The Dayton forum. [volume] (Dayton, Ohio) 1913-1949, 1918-09-13
Wake Up!
AN APPEAL TO CoLOREn
PEOPLE OF AMERICA TO RISE
TO THEIR DUTY AND EXTRA
ORDINARY OPPORTUNITY
stress Laid on Value Of Cooperation
MUST STAND ON OWN LEGS
William Monroe Trotter, Correspond
ing Secretary Of National Equal
Rights League. Writes Stirring Let
ter to Coloresl Americans--Says III
Ii Up TO lis Now

Ii Up 10 us Now
Every race In our American make
up which suffered from race prejn-
dice, has internal organizations on q
wide scale to combat aud hreak down
Discrimination in public matters.
Every such group presents protest
through that race backed by an or
ganization Of that race, which the
public find will combat discrimina-
tion, retaliate and work against those
who are prejudiced against them,
This independent self~reliance com
pels respect.
When Moorfield Storey, member Of
the race which made itself free aud
independent, being interested that our
race should get it's rights, was IN
spirsd to send word on the Colored
Liberty Congress -.Who would be
free himself must strike the blow
he was acting on the knowledge that
no prescribed race has ever gotten a
permanent grip on equality and citi-
zenship until that race showed to the
oppressor that it had developed the
liability to make d fight, until the
dominant race saw that II had created
Ian internal organization for its rights
ssad could conduct Il fight for its own
gelieralshlp II others helped, they
did so under the leadership Of the
race, or they acted as allies. The de-
cilinR point has been that the people
who were In power realized that the
people prescribed resented the dis
elimination deeply enough TO fight
lit themselves, not needing 60 be put
Iup TO doing so by members of the
dominant race, and realized also that
the prescribed race had developed
sufficient strength To be able to con-
duct an organized campaign for equal
rights. When the oppressors see chat
q great race really feels discrimina-
tion, without having to be spurred up,
and that it has the spirit and ability
to make an organized resistance, the
oppressors begin to fear and respect
and to pay heed TO their protest.
The cooperation of friends who
have oil their own rights is helpful
Philanthropists are beneficial az al
lies. Combinations of philanthropists
with the oppressed do a great deal oi
good. The apothegm, who would b.
free himself must strike the blow,
however, requires absolutely that
whatever other aids there may b,
self-made and self-conducted race or
ganization against prescription mus
lexist.
In the words Of another member q.
the dominant race, Richard w. Hale
one Of counsel Ia the John johnson
extradition case. the way TO get jus
tice irrespective OF race Is for Col
Eored Americans in contending foi
rights to learn to stand on their owr
legs"
1 Having racial organization fo
racial protection does not mean oppo
sition to any other form Of organiza
ton. The word finds room for vari
our religious, civic or fraternal or
ganization. Persons denied justic,
have community of interest, a pc
cuiiar interest, have their own fat
at stake which makes ii logical t
have an internal self-protecting bod,
anyway. Its absence means lack 0
selfsreliance, man dependence upol
the more fortunate, means inferior
lity TO other classes or races. Th
self-organized fight is, therefore. in
dispensable to standing and respect
The race that can speak for itsel
as organized stands higher and vii
be heard with more respect. Now /
most remarkable time in this re
spect. Every weaker race or elias
, has chance for redress in the nes
order TO come from gigantic world
ii
war for democracy. 1t is the on
great chance for our race, now III
most prescribed. Every other weak
er race or class can show n seif-ol
ganized representative body to des
for II, looking out for itself inds
! pendently, through its own appoint
led delegation. Shall we be the Oh
exception?
q y is up 70 US now. Hence the MI
tional Equal Rights League gives ii
! ! race The chance ID get ready to re-,
! resent itself is q racially matui
group IN the negotiations incident /.
this world war The league invifs
and urgss r0lared people In eyer
caaarasniky u orgaaize M Eau.