The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1918-01-19
The Negroes Needs
BY Rev. E. j. Dodson.

1@I oSN -
the Colored American-that of per-
sonal freedom. In striking the shac-
kles from more than four millions of
slaves, he answered with one stroke
of his pen, years and years Of the
white mans injustice toward the Ne
gro. Reparation is made for wrongs
and oppression and the Negroes pos
sibilities take on a legitimate right in
the social and political world. Truly
in Lincoln, we found a great friend.
The disadvantages and obstacles
that the Negro has had to confront in
his new life are now well nigh reach
ing over into three score years. But
as innumerable as they are, the bow
of hope stands out as we journey on,
and reason teaches us that ours is a
cody heritage, and vas intended by
the Heavenly Creator for every being
made in his image. We are to be per-
feet in stature and mind, thus let us
consider the requisites that will help
us to attain this ideal.
First, we should practice individual
encouragement, and expect as much
as possible from our white brother
along this same line. True, he has
organized in many ways for our spirit
ual and intellectual success, and we
note particularly the work of the
Freedman's Aid Society with it's won
ierful which have been used
in a great measure to help the young
Negro rise in the world of culture;
yet on the other hand many bad eX-
amples have been set, and traitors
have gloated in the fortunes made
through the inability and ignorance
of the Negro to cope with them in the
world of industry. Since this is true
we need encouragement from our own
race before we can eve hope to sue
coed. l am sorry to say that there
is a tendency among our members to
be jealous of the achievements of
the more intellectual, or in other
words, instead of lifting up, they pull
down. We can never rise as a race
in the truest sense of the term, til we
realize how disastrous this jealousy
is to our racial development.
Mrs. Chapman says:
Let but Jul people once unite,
Stand firmly as a race
Prejudice, error, strong to fight,
Each hero in his place.
Second, let us speak of gratitude,
something we very much need. One
writer says: Gratitude is the mem
nrN- Of tho haort - arl. th;- l., rO.l
definition. Where there is no memory
of the heart there is no possible
chance OF an amicable reconciliation
and truly an absence of gratitude
The implied motives lie dormant wheI
there is no impulse to move one t.
gratefulness and this is essentially
effective in our character as a race
We should be more thankful to ouI
fellow man, and to our Creator, for
the multitude of blessings that are
constantly coming upon us. Without
these true essentials in ones life, he
is out of his place in the world, and
of no service anywhere. Viewing
these, cur short comings, we have
timidity in challenging others for the
respect and homage that is due us
from them. An ungrateful man is
curse TO his ace. He that calls &
man ungrateful, sums up all the evi
that there is in him."-Swift. Let us
conclude that he is not a noble speci
men of manhood, and fit only to BIZ
consigned a failure.
Reliance, the third essential tC
which we wish to call attention
stands today as a necessity to the
Negro in the business world, far above
the traversty seen in the white man.
daily doings. We cannot stop will
negotiating contracts with one an
other because of compulsion, but W,
should be glad to do so, and tina
with a certain trust, and confidence
that will stimulate further activitie.
along all lines of industry. By way o
Illustration we put a protection arount
the scion for support but if we lie
this remain too long the growth an
also the usefulness of the tree will b.
forever ruined. So it is with the Ne
gro race in our various persuits an
oNbANAIICo' hIlS q III NhNLI W
had to relp almost entirely upon thu
white man for all our accomplish
ments, but now the day has daWne(
when we must rely upon ourselves
This done, we will have a higher con
ception of life's responsibilities.
When said the necessity of tn,
Negro in the business world SHOULD
be above the traversy seen in thu
white mans daily doings, I simpl!
meant that his business trust SHOULD
carry with it at least as much relig
ion as we find in James Martineau'i
lines under the caption, Trust"
Strip us, o Lord, of every prou'
Thought; fill us with patient tender
ness for others, seeing that W. are al
ways in the same case before Thee
and make us ready To help, and Quicl