The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-08-23


Dallas. Texas. Aug. 10, 1919.
"Reminiscences.
Yesterday, / took a day off and
spent much Of the time reading
southern white newspapers. issued
during the war; especially the patri-
otto sections OF the press so far as
1t concerned the Afro-Amerlcan The
papers which had been most bitter,
disrespectfuI and vile those faIly
reeking with of,lIquity toward the Col
ored race wore a grab OF responsible
iiy in every reference
Where the lady Of color had taIten
part IN Red Cross and Thrift Stamp
Drives, these papers were there TO
respectfully mention the fact and
by tho way did not forget and use
she word "Negress." either.
Where Colored men had made a
showing In tho Liberty Loan market.
these same papers never forgot 10
mention the fact that their patriot-
ism was 100 per cent American.
have In mind section OF ter
rltory In which l made speeches for
the bond drives at the request Of
white men. being preferred TO men Of
their own race. In this same ter
ritory. / had the pleasure of seeing
white men wait In their places heads
uncovered, tell a Colored singer OF
better voice took time and raised
1.-THE Star Spangled Banner or My
Country Tis of Thee" All worked
together as the common citizenry Of
our common country AS long as con-
fronted by the common enemy
The very minute that these white
people heard OF the Armistice. the
fore-runner OF the surrender of the
Hun, the word was sent down the
line that this Is d white maii's coun-
try. You Niggers git back in your
place And the southern newspapers
to the last one. got In line with this
sentiment and moi only in line, but
more Is the pity lead It.
! want the people who read these
lines 10 remember that when they
see tho ever lasting rot about Colored
people rising up against the whites
and tell them that you are no more
dangerous now than on were during
the war and that you believe now
all the things they protested to be-
lieve during the war.
Il has been an opinion CT mine for
a long while, that one of the great
drawbacks 90 working understands
ing between the southern white man
and the southern black man, is that
they talk tco much about each other
and TOO little to each other Very
often friendly conference between
white men of character and Colored
men OF Influence. mot servants),
over matters worth while, would let
the doubt and mystery out Of many
a trouble -breeding proposition. and
q Wey could Se seen to go ahead with
the work which really builds up the
COM nifty
II Is also my opinion that white
men should be the leaders and hauos
IT least the frat community, city
or town conference n for any !
reason. however, they fail or refuse, |
Colored men should undertake the
lob. Certain Il Is, that much could
be accomplished for good in this
way Strife and confusion would be
put al such disadvantage. until
their evil effects would be reduced
% a minimum.
Z suggest this course. not as
cure-all for all the ills which affiict
The body polite. because every
thoughtful man knows that no one
can regulate a commWuty. There
must ho many remedial measures
YET in motion and kept a-going. II
go would make our common country
! better place in which to live |,
Amopg the subsiding things which I
would suggest are these:
White people must get the foolish
dea out OF their heads that Colored
leople wfnt social equality with
hem end learn that 81 percent OF :
be Colrfed people never think OF
hem tin they see them.
ColOrod people must come TO the
olnt where they strive individually \
nd altogether. and at all ZINES to '
Dnvinco all the world and especially :
le whites they have moss TO do with, 4
lat they are unde ialking IL 4
,od faith to dcsarye the treatment, Z
hich white peol'e accord all men Z
hose faces are rot black, and fur E
er that when this treatment is 3
'oorded show these whitss that they 3
he colored) know It and appreci- Z
q IT. Z
Colored people, knowing in advance 4
at they can render themselves OBJ Z
'zions and Objectionable to white =
0pie. more easily than any other 4
nafuros ON earth, must studiously Il
rive % let their conduct along ali :
les DO as nearly Is possible fault =
IS
Speaking personally. have for 7
airs. made the subject Of perfect 4
j ii conduct a study. ana as a re-
It have been able TO i've in reas- z
able and get-along sbie peace with :
3 white people. and when / tell =
u that except for & year IN Arkan- Z
", have spent q lifetime in Miss Z
ippi and Texas. you may see at 4
CO that good conduct counts some. 4
will not say anything here about =
d allowance which whites should Z
Ike for the ignorance of many Z
lck people; because the whites 4
0W why they are ignorant ",
Viewed from every angle, / am 3
Doful OF q fine settlement OF the =
ference between the two races. =
Itch At present fret and tear them. 3
do not forget that we are a young Z
public bop In mind chat all OF X
+ problems are new and that as :
problems grow older. the mighty ! 4.