Interesting. I remember hearing about Dennis's background but Schuyler does not allude to it in his column. He mentions in his columns that he had read Dennis's books and did not find them objectionable, in fact agreed with them. Schuyler also gives (somewhat qualifed) praise to the "Peace Now" movement during WWII to end the war via a negotiated peace.

BTW, I just found out that Courier endorsed Dewey in 1944 on the grounds that Roosevelt had completely sold out to the South and the GOP had a better platform on civil rights. This is significant because historians often mention that the Courier had led the switch of black papers to the Democrats in 1928 and 1932.

Unfortunately, I suspect that he Alicia Keys movie will be a "hit job" on George Schuyler. Hope I am wrong.

I never knew about Hoiles. Interstingly, although Robert Taft went along with the internment, he was the only member of the Senate to raise any criticism of the policy.

David,

Just as an aside, the major newspaper in the Western U.S. (where the incarcerations of Japanese/Japanese Americans primarily occurred) opposed to the internment was R.C. Hoiles' Santa Ana Register (now Orange County Register) and the government was continually lambasted for this incredible injustice.

Was there any affiliation between that of Schuler and Hoiles? I don't remember any mention of Schuyler with Robert LeFevre, who was one of Hoiles' primary editorial writers in the years that I knew Bob. Bob had an instinctual personal reaction against racism, and I don't doubt that R.C. felt the same.

Just a thought.
Just Ken
kgregglv@cox.net
http://classicalliberalism.blogspot.com/

My sense thus far is that the unsigned papers are generally pro-FDR but often have critical things to say. The signed columns are a fascinating mix, far more diverse ideologically than most newspapers (black or white) today. The Courier tried to have not only black columnists but also whites, Chinese, and a person from India.

Schuyler clearly had the greatest role. He not only had a long regular column but wrote a short series of snippets on the front page. His wife Josephine wrote many back reviews. Schuyler's stuff is great, often more hard-hitting in its attack on the New Deal and wartime suppression than Lane's. For example, he rises to the defense of Lawrence Dennis who was then on trial for sedition.

Lane's columns are more philosophical. They are hard-core libertarian and pro-free market (including attacks on social security) but she also frequently tries to relate these views to race issues of the day. She is highly critical of segregation and racism and often seeks out friendly dialogue and debate with the other columnists including Schuyler. One of these is J.A. Rogers, a well-known black writer on history. Rogers ven devoted one of his columns to a postive review of Discovery of Freedom though I am not sure he fully appreciated the thesis.