The colored American., 1901-02-09
BARRED FROM LABOR UNIONS

AAOOT unions ns-carpenters, painters,
or'ck masOns, machInists, hackmen
and those supplying nearly every con-
c9ivabie avocation for livelihood. have
banded themselves together to better
their condition, but, with few excep'
tlons, the black has been left out. The
Negroes are seldom employed in our
mercantile stores. At this we do not
wonder. Some day we hope to have
them employed In our own stores.
With all these odds against us we are
forging our wy ahead, slowly, perhaps
out surely. You may tie Us and tnen
tannt Us for lack Of bravery. but
one day we will break the bonds You
may use our labor for two and 8 half
| centuries and then taunt US for our
poverty, but let me remind you we will
not always remain poor. You NAV
withhold even the knowledge of how t.
read Gods word and learn the way
! from earth to glory and then tsunt u
for our Ignorance, but we will remind
you that there is plenty Of room at the
top, and we are climbing.
After enforced debauchery wit b many
kindred horrors incident to slavery, it
comes with i'll grace from the perpetra
tors Of these deeds to hold up the short
cOmings of some OF our race to ridicule
and scoTn.
The new man, the slave who has
grow n out OF the ashes Of thirty five
years ago, is inducted into the political
and social system, cast into the arena
of manhood, where he constitutes a.
new element aud becomes a competitor
for all it's emOluments He is put upOr
trial to test his ability to be counted
worthy OF freedom, worthy of the cleo
tive franchise; and after thirty five
years OF struggling against almost in
surmOuntable odds, under condition.
but little removed from slavery itself,
he asks fair and just Judgment, no.
OF these whose prejudice has endeav-
OTed to fOTestall, to frustTate his every
forward movement, rather than those
who have lent a helping hand, that
he might demonstrate the truth Of the
'fathsrhood of God and the brother
hood of man.
HOW TO SOLVE THE PROBLEM,
Now, Mr.. Chairman, before conclud
ing my remarks I want to submit q
blief recipe for the solution of the Fo
called American Negro problem. He
asks no special favors, hut simply de
mands that he be given the same chance
tor existence, for earning q livelihood
for raising himself in the scales OF
manhood and woman hood that are &C
corded kindred nat'oDslities. Treat
him as man; 60 into bis home and
learn of his social conditions; learn Of
his cares, his troubles and his hope for
the future; gain his confidence; Oper
the doors OF industry to him; let the
word negro 'cOlOred, and 'Olack' be
stricken from sII the organizations
enumerated In the Federation of La
Dor.
Help him to overcome his weak
nesses, punish the crime-cOm mitting
class by the courts of the land. measure
the standard Of the race by It's best
material, cease to mold uredjudicial and
unjust public sentiment AGAINST him.
and my word for it, he will learn to
support, hold up the hands Of, and join
IN with that political party, that lnsti
tuition, whether secular or religious, In
every community where he lives, which
is destined TO do the greatest good for
the greatest number. Obliterate race
hatred, party prejudice, and help us to
achieve nobler ends, gre eater results and
become satisfactory citizens to our
brother In white
This, Mr.. Chairman, is perhaps the
Negro's temporary farewell to the
American Congress; but let me say,
Phoenix like, he will rise up some day
and come again. These parting words
are in behalf of an outraged. heart
broken. bruised and bleeding, but God