The Michigan chronicle. [volume], December 25, 1943, Page PAGE SEVEN, Image 7

About The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current

Image provided by: Central Michigan University, Clark Historical Library

                
SATURDAY, DECEMBER 25,
The Negro In Latin America
CUBA
By HAROLD PBEECE
por Continental Feature Syndicate
Cuba baptized aa a nation In
the blood and sweat of the black
man—ls the best answer that the
world has seen to the queslon which
has been raised by an important Ne
gro newspaper:
Should the Negro sit in the coun
cils of the world's statesmen to
draw up plans for a lasting peace
ence the peoples of all colors have
finished the Job of wiping out Hit
ler and Hirohlto?
•We have a Negro president,
Fulgenlto Batista," the colored bus
driver who carries you down the
fcroad boulevards of Havana would
answer. “He’s not perfect, but he
could give the peace confereiye a
lot of good ideas about helping
everyday plain people get an equal
chance in the world—whether they
ere white or black."
"Equal Before Law**
One of Cuba's scholarly Negro
congressmen would say about the
same thing as the bus driver except
that he might say it in bigger worda.
He would tell you about Juan Gual
tor to Gomez, the Negro Cuban who
was the Frederick Douglass of his
country, and then he would read
to you a passage from the ringing
declaration made by the Cuben
Constituent Assembly In 1940:
“All Cubans are equal before the
Jaw. The Republic recognizes no
privileges. All discrimination be
cause of sex, race, color, or class,
or other affront to human dignity
is declared illegal and punishable."
If you were an American who
came to Havana to do something
else besides get drunk at the mam-
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moth bar rust by a white man
called Sloppy Joe. you might be in
vited to a soiree in a Cuban home
It would be the kind of party that
you wouldn’t find in the United
States outside of Harlem or Chi
cago's South Parkway.
This Is Cuba
You would rub shoulders with
intellectuals who were white,
brown, and mulatto for at least one
third of Cuba's almost five million
population has Negro blood in vary
ing degrees You might meet at the
oarty, if he were not busy hammer
ing out cantos. Cuba's leading
poet. Nicolas Guillen, whom our
State Department bars from this
country along,* with other dis
tinguished Negro champion of hu
man rights, the Havana labor lead
er. Lazaro Pena.
Before the evening was over,
some beautiful girl descended from
an ancient queen in Nigeria or Da
homey would sit down at the piano
and play a composition by Brindis
de Salas, that internationally fa
mos musicians of the Nineteenth
Centtury who was known as “the
black Paganini" and "the king of
the octavaa” And if she were not
out on a concert tour you might be
’ucky enough to hear Zoila Galves
the Marian Anderson of Cuba." stnr
m aria from some great opera.
Africa struck deep roots whereve*
4 fries was transplanted to the New
World Africa struck its deeper 4
-oots in Brazil, which we have al
ready written about and In Cuba—
our closest neighbor among the 21
Latin American Republics.
Caba v*. Dixie
Cuba lies a few miles across the
Atlantic from Dixie: from the
Florida coast where a Negro can't
step into a public restaurant for a
cup of coffee. Some circles in
Dixie are still arguing over the
question of whether the Negro la a
human being or a special kind of
animal created especially to serve
the lordly white.
But Just across the water Cube's
leading scholars of both colors are
busy glorifying that country’s cul
ture, which is Negro. Stimulated by
their war for the liberation of all
peoples and their culture, a great
tt»egro renaissance is sweeping
across the West Indies and Latin
America. That renaissance comes
from Cube where black slaves
planted the culture in the same toil'
where they planted the sugar end
tobacco for the alien, haughty white
A white American echoler. Dr.
Richard ranee. Minted out in his
article, "Latin-America 'Dime IB
the Negro." prib&rtad la e IMS is
sue of The Crisis:
Pro-Negro Mtadna
"Thom has developed In Cube e
literal wave of enthusiasm tor
things Negro. Outstanding among
the Cuban intellectuals who have
contributed extraordinarily to the
revaluation of the Negro influence
is Dr. Fernando Ortiz, of La Haba
na. a distinguished man of letters
snd a lawyer, whose name rests In
large part on his scholarly labors
In the field of Afro-Cuban folklore
music, and superstition . . .
“This incidentally has assumed a
first importance in Negro renais
sance in the West Indies. A whole
genre has been created around the
Negro: a school of poetical expres
sion that has long since transcend
ed the frontiers of the island
(Meaning Cuba)- The Negro theme
has given rise to the new apprecia
tion of the potential role that the
African element can play in the
molding of . . . culture."
United For Freedom
Dr. Ortiz, whom Dr. Pattee men
tions. founded the Society of Afro-
Cuban Studies, an organization of
Negro and white intellectuals which
rinks ss one of the most important
learned societies in this hemis
phere of republics learning finally
to be good neighbors. A modest
friendly man who hates Jim Crow,
Dr Ortiz has. himself. written sev
eral vol-imet on different phases of
the African influence in Cuba. He
has a profound admiration for the
Negro poet. Plactdo, who back In
16*4. sounded the call for revolt
against the tyranny of Spain.
The Negroes of Cuba rallied to
THE MICHIGAN CHRONICLE « '• X RENTABLE INDEPENDENT WEEKLY
.. FEATURES ..
free their country In that bitter year,
marching into battle with the songs
of Flacido and the salve poet. Man
zano, on their lipe. That revolt
railed; Plaeido went to his death
hurling rhymes of defiance at those
who might kill a man but could not
kill a people.
.Twenty-four years later—in 1868
—the sons of the men who hsd lis
tened to Plaeido and Manzano
Joined hands with white Cubans
in the bitter Ten Years War, fought
under the slogans, "Freedom for
the 81aves," end "Equal political
rights for all men: white and black
native and foreign-born." It is said
that the people of Cuba were in
spired to revolt because newly
freed black men and progressive
white men had set up the detno
-rstic governments of the Recon
struction period in the Southern
part of the United State*.
The Ten Years War ended with
the abolition of chattel slavery. In
Cuba, but economic discrimination
still robbed the Negro of a living
Educational opportunities * for hit
'•hildren continued to be legally
imited although two of the island's
ioneer educators. Menendez and
*ntonio Medina, had been colored
*en.
The ftM Rev est
So in 1885. black Cubans again
'fx>k up arms undr the leadership
>f that Negro military genius. An
♦ >nio Maceo White Cubans who had
•heir own grievance* against Spain's
''olonial governors Joined hands
with their black countrymen in
what was tc be the final struggle of
that long fight for liberation which
had begun with the first rebellion of
Negro slaves back in 1583.
The revolt begun n 1895 con
tinued until 1888 when the United
States stepped in to help out the
rebel Cubans in the victorious
Spanish-American war But Cuba
is • free republic not only because
of American arms but because of
two Negroes: the aoldier, Antonio
Maceo; the author and crusading
newspapermen. Juan GuaH>erto
Gomez.
If you ever go to Howard uni
versity in Washington, you will see
the imrressive bust of Genera!
Maceo. don# by Cuba's leading
modem sculptor, the Negro and
former policeman. Ramos Blanco
er * b a monument to Maceo’a
mother, chiselled by the seme sculp
tor. in tho Mariana Graj alas Park
ia Havana. And wherever yon go
in Cuba, you will hear the m'm of
Maceo aa we hear the name of Un.
eetat
Hot win you have to ask any Cu
ban about Joan Gualberto Gomes.
Ha win start telling you about Go
mel the moment that he becomes
convinced that you respect his
country and its tradition of respect
for the achievenvfrits of any man.
whatever his color.
Bom in 1854, Comer died a sena
tor of the republic in 1933 He be
came a revolutionist at the age of
14. and died a rebel against (he mis
use snd misrule of his country by
the American-owned Wall Street
sugar trust
In the Academy of History at
Havana, he librarians show you the
yellowed files of “Fraternity." the
newspaper which Gomez founded
to ahow Cubans of both colors the
to freedom. Other Cubans tell
you how he was thrown in Jail time
a.ter tirr? by the Spanish counter
part of the Nazi Gestapo, how he
helped guide the destinies of the
revolutionary assembly which pro
c.aimed Cuba's independence while
Maceo was fighting for it He lived
to aee another man with Negro
blood and bearing the same sur
name. Jose Miguel Gomez, elected
president of the republic
Caba’a Democracy
Cuban, today, seems destined to
give the same sort of democratic
guidance to the subject black peo
ples of all the West Indies that
China is giving to the subject brown
and yellow peoples of all Asia
altthough China sprawls over a
great nart of the earth and Cuba
is just about the riie of Pennsyl
vania Negro workers throughout
the West Indies are organising into
democratic trade unions because of
the example set by Cuba's unions
which, like the CIO organizations in
our own country, draws no lines of
color, race or creed.
The Cuban labor unions are
among the most militant and power
fully organized groups of their kind
in the whole Western Hemisphere
They are doing much to iron out
any lingering antagonisms between
Negro and white Cubans; between
Spanish-speaking native Negroes
French-speaking Negroes imported
as laborers from Haiti, and English
speaking Negroes brought over by
the rugar planters from the British
West Indies.
Moat of us know Cuba only
through the conga and the rhumba
—dances whose very names show
their African origin But if we ever
know the history of the Negro In
thf* hemisphere, we’ll have to
study what has been done by the
unconquerable Negro of Cuba.
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Public Health Notes
By CLEMENT SCOTT, M.D., D.P.H.
The organization of the Health
Department in Detroit was not a
cultural gesture but a necessity, and
its existence has been an important
factor in the development of the
city.
The settlement
in the lower
Woodward ave
nue-river area
was by no means
an ideal site for
a city. The land
was low and
marshy A small
river called the
Savoyard flowed
parallel to the
Detroit River
and crossed
Woodward ave
nue at Congrats.
All the sor*
rounding ore a
«r '- • ; -’•si
Wm- 1
kJ
drains toward that/potet We me
that hath Gratiot a|d Grand River
avenuaa slope downward to the
downtown area and that there is a
decline in Woodward avenue which
is perceptible as tar away as the
suburb of Birmingham. The site of
settlement was choaen particularly
for • trading poet and a military
fort because It commands the strait
(Detroit River) at its narrowest
point The location, in itself, created
a hazard to health but there are
other factors quite as significant.
The population was very unstable
This factor made it difficult to con
trol health standards. The people
hopped in and out of town, to and
from Canada because of economic ;
or political pressure as the town
changed hands back and forth be
tween the French and British Too. (
there was the pressure exerted by
Pontiac, the big Ottawa Indian
chief who *was resentful of (he en
croachment of the whites upon his
hunting preserves
Also Detroit early became an in- f
dustrial center, which time and
time again has subjected it to sud
den influxes of people from other
districts, sometimes with serious re
sults. An actual famine occurred
after one of these migrations to,
Detroit Adequate housing facilities j
and sanitation naturally was im- j
possible during such t.mes
Although the Board of Health for
Detroit was not formally established
until 1882. there was a great deal
of work done by general public
health laws. This legislation re
sulted In the filling of the Savoyard
River which had become the sewer
of Detroit and was probably re-
ANSwf^m
kp RE Owglii Bee—
(For AN Pi
(Answer* Elsewhere en this Page)
Q.t When and where was the
first all-Negro play given in New
York City?
Q.t Who was Rev Josiah Henson**
G,: To what Important position
was Mrs Mary Tobias Doan,
daughter of Dr. Chinning Tobias,
recently appointed"
Q.t Who was the first Negro
woman to become a member of the
New York City School Board*
Q.t Who was the first Negro to
become a marine in the United
States?
Q: Who was rated the nation's
most outstanding Negro business
man for IMS?
Q.: Who was the first Negro to
become a member' of the American
Bar Association?
sponsible for the introduction of
the cholera epidemics which started
in 1832 and lasted until 1854. All of'
the marsh near the river bank be
low Arwater street was filled. Sani
tary laws concerning housing, sew
ers. water supply, slaughter-houses,
undertakers and communicable di
seases were enacted These things
had to be done if for nothing else
than to relieve Detroit of its repu
tation of being the most unhcalthv
dace in tfce ‘ West." During one of
these flareups of qholera 16 people
were known to have died in one
day. Malaria was controlled after
the marshes were filled or drained
and it was discovered that quinine
was a more effective cure than
whiskey. Smallpox and such com
municable diseases were very prev
alent and the dampness of the city
wee admitted by the physicians in
thoss day* to be particularly con
ducive to tuberculosis.
The Board of Health’s first annual
report, written by Dr. O. U. Wright
was interesting. Its reference to
communicable diseases was usually
"Small Pox and others—" Great
stress was laid upon fumigation
quarantine and the guarding of
cemeteries. TuberculosL- was hard
ly mentioned although it was con
sidered in those days the prime
cause of death This latter attitude
however is reasonable for the cause
of tuberculosis was discovered In
1882. th? same year that this de
oartment was organized Sundry
laws concerning the food and water
*upply were given and the under
takers were particularly under sur
veillance Report* on the humid ty
of the atmo*t>here were dutifully
recorded for *his condition was cen
tered an important means of con
veyance and even the cause of di
seases.
Dr. Seen
As time passed more scientific
facts were learned about diseases
and their propagation and. under
the influence of contributions o'
such men as Dr Guy Kiefer of the
local health department, who was
noted for his work In communicable
diseases and Dr Victor Vaughan of
'he state health denartrrent who
was s pioneer in tuberculosis con
trol our present Health Department
has evolved
In our present system, executive
power is vested .n a Board of
Health composed of four members
two phvsieians gnd two laymen
whose rulings, after publication
have the power of law. The admin
istration is controlled by a Com
missioner of Health. The Depart
ment has divisions with soecifl'
functions and services, the Ist o'
which is as follows:’
Control of Communicable Disease
Bureau of Dairy and Food Inspeciior
The Foodhandier's Division
The Bureau of Sanitary Engineering
The Bureau of Industrial Hygiene
The Bureau of laboratories
Public Health Nursing
The Division of Health Education
The Division cf Vital Slat -tics
Clinics
Social Hygiene
Tuberculosis
Maternity
Prenatal and Child Welfare
Dental
Mrs. Gladys Dillard
- TEACHER OF -
PIANO-THEORY
Community Music
Center
544 ERSKINE STREET
10 AM TO 5 PM.
Classes Open For
Beginners and Advance Students
CLASSES IN: SAXOPHONE. CLARINET. TROMBONE.
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PRIVATE OR CLASS LESSONS
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m MUD
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CHMSTMAS!
Poet’s Comer
MADAM TO YOU
By Langston Hughes
(For ANP)
Madam And The Wrong Visitor
A man knocked three times.
Never seen him before.
He said. Are you Madam?
I said, What's the score?
He said, I reckon
You don’t know my name.
But I’ve come to call
On you just the same.
I stepped back
Like he had a charm.
He said. I really
Don’t mean no barm.
Tm Just Old Death
And I thought 1 might
Pay you -a visit
Before night
He said. Tori're Johnson—
Madam Alberto K.T
I mid. Tee-bat Alberts
Ain't foin* with you today!
If o soonar bed I told him
Then I awoke
The doctor said. Madam.
Your fever's broke—
Nurse, put her on a diet
And buy her a chicken.
I said. Better buy two—
Cause I'm still here kickin'!
CHRISTMAS. 1943
By Rlearda Weeks
(Far ANPI
The world is in disorder
On this holy Christmas day:
For Death is its Recorder
The world is in disorder.
War still haunts its border.
For Peace was lead astray.
The world is in disorder
On this holy Christmas day
Here's The
ANSWER
‘Questions Elsewhere on this Pare!
A.: In 1833. in the resr of the
One Mile Stone, on Broadway, a
troupe made up entirely of Negroes
was giving Shakespeare.
A.:The character who inspired
the aut'or of Uncle Tom’s Cabin to
write that story. He was a former
slave, and lies buried in the little
town of Dresden, Ont, Canada.
A.: Prograrri specialist of the USO
Headquarters \ staff in arts and
crafts Mrs. Doan's office is lo
cated in the Empire State Building
n N Y C.
A.: The late Mrs. Bessye Bearden.
A : Howard P Perry of Char
lotte N C He was sworn into the
United States Marine corps in 1942
A: Howard «Skippy> Smith,
president of the Pacific Parachute
company, of San Diego, Cal. He
received the Spaulding award,
given by the National Negro Busi
ness league.
A.: Judge James S. Watson. Jus
tice of the Municipal court of New
York City, was admitted to the
American Bar association In Au
gust. 1943.
Editorial Of The Week
Selected From Army Camp Papers
**so YOU'RE SICK**
So you’re s*ck of the way the country’s run, and you're
Sick of the way the rationing’s done.
And you’re sick of standing around in a line, you're sick
You say— that’s just fine.
So am I sick of the sun and the heat, and Tm sick of the
Feel of my aching feet.
And I’m sick of the mud and the jungle flies, and I'm
Sick of the stench when the night mists rise.
And I’m sick of the siren’s wailing shriek, and I'm sick
Of the groans of the wounded and weak,
And I’m sick of the sound of the bombers dive, and I'm
Sick of seeing the dead alive.
I’m sick of the roar and the noise and the din, Tm sick
Of the taste of food from a tin.
And I’m sick of the slaughter—Fm sick to my soul, I’m
Sick of playing a killer's role.
I’m sick of blood and of death and the smell, and I*m even
Sick of myself as well.
But I’m sicker still of a tyrant’s rule, and conquered
Lands where the wild beats drooL
And I’m cured darned quick when I think of the day, when
All this hell will be out of the way.
When none of this mess will have been in vain, and tne
Lights of the world will blaze again.
And things will be as they were before, and kids will
Laugh in the streets once more.
And the Axis’ flags will be dipped and furled, and God
Looks down on a peaceful world.
(From the Victory New*, publication of the Utah Army Service
Forces Detx)t. Ogden Utah.)
RICHARD H. AUSTIN
CERTIFIED PUBLIC ACCOUNTANT
406 East Adams Avenue Telephone CA. SOS?
Telephone Temple 1-8620
BURNS BROTHERS
FUNERAL DIRECTORS “DISTINCTIVE SERVICE”
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PAGE SEVEN
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