Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1900-01-20
a WORD FROM THE GENTHBL
NEGRO"

tainly have more than one editor deal
ing with the Jim Grow Gar BILL" nov
pending before the lower branch OF th,
legislsturesot Virginia.
The writer of the article IN its issu
OF the l4'h inst, under the caption o
"A Word TO the Genteel Negro" Seems
to be "a white man whom God made ,
he must be in some way connected will
the ex-slave owners, with whose sup
port and influence we expect to defes
that prsjudiced measure. How els,
could that journal have used the fol
lowing language
I'VE have word this morning for tb,
gsnteel Negro, for the Negro with am
pition, for the Negro who honestly de.
sires to improve his mind and moral,
and better his condition. 10 what WIS
have said in previous articles we have
not meant Co discourage him, not e.
take away his aspirations. We would
rather Did him God speed in his an.
desvors, and aid him ia lifting himself
up 20 higher level"
Oh, il the writer OF those lines ONLY
meant what he has said, we could in
deed take hope. And again:
There Is always room at the top
There il future for the genteel Negro
but il ia necessarily q thing OF his own
making. Booker Warrington, Paul
Laurence Dunbar, and such other Ne.
groes whom we might name, have at
tanned national distinction. and snioy
the respect and good will OF the ma.
tion. One of the most conspicuous ar
ticles in the current issue of Harper's
Weekly, and we must say one of the
most interesting articles 10 from the
pen of Paul Laurence Dunbar. 10 the
city Of Richmond there are Negro law
yers. Negro doctors. Negro bankers,
Negro merchants, Negro teachers, Ne.
gro real estate owners, all OF whom are
place for themselves st the
sop. This simple statement should be
enough to stimulate every ambitious
Negro I'd greater exertiop."
The TMEs says further:
I'VE said in q recent article tina. the
Negro could not, in the nature of the
case secure the benefit and the
elevating influences of what the
white man calls his society That
door 10 closed 60 the black man, and
will always be closed"
Will the TINES editor never see ?
Will ne. never understand ? The doors
10 white society may remain barred
forever, 80 far as We are concerned,
We do not seek admission there. tits
,ur civil and political rights, for which
We are eontending. The hearth. stone
has no place in the oontroversy. The
railroads Of this country do not open
he doors to the society OF the white
nan. Il they did, you would necsssa-
lily be required to explain why white
sil-biras, penitsntiary convicts, dive
Ieepers, white women of questionable
harsctsr are permitted to associate
IN the railway trains with the best
White people in the land from the 'hind
art" of the baggage sar to the tail-snd |
4 the sleeper.
These privileges constitute civil and |
lot social rights.
Az to the elevAting influences of the |
Thits mans society, the eolored man |
4 the South is constantly securing ID,
ot a. an equal, but as . servant.
The effect il reaching. neverthe-j
,ss for the father as q butler and
and the mother az the nurse
nd chambermsid become acquainted
18th all of the rules of polite society
nd the "black Chesterfield" is but lit.
q behind the white one in observing
he rules OF decorum and performing
lose requirements OF etiquette which
ave made southerners famous and
leir black servants the best in the
Grid.
More than this too, these same col
red employees are educating their
lildren on the outside and the :in-
ructions given embrace q practical
'aching along the lines, which their
nployers have marked out.
By this method, the colored teacher
arms from her nurse mother" and
lie colorAd physician learns sfrom his
butler father" the rules and require
ents Of polite white socisty, and be-
,mes transformed into what the
MBs' editor is pleased to term 1.-The
enteel Negro"
There is no clamor on the part Of
liz upper olAss of white men for "Jhm
70 v" car legislation.
They are in favor of enforcing order
, the railroads, but when il comes to
aking color the basis, they remem.
IT that in years past and gone, any
le who would attempt to separate
lsm from their black msmnies would
I'VE had their trouble for their pains.
Mr.. JOHN Z. EPPs, the patron of this
iquitous measure, simply for little
lesp notoriety would stir up the
uldron of raco prejudice, infaict
'ediess expense upon railroad eompa-