Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1913-03-28
AFRO-AMER|CAN Cuttings ii
~os.s1as~y .

At the regular monthly public
meeting of the Manhattan branch
Of the Y. NJ G. A. at the Abys-
sinian Baptist church in West
Fortieth street, before large audi
ence Rabbi Alexander Lyons, OF the
State street Synagogue. Brooklyn, de-
livered an address on III We're Me-
gro" He spoke in part as follows:
First, II were negro I should
confront the conditions which the ne
gro confronts with the same fortitude
and determination with which they
have been confronted by the Jews; in
other words, would be content to be
the thing which God almighty had
made me. Therein many negroes are
at fault. believe God made variety
of races for the same reason that he
made variety Of other things-be-
cause similarity begets monotony.
Since you are negroes, be negroes. I
have only contempt for the negro,
who, because he is little lighter In
color looks down upon other negroes
who happen to be q little darker in
hue. Either a man Is negro or he is
not a negro, no matter what his color
may be. Moreover, should not be
like many negroes who try to initiate
white people. Don't make the mis-
take Of believing that everything a
white man or a white woman does Is
right simply because he or she Is
white.
In the second place, If I were a
negro ! should try to have something
to show for my energy. That is, I
should be careful to save as much as
possible of my wages. l say this be-
cause too many of our negroes are in
clined to be thriftless. The race is
often accused of lack Of foresight
They spend their money too freely and
too thoughtlessly. Some negroes, as
soon as they have earned little
money, lay of and spend it In order
that they may 60 to work and earn q
little more. Save your money II you
cannot get your names on the sign.
boards Of Broadway you may yet be
able to get them on the side streets.
Finally, If were a negro l should
SO deport myself that no one could
point the finger of scorn at me. Two
things in this world are of prime i'm
portance-money and morality. And
then I should see to IL that, so far as
in my power lay, every other negro
with whom came in contact deported
himself with credit. For If one negro
goes wrong he becomes q stumbling
block to the entire race. The same is
likewise true of the Jew. -.
The negro race is peculiarly en-
dowed. He is physically and musical
ly blessed, and has wonderful patience
Don't envy the white race because you
are not white, but love and cherish
your own. Be patient, capable and
brave. Be good Christians, but don't
be SO Christian and SO soft and juicy
as not to stand up for your rights
when you are sure that right is on
your side"
What promises to be one OF the
finest playhouses in this country oper.
ated in the interest of colored people
will open it's doors about March LIST
at Savannah, Ca This new theatrical
proposition is owned by the Savannah
Picture Plays company of that city.
The sum of $4,000 is being put in
the construction, meaning every con-
venience and beauty accordingly. A
first-class playhouse is the object Of
those interested, and everything pos
sible is being done towards that end.
In Cherry county, Kansas, is large
and prosperous colony of negroes
known as Kinkaiders. The colonists
engage in farming and stock raising.
Only a few years ago Hampton and
Tuskegee institutes were vigorously
scored by certain type of negroes in
New York because students from
these influential institutions would,
from time to time, sing old plantation
songs before northern audiences. Sew
eral of the negro ministers in New
York city were actually afraid to have
old-time plantation songs sung in their
churches, although many enjoyed
them, because certain type Of ne
gro criticised the ministers for per.
hitting their rendition. t~~ 8.
On January IL musical entertain
ment was given at Carnegie hall, and
plantation songs were sung and played
by an orchestra Of about 1875 negroes.
The hall was not only filed, but by
what Is called the fashionable negroes,
to hear these plantation melodies.
What has brought about this
change? Perhaps 1t is this: That
the concert at Carnegie hall was man.
aged by white people, who, have seen
the value and richness of these planta-
ton songs; and now that these white
promoters have taken up the planta-
ton songs, they have become i'm
mensely popular with the elite Of the
negro race.-New York Age. -, "
: The Baltimore hotel, leading
hostelry Of Kansas City. Mo-, after dis
pensing with colored help last spring.
has been compelled to discharge the
white walters and recall the negroes.
The patrons of this hotel found that
they were not served equally as we'll
by the white help and left and went
to other hotels using colored help