The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1917-09-22
WHAT WILL THEY
DO WITH US ?
BY Chas. A. Starks.

There is a question concerning us,
right now, which seems to give some
people much concern. 1t is not
whether the Negro is loyal or not but
rather how far will the powers that
be make use of our unsophisticated
patriotism. Granting that our Gov
ernment loves us Gas step children if
nothing else); granting that it in
tends to fair play us, which we have
every reason to expect, is it not true
that there is a sentiment crystalizing
among our enemies inimical to the Ne
gro's prospective trip across the wat
ers as Uncle Sans standard bearer?
Stories have been circulated under the
following caption.
NEGROES NOT WANTED.
To which we say: Bosh! In the
meantime, the Negro proceeds with
his program of loyalty but not without
the discerning eye of the statesman.
To his government he says: Send me
to France and l will uphold the flag;
l will distinguish myself and country;
l will bring glory to my race as de-
tenders of this so-called world Democ
racy, hoping that in some way this
new record will attract the fair atten-
ton of those who govern. Maybe I
can make good impression on my
country's allies abroad, so that when
the war is won and England is reward
ing and improving her Colored Domin-
ions and France is reconstructing her
black units, perhaps these two truly
democratic countries may induce mine
to adjust its race problems on the only
practicable basis, which is justice and
equality of citizenship for all. To
those who seem elated over the possi-
bility of the Negro not sharing his
usually big honor in the present war
are reminded that over 100000 black |
troops fought at Verdun! True, they !
were under other ensigns still they
were black. To the sworn enemies of
the Negro and those who cannot di-
gest the idea of Negro officers not
even for Negro soldiers these ques-
tions are asked: Do you oppose us
because you think the Negro might
present a bolder type of soldier? Or
do you fear the Negro will offer a
higher embodiment of Americanism
Do you think that the Negro will, by
his department and valor, be able to
refute some of the false conceptions
regarding us that have been sown by
our fair but prejudicial American
friends? These we would ask and
more. Does anyone imagine that the
Negroes position will not be substan-
TALLY altered for the better in this
country whether he goes to war OF
not? 1t is clearly understood that he
is ever willing with that, "I1l go
where you want me to go" spirit
| Then, it is not his fault that he does
not die on the ramparts of the battle
fields of France. But truth has its
| own propaganda. In this case it says:
The Negroes position must be altered.
For my sake, he must be hated more
or loved more. He must either be
more obnoxious or more pleasantly toll
Grated by those who have always OPP
| posed his progress. Those who do
not want the Negro to participate in
this war, how do they like the idea of
the Negroes enforced stay-at-home
proposition where he will have nothing
to do bat get fat off better jobs and
read the casualty list (of course weep
ingly) of the other fellows? No un-
enviable position after all, looking at
it from a selfish standpoint, But the
Negro wants to deserve and preserve.
But in fighting, he wants to fight like
man. He wants to feel that each
bullet sped on its way has definite
purpose in bringing to his own the
very blessings of Democracy. Above
all, in wearing the uniform of his coun-
! try he feels more than ever the dig
nifty of manhood and citizenship and
he receives with small grace any un-
| toward limitations hate or jealousy
would place upon him by those who
wear the same blue or live under the
same flag. Oh! It's great!
WHAT WILL THE NEGRO DO?
Every paper you read nowadays is
teeming with treachery being discov-
cred in this country here and there,
high and low. Reasonable literature,
plotters and anti-Americln schemers
are being apprehended every day
Amid all this Negroes are sitting Sc
renely but watchfully waiting in their
undeniable position of truth and it's
sincerity After serving honorably in
every war of his country. after suf-