Franklin's paper the statesman., 1912-09-28
BANE OF RACE PREJUDICE.
Noted Brooklyn Writer commends
Stand Taken by Standard Union.

Noted Brooklyn Writer Commends
Stand Taken by Standard Union.
In reply to recent editorial in the
Brooklyn Daily Standard Union under
the caption "A Prejudice Which Should
Be Removed" Mrs. NJ. G. Lawton, the
well known writer and agitator for the
legal rights Of Afro-Americans, says:
ut is sad commentary on civil
lied government when worth and char
acter must surrender to petty race
prejudices. particularly when such con-
cessions dwarf the development and
growth of an entire race, intellectual.
ly, financially. physically and morally
intellectually, because the doors of
many of our higher institutions are
closed against him. and yet he is ex-
pected to compete with the man who
can enter any college in the world.
This privilege being denied him, he is
branded as mentally inferior to other
races. Financially, because he is un.
derrated, therefore underpaid. Besides
there are so many fields of labor into
which he may not enter because of
race prejudice.
physically. because he is barred
from athletic associations which make
it possible for him to take the physical
culture so necessary to sound phys
ical body. symmetry of form. etc. Nor
ally. because of the congested manner
in many instances in which this hydra
headed monster, prejudice, forces him
to live. If the locality is desirable the
rent is so eXtortonate that he must
take all sorts of persons in his home
to meet the monthly expense. Again.
although his salary is less than that
of any other class Of citizens, he must
pay interest for his color This con
dition is calculated to lower the moral
status of any race or people.
ITO shut the door of opportunity in
the face of any man and then brand
him as shiftless and indolent is ma
licious crime. To bar him from edu-
cational advantages and then label him
as inferior is equally as criminal.
There are men and women In the
colored race whose ideptity would be
imperceptible under a microscope. yet
if it is known that they possess l per
cent of colored blood the 90 per cent
of the white blood counts for naught.
Mathematics is no factor in this prob
lem: hence the discrimination is not
based on the complexion nor the tex
ture of the hair. There are also scores
of refined. intelligent. cultured men
and women who are just as much os-
tr7tciZed as the most vagrnnt and un-
couth men and women OF their race.
Il heartily indorse the spirit of the
editorial referred to in that it favors
fairness and justice for the self re-
specting Italians. Mt the same time i'm
ploring the self respecting class of that
race 20 condemn the vicious and
treacherous among them.
What is true of this particular class
is no less true of the colored people.
Let them ever be on the alert, com
mending worth and integrity wherever
they find them and condemning crime
wherever it exists.
Il assume that this fair and square
article is no less directed to one race
than another and that the Standard
Union. so widely read among the col
ored citizens generally of Brooklyn.
will ever be found on the side of right
as ii sees it. regardless of race. creed
or previous condition"
The article in question dealt with the
discrimination practiced against ltal-
ians as tenants.