Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1918-12-26
DEMANDF0R NEGRO.
RIGHTS TO Be MADE.
A. H. Grimke Claims Colored
Fighters Have Won Just
Recognition for Race.

A. n. Grimke, president of the
American Negro Academy. at the
opening of the twenty second annual
meeting of the organization at the
18th street branch of the Y. NJ C.
A. this morning, asserted that his
race would demand equality of right
and equality of opportunity with the
whites Of America. Mr.. Grimke said
the negroes had fought to help make
the world safe for democracy and now
it is the duty of the whites to make
America safe for the negro.
Mr.. Grimke criticised President Will
son, saying that the executive nao
not specifically denounced lynchlng OF
negroes. He declared that Mr.. Wilson
evidently regarded America as an eA-
clusively white democracy and was
unwilling to recognize the coloreo
mans equality before the law.
Demands in Capital.
. IT repeat" said Mr.. Grimke. I'VE
are now going to demand all that is
coming to US. We are going to de-
Eand that the rules prevailing in the
National Capital which exclude our
race from hotels and eating houses be
Set aside. We are good enough to
light, to shed our blood and to give
our money and other material re-
Sources but we are not good enough
10 eat in a public restaurant or sleep
in public hotel.
ITO travel in the south it is neces-
sary for US to ride in the most wretch
ed of cars. But we pay the same
price as the white man pays for his
luxurious accommodations. They treat
Us like cattle while collecting from
us the price for carrying men and
women. 1t is an outrage, and 1 am
glad to say that associated with us In
this campaign for justice are num-
Der OF leading white men. We do not
have to fight this battle alone.
In his letter denouncing the lynch
ing Mr.. Wilson never had the slight
est idea OF including the negro. He
referred to the Germans and their
sympathizerS. But the German can
travel in a Pullman car. he can eat
in a first-class hotel. and he can en-
joy all other luxuries for which he
is able and willing to pay, while we
who shed our blood for democracy
are treated worse than dogs We
Ought to at least be treated as well
as Germans"
Part in Reconstruction.
,,Mr. Grimke said the negro would
insist upon taking his part in recon-
struction, but the first act of recon-
struction he would insist upon would
he just recognition of his rights
before the law.
Reconstruction for the negro
doesn't mean any favors. but it does
mean the end of lynching and the
end of cruel discrimination" said Mr..
.Srimke. You take the departments
here Negroes are kept back while
incompetent whites are promoted
over their heads. Then they are seq
Eegated in the various offices. They
are not considered good enough to
work in the same office with whites.
And yet they are cultured and refined
men and women"
pKelly Miller of Howard University
will address the academy tonight.
1t is planned to adopt resolutions and
create a committee to work in har-
r,ony with the National Association
fbr the Advancement of the Colored
Face. 1t is expected that negroes
from every part of the country will
te in attendance tonight.
Z The academy will hold two sessions
tomorrow