The Denver star., 1915-02-27
Facing The Lions.
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\SOAitiAuSo AAOitA po&C ~
cultural she is still gross in physical,
savage in feature, antiquated in dress
and degenerate in home life and will,
If constantly kept before the negro
womanhood in America make her de-
spise herself for no other reason than
that the American people scorn
and belittle men and women who have
committed the crime of having been
born black instead of white. 1t is
sad commentary on civilized gov
ernment when worth and character
must surrender to petty race preju-
dices, particularly when such conces-
sions 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 her, and yet she is ex-
pected to compete with the woman
who can enter any college in the
world. This privilege having been de-
MED her, she is branded as mentally
Financially because she is under
rated, therefore underpaid. Besides
there are so many fields OF labor re-
and capability into which she may not
enter because of race prejudice.
Physically because she is barred from
athletic associations which make 1t
possible for to take the physical cul-
ture so necessary to sound physical
body. symmetry of form. etc. Moral
ly because of the congested manner
in many instances in which this hy-
dra-headed monster, prejudice, forces
her to live. If the locality is desir.
able the rent is SO extortionate that
she must take all sorts OF persons
into her home to meet the MONTH,
expense. Again, although her salar,
is less than any other class OF citizens
she must pay interest for her color.
This condition is calculated to lower
the moral status of any race or people.
To shut the door Of opportunity in
the face of any woman and then brand
her as indolent, unchaste and ire
sponsible is a malicious wrong. Tt
bar her from educational advantages
and then label her as inferior Is equal
IL as wrong. There are women in oui
race whose identity would be imper
ceptible under microscope, yet if ii
is known that they possess one pei
cent. of negro blood the SO per cent.
of Caucasion blood counts for naugh
and others, even mathematics is NJ
factor in this problem. Hence dis
elimination is not based on the com
pleXion nor the texture of the hair
There are scores of refined women
who are just as much Ostracized al
the most vagrant and uncouth of their
race. Everything in mental, spiritual,
physical and material world is done
to discourage and embarrass them.
Now add to these burdens the con-
templated law of the District of Co
lumbia which makes it a crime for
white men to correct any sexual and
sensual wrongs done against negro
womanhood. s iaasi
This act is opposed to the laws of
nature which are the final arbiters in
the marriage relation, and do not yield
their authority to the fiat Of human
law.
Second. The effect of this act,
should it become a law, will be to
take away the means OF legal redress
from any woman of the colored race
who may be seduced into entering
into unlawful relations with any mem
ber OF the white race. and stigmatize
her offspring. 1t will also promote
lewdness and encourage bastardy. 1t
smacks of the code of the Shareholder
who held the women of our race as
prey to his unholy lusts, cursing her
own offspring with propensity to
immortality and vice.
Third. 1t is opposed to the spirit
and purpose of democratic institu-
tons, which aim to promote Justice In
the social relations of the citizens
through equal rights to all, irrespec-
tive of race or conditions.
Thus you can see what the Lions
,of destruction disbursement, dis
grace and even of degradation itself,
that the noble negro womanhood have
faced and is facing confidently, reso-
lutely and defantly as she wrestles
and fights against heavy odds to re-
tain her very existence in the land Of
the free and home of the brave. Negro
womanhood has been lynched, assas-
sinated and burned in Christian Am
erica and is paying full price for its
invaluable asset to the race.