could we hope for anything resembling the brotherhood of mankind. Thai was another way of saying that only by tbe destruction of the suiswrace notion could we hope to have peace in this world. If this war destroys this iniquitous notion or devitalizes this iniquitous concept, it will he worth all the treasure and blood cx]>endcd in this gigantic holocaust which is breaking the heart of mankind. Kay what we will, sup per racism is taking an awful beatting! This is one of the happiest developments of ibis critical hour in the life of mankind. The tide of supperraeism has flooded and henceforth infist recede and with it will recede as one of the gravest afflictions of all the ages. From every side come reports that white and Negro soldiers are coming closer together and that a fellow feeling is in much evidence. Suffering is one of tin* greatest binding influences known to history. Just as Edward Guest, says it takes a lot of living to make a house a home, so it takes a lot of suffering to make brothers of men.' Suffering is flu* common tie that binds the heart of mankind. It. like music, speaks a universal language. Tomorrow will he
WHITES PUBLICIZE US. With the fact apparent that the Negro for sonic strange reason - which, after all. may not be strange - has not been very prolific in writing his own books, it is plain that the burden of presenting the Negro to the world has been left almost exclusively in the hands of whites, a great group of whom have shown outright prejudice in their portrayals of Negro life, and, in most instances, a lack of grasp of what the Negro is. what he aspires to, and what the future holds for him - based on bis past.* When learned men. like Dr. Overstreet, take time out to wirte articles that might prove guide-posts for the handling of this subject - "Images And The Negro” and then asks the question, "Do Ouy Writers Really Know and Understand This American”, it is an indication of a healthy condition that prevails in quarters where we least expected it and where much good can be generally if such efforts are encouraged. This discussion will be continued.
a brighter day because Negroes and whites have suffered ami died in a common cause and the resurgence* of Negrophofusiir throughout the nation cannot thwart tliis desirable consummation. Supperraeisin in broken doses may live* long in lie-arts of men hut iu elouble elose*s such us Hitler is administering to the* worlel. i' is calculated to de-troy itself more quickly than we are wont to dream. Goel moves in q mysterious way His wonder - to perform. Hit lew's double dose of superraeism may indirec tly be one of the migbtie*st forces of mankind's spirituaI lilx-ration. Supperraeism is a kind of "leette*r than feeling. Unless supperracist felt "better than” somebody else, it would be useless. This explains the* sweep the notion has among the poorer whites: it enables them, though poor ami penurious. to fe*el "hotter than" chiefly Negroes. Almost any human Vireurnstanced as the* peeorcr whites would cling t > this ferish in order to indulge in the elrbious luxury of feeling "better than” some body. Xe*groc*s have* it in i marked e!e‘gre*e, fe»r in too many instances theese* e>f he*tte*r eireumstanevs want te* buel it ove*r those* of humble led. < hie- of the* elmiellul symptemis of Xe*gre» advance* is to Im* found in this sedfsamo "bette*r than” feeding which is calculated to e*reate chess divismuism in the* race*. The* Je*ws are* most nearly five- e»f this fe-eling a< it pe*rtaiiis te thedr own pe*op!e. Suffering has driven them 1e»gotlie*r as it will eventuallv drive* the* Ne*groe*s teege-ther. While* the* "bettor than” feeling as a private luxury may not Ik* so reprehensible: as a public luxury supiK>rte*d by the taxes and hloeeel of nations, its e-Iub fe>e)t e*an be easily se*e-ii anel to tie* seen Is te» be* ele*teste*d and spurne*el. Super-racism, the* accentuated and impleunented form eef the* be*tte*,r than” feeling, is proving a luxury even wealthy nations anel peoples e-anmet affeerel. even these United States. It would la* fine feer some* eef our Xcgre) psye*he>le>gists tee tee make a study of this psychic phe’neemueeu. tbe* "lecttew than" feeling. For many years my close* asseeciathm with seeufhe*rn white's preempted the* belii'f that race prejudice*, at its weerst. was tee he* feeimd chiefly among the jKiorer whites. Then I began to run across peeeer whites who were* not prejudiced and many wealthy whites who were. I thereupeen almost re*ae*heel the* conclusion that the economic status eef the whites made no difference. But a closer inspection eef the** situation reveals that wealthy whites who are prejudiced almost invariably are from a peeeer line with prejudice as a hang-over. The peeeer whites wine are the least prejndievel invariably hail freem a wealthy line. Supieerraeism is the luxury eef the poeerer classes. Was not Hitler a paper hanger? Praciudicium generis dtflendum est!
KITTRELL COLLEGE OPENS FOR SCHOLASTIC YEAR gl
KITTRELL. N. C.. Oct. 5. (ANP) —Kittrell college has opened for the 1944-45 scholastic year with President E. F. G. Dant serving his sixth year as chief executive of the institution. Formerly, the institution served grades from the kindergarten through college. At present, its training begins in the eighth grade. Besides the high school and college departments, the college carries also commercial work and the school of religion. Dean of the college is Prof. L.
Contributed Verse FINIS By Alberta Daniels I’ve enjoyed my little puppet show, I’ve controlled the strings with great skill. I’ve watched the heartache of others grow and grow. Under my venomous will. My cards I’ve dealt so very right, But now they’re all on tin* table; Uve played them with all my might, But I have lived just a fable. Folk have ln*en at my command. And liowed at just a smile from
me.
I’ve rueld with iron hand, Daring them to he free. But now my hands are deft no 'more— I draw my compensation. My hands are shaky - sometimes sore-— Folk jKiint at me in accusation. Those Uve crushed beneath my
feet.
Now rise to rule the day. Now they sit in the judgment seat. O’er me have full sway. I AM A NEGRO William M. Pettie (Sequel to Langston Hughes's “The Negro.”) I am a Negro, But I’m not black as the night— Because half of my family was
white.
I’ve never been a slave— My white parent slipped me away, And nobody knew to this very day. I’ve been a worker. Was praised for my skill and might— Every one thought that I was
white.
I’ve been a singer. They said I imitated the NegroThat was because they didn’t
know.
I’ve been in love,
With one not of my race.
CRUISIN’
AROUND
By LEE JAY MARTIN
1. Louis Ludlow, a True Public Servant. 2. A Worthy Document. 3. The Germans, Nor the Mothers of Our Fighters, Think Our Boys Are Stalling on the Westrne Front. 4. Any Housing Plan Is Better Than None.
THERE’S ONE MAN in the House of Representatives in Washington, I). C\, whom I believe is beyond reproach of either party in his dealing with the people of his district: that man is the Honorable Louis Ludlow, representative of the Eleventh Indiana District. Everyone I know, regardless of party affiliation, who have had any dealings with him for any worthy cause says he has dealt with them forthrightly, honestly, and at once, and in the majority, or all cases of merit, has jieen settled satisfactory. 1 cannot tell you whom to support—that is your own business —but I can say there is no finer, diligent, able and truer national servant of the people, than the hard-working Louis Ludlow. Your support of him will be without regrets.
hie or embarrassment than any group in the country. The people as a whole will soon follow any lead in the right and Christian direction, with less trouble than you think, particularly in sections, like ours, made up mostly of fair-minded people. We hope that all persons with positions of influence and policymaking. will not only sign the new interdependence declaration, but will assist in carrying it out. However when we speak as others having race and creed relationship in their hands, the beneficiaries of any favorable action by powerful and controlling individuals and groups, also have a job to do. First they must realize that the more they have, the more their responsibility, they must sustain their reputation of efficiency, they must be ever careful of the other fellow’s right. They must ever strive to he the best citizens in every phasse of our national life. They must do many things for themselves.
THE INDIANAPOLIS. N E W S printed in its editorial column an article entitled “Interdependence,” thus we gather that The News endorses this declaration of a policy, that appears to be a clear-cut statement, a platform on which all can stand, and operate from, for the eradication of race friction. If we can get top-ranking persons, offi-
THE ALLIED high command in France made a bold gamble to end the European phase of the war. this year, but the Germans beat them to the punch, and so we must carry on far into 1945—and that scares us who had hoped for an earlier end. This does not mean that another great effort to crush Germans, before bad weather takes over—hut the odds favor Germany at this time. So we must not go too far hack to peace, or we may find ourselves with a longer war on our hands.
I backed out to save the disgrace c * a ^ s ’ an ^ institutions to adopt such
‘ and carry it out in their spheres of influences, it would not take a life-time to wash away much or
I’ve been a soldier.
And ranked fairly high—
Because of the blue that’s in my a11 °f th e unnecessary bitterness
eye.
I was a waiter.
between races and creeds. As we have stated several times, the “ifcy to unity" is in the hands of
They quickly made me the head, top-ranking persons, college offiI have a fair complexion and mycials, industrialists, large merhair is red. chants, g o v e r n m e.n t officials I am a victim churches, bankers, hotel keepers. Because people think I’m white—theatre owners, rail and bus transTo marry they think I’ve no right, ^tations* a »d all other ranking
officials, have it in their power to
Because I’m not a Negro. keep the race and creeds sepaAs black as the night— rate or weld them together for the But white as half my family was common good of all. and these perwhite. sons can do the job. with less trou-
THE QUESTION was—Am I Opposed to the Negro-build-your-own-home housing plan?—the answer is “No." I have seen clean and fairly decent shelters built by Negroes out of old street cars and with their own means. I am “just wondering” what kind of homes they would build with sufficient means, without dodging around "Robin Hood's barn” to do it. As I said previously—there is no harm in taking ihe half-loaf, if you do not lose your incentive to acquire the whole loaf.
JOE HEPCAT: “There are many agencies doing uplift work; wonder we can’t keep our feet on the ground.
CITIZENSHIP
Your vote is your acknowledgement of citizenship. To fail to appear at the j Kills and cast your vote is to crush every single gain the Negro has made under Amer-
ican democracy.
The only way the Negro can earn the full rights of the democracy for which lie fights is for every single individual Negro vote to be cast. He has no right to complain of the way he is being treated unless that vote is cast for betterment of the Negro people. He has no right to protect corrupt politics unless he strives to destroy and prevent that corruptness by wise consideration of the way his vote is cast. Failure to do this is nothing less than criminal. It is nothing less than treason to the battle of our race to integrate our people fully into American life. Before choosing your candidate consider whether or not his platform includes YOU, the Negro, your choice with intelligence. Don’t he blinded by promises. Don't be blinded by fancy language. Consider your rightful place in America and choose the candidate who will do most to uphold the princi-
ples of democracy.
Negro support should he given to the party which has the best plan for employment and economic security, the party which offers the best plan for fair employment practices beyond the war period. Choose the plan which includes the Negro in its program for housing and education. Choose the candidate who endorses social equality, cultural development, and the abolition of poverty for all, regardless of race, creed, or color. Support the candidate whose platform provides the abolition of all poll taxes and which will enable Negroes in
H. Middleton, who is also professor of biology and geograhy. The department confers degrees in both the arts and the sciences. Other instructors of the college department are: Dr. R. E. Barnett, professor of chemistry and mathematics; Miss E. J. Britton, professor of education, sociology, and economics: Mrs. N. S. Vaughn, professor of history and English, and L. W. Thompson, professor of French. Prof. L. R. Henderson heads the commercial department.
YOU SHOULD KNOW The opinions expressed In any of these signed artklee appearing In thla paper are those of the writer, and are not to ke construed as necessarily having the endersemant ef The Reeerdar. —THE EDITOR.
By THELMA R. MOSES
all states to exercise the right of
voting.
Your choice of the next president is important now more than it has been at any time in the history of the United States. The “Master Race” doctrine is the undemocratic policy that this World War is being fought to end. We are in this war. Our Negro hoys .are fighting on foreign soil to end the same type of conditions that
exist in their own home town. The Sb-uth is fighting hard to maintain and strengthen this same doctrine in the form of “white sufighting to keep you from working premacy.” This means they are at good jobs. They are fighting« against you having a good eduction. They are fighting against you voting and holding political and civic positions. The wrong administration will hinder the progress of every Negro citizen of this country. Your vote determines what type of government you prefer. Your vote will determine whether or not you will maintain the right to own your home, to choose your profession or educate your children. Your vote will determine whether or not you 'will be hired on any job or fill any position for which you can qualify. Your vote will prove your loyalty to the Negro. It will determine whether or not you really WANT freedom. Are you a citizen? Acknowledge your citizenship by exercising your rights at the polls.
-'BiUCotiTiHetjr+c FgATtAges *
Don’t slam the door—hold it for the other feHow.
*