The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-03-13
YOUNG STUDENT WRITES.
Advises Race Unity.

1t is often said by elderly people
of the race that boys and girls of
this generation have better opportu-
mites than we had of old. So far as
improving our conditions are con-
cerned, We think this is true. But
are we making the best of these op-
pOrtunities? l say no. without
moments hesitation, and we do not
seem to realize the necessity of TAX
ing advantage of these things, and con-
solidating our forces together for inn
provements that will be noticed. "A
house divided against itself can not
stand Neither can people divided
against themselves stand.
Now, we, as a people, seem to be
divided against ourselves, which is a
great disadvantage to the Negro race
in all respects Hancock said, in the
days of the Revolution, that the
Colonies must hang together"
Yes" said Franklin, I'VE must
hang together or We shall all hang
separately"
The Negroes haven't realized how
necessary it is for them to hang to-
gether, as yet, so they are hanging
separately quite frequently in the
South. Even some Of our women are
being hanged and burned by the
whites.
A question may be asked: How
are we to hang together" The an
swer may be found in every walk of
life, especially so in business. When
we have a nickle to spend, spend it
with a colored person. This would
lead to a remarkable improvement in
many lines. The Negroes of Kansas
City are now supporting grocery
stores, butcher shops and drug stores
of other races. Why not support our
own places of like nature? When a
white mans business increases so
much that he finds it necessary to
employ more help, colored boys and
girls are not wanted. When they are
accepted, it is only for doing porter
work. But when a colored mans bust
ness increases so that he needs more
held, it means a job for some colored
boy or girl.
In working for colored people we
are free from the rancorous sting of
discrimination. l myself can testify
to this, being employed myself by a
colored man, a privilege which I ap-
preciate very much, as it enables me
to receive a wage and also keep up
my studies. / read the Chicago De-
fender, the Kansas City Sun, the
Crisis and other Negro periodicals,
and l see in them the necessity of
unity among colored people. And
see how business run by colored peo-
pie could be built up in this city.
For instance, we might unite, espe-
cially us young people, in supporting
the Dixie moving picture show and
make it the best in the city. There
is no reason why we should not do
this. The Dixie is being run by a
colored man and is really a first
class place to go. The pictures shown
here are always good and it is a
place where your presence is appre-
ciated and you are treated with the
greatest respect. This is why we
should support the Dixie. Why sup
port other places run by white peo-
pie who do not care for you at all
and neglect this house? When the
white man gets enough money he is
going to either Jimcrow you or move
to an exclusive section of the city
where he can tell the Negro he is
not wanted.
I'VE do not cater to Negroes any
MORE and should he happen to ca
ter to you you will be Jimcrowed to
the third degree. Now it is our duty
to support the shows run by our peo-
pie if we are going to support any
at all.
Some may argue that the colored
man does not give the accommoda-
tion that the white man gives. This
may be true at present, but at the
same time we do not give the colored
men the support that we give the
white man. If the Negro supported
the Dixie as they do some of the
white shows l am sure they will get
in return just as good service. Boys
and girls, are we going to rectify this
mistake, or go on in the same old
way? Remember, it is up to us. We
can support the white man and put
the black man out of business, or
we can support the Negro and put
the white man out of business, as
both are dependent on us for support.
Which shall it be?