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NEW NEGRO OPINION WASHINGTON'S PROGRESSIVE WEEKLY OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE NEW NEGRO ALLIANCE Published Weekly by THE NEW NEGRO ALLIANCE, Inc. 1333 R. STREET, N. W. PHONE NORTH 1258 EUGENE DAVIDSON Editor 2 Pennies Per Copy; 100 Pennies Per Year; 150 Pennies Per Year Outside of the United States SATURDAY SEPTEMBER 8, 1934 WHY THE ALLIANCE, It is a healthy sign that the activities of such organizations as the New Negro Alliance are resulting in a certain amount of criticism and debate throughout the country. The sponsors of every movement are aided by sincere and intelligent criticism. It makes them think straight and examine their premises carefully and repeatedly. Yet, in the course of a number of printed and oral criticisms of the philosophy and aims of the Alliance. What seems an adequate statement of Alliance aims has been published twice in these columns. The matter seems sufficiently important to justify a third publication: In our cities we find two types of businesses. First, there is the "neighborhood" store which caters to and relies upon the trade of the people living within a few blocks of the store. The other type of business, whether a street railway company or a large department store, is one which serves the entire city. The neighborhood store owes to the community which supports it a fair return in the form of such employment as the store can give. The business which serves the entire city and makes a profit out of city-wide trade should give all persons in the community an opportunity to work as need arises and fitness can be shown. Where a neighborhood store is located in a colored neighborhood, its obligation to the neighborhood is an obligation to colored people. Where the neighborhood is one of white persons, those are the persons who can rightly insist on a chance to work in neighborhood stores. Where persons of various races live in the community, all share in the neighborhood right to preference in jobs. In each case the right is based, not on race, but on the obligation of the neighborhood store to the neighborhood. This position is entirely consistent with a position which demands that a business which serves the entire city should consider applicants for work on the basis of merit and not discriminate against any group of the population. The New Negro Alliance does not sponsor Jim Crow economy. But we must organize our purchasing power behind a demand for equal opportunity to work, and also in support of those businesses in which Negroes can and do work without discrimination. The support of businesses owned and operated by Negroes is, of course, an essential part of such a program. H. [[line]] PROGRAM OF THE NEW NEGRO ALLIANCE To improve the economic and civic status of the Negro through: 1. The securing of positions which will increase the earning capacity of our group. 2. The securing of opportunities for advancement and promotion in positions secured. 3. The uniting of the purchasing power of the Colored people to be used as a lever in securing economic advantages. 4. The creation of bigger and better Negro business through increased earning power of Negroes, through a better business outlook resulting from contact and experience with successful businesses now run by Negroes to higher levels of efficiency and service. 5. The concentrated support of all businesses which employ Negroes or in which Negro capital is invested. 6. Research and investigation which will discover and thoroughly anlyze [[analyze]] the possibilities for Negro Business and Negro labor in new fields. [[line]] Persons and Affairs... By William H. Hastie The power to the buying public to achieve economic justice for both consumers and workers has never been appreciated or utilized to any extent in our communities. The enlightened comment of Judge Hofstadter of the New York Supreme Court in his recent decision holding that consumers might picket a bakery to force the baker to sell bread at cheaper prices should be read and considered by all those who spend their dollars to buy the necessities and comforts of life. The judge said, in part: "I conceive that it is clear in reason and principle that picketing not accompanied 'by violence, threats or intimidations, expressed or implied,' and having a lawful purpose should not be enjoined. "The right of an individual or group of individuals to protest in a peaceful manner against injustice or oppression, actual or fancied, is one to be cherished and not to be proscribed in any well-ordered society. It is an essential prerogative of free men living under democratic institutions, and it is salutary for the State in that it serves as a safety valve in times of stress and strain." The power of the buying public to achieve economic justice for buyers and workers alike - and most persons fall in both classes - has never been appreciated or utilized to any considerable extent in our communities. Labor is organized to some extent. Industry is also organized. But the buying pubic, the greatest potential force in our economic life, has not consolidated its strength. Negro communities which organize and refuse to buy where Negroes cannot work are putting this great power to one use. In any community where Negroes live in large numbers, this organized buying power can force business to give Negroes the same chance to earn a living that other citizens have. At the same time, it must be realized that this very type of neighborhood and community organization can control all sorts of business practices. Industrial strikes could be made unnecessary if the buying public stood organized and ready to boycott the goods of any manufacturer who treated his employees unfairly. The high price of bread, milk or any other commodity could be forced down by the buying public if the consumer refused to buy at an unreasonable price. Judge Hofsadter has pointed out in impressive language that this sort of organization is lawful. Isolated examples show how successful it can be. We need more of it. [[line]] The New Deal and the Rural Negro By Victor H. Daniel Food is the chief material concern of life, both of the individual and of that larger group of individual that is known as the nation. From official sources information has been given out that we are facing a shortage of many of the essential foodstuffs. From these same official sources we have been assured [[ note: hole in page]] profiteering will not be [[?]] it seems that the [[?]] intends to protect the [[?]] consumer from those rapacious individuals who ae so placed economically, that without interference from the government they would fatten themselves on the rest of us, irrespective of age or sex. But why should a country rich as ours, be faced with a shortage of foodstuff? We have practically every type of soil needed to raise both vegetables and grain suitable for man and beast. For years we have openly boasted of the superiority of the American farmer over the farmers of the other nations of the world. Yet, today, hundreds of thousands of these farmers whom have been rated by our agricultural experts a super-farmers in comparison to other farmers are virtually dependent upon the largene of the Federal Government. This condition has come about because our farmers have been encouraged to utilize their most productive land for the purpose of raising products for the home and foreign markets. This practice has been over done to the extent that today we can find a very large number of farmers who know practically nothing about the making of a garden for the raising of vegetables. Specialization in agricultura has grown among our farmers to the place where it is pathetic to relate that, there are farmers who are not even familiar with the names of a dozen garden vegetables which can and should be grown on their own farms. Not knowing enough about gardening these farmers have become even less acquainted with the health producing qualities of many vegetables that should be a part of their daily diet. We have seen farmers who had splendid fields of wheat, corn and tobacco, purchasing fresh pork, string beans and cabbage from a woman who was supporting a girl in college from the profit she was making from selling these farmers foodstuff that they should have grown themselves. Those in charge of carrying out the ideology of the New Deal, as it applies to the rehabilitation of rural America, should insist that farmers receiving aid from the Federal Government, pledge themselves to raise each year enough food that can be grown in their section for themselves and their tenants. For at present there are black boys and girls on starvation rations in rural America. This is a rotten deal to these potential American citizens! [[line]] ALLIANCE WINS HIGH FIGHT Continued from page 1 tie and Thelma Ackiss. This answer quoted the decision of a New York, judge rendered on August 17, 1934, which held that "the right of an individuals to protest in a peaceful manner against injustice or oppression, actual o fancied, is one to be cherished and not to be proscribed in any well-ordered society. Although the High Ice Cream Company has made steps towards compromising the matter with the Alliance and has actually placed two colored clerks in its stores, the Alliance has insisted that colored clerks be placed in the store at 3124 11th St., N.W. since this was the store on which the fight was made. Also the High Company has refused to state in writing that its policy towards the employment of Negro clerks has changed. FIGHT STARTED JULY 30 The fight against the High Ice Cream Company started July 30 when pickets were placed in front of the 11th Street store, urging that Negroes purchase only where they might work. The picket was withdrawn August 10, after the High Company had filed a bill of injunction against the Alliance and by a "gentleman's agreement" no picketing was to be done until the case could be heard. After several postponements by the High Company the hearing was scheduled for Friday, September 7. [[box]] What Others Think [/box]] I. LOVE LIFE By TEDDY DE NOLASCO "I love life!" The words of the familiar song bring a thrill of the zest of living to the listener. Life radiates vitality and animation, energy and growth. Life comprises the whole realm of nature--animal and vegetable--and is constantly changing. In the plant world, there are countless varieties, species, and families. The botanist can tell many interesting stories of the various types, but an individual needs to know very little concerning the scientific classification in order to muse about the secret language of flowers. I myself have often wondered if the lilac feels herself a trifle superior to the violet, because the violet, although sweetly fragrant, cannot boast a similar height and dignity. And do you suppose the rose sniffs disdainfully at the poppy, pitying its lack of perfume, all the while ignoring its glorious blooms? Wouldn't it be strange if a lily and an edelweiss should meet in a great floral shop, and the lily would refuse association with the other flowers, for the reason that the edelweiss grew on the other side of the world? Nay, every flower has its place and purpose and some advantages that differentiates it from all other flowers. But my thoughts wander from plant life to that of human beings, who are guilty of just such discrimination. The "colored" man says he does not wish to associate with "white trash" ignoring what good qualities the latter may possess; and the American-born is Pharisaically glad he is not a Southern European or an Oriental, not seeming to notice the advantages those people have! I do not deny that a racial problem always exists wherever people of two or more races dwell together, that problem being caused by differences of background, culture, religion, attitudes toward economic questions, ideas of political government, and a whole philosophy of life. But many, many, times when I have heard American people discussing (continued on page 4)