St. Paul daily globe. [volume] (Saint Paul, Minn.) 1884-1896, 1885-04-03
Shaving Colored Men.

Mr.. EDITOR: Permit me to correct mis-
take that appeared in last SUNDAYS GLOBE
with regard to my motives in making COM
plant against Mr.. D. w. Phillips for refus-
ing me shave in his barber shop. 1t was
then stated that / had made a bet OF $40
that could get shave in his shop. 1 made
no such bet nor did I make the complaint
out of spite. A gentleman offered to bet
$40 that the civil rights bill had not passed
the last legislature. simply claimed it had
and that barber could not safely refuse to
shave colored man merely because OF his
color. The controversy was simply as to the
existence of the law, not a word being said
about Mr.. Phillips.
Against Mr.. Phillips personally have not
word to say, but it does seem to me that if
be was as true to himself and to his own
race and kin as he is to the white man, there
would never have been any need of his ar
rest. If the colored man will come forward
like man and assert his rights, the whites
are generous enough to recognize his equal
ity, but when he cringes to and patronizes
the white as his superior, he need not ex-
pect the white to recognize him as his equal.
And right here let me say to the colored
man that if the nstitutionality of this law
can be established, and it certainly can be,
we will have taken great step towards civil
rights, but if it is not established then your
boasted equality is farce. At this time,
and in this, the first case arising under this
law, is the time for it to be tested. 1t is not
Mr. Phillips am striking at. 1 would be
willing to help pay his fine, if he is fined, but
it is the stitutionality of the law that for
the good of the colored people want to see
established. Mr.. Phillips, if he has proper
respect for himself. for his parents, for his
wife, for his children. is on the same side OF
the question l am. I simply want his civil
rights and my civil rights established equally.
II he can be satisfied with any less than this,
he is out OF his place as an American citi-
zen.
You say that if Mr.. Phillips is compelled to
shave ''darkies," he will lose his white trade.
No danger. The law imposes no obligation
on Mr.Phillips that it does not equally impose
on every other barber in the state. If he
can make no distinction because of color
alone. neither can any other barber in the
state. The people will be shaved, and if they
must 90 out of the state to get shaved or go
to shop where they shave white and black
alike, they will choose the latter. Besides,
the prejudice of being shaved after negro
is the prejudice of the ''nasty-nice'' only. 1t
seems to me that if a man can stand it to
have the lather rubbed into his face by
colored man, he can also stand it to be
shaved with the same razor with which
colored man is shaved.
Colored men, We have lived for the past
twenty years along side of the whites. Have
we abused our privilegess Are we not law
abidlngl Do we not pay taxes as well as
the whites? Would we not defend the honor
of our country as soon as he! Were We not
as loyal in the rebellion! The Republican
party, that has always stood by us, has given
us this law and it remains with US to see that
1t is ably defended before the courts. If we
are true to ourselves, to our wives and to
our children, this much at least we will do.
HARRISON HURST.
st. Paul, April 2, 1885.