The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1914-03-07
THE NEGROES POWER FOR GOOD
IN THE MATTER OF RACE
UPLiFT.

When we look around us, view the
situation, and study the conditions,
there is little doubt but that racial
prejudice is growing, and the Negroes
opportunities are becoming more and
more restricted each year.
The chief cause of this is, that the
Negro is becoming more Independent
each year, in that he ~accumulates
more property, and launches more
business ventures, which will be found
in nine cases out of ten to be the first
i~nstitgation of all race prejudice.
The n great disadvantage against
which a great many Negroes have to
labor at this time, arises from their
failure in the past to obtain land, and
build homes for themselves, both in
the country and city, when values
were not so high.
The lack of proper foresight has
been the means of heaping up burdens
IN the shoulders of many, that will
require years to unload.
Whatever the feelings may be be-
tween the races, there is much that
the Negro can do himself in the way
of welding power, and showing him
J self a worthy example among his peo-
pie. Whether or not, the discrimina-
tion against us mainly, because of our
color, is curtailing our privileges, is
not to be taken into account here, but
I would admonish sound judgment at
all times in everything.
Common sense teaches us that we
must be one thing, or the other. 1t
is possible to be many things for a
time, but it finally narrows down to
the right thing before we can hope for
success.
The writer after having made a
careful study of the Negro race in two
states, covering a period of thirty
years, of personal observation, has
found: % That strong drink is the
greatest enemy of the race, and not
the white man.
(2) That the majority will not en-
gage in gainful pursuits; and 90, they
will not study the value of the dollar
These are the three things that l see
is hurting the race the worst. Eighty
seven per cent of the crime may be
traced directly or indirectly to strong
drink, which is, also, daily increasing
immortality among the race.
Saloons and pool halls, and dens o
vice seem to be the height of the bust
ness ambition of many Negroes, bu
of those so engaged in 1894, ninety
three per cent of the owners are bank
rupt today.
I, There should be this regret, how
ever, on the part of the thoughtfu
Negro: The inability of so many t
recognize the value of their earnings
too many expend their money in
way that gives them no returns, and i
in various ways hurtful to societ.
Hundreds are spending their none
!, thoughtlessly, knowing full well tina
in the course of time, the penalty mus
be paid, in want, and in poverty. LIE
us then be frank enough to acknow
edge these shortcomings.
Christians and other leaders, coul
not do otherwise; if the people al
to hide their faces against wrong, an
, say it is none of their business an
4 have fears of striking at the root
human liberty, what virtue is thel
in the teachings of Christianity?
Every year thousands of our your
people are led from the paths of RICH
through the influence of strong drin
and the desire to have what they ca
- a good time"
- l believe that the Christians wou
have power with the world
sin, if they were fearless enough
% denounce the evil-doer, for l find the
are but few people but that are wi
p ing to be uplifted, if the person that
doing the uplifting are what tn,
70 should be.
The Negro race can never be VIII
n. it ought to be, until those in the fol
front are brave enough to speak
plain terms, but, the business man
40 afraid to say for fear of losing a CT
toner, society is afraid of offendi
&c it's patrons, and so on down the lii
"a. The consequences are, that ca
nc year we are going to contribute me
IN to the promotion of crime, simply
cause of our fear to speak the tru
". But the Negro can only become
te power for good, in the uplift of !
n. people, as he points out, contends fl
n. and walks in right paths.
n. The great drawback to the race m
NJ lie in an objection to our color, to
90 extent, but our greatest handicap /
70 been, and will continue to be, stro
NO drink, say what you will.
pr. The fifty years of progress just
hind us, with all the odds against
IA has been the most remarkable in t
"a. annals OF the worlds history. 81
ss. pose that we could now have to @
nm credit, %one-fourth of the money IL
he has gone into strong drink, we wol
he be an important factor in the co
i'd mercial world.
an But perhaps we may see when it
re too late.
90 DENNIS S. THOMPSON