Richmond planet., 1907-03-09
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SHALL WE GO TO AFRICA?
Mr. Steward Thinks That We Should
Editor, PLANET:

Editor, PLANET:
Thanking you for your courtesy
In allowing me to discuss the above
subject in the columns of your val
liable paper in a series of articles,
l present herewith the first number.
hoping that the thoughts which l
shall put forth will awaken an in
terest in others and provoke ADLER
pens than mine.
/ wish in the outset to dlsclaim
any intention or desire TO be offen-
sive or to wound the feelings of
any person or class OF persons. II
my object. which / hope shall at
some time be realized is ever at
tanned, it must be through the
friendly cooperation OF the white
people of this country, North and
South. IL would therefore, be the
height OF folly for me to wantonly
say or do that which might need
lessly offend them. My object shall
be to state facts and nothing but
facts as they appear to me. AS 10
the people OF my own race, / pre-
sumo that they will not be offended
since my aim and object shall be
the ultimate welfare of our race.
Is It not. Mr.. Editor. fun time
for us. especially the thoughtful a
mongst our race. to begin seriously
10 consider the following questions:
1st Who and what are we2
End. Whence came we?
3rd. How came we here2
4th. why did Providence permit
us 10 be brought here2
n n hnrn fnrnN-
er. oppressed by the dominant race
and denied every right dear 70 the
hearts OF frcemen. which rights are
freely accorded 10 every other race
though they be aliens while we are
natives and citizens2
9th. Shall we not rather return
10 the land OF our fathers bearing
the torch light OF the Gospel OF
Christ and OF civilization whicn God
has given us 90 our benighted breth-
rem who are waiting and praying
for our coming2
Tth. VIII not true and real free
dom in our fatherland, though we
be years in reaping it, more than
repay us and our children for any
deprivatlons which we may sustain
In leaving this country2
From 1921, the time OF the Mis-
souri, compromise. 10 the end OF
the Civil War in 1865 the Negro
problem I'm the United States was
the question OF slavery or freedom
II the Negro. That question was
settled by the war OF 1S61-65. From
that time 10 the present. the real
Negro problem in this country mas
been race prejudice. race antipathy
and race antagonlsm. These have
existed from the time OF the dis
Hersion of the builders OF the tower
Of Babel TO the present day.
II the white race is prejudiced a
gainst the black race IL is equally
certain that the black race Is pre-
iudiced against the white race.
These things being true the great
question comes up-HOw are these
races to be reconciled 10 each other?
These questions are discussed
from the white mans standpoint in
the white peoples papers every day,
while we. the subject discussed, seem
TO be utterly Indifferent and have
little or nothing TO say.
AS TO the first question-Who and
what are we? We are at least a
very ancient people, Hamites. Cush-
ties. Ethiopians, Africans or descen-
dants OF these. If you please; citi-
ems OF the United States OF America
entitled to all the rights and priv
ileges of such citizens. See 18th,
14th and 18th Amendments to the
Constitution of the United States.
Also see Psalms S7:4: End Kings,
1879.
philippians have figured In the his
tory OF nearly every notable nation
playing most conspicuous and i'm
portant part in many instances. A
race or nation that could muster an
invading army OF more than a mill
lion soldiers must have beca 10
mean nation. Sec 2nd Chronicles,
1879.
AS TO the question, What are we?
/ think / can truthfully and APP
propriately use the language of Ju-
dah, pleading for himself and breth-
ren, when accused by his brother
Joseph with being spies. when Judah
said, we are true men" The Ne
groes of this country have ever been
loyal. Their faithfullness TO the
families of their masters while the
said masters we're at the front fight
ing to rivet the chains of slavery
upon them forever, stands as
monument to their simple but praise
worthy loyalty.
o. NJ. STEWARD.