The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-08-17
THE CASUALTY LISTS.
By Chas. A. Starks.

Though we belong to the darker
contingent in this country, let us not
forget that we are human. Being
thus we feel, see and think and are
susceptible to the varying emotions
that the war engenders for all peoples
who are concerned.
We are generally interested in the
welfare of the whole American army.
We are thrilled with its announced
success, and anything to the contrary
fills us with apprehension. But we
are as a matter of fact, superlatively
interested in our "Blackboys" at the
Front. TIVE would like to know how
they are getting along at all times,
what they are doing and how they
are feeling, and all those human
things, which are ejust human.
We want to hear from our kth and
kim through the Associated Press,
and we do not care for a display of
white superior wit against a "darky
| back ground, as it is SO often tried by
would be humorists in the big dailies.
our boys. However, there is one
thing we will bet on, it is that wher-
ever they are, and under what ever
conditions they are placed, they are
doing their duty; facing their tasks
like men; going down to death un-
complainingly, without fear: They
are Americans, yes and they are only
Negroes, perhaps it is this that makes
us love them; to feel a sense of loss (;
the bereavement of friends, bound to
us by every holy tie, we feel these
things deeply.
But how are we to know when our
beloved have fallen? How many, who
they are, where they live?
We now suggest the following:
Casualty Lists"
| Killed in Action.
! (Privates)
Doe, John, Boston, Mass.
Jones, Samuel, (Negro) Kansas
City, Mo.
Thus we would know, that the first
is white and the second black. This
would be fair to all concernede. In.
terested parties could write or extend
sympathies without fear of embarass-
ment. We repeat, the policy would
be just and fair to all. 1t would
brighten the fire of patriotism in the
Negroes breast. 1t would also strentg
Ell an dinstruct all in the new Liberty
of Democracy. There is no possible
chance for important news of white
units to be overlooked, because they
have all the channels of information
at their command They can glorifyt
or minimize, as they choose, while
Mr.. Negro must be content with what
he gets and pray that his good works
will meet with proper recognition
and his failures not be placed too con
spicously before the public.
If we are to have a new order o
, things, then the Black Brothers mer
its must be better advertised. HI
, must be considered a part of this new
Americanism. Out of this exercised
policy, can come better understand
ing between the two races. A noblel
attitude. A bond of common friend
ship.
/ We made suggestion that The
word (Negro) should designate thu
Casualty, if belonging to our people
!, We now enlarge upon the same anC
offer in addition to Negro, the words
| Black or Colored.
Negro-Is customary.
! Black-Scientific, because contra
distinct to white.
f Colored-Polite and considerate.
We are used to these distinction
t in other lines, why not in the casualt,
/ list? 1t is inevitable that death
! should occur within the ranks of tn
colored contingents who have. been OIL
: the firing line for some time and W,
| think it perfectly appropriate that il
conjunction with others that the pub
] lie should be so informed. 1t il
J right that it should be done and nat
, ural that we should expect. 1t will
; be done when the powers that b.
} see fit.-C. S.
3 DIR. ]. e. Perry. Kansas City's ia