The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-01-25


he has at some time during his career,
been engaged in every trade and bust
ness of which this nation boasts, and
moreover, he has presented to the
world such men as H. o. Taner, the
artist of international fame; Samuel
Coleridge Taylor, noted throughout
this and other countries for his won
derful contributions to music. Paul
Lawrence Dunbar, the Negro poet, has
created a profound impression on the
literary world of the Negro as q writ
er of poetry. Kelly Miller occupies a
position second to none in the fields
of the exact sciences. Then there is
DIP Bots, the learned writer and edi-
tor. Our Roscoe Conkling Simmons is
now holding %spellbound audiences of
both races throughout this country
with his dramatic art in oratory. We
can boast of having presented the
world with such characters as. Mrs.
Mary Church-Terrel, the noted lee
turer and social worker, also the late
Booker T. Washington, who dedicated
his entire life to the work of uplifting
his fellow men. Too, there are count
less numbers of other men and women
AIS 9IB DUN IB9q WopI9s GA moqM 10
ing their best very day in the year to
help bring this race to a place where
it will be respected and honored by
all.
Today, the Negro holds a position
second to no other. The Anglo-Amer-
lean looks on him with a feeling of
great envy and fear, for he well knows
that the Negro still has his future be-
fore him. The American fears that
with the passing of another three hun
bred years the Negro will be in the
ascendency, while the former, will be
on the decline. No other people are
of greater concern to the American
today than the Negro. He fears the
Negroes ambition. He fears his integ'
rity, he fears his tenacity, he fears
his extraordinary power of endurance,
characteristics which go to make any
people great.
The Italian, on coming to this col
try, seldom gives the white American
much alarm, for he is sure that about
all the Italian wants is to establish a
shine paTlor or a fruit stand, or engage
in vending some commodity in a push
cart. He does not fear the Chinaman,
for he is confident that all that the
Chinaman wants is to open a laundry,
a restaurant or an opium den, neve
seeking a voice in the affairs of the
government. He does not fear the
Japanese immigrant, for he has heard
that all the Japanese wishes is to lane
in this country, engage in some sort Of
trade long enough to get rich, anc
then to return to his native country
to become the envy of all his friends
and associates.
But, it is because the white Amer
lean knows hat the Negro is seeking
after the very things which he him
self prizes, such as honor, power
wealth, glory, all of which he gave 25C
years of hard labor to secure; it is be
cause the Negro manifests a greater
determination to possess these thing:
each passing year, even if he mus
wrest them from the hand that so zeal
ously withholds them; it is because o
these things that the policy of the
white American is to keep the Negro
down, if possible. But, history prove:
that a God-fearing people cannot b,
kept down.
: And, so, today, unlike the Red Mar
who refused to submit to the yoke, ant
who is now about to become a nation
of the past, going out without having
achieved but little fame and glory ant
without having made any great be
quest to civilization, we htand on thu
very Threshold of a great future, bet
ter and nobler, more perfect as a race
. more fit than ever to be the recipi
ents of great blessings that will NOR,
than crown our past sufferings, anC
SORROWS. And, so, after 800 years il
a country that has vainly endeavoreC
, to shift it's responsibility toward us a
one of them, we stand as empty pitch
ers before the sparkling fountain o
: civilization, ready and waiting to b
filled.
MRS. ]. R. WILLIAMS,
, 241S Vine Street