◆ SpookStack

pha been found historically to be the onl moans “Nig achieving discipline. In short, Nesleon had asked J ‘tgne directly if I were 2 Communist or not. I 4 > aeranted t0 be & Communist, but my kind of Com- a E “Abeer mang yo ta ete a __sapereon. “Now, Y'm in that category. Wet TthinkI |. man write. J don’t want to ask for special favors, but — “i'm in the midst of a book which I hope to complete * jepanist, I wanted to shape people's feelings » awaken a, a wat Veer th! bu ete } ‘ould only have enorted. ot . al - “Tl organize the committee aid turn it over to 7 ‘ @omeone else,” I suggested. “You don’t want to do this, do you?” he asked. F ° gin ix months or so. Lot me convince myvelf that I’m ‘Merrong about my hankering to write and then I'll e with you all the way.” ; ERD ix "be maid, turning in his chair and waving ea yan insect th i fas taougn to Druen him, Ggou've got to get to the masses of fy .. 46 Seat. me * =e peen, some of rmy a work” aid. be ; “No,” J said firmly. a, "Wat would you like to do on the Bouth Bie, 4 “2rd like to oxganise Negro artists,” I said. BE ee a shat ho hed gc intention of leting 3 a sme go after I had organized the oommittes. Iwanted § tell him that J was through, but Iwas not ready % “Néto bring matters to a head. A went out, arigry with 3 Tin py ca’ al wih goodness “Sy oye tay "_temnyeell, angry with him, angry with the perty.-¥ ‘a hed not broken the decision, but neither had I “. “apecepted it avholly. 3 bad ween wave % ws aaybo I¢ doa't belong i in nthe pry ae i it no! Doo't amy that,"“he wid. snorting. "He _ ee {Shooked st me. “You're blunt.” = - ay I pat things the way I feel them,” spies fart gh ih you Tred oda “Le aid. “sy ime Sor erriting, ‘ime to think. © at, ge M... TASK x consisted is in attending meetings until the "1 idille laughed and lit a cigerotte. > = > ftNDick,”"che mid, shaking his head, “the trouble Sayrith you is that you've been around with those “white artists on the North Side too much. “You *Jate hours of the night, taking part in discussions, “fy wor lending myself generally along with other Com- q ; _ senunists in leading the people of the South Side. We “a _ebated the housing situation, the best means of 4 "people." ee aT baa thon 1 said, realizing that'T d never really talk with him. “I've been inside * yawven talk like "em. ‘You've got to know your own ditions among Negroes. I gritted § my “teeth « as ‘the qi Agnily value of pork chops was tabulated, longing | to 4 be at home with my writing. a “2 Nealeon was cleverer than I and he confronted me ‘a t uv . . ' : : ' \ + Woes #4 Ce ee ee ee aoe a 2 hg aloo: three fourths of the Negroes’ homes on the Bouth Mpide.” |... But you “ve got to work with’ ‘em he said. “PEI was working with Boss until I was suspected ~ “before I had a chance to confront him. 1 was sum. "4 --moned one night to meet Nealson and e “friend.” * “hen I arrived at & South Side hotel I was intro- 3 . duced to a short, gellor man who carried himeclf 4 like ; my om aye A decision was the highest injunction that a ‘abt being a epy."-¥ said “Dick,” be spoke seriously now, “the party has «,, wddecided that you are to accept this tas eo, _ od was silent. J knew the meaning of what he hed = pureed ¢ as ¢ though he were © engaged in | perpetual i "thought. He swaggered when he walked. He spoke -4 _ giowly, precisely, trying to charge each of his words 4 with more meaning than the words wore able to 3 1 . eee ee ee ee ° Communist could receive from his party, and to peak a decision was to break the effectivencss of ‘pthe party’e ability to act. Zn principle I heartily to forge itical | spower . antil they had achieved 1 ‘unity ‘of action. “Oppressed for centurics, divided, hopelces, soparry. He talked of trivial things in lofty tones. He } paid that his name was Smith, that be was from 3 ‘Washington, that he planned to launch a national . organization emong Negroes. to federalize all exist- ' y of action. The throo of us eet at a table, facing one 2 ~ another, I knew that another and last offer was | . about to be made to me, and if I did not accept ts there would be open warfare.