The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1918-09-06
NOW IS
THE TIME
An Appeal to Colored America to
Rise to Duty And to An Extra
ordinary Opportpsiiy---Sue for
a place Usder the SUM-"

Every race in our American msks-up
which suffered from race prejudice has
internal organizations ON a Wide scale To
combat and brefk down discrimination
ina public matters. Every such group
presents protest through that rare
backed by an organization of that race,
which the public lind will combat dis
elimination retsliate aud work against
IA '-e who are prejndiced against them.
ihI- independent self-r~lance compeI-
respect.
When Moortield Storey, member Of the
race which made itself free aud indie
pendent. being interested thar our rac..
should get it- rights. was inspired to send
word on the Oolored Til,-rty Cnnrre-.
'Who would be free hinsslf must strike
the blow. he WAS acting on the knowI-
edge that no prescribed race ha. ever
gotten permanent grip on equality and
citizenship until that race showed a. the
oppressor that is hal d~veIap~ the abiI-
ity u make tight. until ti,s dominant
race saw that il had crestrd A6 Internal
organization for its rights aud could con-
duct fight through its own generslrhip.
IL others helped they did 50 under the
lea'iership of the race, or they art@d A.
allies. The deciding point has lern that
the people who were i'm power rrslIz.~l
that the people proscrib@d re-ented ia.
discrimination deeply enough To fight it
themselves, not nee,ling Ia H.. put np u
doing 80 by members Of the don in.nt
race; and realized also that the pro-cribe,i
race had DEVELOPED sufficient strength Ia
he able To conduct an organized cam
palgn for equal rights. When the or-
pressors see that great race really feels
discrimination, without having IL be
spnrred up, and that it has the spirit and
ability To made an organized rsri-tan
the oppressOrs begin to fear snl r.--,,ect
aud To pay heed To their protest.
The cooperation Of friends who have
all their own rights is helpful. PhiIan
thropist- are beneficial ~ allies. Com
binstion- of phi anthropi-ts with the @.
pressed do "a great deal Il good. Tie
spothrgm, "Who would H. free him.elf
must strike the l'lDw." however. reqnir
~ absolutely that. whatever other aids
there may be, self made aud -.-lf eonIuc-
TIL rscr orgAnlz stion against prescription
must exist
In tl'r wor'i- II another memi'er of tlle
donninant race, Richard w. Hale. one of
counsel IN thr John Johnson extradition
ci-e, the Wy To- yet i-tice irrr-Js, tive
of rsre' - for cDlored Americans in ron-
tending for rights o. learn o. stand n
t'Ieir O~n lsg-
Having a rArial org a. ization fp, rsrisl
prot~ction does not mean opposition To
asy otli~r form 81 Dryznllatiou. The
world finds room for various religions.
civic or fraternsl organizations. ~ do
p..rsDi- lslOnging o. more than one so
cisl. civic or frsternsi organization. Per
- ~ denird Justice have community 81
Interest, a peculiar interest, have their
own fate at stake which make Il logical
n have an internal self protecting bs-Iy
anyway. IL absence means lack of -@lf
reliance, means dependence upOn tie
more fortunate, means in-eriOrity %
other cls--s- Or rscrs. The -elf-organ-
ized 6ght - therefore Indispensable 70
standing and re-p~vt
The rsce that can speak for Itself -
0rg.bized stands higher and will ~ heard
With more respect. No~ - most re-
marksble time in this re-gect. livery
we ker race Or class has q cissnce fOr re-
dress IN the new order n come from, a
gigantic world-wsr for democrscy. IA 10
the one great chance for our race, nov
the most pro-criled. Every other wax
er rare or class can show q self-orgsnized
repre- ntative body 10 deal for u. look
irg ont for itself Independently. through
Is own appointed de.rgstiou. shall we
be the one exception
IL - Mp - ne now. Hence the Nation
81 Equsl Right League give- the rare the
chance ~ g'.t ready % reprr-ebt itself ss
a rscisliy mature group IN the nexotA-
tons incident n tins world war. The
Lesgue invites and urges colored people
IN every community 10 organize an Eqn-
al kights Democracy League o. Com
m'ssee 70 send delegate 10 The ilth An