The Twin City star., 1918-05-04
Francis Condemns Wrongs
Against Negro Americans

This country and it's European al
to make the world safe for democ
racp. Thousands of black boys have
been called from their homes in the
South to the training comps to pre-
pare for the journey across the sea
to fight in the trenches in no mans
land. When they left their homes
they had to wait in dark and dingy
seperate Negro waiting rooms to
board Jim Grow cars, and as they
whirl thru the state of Tennessee ]
fancy l can see the picture arising
before their minds eye of the recent
horrible bruning at the stake of one
of the members of the race; as they
rode thru the state of Mississippi
Alabama, Georgia and Louisiana, ]
believe they saw in retrospect the
pictures Of black men and women
and children lynched by unawful
mobs. After they had reached the
camp and especially at Houston.
Texas, and while wearing the uni
form of the American Army, and as
they passed along the streets of Hous-
ton by the public parks, l feel with
them the humiliation they suffered
when their eyes rested upon the signs
at the entrance to the park Negroes
Not Allowed.
A few day ago in the great city
of New York, in its laudable purpose
to celebrate the birthday of our first
president, George Washington, whom
we delight to honor as the father of
our country, plans had been made for
the parading of ten thousand Ameri.
can soldiers with a view to stirring
patriotism and inspiring loyalty. 1t
was intended that no black soldiers
should participate in this patriotic
demonstration, but the Negroes of
that city, filed with patriotism to the
country and loyalty to its flag, were
not satisfied with the thought that
they should not be represented in the
honors given to the soldiers while in
this country after they had trained
for service abroad, demanded that
some of the black soldiers from the
same training camp whence came the
white, be permitted to follow the
fog on Broadway. After great pres
sure brought to bear upon municipal,
city and government officials it was
determined that one battalion, 600
Negroes, should be in the line, pro-
vided, that the Negroes of the city
of New York should furnish the food
for the black boys on the day Of the
parade. Undaunted by this unusual
provision, they were equal to the
emergency and met the condition and
through their loyalty and patriotism
their hearts were made glad by the
sight of 600 real, simon pure, hundred
per cent United \ States American
patriots in that great celebration.
The deeds of the American Ne
groes in the wars in which this
country has been engaged furnishes
some of the brightest pages of Amer
lean history and no greater loyalty
upon the battlefields of France, and
no nobler deeds Of valor in the front
line trenches will be done by any SOL
diers, and no man will die with
brighter smile on his face in sacri-
ficing his life for the principles OF de-
mocracy than will the Negro. This
race segregation and discrimination
is caused by the viper prejudice
which has spread it's virus from South
to North, East and West, but we are
praying that pulpit, church, press
and all right thinking people will cry
aloud and spare not until this crime
against God and humanity is destroy
ed from the earth.
ATTY. W. T. FRANCIS. .-.