State Dept. Winks = Making Many a “Buck” Off Harlem, Might Have Had a *From the Baltimore Afro-Americam Few of Our Ball § Players Just Ge Like B’Klyn

Situation Same Here’s As Last Month My Story Complete Record Of All Ike Has Given Us By PAUL ROBESON

An Open Letter to

Jackie Robinson Vol. III—No. 4 Se 178 APRIL, 1953 NOTICE in a recent issue-of “Our World” magazine that some folks think you’re too outspoken. Certainly not many of our folks share that view. They think like you - that the Yankees, State Dept. Winks = making many a “buck” off Harlem, might have had a *From the Baltimore Afro-Americam few of our ball § players just ge like B’klyn. In At Malan Church fact, I know $ British Jail you've see

where a couple By ALPHAEUS HUNTON (Secretary, Council on of real brave fellows, the Tur- African Affairs) , Robeson Urges Action gerson brothers, think it’s Kenyatta about time we continued our The South African govern- 2 The recent jailing of Jome ment has barred Bishops breaking into the Southern Kenyatta, leader of the Kenya leagues—Arkansas and Missis- Frederick Jordan and Howard African Union, is but the “legal’’ Sippi, included. Primm of the African Metho- =< Side of the increasingly brutal "I am happy, Jackie, to have dist Episcopal Church from military attacks being conduct- been in the fight for real going to South Africa to pre- ed by the British in the East democracy in sports.years ago. side over an estimated 150,000 African crown colony of Kenya. I. was proud to stand with AME members there. Both assaults—through court- Judge Landis in 1946 and, at This action is an affront to ‘room, and machinegun—have his invitation, address the the million members of the the same objectives: to destroy major league owners, Gemand- AME church, to the entire Ne- the KAU, main liberation: front ing that the bars against Ne- gro people in the United States of the five-and-a-half ‘million groes in baseball be dropped. and to all American citizens. Africans in Kenya, behead the I knew from my experiences as . It is, moreover, an indication leadership of the militant Ki- a pro football player that the of the lengths to which the Kuyu people, and decimate all fans would not only take us— Malan racists will go in their Africans who continue to dis- but like us. That’s now been desperate effort to stop the ris- play the slightest resistance to proven many times over. ing tide of African resistance, the pitiless exploitation of the Maybe these protests around for the official explanation of MEETINGS LIKE THIS in ‘South Miticg are callnig for the tiny minority of white settlers, you, Jackie, explain a lot of the ban is given that the AME end of the pass laws and wanton police terror. “Convicted” along with Keny-= things about people trying to Church in South Africa is affi- atta, who received a sentence Shut up those of us who speak liated with the African Nation- enn of ‘seven years at hard labor, ( out in many other fields. al Congress, leader of the re- Stating that “in Africa our government is doing busi- were Fred Kubai, chairman of You read in the paper every sistance movement. ness with the white colonialists, not the African people, the Nairobi branch of KAU and day about “doings” in Africa. and is supporting Friendly Relationship’ Malan in South Africa and the British president of the East African These things are very impor- in Kenya and Rhodesia,” Paul Robeson, following the sen- Trade Union Congress; Richard At the United Nations Genl. tant to us. A free Africa—a tencing of Jomo Kenyatta issued a statement urging: Achieng Okeko, general secre- Assembly sessions last Nov., i continent of 200 millions of “Let us protest the jailing of the black leaders of tary of the KAU, and three explaining why the U.S. op- folks like us and related to Kenya. Let us call upon our government this week to stop other leaders of the organiza-< us—can do a lot to change posed the proposal for a UN helping the Ku Kluxer Malan and help the South African tion.. The “trial” was held in Ahings here. ~Commission to “study the ra- people who are marching irresistably toward freedom. Let the deserted, out-of-the-way cial situation” in South Africa, our voices be heard in thousands of telegrams and letters village of Kapenguria. N SOUTH AFRICA _ black U.S. spokesman Charles A. to the President in Washington.” folks are challenging Malan, Sprague said, “My government ‘War’ in Kenya

a kind of super Ku Kluxer. respects fully the sovereignty News reports stated that kind. Negro Americans have These Africans are refusing to of the great Union of South low him to go overseas, espe- Kenyatta and his colleagues not been welcome in South obey Jim Crow laws. They Africa with which it has long cially ih a country where stood firm and-unflinching as Africa unless they were serv- want some freedom like we do, been associated in friendly re- there is no color bar and no the judge (flanked on either ants, either domestic or official. discrimination, and they’re willing to suffer lationship. There is steady in- and then Side by soldiers with machine And as for Africans and other and sacrifice for it. Malan and terchange of travel and trade have to come back to our guns, the courtroom filled with a lot of powerful American between our countries... .” ... non-whites leaving the coun- conditions here. While there armed white spectators. and try, the official policy was set investors would like to shut In talking about “steady in- is a Nationalist Government surrounded by armed militia!) forth three years ago by them up and lock them up. terchange of travel” Mr. I don’t think that will be pronounced sentence. Malan’s Minister of Labor, B. Well, I’m very proud that Sprague apparently was think- permitted.” Meanwhile, from Mombasa J. Schoeman, who said: these African brothers and ing only about certain whites. People Demand Answers Cecil Gregory wrote to the sisters of ours play my records The case of the AME bishops “I think it is unfair to the The ban against the AME Pittsburgh Courier. (4/11/53) as they march in’ their pa- is by no means the first of its Non-European himself to al- (Continued on Page 4) (Continued on Page 4) rades. A good part of my time is spent in the work of the © Council on African Affairs; supervised by Dr. Alphaeus Nosed’ Labor Council Launches Southern Drive Hunton, an expert on Africa and son of a great YMCA lead- Metiing in Detroit’s Carlton Plaza er, the late William Hunton. Hotel, the General Council of the Na- Co-chairman of the Council is tional Negro Labor Council mapped out Dr, W. E. B. DuBois, one of plans last month for its own “Operation | the greatest Americans who Dixie.” The: militant labor body, which ever lived. We raise funds for aims at improving the conditions and op- portunities of Negro workers regardless | Africans and bring informa- of affiliation, set out to mobilize sup- F (Continued on Page 3) port throughout the nation for a_ drive j of its’ Southern affiliates to open up ics | thousands. of factory production jobs to z URGENT NOTICE Negroes throughout. the South. If the address plate on Council officers pointed out that as new your paper has a date industries move South they invariably ending °’52 or Jan., Feb., adopt the rigid Jim Crow hiring policies Mar. ’53—your subscription of the area, which means the total ex- has expired. clusion of Negroes from new manufactur- In order to keep FREE- ing industries, or their employment only DOM coming in go RE- in the lowest-paid menial and unskilled NEW NOW! jobs. ; Just tear off the address plate and put it in Cheap Labor Issue NNLC GENERAL COUNCIL members talk over Southern drive. L. to r.: Rev. M. F. an envelope with $1 and (The Association of Southern Industry Hardin, pres. Cincinnati NLC; Walter Barnett, Louisville; Oliver Palmer, Washington, recently reported that in 1952 industry send it off. D.C.; Asbury Howard, Bessemer, Ala., natl. yice-pres. of NNLC; Leroy’ Wilson, St. Louis, DO IT TODAY! grew in the South at the rate of one (Continued on Page 5) Gnother vice-pres., and Mrs. Anna S. Hardin of Cincinnati.

1626-1953— 2 FREEDOM Equality’ Was the Watchword APRIL, 1953 10¢

MERLOT ee ee Meanwhile the sentiment of the elective franchise. Typi- Last Month FIRST OF A SERIES against slavery had reached cal is the Call to the New I This article is the first of a Such ‘a pitch, that New York York State Convention of Ne- «series on the history of the finally in 1827 totally abolished groes in 1840 (two years after ae POLITICAL SCENE battle which Negroes have the institution — just Tour Frederick Douglass came to waged for political equality in months after “Freedom's Jour- , New York City), signed by, 100 Professor Henry J. Williams, America’s largest city, New nal,” the first abolitionist people, which declared: chairman of the Vote Commis- York. The sequels will appear newspaper was published in “The principal legal dis- sion of the Alabama _ State in each issue from now until New York City by a Negro, ability which affects us, is, the Teachers Association and also the November municipal elec- John B. Russworm. deprivation of the free exer- of the Birmingham Negro Teachers Association an- tions. For a factual background Economic Position Worsens cise in common with other nounced that over 60 per cent of a crusade which is now While meetings were held men, of thg elective franchise. reaching new heights you may of the 708 Negro teachers in the throughout the state rejoicing A free suffrage is the basis of want to clip and keep the series. a free government, the safe- Birmingham public school sys- at the end of slavery in‘ New tem are qualified voters. York (the last state in the guard of a free people, the ee eS ee strength of the strong, the de- By FREDERICK CORNISH North except for New Jersey The first Negro candidate in to abolish it), their joy was fence of the weak, a powerful In 1626 eleven Negroes came auxiliary to respectability, a Bibb county (Ga.) political as slaves to the Dutch col- tempered with sorror and an- race ran third in a field of 16 ger over the loss of the vote. wealth, and usefulness; and ony of New Amsterdam (later just in proportion as men are contestants as William Dunn Added to this was the pas- New York).. Eighteen years. _ Frederick Douglass deprived of this, they are put in a strong bid for city jJater they were freed on their Sage of the Fugitive Slave Law shorn of their strength, and water commissioner of Macon. in 1850 and the Dred Scott own petition — and to the skilled and semi-skilled jobs are subject .to. poverty, dis- . Dunn polled 460 votes to 829 struggle against slavery was decision in 1857, which made which had been won in the grace and abuse. for Thomas Winchester, the added the fight for equal every free Negro in the city in ° winner. Second-place candi- course of struggle. From 1830, In 1860 a referendum was danger from the slaveocrats. date Stuart Wind, also white, political rights. © until the restoration of the called—through the consistent polled 590 votes. All of Dunn’s ~ When the British took over The loss of the vote under full franchise in ©1874, the agitation of Negroes and the New York the cruellest forms the 1821 constitution. immedi- economic. position of the Ne- < abolitionist movement asa votes were from Negroes except one. of slavery began to thrive; and ately had a deep economic as gro deteriorated rapidly. whole—to abandon the dis- by. 1694 New York’s Negro * * * well as political consequence Hardly a single meeting was eriminatory ~-franchise. The \ When two of Atlanta’s leading population— mostly slaves — for New York Negroes—a few held by Negroes in the city electorate, however, voted AU president numbered more than 2,000: of whom had even become without a resolution being against the reform and it was ’ Negro citizens, 13 per cent of the entire popu- relatively wealthy in certain passed calling: for restoration defeated. Dr. Rufus E. lation! 4 Clement and & But New York along with NAACP coun- @ its “Southern” pro - slavery Freedom Salutes sel A, T. Wal- outlook, also early became one den were nom- of the most potent centers“of. inated for two abolitionist and equal Tights offices in the struggles. A POW’ city’s May 13. _The state’s first constitution, Family in 1 Connecticut primar: elec- drafted a year after the De- tion, t eity , From time to time Mrs, Janet department stores where she with their father since they claration of Independence, set Moses reads from the neat council pan- worked as a clerk, saleslady were large enough to under- up no special color ban against staek of letters, securely tied and: assistant buyer in the icked by the free Negroes voting. And after stand are sweet thoughts and prospect of Dr. Clement with a fading blue ribbon. basement children’s depart- the Revolutionary War, a con- they cry for more. Thé time their election, called off the Many months they were the -ment. She was forced to quit has come when they do not siderable number of Negroes only contact which she, Patsey. her job by a combination of ill election! Dr. Clement was by joining in arms against the talk about him any more, but named to run and Louis; Jr., had with the health and the threats of local hated British had won their you know that they think of for the Board children’s daday, Cpl. Louis housing authorities to evict her freedom and the right to him when they pass his pictiire of Education Moses, a U.S. soldier in Korea. from a government project be- citizenship. and stop and look at it and and attorney Then, suddenly, the letters eause she was “making too smile. When other \ children Walden sought The 1821 Constitution stopped. And then Mrs. Moses much money.” At present she talk about their fathers my received the notice from the a place on the It_ is. estimated that there serves as chairman of the children look sad and try to. War Department: her husband Hartford Committee to Aid city executive were nearly 5,000 Negro freed- change the subject. com mittee. was reported missing in action Families of Smith Act victims. “I want to know why men men in New York State in on February 12, 1951, Both men were In July, 1952, : Mrs. Moses should be in other lands killing 1790; while another 21,300 Today, more than’ two years drafted by the slaves, through the most in- started a petition to the Presi- their brothers; why women and Atlanta Negro later, Cpl. Louis Moses is still children should be killed and tense forms of struggle, con- dent calling for a cease-fire in voters league missing in action, presumably Korea and the freeing of all why cities, towns and farms stantly fprced the slavemasters a prisoner of war. And the little Atty. Walden which has prisoners of war. Little Patsey, Should be destroyed when it to give ground. By 1799, for family he left behind is one been active in ‘getting out the instance, the Legislature was Louis, Jr. and two of their took years and hard labor to of the most effective “peace vote. League spokesmen, in forced to pass an act provid- young friends collected 850 sig- build? The only answer I can - groups” in Connecticut and announcing the nominations, ing for the “gradual” emanci- natures in three weeks. The find is that peace would be a the nation. ° said that the naming of Negro pation of the slaves. children have organized a danger to the big businessmen candidates. would spur the To counteract the Negroes’ Sergeant In World War IT group called the Hartford who run the country. It cer- registration among Negroes, Champions of Peace, ranging tainly would bea blessing to growing political and econ- Mr. and Mrs. Moses were both particularly in the’ heavily- me. I say stop the killing now omic strength, New York au- still in their teens when ‘mar- from five to 12 years of age. populated southwest; southeast ried in Trenton, N.J., in Sep- and have a cease- -fire now and- thorities suddenly became very Cease Fire Now! /and northeast sections of At- interested in “colonization” tember, 1941. But their life then ‘settle all questions in Janta, Speaking of the future, Mrs. sehemes by which free Ne- together was soon cut short, peace. Striving for unity of - * * * Moses says: “Two wars have groes would be sent to Africa for in a ‘matter of months. i races, tongues and nationalities Growing. city-wide support broken’ up my home. The little or the West Indies. Louis Moses becamé one of the will bring about brotherhood of for the candidacy of a single time the children have had all men and world peace.” When this failed to prove millions of Americans who Negro candidate, Rev. Father “attractive,” the politicians in helped defeat the fascist Axis Joseph W. Nicholson, pastor of 1821 drew up a new constitu- in World War II. As a sergeant All Saints Episcopal Church, tien for the State which vir- in the Transportation Corps he has caused a lily white slate tually barred free Negroes served overseas for two-and-a- of “blue ribbon” school board from voting, while greatly half years and took part in the candidates in St. Louis consid- easing the restrictions on Battle of Normandy. erable alarm. One of ten candi- white citizens. Discharged in October, 1945, dates for four places on the he returned home to his family board which supervises St. in Hartford, Conn. He worked _Louis’ Jim Crow schools, Nich- as a machine molder; at night olson has gained the support of he held down another job as powerful city-wide groups such porter at Sage-Allen & Co. to as the Metropolitan Church make ends meet. When he Federation, the United Baptist asked that his name be re- Conference and the Urban moved from the inactive re- League’s Federation of Block Published monthly by serve list, it was placed on the Freedom Associates Units, as well as regular poli- active reserve instead. And on tical ward organizations. © 53 West 125th St., New York 27, N. Y. September 24, 1950 Louis Moses Phone: ENright 9-3980 was on his way to the second FOREIGN AFFAIRS EDITORIAL BOARD: war in his young lifetime the A split loomed in Alexander PAUL ROBESON, Chairman; misnamed “police action” in Bustamente’s reigning Jamaica « Revels Cayton, Shirley Graham, Korea. (BWI) Labor Party when. Mme. Alphaeus Hunton, Modjeska M. Simkins Rose Leon, member of the $50 Signatures Editor: LOUIS E. BURNHAM House of Representatives for General Manager: Mrs. Janet Moses was born Western St. Andrew resigned GEORGE B. MURPHY, Jr. in Hartford and grew up in in a huff. Her action was in “We per copy; New Jersey where she met her protest against Busta’s accept- subscription rate—$1.00 a year husband. Returning to Hart- Mr. and Mrs. Louis Moses are shown with Louis a — ates ing the proposals of went. Entered as second-class matter at ford during Werld War II she Planters in making ministerial - the post office at New York, N.Y. started work in one of the main < in: arahorny days before= daddy became a*POQW: « “(Continued on Page 3)

‘April, 1953 FREEDOM 3 HR _ Open Letter to Jackie Robinson It Happened ! (Continued from Page 1) same held good in ,these And, Jackie, the success of tion to Americans about the United States. There was and a few of us is no final answer. Last Month conditions in Africa —. condi- is no need to talk of war It helps, but this alone can’t against any nation. We Afro- tions to be compared with, but free all of us. Your child, my rl Americans need peace to con- grandchildren, won’t be free 4 ' worse than, those in Missis- (Continued from Page 2) sippi and Alabama. 5 tinue the struggle for our full until our millions, especially in rights. And there is no need the South, have full~ oppor- We bring the truth about appointments, rather than tke for any of our American youth tunity and full human dig- demands of the workers who Kenya, for example—about a to be used as cannon and nity. man like Kenyatta, leader of make up the pariy. , bomb fodder anywhere in the * * = the Kikiyu, a proud African world. ai EH FIGHT IN MANY WAYS. people of centuries of culture. From my experience, I Speaking at an army-spon- I know Kenyatta. He’s a high- So I was and am for an think it’s got to be a militant sored Economic Mobilization ly educated man, with many immediate cease-fire in Korea fight. One has to square off Course at New York’s Astor more degrees than we have, and for peace. And it seemed with the enemy once in a Hotel, Col. Alvin R. Glafka Jackie. He’s getting seven and still seems unthinkable to while. . called’ Africa the “continent of me that colored or working tomerrow” and “a _ virtual * years in jail-because he wants Thanks for the recognition folk anywhere would continue storehouse of strategic mateti- his people to be free. And that I am a great ex-athlete. to rush to die for these who als.” He pointed out that Africa there are Americans of African In the recent record books the descent who are today on own most of the stocks and produces 98 per cent of the All-American team of 1918 and wofld’s diamonds, 85 per cent trial, in jail, fugitives, or bonds, under the guise of false the nationally-picked team of dead (!) because-they fought patriotism. 1917 have only ten players— of ‘the cobalt, 30 per cent of the manganese, 15 per cent of: in their own way for their I. was born and raised in my name is omitted. people to be free. Kenyatta’s America, Jackie—on the East And also thanks for the ex- the tin and half the world’s supply of uranium. \ Sentence calls to mind Ben Coast as you were on the pression of your opinion that Davis, Henry Winston, James * * * West. I’m-a product of Ameri- I'm certainly a great singer Jackie Robinson Jackson, Claudia Jones, Pettis can institutions, as you. My and actor. A lot of people in The Liberian government re= Perry and, yes, Harry Moore. father was a slave and my “the world think so and would cently made minor adjustments to take them. What goes here, Jackie? Well, folks worked cotton and tobac- like to hear me. But I can’t in the 99-¥ear Concession T'll tell you. The same kind of co, and still do in eastern No. get a passport. And here in People who “beef” at those Agreement granted to the Fire- people who don’t want you to Carolina. T’ll always ‘have the my own America millions of of us who speak out, Jackie, stone Tire and Rubber Co. in point up injustices to your right to speak out, yes, shout Americans would like to hear are afraid pf us. Well, let 1926. The changes do not affect’ folks, the same people who at the top of my voice for full me. But I can’t get audi- them be afraid. I’m continu- the length of the lease, how- think you ought to stay in freedom for my people here, in toriums to sing or act in. And ing to~speak out, and I hope ever, and Firestone undoubted- your “place,” the same people the West.Indies, in Africa — I’m sometimes picketed by the you ‘will, too. And our. folks ly plans to be doing a record who want to shut you up— ahd for our real allies, actual American Legion and other and many others like them all business at the same old stand want to shut up any one of and potential, millions of poor Jim Crow outfits. I have some over the world will make it— in 2025! > us who speaks out for, our full white workers whé will never records on the market but and soon! * * * equality, for all of our rights. be free until we are free. have difficulty getting shops Believe me, Jackie. Dr. Edgar Worthington, a white British scientist, claims 'HAT’S THE HEART of what that the problems in Africa, I said in Paris in 1949, for and especially Kenya, are due -.example. As a matter of fact ‘Robeson...a veritable Othello. ..led the Rutgers 11’ to overpopulation. Five-and-a- the night before I got to Paris half million Africans in Kenya 2,000 representatives of colored Since the 1917 All-American team: After seeing his play at ‘on -liné plays; ,providing re- football team is listed these Ebbets Field on ~ Saturday markable interference ... on seem to be saying, however, colonial peoples from all over that if the 16,000 Europeans days without the name of Paul against ‘Cupid’ Black’s Naval end runs; going downfield un- the world (most of them stu- would either act like guests or dents in English universities) Robeson we decided to dig up Reserve team ... Robeson must der punts; taking forward a, few quotes fromthe sports be ranked with such men as -passes, in which, by the way he go back where they came from asked me and Dr. Dadoo, lead- the population situation would writers of that year: Here they Tack Hardwick and Eddie Ma- handles the pigskin with al- er of the Indian population in be just fine and the Africans?’ South Africa, to greet the are: han of Harvard, Charley Bar- most the same sureness as & biggest problem would. be Congress of Peace in Paris in rett of Cornell, Jim Thorpe of baseball. =. .* | George Daley, N.Y. World Well, there’s lots more, but solved. their name. Carlisle Indians. It is seldom * * * (11/28/17)—‘“‘Paul Robeson, the indeed that a lineman can just to sum it up, another, » These future leaders of their One or two injections of such big Negro end of Rutgers, is a develop such a versatility. ... writer, describing the same countries were from Nigeria, powerful drugs as penicillin, football genius . . . Rabeson is His ability to size up plays and game says: “It was Robeson, a Gold Coast, South Africa, veritable Othello of battle, who terramycin and auromycin, ad- Kenya, Java, Indonesia, India, the best all-around player on quickly get to the point of the gridiron this season and danger is almost uncanny. ... led the dashing little Rutgers ministered by the World Health Jamaica, Trinidad, Barbadoes, Organization, have cured over the Philippines, Japan, Bur- the most valuable man on the | Opening up. holes for his backs eleven to victory. ...” \ as a million Haitian peasants of ma, and other lands, They the dreaded yaws disease since were the shapers of the fu- 1950. It is predicted that this

ture in the Eastern and colo- virulent affliction with “its nial world and they asked us syphilis-like open sores will be to say to this Congress repre- HEROES IN OUR HISTORY wiped out in Haiti by July, 1953. senting about 800 million of * * * the world’s 2,000 million that Alan Paton, author of “Cry, they and their countries want- the Beloved Country,” is lead- ed peace, no war with any- ing liberal South African body. ‘They said they certain- whites in the formation of a HARRIET MADE OVER 20 ly did not want war with the lily-white “liberal” party in Soviet Union and China be- TRIPS AS A CONDUCTOR ON THE UNDERGROUND South Africa after the April 15 . cause . these countries had RAILWAY AND SriMu- elections. come out of conditions similar * * * te their own. But the Soviet Union and China were now CIVIL RIGHTS : free of the so-called “free Edward Oscar walked out of western” imperialist powers. FRIENDSHIP WERE the state prison at Kansas City, They were countries which SUCH WELL KNOWN Mo., after serving five years of had proved that colonial coun- FIGURES AS JOHN a 20-year sentence. A 16-year= tries could get free, that col- old white school girl had ac- ored peoples were as good as cused him of rape when she any other. SHE WAS THE ONLY ‘ was 11, now admitted she had All these students made it WOMAN IN THE HiS- lied. Despite repeated denials clear that they felt that the TORY OF OUR COUNTRY of Mnocence a jury had found nations who wanted war want- TO PLAN AND LEAD A MILITARY CAMPAIGN. , him “guilty” and set sentence ed it in order to head off at 99 years, which the court struggles of colonial peopies, reduced to 20. as in Indo-China, Malaya, + * & Africa and Korea, for freedom. The American Automobile For example, if you could start Association still denies auto a war in Africa, the authorities SO HATED WAS insurance to Negroes in most could clamp~down completely SHE BY states, A bill introduced by with war measures. (It’s bad THE SLAVE OWNERS THAT DOZENS OF REWARDS were State Senator Charles Diggs, enough now!) HARRIET TUBMAN OFFERED FOR HER CAPTURE, Jr, will eliminate the practice The students felt that peace RUNNING AS HIGH AS $40,000 in Michigan. was absolutely needed in or- BORN A SLAVE IN MARYLAND AROUND 1820. gy AT THE AGE OF 93 SHE DIED, toe oe WORKING AS A FIELD : SHE WAS BURIED der for their peoples to prog- HAND AT THE AGE OF WITH Ful Detailing acts of violence Tress. And certainly, they said, SSHE LEARNED THE BRUTAL FACE MILITARY RITES AND HER OF SLAVERY. AS THE RESULT OF A BLOW DEATH WAS TREATED AS. dating from -1943, a federal they saw no need to die for grand jury at Miami, Fla., re- TO HER HEAD BYAN. OVERSEER SHE WAS $UB- NATIONAL NEWS. foreign firms which had come JECT TO SEIZURES OF SLEEPING ILLNESS. HER’ turned a report which de- in and taken their land, rub- OWNERS TOOK THIS ASA SIGN OF DULL-WITTEDNESS, .- scribed the reign of Kian terror SUT ber, cocoa, gold, diamonds, WRONG THEYWERE. HARRIET ESCAPED, FLEEING as “incredible’—but failed to NORTH, BUT SHE COULDN'T FORGET copper and other riches. SLAVERY AND % file a single indictment against~ SHE SOON BECAME A CONDUCTOR ON THE UNDER- “ ND I HAD TO AGREE that GROUND RARROAD WHERE SHE EARNED THE NAME Moses” the terrorists. it semeed to me that the (Continued on Page 4) g ¢

é ars 4 FREEDOM a UN commission was appoint- PARAM ed to investigate racial condi- South Africa tions in South Africa. Not a Single meeting of the commission has been held in three Bans Bishops months; there is no indication that the group plans to go to a i (Continued from Page 1) South Africa;; and now Dr. Ralph Bunche has asked to be pleas . ‘om Page 3) bishops places three questions excused “because of other du- squarely before the U.S. goy- Negroes seeking to move ties.” Other members of the into the previously lily-white ernment, commission are Hernan Santa Northwest section of Atlanta m1. Does the U.S... -govern- Cruz of Chile and Henri were met with violence and ment’s respect for the ‘‘sover- Laugier of France. police inaction. The homes re- eignty” of South Africa include Was Bunche’s' withdrawal eently purchased by a Negro giving it the right to bar at due to the pressure of other real estate firm were burned ~ will American citizens, Negro or duties or the pressure of the IN SOUTH AFRICA, the AME Church, as well as other dendmina- by race-hating arsonists. white, unless they pledge sup- U.S. delegation on the UN sections, has been an important part of the fight against the re- * * * port of the Malan government’ 's retariat? What are the com- pressive legislation and policies of the Malan government. Rev. Though Archbishop Joseph - policies? mission’s plans? Is it going to Dr. F. H. Gow, leading AME churchman is South Africa, is shown, Francis Rummel issued a pas= 2. What does the U.S. gov- make an on-the-spot investi- left, at a meeting of the Franchise Action Committee called in toral letter condemning segre- ernment intend to do about the gation. If so, WHEN? We have gation in the 160 Catholic “¢ase of the AME bishops—es- received several commu- defense of the colored vote. Others shown are: Mr. S. Pillay who churches of his New Orleans pecially since one of the leading nications from South Africa presided, Councillor Mrs. Z. Gool, and Mr. Sam. Kahn, M. P., and Archdiocese, Negro commiuni- prelates of the church, Bishop asking these questions. They Dr. Y. M. Dadoo, president of the South African lidion Gongree eants still complained that D. Ward Nichols, is one of the should be answered—NOW. If they were shunted to the rear

most widely publicized Hisen- Malan dares exclude the UN seats of downtown churches on hhower supporters? ~ commission as he did the AME meeting in Nw York on April. Palm Sunday. bishops, the world ought to 20, There is no word at the UN * * = 3. When will the. U.S..gov- know about it. as to whether the Commission Hugh Johnson, “summarily ernment speak out against plans to go to South Africa te South Africa’s racist.opression? dismissed” by the Market conduct its investigations. Street YMCA of Asheville, Will Secretary of State Dulles Bellegarde in N.C.,. charged. that. “certain answer these questions? He can Bunche Position Elections powerful whites prodded the be forced to if enough people branch’s committee of manage- demand that he do, so—if a As FREEDOM goes to press As we go to press the nation- ment into firing me,” because barrage of telegrams and let- we learn that Dante Bellgrade, al. election pending in South as co-chairman of the Bun- ters descends upon the State Africa is likely to have far- distinguished Haitian writer combe County Committee for Department. - reaching consequences both in Jobs for Negroes, Johnson or- and historian, has been substi- terms of the form and charac- | Bunche Withdraws ganized campaigns against dis- tuted for Dr. Ralph Bunche on ter of the South African libera- crimination. There is -another related the UN Commission to investi- tion struggle. FREEDC™ will * * * question which needs to be ad- deal with the elections -\ its gate conditions in South Africa. In an interview with the N. Y. dressed to Lester . Pearson, next issue, and in June will Amsterdam News, Harlem As- President of the UN General Information from Dr. Bunche publish a special supplement semblyman Hulan Jack ac- Assembly and to the UN Sec- is that the Commission is (four pages) on developments Dr, Ralph Bunche cused real estate and city, state retary-General. Last December scheduled to hold its first throughout Africa. and federal politicians of a plot to “make smal ghettos out building materials with which sack.” of big ones.” The plan, accord- he can build his own house. It Once the facts are known it Facts on Africa ing to Jack, has the double- Kenyatta does not provide him with any becomes clear that no amount edged purpose of short-circuit- The facts on developments food; -it specifically says “No of shouting “Mau Mau” or in Kenya and all parts of ing the growing movement for (Continued from Page 1) posho.’ It restricts the crops “terror’ and no amount of Africa can be gotten from adequate political representa- he can grow on his land to British arrogance and oppres- that all of Kenya is in an the Council on African Af- tion in Harlem and at the same maize, potatoes and other sion will settle the question of actual state of war. Seven fairs, 53 West 125th Street, time creating small-segregated vegetables. It refuses to allow Kenya’s future. That question thousand Africans were arrest- New York 27. Paul Robeson pockets of Negroes in other ed in one week, a number équal him to own any cattle. ... It will only be settled when Kenya is chairman; Dr. W. E. B. areas. Under it, 150,000 Harlem- is an agreement for 42c a week, is ruled by the brave people to the total number of prison- DuBois, vice-chairman; Dr. ites are being moved into seven days a week, and keep. whose country it is and when ers of war held by both sides Alphaeus Hunton, secy. Join powerless little ghettoes in Women and. children must the white settlers behave like in Korea. Since January, when the council and receive its Long Island, the: Bronx and work, too, and sons of 16 must guests or get thrown out for General Sir Brian Robertson, Newsletter for $2.00 a year. elsewhere. be prepared to work or get the wearing out their welcome. * * * Commander of the British Near East Ground Forces, flew to Connecticut colleges, headed Kenya to take over active com- by Yale U., banded together to mand of the armed forces, a fight a proposal of the State buildup has been under way Civil Rights Commission for which will soon result in three Who Is Jomo Kenyatta? legislation banning discrimina- divisions of troops in the field tion in college admissions, plus home guards, police, and JOMO KENYATTA was born lectures for the Workers’ Edu- scholarships and other opera- a totally armed white civilian in 1893 in the Kikuyu reserve. cational Association. In 1942 he tions. The colleges claim there’s population. His parents, who left him or- married an English woman who “no existing evil” which needs correction. The answer would What’s behind the buildup? phaned at an early age, named bore him a son. In October, him Kamau Wa Negengi. At the 1945, he was present at Man- seem to be, “Where there’s In Kenya 30,000 white settlers smoke there’s fire.” (whose | predecessors came in Church of Scotland Mission chester, England, with Dr. W. 1901 as “visitors” passing thru School near Fort Hall, where he E. B. DuBois, Kwame Nkrumah ON THE LABOR FRONT to Uganda) live as a privileged went when he was about 10, (prime minister of Gold Coast) ‘ The lily-white status of the elite. Three thousand of them he was baptized “Johnstone.” and the other 200 delegates to top officialdom of the United own half the land, and all the Later in England he adopted the Fifth Pan-African Con- Auto Workers, Ci0, remained richest land of the colony. The his present name. gress. African is ground down under As a youth he learned the The following year Kenyatta unchanged as Negroes were left off all slates for executive merciless exploitation in his trade of carpentry and went returned * home and entered board posts and district direc- ancestral home. te Nairobi, the capital, to work. energetically into the work of torships at the union’s Atlantic There in 1922 he identified the African liberation struggle Four months ago (12/12/52) City convention. Dave Moore, himself with the national lib- in Kenya. He’ became Principal James Cameron, a writer for speaking for five former unit eration movement of that of the Teachers’ Training Col- the Daily Mirror, England’s officers of Ford Local 600, elec- period, the Kikuyu Central lege at Githunguri, organized most widely circulated paper, trified the delegates for a solid Association. He served as Gen- by and for Africans in associa- described the Europeans in hour as he presented a case eral Secretary of the Associa- tion with the Kenya Indepen= Kenya as “a_ trigger-happy against the international’s action; published its organ dent Schools Association., He white minority howling for tion in removing the “Ford Muigwithania, the first Kiku- then assumed presidency of the Kikuyu blood.” Five” on trumped-up subver-= yu-language newspaper, from Kenya African Union which sion charges. But the Reuther- And more recently another 1928 to 1930; and in the next had been founded in 1944. stacked convention voted down Britisher, Mr. L. Hale, Labor year went to London, bearing Under his leadership the KAU the appeal. The convention member of the House of Com- the Association’s petition for PR at has advanced rapidly. It was took a strong stand on peace, mons, described the conditions relief from the white settlers’ reported last year to have a calling on: Eisenhower’ admini- of the Africans. Addressing the expanding encroachmerit upon Jomo Kenyatta membership of 100,000 with stration to “talk it out, not House he said: “I have in my the Africans’ lands—the first branches in all parts of the hand a contract in printed of several such missions in London and wrote Facing country. shoot it out,” and atacked McCarthy’s hysteria. form. ... It is a contract for which he addressed the Gov- Mount Kenya (1938) a classic Then came the Government ' * * * three years which cannot be ernment for his people. work on African tribal life, crack-down. Several of the terminated by the worker. It After a year back in Kenya dedicated “to Moigo and Wam- KAU leaders had been arrested Clarence Mitchell, head of provides that he shall have a following his initial brief visit boi and all the dispossessed even before the Governor of the NAACP’s Washington bu-= piece of land not more than to London, Kenyatta. returned youth of Africa.” He traveled Kenya declared a “state of reau, asked the Navy Depart- two and a half acres in extent. to England and remained away through Europe and. visited emergency on October 20, 1952. ment to end segregation of Ii does not provide any home, from home for 13 years. He Moscow. During World War IZ Jomo Kenyatta was arrested employees at Navy Yards in but does provide that the occu- studied anthropology and other he “did his bit” for England Oct. 21 and spirited away to Charleston, S.€., Norfolk, Va, pier shall supply him with subjects -at the. University of as a farm. laborer and gave internment in Northern Kenya. (Continued on Page 5)

April, 1953 FREEDOM 5

Government Jails ‘Othello’. Hn PH It Happened Negro Woman In Harlem Last Month Sunday, April 19, at 4:00 Peace Worker P.M., will mark almost a quar- sali LAU ter of a century since William (Continued from page A year ago Mrs. Myrtle Den- Shakespeare’s “Othello” has 4) -; nis made a trip to several been presented in Harlem and .and all other naval establish- European countries as part of almost ten years since Paul ments. Mitchell pointed out that Negro a@ group’ of trade unionists. Robeson’s unequalled portrayal employees are now of the title role in the last forced to use separate restau- Upon her return she wrote for Theatre Guild Broadway pro- rants, restrooms and drinkin, the Cleveland Call and Post an duction. fountains. 3 account of her travels in Eng- * * ++ The Harlem presentation,’ a. Eleven nurses at the munici- land, France, Czechoslovakia, concert version of the classic, pal Negro hospital in Tampa, Poland and the Soviet Union. Will present William Marshall Fla., sued Mayor Curtis Hixon She spoke to clubs, church as Othello and-will take place and the city council. They at the Mother AME Zion groups, labor organizations and charged discrimination in Church, 146 West 147 St. Others pay, €ivic associations. “solely because of race and in the cast are Jane White, color.” : Many of the things Mrs. : “Henry Scott, Lloyd Richards * * * and Helen Marsh. Dennis reported have recently Ninety per cent of 1,229 com- been repeated by a touring panies surveyed MRS. MYRTLE DENNIS is shown above by a commit- group of editors which has just with her husband, Ray tee appointed by Pennsylvania’s returned from Moscow; the Dennis, international board member of the Mine, Mill and Smelter Lawyers Guild Governor Fine were found to Russians were a warm and Workers Union, and their six-weeks-old daughter. When Mrs. Offers Concert discriminate ih hiring policies. friendly people, much like the Dennis, a shop worker and active trade unionist, had an oppor- Discrimination according to Americans; the Russians want tunity to visit Europe as A unique musical evening will Jeb classification is as follows: peace; they are busy in all a guest of the World Federation of Trade Unions she thought be presented by an interracial semi-skilled, 52. per cent; kinds of construction projects, “it was: the chance of a lifetime.” skilled, group of vocalists and instru- 67 per cent; super- restoring the horrible devasta- \ visory, 83 per cent; office, 88 mentalists when the tien of World War II and cre- of my true name in the multi- Mrs. Myrtle Dennis has been N.Y. per cent; engineering, 89 per ating houses, schools, hospitals tude of other papers they Set up and is calling upon per- chapter of the National Law- eent; sales, 92 per cent. and cultural centers. handled of mine.” yers sons throughout the nation for Guild presents its Town * * 2 A Defense Committee for support. Hall Last month—a year after her concert on April 17. The Women’s Committee of voyage—Mrs. Dennis, a worker the Los Angeles Negro Labor and housewife, was arrested Council officially launched its and held by U.S. marshals on ‘A Pamphlet with the Glow of Truth’ second annual Labor’s Negre a technical charge of passport Woman of the Year Contest on violation. At the time of her THIS IS MY HUSBAND, by April Ist. Last year awards father, a druggist in a commu- Youth Congress that made the arrest she was ill and taking nity of poor were given to the women writ- Esther Cooper Jackson. Pub- working people; countryside ring with its cry care of her six-months-old his mother, ing the best essays on the. lished by the Natl. Comm. “a gentle woman for “Freedom, Equality, Oppor- baby. Her husband, Ray Dennis, question, “What Discrimination to Defend Negro Leadership, who found her greatest happi- tunity.” : international- executive board ness in doing for others.” Means to Me and How I Fight member of the Mine, Mill and 1660 Fulton St., Brooklyn 13, Then came the war, service It.” Then there were the tobacco Smelter Workers Union and N.Y. 36 pp. 25¢. in the Army, a first-hand look s * * * financial secretary of the Na- workers, thronging past the at the evils of imperialist rule Jacksons’ store after a long The Greater New York Ne- tional. Negro Labor Council, The hunted man—here is a in India, and his return with gro day’s toil at starvation pay: Labor Council called upon was in Denver on union busi- theme that runs throvgh all a strengthened vow to help the State Commission Against the Negro’s “old folk and mere children . ... free his people at-home. He ness. history in the Land Discrimination te “give its un- of the Free, The first written their shoulders draped about became a leader of the Com- Mrs. Dennis is charged with qualified support and endorse- mention of Crispus Attucks—20 with burlap sacks against the munist, Party in the South and giving a false name in apply- chill wind.” ment to the. agreement” be- years before he died a hero- among the auto workers of ing for her passport. Denying tween the Brewery Board of patriot—was a newspaper ad- And over all—Jim Crow, the Detroit. the charge Mrs. Dennis ex- Trade, the Brewery Workers vertisement urging his capture pall of a people’s oppression. In 1951 James Jackson: was plained that she applied under Joint Board and the Urban as a runaway slave. Then a We follow yourg James indicted under the thought- her rightful name and that League for the hiring of 100 century later—Frederick Doug- through high school and_ his control Smith Act and since “When the papers arrived I Negro workers in permanent lass, fugitive slave and later a college years at Virginia Union then he has been a political found that several facts relat- production jobs. Rumors are fugitive from the slaveholders’ and Howard where he won his refugee: “my husband and sev- ing to my birth were required, that SCAD, to which the agree- Federal government. Blood- doctorate in pharmacy. A-bril- eral others chose to find a way some of it information that I ment was referred, is contem- hounds ... patrols ... U.S. liant student, a restless, search- to continue their struggles for did not have. I sent the papers plating “modifications.” Mean- marshals . .. county sheriffs ing spirit, it was inevitable that peace and democracy in spite to my father in Illinois so that while the Council continued its ... and nowadays, the FBI. he would find his way into the of the fascist-like law.” he could supply these facts. He ‘picketing of the Statler as part student movement for peace, Esther Cooper Jackson and of its campaign for jobs and is an elderly man and through This little booklet tells the for anti-lynching legislation— some error placed the name of story of James Jackson, a her two small daughters, and upgrading in downtown hotels. and into the ranks of the young her husband's family in Rich- my youngest sister—there are modern Negro hero who is * * * Communists. And it was in- mond, have been cruelly eleven of us—on the papers, hunted by the oppressors’ Law. evitable, too, that he would Meeting in Denver, the exec instead of mine. When I It is the story of a good man, hounded by the FBI man- utive board of the Mine, Mill turn from the mortar and hunters. But she writes: “I am learned of the error it was too told by a good woman, his wife. & Smelter Workers Union pestle of pharmacy to the not to be pitied but to be con- late to correct it and still leave There is the glow of truth in pointed to the Eisenhower Ad- speakers’ platform, the union gratulated. I am proud of my with the delegation.” This Is My Husband, and the ministration with its “Billion- hall and picket-line.- husband and his colleagues!” glow’ of love, too. aire Cabinet,” the danger of a He remembered the hungry Readers of this booklet will “At no time, says Mrs. Den- depression “in all American The narrative begins with tobacco workers: he helped to be proud of James Jackson, too, nis, was there any effort or industry” and the “fight-back James Jackson’s boyhood in organize them. He remembered and should feel impelled to intent to misrepresent any Spirit spreading among work- Richmond where he was born his oppressed people of the help in the fight to repeal the ers” and said “this year, things facts in the matter, and the in 1914. We see the family that Southland: he helped organize Smith Act and win amnesty are different.” It drew up 1953 Officials had plenty of proof nurtured. him: his militant and lead the Southern Negro for its victims. L.L. B. wage and contract demands’ and launched a drive te achieve them. Negro Labor Council Launches Southern Drive Whe ee The militant Marine Cooks (Continued from Page 1) Opening Gun 16,000 workers will be employed. Thus and Stewards union, issuing a The opening gun of the Southern cam- the campaign of the Labor Council, eall for its fifth biennial con- new million dollar manufacturing plant paign has already been fired in Louis- which has the support of the local for each working day.) ; vention to be held in San ville, Ky. There-the organization’s local NAACP, Urban League, church and com- Franciseo July 20, declared: According to Coleman A. Young, execu- Council is in the thick of a community munity organizations, is for 3,000 jobs “Our strength has the the unity tive secretary of the Council, “The drive campaign to win 3,000 jobs for Negro in. all categories. of all our members and offi- men and women at the General Elec- will not only open up thousands of pro- Travis Letter cials, Negro, white, Asian, tric Company’s Appliance Park plant. duction jobs for Negro men and women An important part of the Louisville Latin-American. We go inte in the South for the first time in history, GE has moved its appliance divisions An important part of the Louis- the forthcoming convention but will also force both the CIO and AFL from several parts of the country to this by Maurice Travis, secretary-treasurer of with over half our officials and to deal with the question of organizing Southern border city, set up a consoli- the Mine, Mill and Smelter Workers members of minority groups millions of unorganized Negro and white dated appliance factory manufacturing Union, and vice-president at large of the and with one of our twe na- workers in the South.” refrigerators, washing machines and Negro Labor Council, to the national tional officers a Negro brother, Emphasizing the importance of the other appliances on a 700-acre tract on leaders of the CIO, AFL and the inter- the other a white brether.” Council drive. for the trade unions, the outskirts of the city. Approximately national unions seeking jurisdiction at Soon after the call was issued, Young pointed out that “Through a strict 1,000 workers have been hired from the GE plant. MCS president Hugh Bryson Jim Crow hiring policy they [big busi- Louisville and the surrounding area; of Aside from Kentucky the main areas was indicted under the Taft- ness] are depriving Negro workers of these 25 are Negroes, all hired - as of concentration of the Labor Council in Hartley act for alleged perjury janitors. jobs in order to insure that a cheap labor its Southern drive are Alabama, South in filling out a non-communist reserve shall be maintained in the hope Negroes are 18 per cent of the Louis- Carolina, North Carolina and Virginia. affidavit. The union’s top Négre _ of breaking strikes and undermiming the ville ‘population. It is estimated that Northern chapters are being called upon officer is Joe Johnson, secre- entire labor movement.” - Fs when the’ plant is completed more than to raise $10,000 to assist the campaign.’ ° tary-treasurer.

6 FREEDOM Paul Robeson’s Birthday N APRIL 9 PAUL ROBESON marked his 55th birthday. Few are the men and women of our time whose pri- vate anniversaries have become so much a matter of public interest as his. ~ : : : This is true because throughout ‘a brilliant career he has infused his every act with such love of the masses of his people, sympathy with their struggles and responsive- ness to their needs, that they count him as one of themselves and see the outlines of their future cast in his gi- gantic achievements. As is true of all great leaders, he is in a sense a “forerunner’”—the present embodiment of our early tomorrow. Thus what in others may have been one more tale of unique individual achievement has become, in the Paul Robeson story, the continuing chronicle of a people’s struggles and ‘triumphs, personified in their most faithful prototype. ao ) e Saas GREATNESS OF HIS SINGING lies not only in the unmatched qualities of his voice, but also in the-fact that he sings the folk songs of his people, and all peoples, as the folk would have them sung. His achievements, as an actor rest not only on his in- comparable “Othello,” but also on the fact that years ago he turned his back on a Hollywood which withheld roles that would truthfully portray his people. While others, to save their skins, would surrender our direst needs to the demands of the warmakers, he touched the deepest aspirations of his people—for peace—and bold- ly declared it unthinkable that Negroes should fight to further the aims of their oppressors against peoples who had never failed to befriend them. ; When, on the heels of his Paris statement, the U.S. as contribution to your out- “white supremacy” bloc and their servile dependents in our standing paper, but would like midst frothed and threatened and “disavowed” Robeson, Les you to use it for ten people he refused to crawl or cringe. , who would like but cannot, for. . They visited Peekskill upon him, but he stood his Coast Will Help pay whatever cest required. financial reasons, buy a subscription themselves. More Enclosed is a money order for Your paper continues te be a ground. In the finest tradition of Negro leadership—(Tous- power to you. \ saint, “The Opener,” opening new. paths four subscriptions to FREE- really outstanding fighter and to dignity; Doug- I wish you further. success. Mrs. L. Marcus DOM. We have not yet done Canada’ lass, the fearless and lion-hearted; DuBois, pursuing truth as much as we must on the Caroline. Parafax wherever it leads)—-in this great tradition he stood Seattle, Wash, his FREEDOM ‘subscription drive; Delighted ground. but those of us here on the West coast who do haye subs Plugging in P.P. Inclosed find a money order ND THE PEOPLE, SENSING A NEW DIMENSION to FREEDOM anxiously look First let me say how very in payment for my bundle of much I appreciate the high 15 FREEDOMS for another added in the realm of Negro leadership, have responded. forward every month for FREEDOM’s inspiring message caliber of the February issue. year. We are delighted with the Everywhere he goes the people approach him—Ne- of peace and equality. We will We are plugging for subs paper and feel it is doing a groes, white workers, youth and little children. They smile, do all we can here to help make through our Iowa State Bulletin good job. We need a Negro or shake his hand; they caress him and say: “Stay in FREEDOM’s sub drive success- of P. P. May we run your article Labor Council in Portland and there, Paul, you’re fighting for us.” ful. Best of luck to FREEDOM on the Puerto Rican Courts hope the means can be found and to the chairman of its edi- Martials? Please send us about to organize same. Please excuse The editors and staff who put out this little paper to torial béard, Paul Robeson. 50 sub blanks and names of all the lateness in renewing the be an aid and an inspirer in your daily struggles. count Horace Alexander expired subscriptions, bundle order. I hope you can ourselves honored to be called upon to spread, through Los Angeles, Calif. Edna Griffin send the April issue because I FREEDOM, Paul Robeson’s message. Des Moines, Iowa don’t want to miss a single It's Not Imagination issue. The Power of Truth We seek only to make FREEDOM as powerful a stand- FREEDOM is so good! I al- Vincent M. Howard The power of words of truth ard bearer as he is. We seek to put it into the hands of ready got one sub. Here’s $1.00, Portland, Ore. such as are contained in your the hundreds of thousands, and eventually millions who enclose me another paper with (Note: Reader Howard circu- the one I already get. If I could paper are helping to free all know, as we do, that the people who have produced Paul mankind from the bondage of lates 15 copies of FREEDOM Robeson cannot I'd take 100 more. The March each month among his friends, long be robbed of their full deliverance issue is so inspiring. Is it my ignorance and _ superstition. from insult and servitude. More power to you! With faith if each reader would take a \ imagination or my awakening? little bundle for friends each Are progressive papers improy- —and trusting that the new world of peace and good-will month, we’d soon reach our ing? March 5th Guardian .was goal of 50,000.) also so good! Oh how I wish toward all men for which we Unpardonable Sin I had millions to give to fight are werking will soon be a How To Be a N.Y. Yankee reality. discrimination, poverty and To be a member The Baltimore Afro-American asked whether Dr. Gene war and its evil concommitants. Mrs. Lorena A. Naylor Of this champion baseball Weitfish was fired from Columbia University because she re- Mrs. Grace Maged Vancouver, B.C., Canada breed, fused to bow down to Senator McCarrans’ inquisitors, or because Hoboken, N. J. she had written a book, “The Races ef Mankind.” Pamphlet and Book These are some Of the talents you need: The book exploded the racist theories held Good Start by McCarran and Section Urged Be like Irvin his sidekick, Senator Eastland, the Afro-American explained, I am a member of the Negro Let me take this opportunity Among the highs adding “There can be-no forgiveness for those bold enough Labor Council and chairman of to to make a suggestion on the In collecting puncture a big hole in the bubble of white supremacy.” the subscription committee for content of the paper. You Those r.b.i.’s. We agree, and we’d like to know whether Columbia is now FREEDOM. Enclosed you will trying to plug that gaping hole: mention in the March issue Be like Jackie find $5 for five subscriptions as the writings of Douglass, a a beginning of our drive. I Way above poem, and the Negro National would like any information or Any second baseman '# = Anthem. On the other hand, With a bat and a glove literature to promote the drive. I for one would like to see a Theodore Sutton Be like Black Frederick Douglass said: section of each issue, no mat- Bridgeport, Conn. A cinch ter how small a section, de- The peril and misfortune of the country has In a pinch. been the voted to the theme that all existence among us of a privileged class of irresponsible Wants. Print of Pr do a Doby deed Negro and white readers of Lead in home runs despots, authorized Peace Drawing tyrants and blood-suckers, who fasten the paper should try to get In-your League. upon the Negro’s flesh, and draw political power and con- I have. been:..intending to ahold of pamphlets and books “If you can meet sequence from their legalized crimes, rather than from write to ask you if you would as often as possible on Negro Anyone of reproduce on paper the size and history. their virtues. Such a body are the slavehoiders. Proud, These feats, quality suitable for framing A. B., grasping, The Yankee owners might ’ ambitious, nursed in lies and cruelty, these men the wonderful picture entitled, San Fraitcisco, Calif. are fitted Sign you up— for their present infernal work, “For All the World’s People— If you're white. \ Douglass’ Monthly, August, 1861. Peace” from your December, Spreading Subs Robert Mende &,, ; J 1952 issue. P would be glad to L enclose ten dollars not only Brooklyn, N. Y. cok 3

April, 1953 FREEDOM 7

side of Chicago or in Harlem. N.Y. Theatre Fans Enjoy ‘The Big Deal’ For if he is anything at all, he BOOKS 7a is the symbol of Wright’s new The problem of leadership is philosophy—the glorification of

one of the big questions in Ne THE OUTSIDER, by Richard —nothingness. ‘ gro life today and it is the Wright, Harper & Bros., theme on which Ossie Davis Richard Wright has been has based. his play The Big N. Y.; 405 pages, $3.95. away from home a long time. He has forgotten which of the Deal. Remembering Richard streets of the Southside lie Wright’s Black Boy and Native The play is the story of Jay south of others, an insignifi- Son, certain sharp literary ex- Weatherscott (Bill Robinson), cant error, except that it points. periences yet hang in our a popular Negro singer who is up how much he has forgotten minds. Experiences, etched offered a job on a major broad- other things. In one passage hard and true by the skill of casting company. The new job he describes in~great detail the young Negro writer from means position, more fame and the contents of a garbage ean. the South. We remémber, that a fabulous salary. And all And a stark, real description whatever his weaknesses as a Weatherscott has to do is make it is. But nowhere in his four writer—he had power. He had > a few statements against an hundred pages can he. bring the ability to scoop out the filth outspoken. Negro leader and himself to describe—say, the and sickness of white suprem- read some prepared speeches beauty or strength in the eyes acy and present it to his read- over the Voice of America; of the working people of the ers with a stark and terrible speeches which describe the Southside. It seems that he has realism. And we still remember “free and happy” life of Ameri- forgotten. how that power almost real- Can Negroes. ized itself once when a strong As a propaganda piece for The. conflict begins when hint of its mighty potential the enemies of the Negro peo- Weatherscott’s own misgivings SINGER JAY WEATHERSCOTT (Bill Pobinson) tries to - his escaped in a short story called ple, of working people and of about the job are outweighed “big deal to his wife Alice (Milroy Ingram) as his boss (Mort Bright and Morning Star. peace, The Outsider has already been saluted with a full by his desire to make so much Lawnor, |.) and reporter (Martin Slade) look on. It is 18 years ‘since Richard page spread ef praise by the money so fast. The author has Wright wrote that powerful New York Times Sunday Beck staged wonderful scenes of (Milroy Ingram) who leaves little glimpse of the promise Supplement (3-22-53). On the familiar rationalization, such him. Unique Affair ef dignity achieved through ‘other hand it has been ap- as when Weatherscott tells human struggle. And now aly o All of this is powerful and pointed to the trash category himself and his friends that To Aid Africa Richard Wright has written believable enough. But one by the Negro newsweekly, Jet they are jealous of his good The Outsider. fortune. He tells them that questions the conversion of A unique benefit for the (3-20-53) which summed the they are “typical Negroes,” al- Weatherscott at the end of the South African resistance move- The Qutsider is a story of book up simply and accurately, ment will take place Thursday sheer violence, death and dis- -«« his almost psychopathic Ways pulling down 4 fellow play. when he is succeeding. Besides, evening, April 23, when the gusting spectacle, written by a Just for violence gets the better he argues, his taking the job One of the finest things about North Star Players present “A man who has seemingly come of him in this second novel and “is really an advancement for The Big Deal is the perform Milestone on the Road to to despise humanity. The hero his story becomes as completely = the whole race.” He doesn’t be- ance of Bill Rebinson (Just a Truth,” a cultural reception in is Cross Damon, a twenty-six phony and unreal as a cheap lieve it any more than his real Little Simple, Swan Song, Gold honor of the distinguished his- year old Negro postal clerk on drugstore whodunit.” Chicago’s Southside. For 45 7¥ life counterparts believe it, but Through the Trees). This young torian; Dr. Herbert Aptheker. Such is the pronouncement pages Wright describes Da- the job and the money are real actor is a brilliant and ‘well / The program will take place at on Negro America’s onetime ce mon’s. deterioration into a inducements that make him trained artist who knows the 8 p.m. at the Royal Manor Ball- most. promising writer. Richard drunkard who leaves his wife want to believe it. And so he character of Jay Weatherscott room, 157th Street & Broadway, Wright is correet in oné thing: and children, has an affair with accepts the job. well and plays, him straight and will feature dramatizations he is an outsider, he is outcast a fifteen year old girl, mur- from life. from Dr. Aptheker’s work, “A from his own people. He exalts ders one of his best friends, That's when the other force Documentary Histery of the brutality and nothingness; he ‘in Negro life enters the story. Particularly outstanding also Negro People in the United fakes a new identity and mur- is Alyce Weir in the role of the | negates the reality of our First he loses the friendship of States.” ders three other people and struggle for freedom and yet his relatives, and then old finally winds up being shot in Weatherscott’s maid. The play Miss Alice Childress, the out- works energetically in behalf friends insult him, and then the streets by some’ grotesque is directed by Julian Mayfield standing actress, playwright of our oppressors; he has lost the maid who works in his and produced by Stanley Green and FREEDOM columnist, is eharacters who are supposed to his own dignity and destroyed ‘house tells him what she, a director of the North Star Play- be agents of the Communist his talent. He has lost the working Negro woman, thinks for New Playwrights Inc., and party. And that is the story. ers. Tickets, at $1.20 each, may bright and morning star—but of him—and finally he loses is running at New York’s Yugo- be secured at 54 West 125th ~ Cross Damon is someone you the Nee people have not. athe love and respect of his wife slav-American Home Theatre. — St:, or by phone at: Lo 8-6740. will never meet on the South- —L. H.

\ 3 Stories for Childien: dia Barnett Fought for Equal Rights poe One day in March, 1898, a group of con- supposed to handle such things, would do every- a gressmen were ushered into the office of Wil- thing they could to stop lynching: liam McKinley, who was then President of the But the.President did not tell the truth, be- United States. cause he did not do anything and the Depart- * The group was led by a famous Negro ment of Justice did not do anything, and Negro woman whose name was Mrs. Ida B. Wells- people continued to be murdered throughout a Barnett. She and the congressmen had been the country. sent to see the President by the Negro people And Mrs. Barnett continued to write and to = te. of Chicago. These were the times when ter- speak against lynching. She had once been the rible crimes of murder called lynchings. were editor of a newspaper in the South, the Memphis being committed against Negroes all over the +Free Press. The stories and articles that Mrs. country. So in Chicago they had called a great Barnett wrote in her paper - against lynching mass meeting to protest, and the people had and discrimination made those white people elected Mrs. Barnett to go and present their . gomplaints to the President. who ‘mistreated Negroes .so angry that they formed angry mobs outside of her office and One of the congressmen, whose name was her home and threatened her life. But Mrs. Senator Mason, introduced Mrs. Barnett and Barnett was truly a brave woman, and once she stepped forward and spoke to the Presi- she bought two pistols and wore them through dent. Even though she was quite angry about the streets of Memphis, and continued to write the murder of her people, she spoke calmly and her articles. _ clearly and told the President exactly what the Years later wherever there was a meeting a Negro people expected him to do to put an or an organization being formed to fight for end to lynching. She told him that more than the rights of the Negro people, Mrs. Barnett * 10,000 people had been killed “by lynch mobs was there. since slavery was abolished 33 years earlier. For a long time she toured the country lec- She said that the United States government had turing for equal rights for all people and her always made statements against other coun- writings appeared in many Negro papers tries for treating their citizens badly. Then and magazines until she was known as one of the ‘she asked why the President and the govern- most outstanding leaders of the anti-lynching) ~. ment didn’t make laws which would punish movement. people who committed such terrible crimes Today in the eity of Chicago, on the South- right in ‘our own country. Mrs. Barnett said, side, there is a big housing project covering “We refuse. to believe this country is unable many blocks, where hundreds of Negro families to protect its citizens.” live. This project is named in memory of this ‘The President listened and promised . that. great woman. .It is. called the Ida B. Wells fhe ane the Peper of Justice, which is Homes, i

B FREEDOM April, 1953

Ist Annual Charity Bazaar A Conversation from Life Civic Worker : New Playrights Company The Week of April 18, 1953 «4 presents. . 4 Daily from 9:00 a.m. Auspices: By ALICE. CHILDRESS FRIENDLY MISSION Mourned in “THE BIG DEAL" SPIRITUAL CHURCH 134 W. 429th St., Apt. 8, N. Y.C. . ‘Let him live his life’ By OSSIE DAVIS Rey. Mother Lena Stokes, Pastor Motor City Donation: 50 Cents fF Marge, life just brims over thing in ‘this world I'd want Produced by Stanley Greene Directed by Julian Mayfield with first one thing and then to do.” ...1I felt like I was POO BOO Ode DHOH 19D On Bone. another, and if you throw all pickin’ on him somethin’ ter- =o Bb abhe a your troubles in a bag, there’s rible but I went on.... “Then Yugoslav-American Home JO BANKS no tellin’ which one will jump why don’t you listen to her?” 405 W. 4ist St., N. Y¥.€. out first. :.. No, I didn’t have . .. He held his head in his Bet. 9th & 10th Aves., N.Y. Creative Photography another run-in with the rent hands for a minute and then Eimate .. itse-my sister. 5... he started talkin’: “Aunt Mil- Performances every Wed., Thurs. 6457 Cottage Grove Ave. Listen to me ‘Marge, and stop dred, I want to be free. Are and Fri. during April. Chicago 87, Til, erochetin’ that doily. . . . Oh, we free, Aunt Mildred?” ... Admission: $1.20 & $1.80 Phone: MU 4-7365 is it a chairback? . . . Excuse’ Well Florence kept. lookin’ for Curtain time 8:40 p.m. me, I thought it was a doily. me to say somethin’ so after Portraits, Photo documen- . .. No, I don’t want you to I thought for a while I said— For Theatre Parties call LO 5-9856 between 6 & 10 p.m. taries on assignment, com- teach me how to make one “No”—And then I asked her —“Are we free Florence?” And Watch newspapers for special mercial photography of | ?ecause I got other things on performances, my mind. she answered . . . “I don’t want all kinds, Now where was I? .. . That’s nothin’ or nobody to hurt eres Free 8109801 Oren O BH OCH f 9-95: 8 8B Be de, | right! My sister. ... She calls Bubba that’s all.” alte aihesfin ale ale afte ofr lta. alda fie. efle olla -0lln ne _nfia.nfteafleslte_aibe_nfiaoihnaftn alba.

me up today and says “Mildred, He was most distressed Marge I want you to come over and and the ‘words poured out of talk to Bubba ‘cause he’s after his mouth so fast, but I re- PHOTOGRAPHY getting himself in trouble.” member every one of them: Bubba is her son—his name is “Aunt Mildred, I don’t have to DETROIT—Members of Free- LESTER DAVIS _ John, we just call him Bubba. tell you about our troubles— dom Associates of Detroit DOCUMENTARY — COMMERCIAL — PORTRAITURE ' |. . Well, I jumped over theré- you know—we’re lynched and 944 E. 43rd St., Chicago, Ill. Phone: OAkland 4-6711 joined their organizational sec- i

on the fly ’cause I'm just crazy bombed and segregated... retary Mrs. Mattielee Hawkins OT OE OG OES OT OO Ogee Oe TOT about my nephew. shut up, and mocked... . We in mourning the passing of her |.» Marge, the long and short been hurt, bruised, threatened mother, Mrs.. Elizabeth Logan of it was that Bubba has been and murdered and our pride’s Saunders, who was for many JAMES WATTS ‘mixin’ in politics and things. been trampled... .” . years an active business woman DISTINCTIVE. PHOTOGRAPHY ¢.. You know what I mean... .. “Go on son,” I said. His voice and civic worker in the Motor _ Home Portraiture — Documentary — Commercial _ Shoutin’ about civil rights and was loud and clear. ... “Aunt City. A Phone Calls Brings A Photographer Mildred, I cannot do the popu- Mrs. Saunders was buried on 13595 Riopelle, Detroit 3, Mich. TO 5-1831 lar thing. ... I cannot close my February 21, from St. Stephens epnage eyes, ears and mouth and AME Church. In 1947 she re- 4 swallow down my Own man- ceived a 25-year citation from hood. ...I cannot join the the Michigan Corporation and CAMP MIDVALE chorus of liars_singin’ out ‘All Securities Commission for her MIDVALE, N. J. TErhune 5-1260 A cooperative, interracial camp. Only 35 miles (1 hr.) is well’ ...1I cannot crawl excellent work in the real from N. Y. C, around in Jim Crow and be estate field. Open Every Week-End Only $6.00, 4 meals & sleeping content to eat my crust of Make your reservations now for your summer vacation. bread, sleep a restless. sleep. . . guess you can just about stand Season Cabins $170—and up. $32 and up per week ~ I cannot watch indifferent anything. Don’t you want

white folks flit across a movie everything for your children screen ... or hear their voices that others want for theirs?” CAMP KINDERLAND and laughter pouring into my Well, I just told Florence— living room’... and say—‘this “Leave this man alone—it’s his The Progressive Jewish Children’s Camp is my pleasure ... this is my life . . . let him live!” .. . Of Offers your child the best in healthy, enjoyable camping joy... this is my rest.’ It’s un- course Marge! That’s what I with a program of progressive Jewish culture stressing co- just Mamma! It’s wrong Aunt say... . If we’d of done our living and intercultural unity in a democratic environment. Mildred!” work this child wouldn’t have For information write or call: Marge, Florence began to cry. to do it for us now... . I tell 1 Union Sq. W., Rm. 408, ... “I know all that but there’s you, there’s a great burden on New York 3. AL 5-6283 others wiser than you... .” these littie children we see We have a number of positions open for counselors 18 and over. Bubba cut her off... “Mamma, playin’ in the streets....A they are mealy mouth liars! great burden. ... And its cow-

Fear has put the smiles on -ardly for us to dump it on sendin’ off petitions and their faces, fear has turned them. ...I declare itis. ¢ preachin’ against war and _their blood to water. ... You 3 San Cristobal Valley Ranch carryin’ signs and Lord only know I’m ‘tellin’ the truth! ; Knows he don’t think nothin’ Time to put your FURS in — Interracial — Soon I'll be grabbed up against storage. of criticizin’ anybody’s govern- my will. . .. They say it’s to If you are planning to restyle | ment any time! ... Sure you fight for the “freedoms” of your garments, now is the time COMMUNITY NIGHT RIDING FISHING COOK-OUTS can go to jail for that! to do it. s others. . . . Well, it’s a poor We also have new fur coats, TRIPS TO INDIAN PUEBLOS & FESTIVALS | That’s what my sister was so piece of a man that won’t fight jackets and stoles at money- worried about! for his own freedom!” . saving prices. New Feature: Housekeeping Cabins for Rent Why not come in and convince Well, -I sat Bubba down and “Amen” I said, . . . Florence yourself. For Information I says: “Bubba, why don’t you spoke up softly....“I know... Mex Kuperman—Furs and Reservations write: : behave and stop worryin’ your I know, I just don’t want to see Craig. and Jenny Vincent, San Cristobal, New Mexico mother?” Marge you should of you hurt, Bubba.” 214 W. 30th STREET

seen him. . .. He started pacin’ ~ .. And Marge, that lovely BRyant 9-3733 N.Y. City _the floor and when he stopped young man gently put-his arms 43°

he gave me a look that would around his mother and told 7 melt your heart. E her... . “But I am hurt, and Classified Ads All Humanity Appeals: 4 “Aunt Mildred,” he said, we're all hurt and you’ve been q “Hurtin? Mamma is the last watchin’ it all your life, so I TRUCKING “Clemency For the Rosenbergs” q sotalol enesenonilentatiainienierenietoriereaterenisieentermnariteron or | ats sae Ee See a tee cee JIMMIE & SPIKE’S MOVING and pick-up service, large and small See and Hear : FREEDOM ASSOCIATES jobs, city and country, Short notice or plan ahead, ooccasional long dis~ { 53 West 125th St., New York 27, N. Y. IIIT tance jobs accepted, UN 4-7707. “The Rosenberg Story’

V q Enclosed is one dollar each for the following annual sub- DRAMATIC PRESENTATION COUNSELORS scriptions to FREEDOM: ; O New f Renew COUNSELORS 17 AND OVER VOT ... attend the... beginners and experienced, for

progressive Jewish camp with» in- NAME (print) tercultural program, Call AL 5-6283. Interfaith Clemency Appeal

DETROIT VII

RANDALL'S ISLAND STADIUM Address Zone No, State FOR TV, RADIO AND PHONO * (] New — Renew service in Detroit, call Hugo Beis- SUNDAY AFTERNOON, APRIL 26th —2 p.m. wenger at the PARKLAND TV, 7485 Parkland, LOgan 3-7716. All VII NOTED CIVIC and RELIGIOUS LEADERS work guaranteed. NAME (print)

HELP WANTED VV Admission $1 All under 16 Free

Address City Zone No, State INTERRACIAL PARENT - CHILD resort hiring staff for summer VV needs; counselors, kindergartner, j Tickets Available at Also enclosed find $...... in support of the program 1st cook, dishwashers, kitchen man, waiters, bus boys and handy men. New York Committee for Clemency for the Rosenbergs of Freedom Associates. Call OR 5-5869, 6-8 p.m., or write 1050 Sixth Avenue, New York City BR 9-9683 Box A, FREEDOM, 53 West 125th St. New York City 27.

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