The news scimitar. (Memphis, Tenn.) 1907-1926, 1919-08-23
PUBLIC DISCUSSION
, DUTY OF THE NEGRO RACE
2 TOWARD ITS WORKERS 4
q NnMMMMMAMMMMM


e. -
To The News Scimitar:
The entire negro race In America Ia
under an everlasting debt Of gratitude
to the negro worker. II has been the
toll OF the negro principally that has
given him a fixed place In American
life.
The negro, engaged In domestic SER
vice, has been Of special value to the
race. Wherever he or she has shown
efficiency. trustworthiness, moral worth
and loyalty, It has demonstrated the
possibility Of the race to attain that
kind OF development which lies at the
bottom of all true and lasting greatness.
Not only have such negroes advertised
the possibilities of the race, but they
have won to the cause OF the uplift OF
our people some Of the staunchest
friends that they have.
we have many Instances of this
character in our city. No movement
i~naugurated for the good OF the negroes
OF Mi. A, l., Parker. His interest In
tho race has no doubt been stimulated
by his contact with the negro head
waiter In n Of his hotels, in whose
worth as a man he believes implicitly.
The. interest OF Mrs. Isaac Reese in the
welfare Of the negro people Is pro-
verbal, She often has told OF a faith
iul negro woman, who, by n worthy
life, won her unlimited esteem. Thou
sands Of white people can be found
In Memphis who will tell how the con-
duct OF negroes In their employment
the race TO which these negroes be-
long.
The most important thing for a race
to have Ia the respect OF mankind.
Kindly consideration always follows re-
spect, Laws are very necessary, but
OF the law when he has the full respect
Of his fellows, On the other hand. It is
exceedingly difficult to throw the pro-
lection OF the law around n person
who has forfeited the respect OF all
decent people.
The mother of the present writef now
rests In a cemetery In Dallas. Tex,
although for some time this cemetery
had been ordered closed to all burials,
SO circumspect had her life been In
the community, that against the law,
and with tho approval of all, she was
laid to rest by the side Of her children
who had preceded her, Respect out
witted the law,
A sure road to greater consideration
In America for the negro Is the win
ming OF q greater measure Of respect,
which has been defined as the de-
pertinent or curse OF action toward
another which proceeds from a feeling
OF esteem, regard or reverence toward
such person"
! Every person, whatever his station,
can do his bit in this direction, But
an exceptionally great opportunity lies
at the door of those whose lot II Is Ia
maintain contact with our reighborinR
| rnrA In tina NynN nf uArNtnn And pinAn
the respect hat they win will In a
very great way help the race as q
whole, the race as II whole owes a duty
10 the worker.
The Tabernacle Baptist Institutional
church has constituted itself an agency
through which this duty OF the race
toward Its workers may be discharged
II Is not the purpose Of the church &c
undertake to direct the occupations oI
people. 1t has nothing whatever to dc
with choosing occupations for indlvid'
uals, but after persons have chosen
their wi occupations, It desires to bt
Of help 10 them In preparing them e
do wel In the occupation chosen.
Thousands OF our people are now "
the homes OF the white people, som,
OF them are more qualified than others
There should be some way to give tn,
unprepared ones the benefit OF the ex'
perience Of the prepared ones. Since
all OF us are 20 be affected by the wa,
In which employees conduct themselves
there should be some way OF gettlnI
TO them the very best counsel to b,
found In the race.
with this character Of work? Tit
negro school teacher? No. She wa
trained for her work, me should no
begrudge training for her sister whit
In unable TO get IA school to teach. tn,
negro professional man. II we ar
- huxa n a.aI1Aonfnf nrnfaaaInnal No
II must have for it's foundation a sue
cessful industrial life, Negro profes
sioral people more than any other elias
should he interested In whatever I'm
proves the condition OF tho toiler. Their,
Ia a certain kind Of insect that pro
duces a sort OF honey which al an
likes. This ant has learned how 4
carry the insect TO the plants wher
II can feed we'll. II has sense enoug
to know that the better fed the inSec
is. the more honey he viii ret. GOV
then, can negro professional men atfor
to be ever lukewarm toward that whic'
liz to benefit their main source Of sup
port?
lN to encounter opposition. This nu'
mar who rode a bicycle in the street
OF New Orleans attracted such a GROVE
It ia said. that he was arrested IA
nuisance, Now the bicycle IL accept .
In New Orleans and throughout IN
country as one OF the necessities G
business lie, II the entire negro rae
will TURF It's attention TO the improve
ment OF its service, the beneficial re
suits In every way will be so apparer
that tho wonder and reTret will be tha
the matter was not seriously under
taken long, long ago.
SUTTON Il. GRiGGS.
PRr'or Tabernacle Baptist Institution;
Church.
569 East Georgia Avenue