Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1917-07-14
Letter From Buckner, Va.
Buckner, Va, July 10. 1917.

Editor Of The Planet:
Dear Sir,-I have just read YOUR
very strong editorial in last weeks
Issue of the Planet condemnlng the
action of that bloodtthirsty mob in
East st. Louis, and / write in keep.
ing with your suggestions, that the
Negroes do all In their power to pro-
tect and create sentiment to the end
That not only those who participated
IN that brutal outrage but those In
authority may know how keenly we
teei the injustice, and especially at
time when we, as race, are being
called upon to show our loyalty and
patriotism to this country as we have
always done heretofore.
NOW, some among our own people
VIII ask what can be done or what
good can we do as q Negro race.
others will, no doubt, say that the
negroes should not have lef. the
South In such large numbers. Wa
claim that in this free country OF
ours the Negro has perfect right
TO go and reside, and 80 long as he
depdrts himself as good citizen, he
mas right to be protected In com.
mon with all other citizens and a
right to life, liberty and pursuit of
happiness.
we deny, as the Times-Dispatch
lntimates, that the Negro went there
10 supplant the white man or take
MS 1op. The Negro, as a race, only
wants that for which he works and
Justly earns. II we agree that the
negro should remain in any section
or tbs country in order to be pro-
tected, then following out this prin-
ciple 1t VIII only be question OF
| time before conditions in said sec.
ton will be so intolerable that he
Will have to take his flight.
80 we contend that we must have
projection wherever We are, so long
| as we make ourselves worthy OF same.
what can we do about It? We can,
as you Mr.. Editor advised, write,
SPEAK and preach until we make
thcse In authority know that we are
not satisfied and that we expect to
demand better treatment.
This being the season of the wear
Tor most of the annual meetings, I
thlnK at each and all OF these meet
lngs there should go up protest.
Ihere Is the Negro Organization So
clety or Virginia, an organization in
which all of the Negroes in the State
are directly or indirectly represent
ed Why not that society sneak for
Virginia? We shall wait, Mr.. Editor.
and see whether we will let the mat.
ter die for want OF our moral sun
port, or whether we shall 60 to the
aid OF such men as eX-Prest1ent Roose.
volt, who has declared that there
must be the fullest investigation.
Let us work, watch and pray, and
someday perhaps, in the near future,
the God Of Justice and Mercy will
visit the scene and will, we believe,
declare unto these guilty, either by
direct participation or by condoning
the act, that the voice of>their broth.
| er's blood crieth unto Him from the
streets and burning buildings of East
st. Louis and III due time He will
give justice to whom justice is due.
Those who laid the cornerstone for
the construction Of this government
saw lit to place emphasis upon the
tact that no free government or the
blessings Of liberty could be pre-
serVeu except by a firm adherence to
Justice, etc. This Is no less true now
than 1T was at the time 1t was spoken
many years ago. Then we are not
discouraged.
Again, Mr. Editor, hoping that you
may have the support of every liberty
loving Negro in America,
Am yours for the cause,
r. S. JOHNSON.
| Buckner, Va.