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W.C. Handy 
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Among the Black Americans in the U.S.A., the war for a democratic Spain in the 30's was not something new. During their lifetime the struggle against racism, jim-crowism, and inequality, a legacy of the slave market, has become to the Black people a source of concern.

It is, therefore, not surprising that among the American Black people, numerous Black V.I.P.'s, great numbers of Black Americans-at-large were inspired by the activities and organizations of the Communist Party, USA, and Young Communist League and other anti-fascist organizations. Many committees and organizations of aid to democratic Spain sprang into being. 

The picture above from the DAILY WORKER, December 23, 1938, shows the famed Black composer, W>C. Handy conversing with Council Gobson Carter, only Black ambulance driver to serve with the American Medical Bureau units in Spain.

They are shown attending a dinner in Roger Smith restaurant where William Pickens, representative of the Negro Committee of the American Committee for Spanish Democracy reported on his recent tour of Spanish cities.

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James W. Ford
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[[image - James W. Ford shaking hands with ALB member, Jack Sherai--only Japanese-American volunteer.]]

James W. Ford, vice presidential candidate, CPUSA 1932 and 1936, was the only Black American ever nominated for such high office in the USA.

Ford visited Spain May, 1937. He was thrilled and impressed to find Black Americans together with white anti-fascists, chalking up an unforgettable page in the history of struggle against fascist oppression.

In his book "The Negro and the Democratic Front" he describes how he met Ethiopian volunteers and they gave him a message for the people at home that they were fighting for those principles of democracy which the Black Americans have been upholding in the USA for more than a century.

The Ethiopian warriors stated that the fight in the trenches of Spain was a continuation of the anti-Italian struggle for the liberation of their native land.

He paid exceptional honor and tribute to the Black Americans who died in Spain--Alonzo Watson, Oliver Law, Milton Herndon, and Harry Wickman.

James W. Ford was proud of the Black machine-gunners, especially Captain Oliver Law, the Lincoln Battalion Commander who came from Chicago. His training, his coolness under fire, his ability as a leader, lifted him up out of the ranks and put him into command; he was a leader--he was a disciplinarian.

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