Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-09

ton along Trade Union Lines was
thus explained by a very prominent
Negro leader, the Negro. he said. is
escaping from the tyranny of the
South to the freedom OF the North
In the North he Is opposed and mt
times even mobbed by white laborlnr
men. Strange as it may seem, tho in
dustrial captain in the North IS the
Negroes only friend. He at least is
interested in him; he goes after him
to bring him North provides food
ana shelter for him, pays him better
wages than he received in the South
ana in many instances gives him med
lcal attention, and helps him bring
MS tamfy here. Can you expect him
under the circumstances to ALLEVIATE
ana betray his only friend i'm tho
North for the trade unions whom he
Tears and dsstrusts?
1t is obvious that the Trade unione
VIII have to make more attractive
appeal to convince the Negro that
the are really his best friends. Their
duty ana ploicy are Gear. Theirs Is y
struggle for the protection of the worl,
ing people, i'll order to secure for All
the oppressed some of the enjoy.
INchts OF life. Theirs is a continuous
battle Tor organization, the organi-
"a'lon or al workers. irrespective of
race, color and creed.
Thc Negroes own problem and his
tragedy in slavery and in freedom
Is probably best SUMMARIZED in tho
Following lines taken from the EN-.
poria Gazette and written by William
Allen White.
III the black man loafs I'm tbc
ooulh lie starVes. If he works in
inc south he is poorly paid. more or
'ess IN k1nd-chips and whetstoncs-
ana his wife becomes a 'pan-toter'
IL ne leaves his own estate in the
south and goes to work in Northern
industry, he is mobbcd AMI killed"
lie was brought to these shores
from africa captive. He is held by
MS captors in economic bondage to-
lay~forb. dden to rise above the
lowest serving class. He is hcrded
ny h.mself in ghetto. and if, while
nc Is there, he rcverts to the Jungle
type he is burned alive. If he tries
to break out OF his ghetto, and. bv
asSimilating the white mans c!yiliza
dion, rise, he Is driven out by his
white brothers."
III he gees to school he becomes
alsconteHted and is unhappy and dis
satisfied with his social status, If
ne does not go to school and remains
ignorant, he is then on v Il coon
whom everybody exploits, and who
mas to cheat and swindle in return.
or 80 down III poverty to begging and
shame. There aren't ships enough in
the world to take him back to the land
OF his freedom; there isn't enough
lor him here except on the crowded
bottom rung Of tho ladder and there.
always. the grinding heel OF those
climbing over him topward Is manr-
ling his black hands,"
Race riots, lynchings, political os
traclsm, social boycott. economic
scrfdom. No wonder he sings:
Hard Trials
Great trib,s atoms,
Hard trials
I'm gwine to live with the IIord!"
NO wonder as he looks dismally
pack at the forest whence he came
ana dismally forward to the homeless
set to which he is slowly being push
ed' NE lifts his plaintive voice in its
heart broken minor and walls:
Swing low. sweet chariot, comm
for to carry me home!"
Home is about the only pace he
can go, where they don't Cypress
him."
1t reads like novel and it sounds
like the truth, for 1t Is the truth.
But enough for this week.
Through many dangers, tots and
snares,
We have already come.
twas grace that brought us safe
this far,
And grace will load us home"