The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-02-09
HAS 1T PAID?
BY Andy Cunnigan.

ton has been asked your humble ser.
want and in conversation with some
of my friends it has been limited to
me equally as often that the task Of
answering, when undertaken, must
find its way by the o~verrunning am
bition of some humble servant like
myself and others. | admit that |
have shrunk from the task because of
the responsibilities it entails, but rea-
lizing that some one no doubt has
preceded me along this line and has
met with severe criticism and are
calling for help, and that others in
my class will be>likewise unfortunate:
gives me courage to ask your hearty
cooperation in the task. Only a few
man and can read this article
and realize the seriousness Of the
case without asking themselves the
question. Has it Paid?
Here is where our hearts should be
pure. Here is where we must stand
for the true principles of manhood
and pure womanhood. Here is where
we must stand for True Race pride.
Here is where we must be awakened
to the new destinies which await us;
made necessary by the growth and
development of the times. There
fore, l find myself placed in a position
where l am compelled to pass Judg-
ment on my fellowman. But We must
not lose sight of the fact that two hun
dred fifty years of servitude OF the
Negro for the White man has left a
most damnable influence upon the
very Houl of the Negro. Time, Death
and Education run neck and neck to
efface or eliminate. Therefore, my
preference along this line is well
known to many of my friends and !
hope my position will be equally well
understood.
Then m the question, who is
responsible for the present spiritual
slavish ideals of the Masses2 An
swer: The professional class of the
Negroes in every walk of life. MANY
eXceptiops.)
Trying to break into the social en-
joyments of the White man; his
theatres, parks, schools, hotels, sa-
WING ~ SNSlN ploSC "hClS nc lluS
been told that his presence is not
wanted. l simply mention these plac-
es because of the fact they are places
of choice to him (The Negro) and not
places of a necessity, as we have
them among ourselves. If the White
man gives a social entertainment, say
at Convention Hall in Kansas City,
NJ oDl ,,rffnn tIo ,,A,,lo,. - hsr
race, without distiction, to attend, the
sole purpose is to demonstrate the
product of his brain o his people. If
the distinguished Mr.. johnson, (col-
ored) hears of said entertainment and
the price is not more than two dol
lare, he (Mr. Johnson) will be on
hand, if admitted, for the sole pur-
pose of reproducing the White mans
act. In .order that he may be called
smart Mr.. Johnson" among the Ne
gro people, Mr.. Johnson gives q So
cial affair and personally invites Mr..
George, (The White man, to be pres
ent. So the White man (Mr. George
is at the Smart Mr.. Johnson's" So
cial affair. His purpose, beyond a
reasonable doubt, is to see Mr.. John
son reproduce the acts as they were
produced by the White man.
Now those professional men of Mr..
Johnson's type is the Negro of whom
l am speaking and Kansas City has
an inexhaustible supply, leading the
masses of ignorant Negroes from the
true principles of manhood and wom-
anhood to the slavish ideals of believ-
ing the White man produces the best
of everything and for that cause, as
the White man believes we are de-
pending on him for stepping stones.
To a higher type of civilization by
reason of pride and not of choice, he
feels justified in saying, when Mr..
Johnson and.his people shall visit Mr..
Georges places of amusement to get
his pride wounded for which cause
some of the very best Negroes of the
two Kansas City's did appoint com
mittees- to ask the Negroes friend,
"The Kansas City STAR "Dir your
guest intend to insult us?" The Star
for reasons best known to itself, up
to the date has failed to give "Mr,
Johnson" a satisfactory reply.
Now the question may be asked,
Why do We mingle in street cars
where we are not wanted And an
swered by sayingg, The street cal
is the poor mans automobile and alb
~solutely unfortunate necessity, while
the places of amusement is a matter
of choice and taste. Truly did Mr..
F. ID Porter of 1921 Woodland Ave,