New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1873-11-13
we Must be True 10 Ourselves.

The opponents Of equal rights in this Dis.
trct, those who are loud in their warfare
upon the idea Of mixed schoOls--colOred and
white pcrsons-argue that as the white peo-
pie own the property and pay the taxes they
should be allowed to decide as to the system
or systems Of schools they are willing to sup
port by their taxes. These people assume
that the negro is a non-producer, and that
they have to bear the burden of his educa-
ton and protection. How unjust is this
assumption, and what brazen effrontery
it is ON the pant of the people who
have prospered and become enriched on the
robbery of the unfortunate black man to
bring forward charge that he does not own
property and pay taxes equal with themselves
the robbers. These are the people who
forget that they were educated out of taxes
paid by colored people prior to 1862, when
colored property owners here were forced TO
pay taxes without being allowed any benefit
from their expenditure.
We are not non-rroducers. We venture
the prediction that if the productions in this
District in the way of property were to be
restored to the producers of it, the colorcd
people here would be about as happy as men
can reasonably be. Non-producers indeed.
None but those who believe in dishonesty
outrage, and brutal robbery, have the effron
terry to contend that the negro is receiving
people, who are entitled to his gratitude for
their grand magnanimty, and that he has
done nothing, and is doing nothing in sup
port OF his own education. All that the col
ored man gets here in the way of scho OILS he
has paid for over and over again, and he is,
c1nsequentiy, not so bound up by gratitude
as not to be in condition TO urge his views
as to the management of our schools, with as
much propriety as the white man who pays
taxes on property, which had honesty pre-
vailed, would belong to his cX-slaves.
Our people need 20 always bear in mind
that they are right, and are exhibiting genu-
inc manhood in seeking for equality before
the law, and equality in the enjoyment OF
public rights. We owe no such debt of graf
itudc to any man or woman as demands the
rations to pay it. We must remember that
it is only through contending for the right
not compromising with wrong-that truth
ever triumphs so We say to those people of
our race, who are attempting to cry down
the New NATIONAL Era AND CITIZEN be-
equality, that you are pursuing exactly the
course your enemies desire you to pursue.
If any among US is willing to labor for our
elevation the white people opposed to us at
tempt to excite the jealousy of colored men
against those who are earnest and untiring
in their efforts for our elevation, and they
too often succeed. l. there n colored man
here who has looked into the matter of the
Of the Normal school, who
fails to see the injustice aud feel the degra-
latiou heaped upon himself and family BIZ |
the denial to his children of the facilities az !
fIrded by this so-called public school, simply !
because they belong to race that has been |
outraged? Seeing and feeling this Injustice,
10 what respect can they hold those colorcd |
men who apologize for 1t, aud denouncc Tie
'or. speaking out against it?
II we desire the treatment accorded 10 ,
manly worth we uIust be manly. We can |
lot afford TO tf,ui aad pander to the hatred of |
BUR enemies. By working for our rights we
show that we appreciate them, and command /
he respect Of all lovers e true nobility. Re-
member that you owe no one gratitude to
The extent Of being their slave. II is your
inty to be true 10 yourselves.