Phoenix tribune., 1919-08-09
IT HAPPENED IN CHICAGO
tBy Editor-in-Chief of Associated
Negro Press)


Negro Press)
There is quite. bit of irony con-
nected with the Chicago riots. But 1t.
is going to work out all right, at that.
They say that one of the contributing
causes is the housing situation. The
Colored people have been moving into
white neighborhoods, whatever that
may mean. The first house. ever built
and owned in Chicago was built and
owned by a Negro. That is a histori,
cal fact, and the spot is marked now
by the Chicago Historical Society. All
the white people who live in Chicago
have followed that Colored citizen and
patriot, and yet those of his kindred
who would continue to better their
condition, are told that they are with
out favor"
Throughout the entire world, Chi
cago has always been known as the
Wonder City of Opportunity for. All
Peoples" In America, every other
city has yielded to Chicago with refer
ence to the honor of being first in ra-
cial development and civic opportun-
ity. From all the corners of the earth
have come all shades and degrees of
thinkers, leaders, and people with am
bitions for greatness, ease. and COM
fort, to enjoy the full measure of op-
portunity. Chicago. is filled up with
men and women who have been
GREAT in their home town. Many of
them are active here, but of course,
their influence is not as generally
known and noted as in the home town
because there are so many of them.
In the midst of all these facts and
conditions: IT HAPPENED IN CHI
CAGO!
1t happened in Washington, and,
also, in the commonwealth of aristoc-
racy, Virginia at Norfalk Therefore,
it is plain, even to the blind, that it
may happen anywhere-no city is to
remote or aristocratic, or large, or cul-
tured, or anything whatsoever New
York is boasting but that conceited
provincial municipality is not immune.
1t is not a subject Of geography, but
condition.
At the very beginning, the prevail
ing social unrest throughout the world.
Added to this condition is the paro-
doxical, inconsistent, hypocritical at
titude of the American people, at
large, posing one way to the outside
world, and acting entirely another way
at home. The consciousness of this
state of affairs has been driven home
to the minds of the most illiterate per-
son, in every section of the country.
This act has been performed not only
by the thinker, leaders, newspapers
and the like of our group, but within
the last two years, well known think
ers, leaders and newspapers of the
white group, in all sections, have
pleaded for real justice and larger
freedom for us. All of this has had
its effect 1t has not only encourag-
ed our ambitions, but il has created
new determination determination
to measure up to the best ideals, and
to work them out at all hazards and
costs.
The hazards have come from the
element of human-haters
and radicals, whose object it has been
to throw every possible obstacle in
the way. 1t is this small element that
has famed the fire of hatred in Chi
cago, and every place else. 1t is
noisy and sensational and terrible
while it lasts, but it is not representa-
tive, nor long lived.
On the other hand, our own group
has three distinctive elements that
are to be reckoned with; the ignor-
ant hoodlums, the white mans par
rots, and the ultra radical. The first
are a bane, as well as pain, in the
plan of adjustment. But their ignor
ance and instincts are largely due to
that system of deprivation and op-'
preston which are the blot of our
American civilization. The second
element in our group who unhesitat
ingly sell the birth-right of the people
for mess of pottage; they brush
principle aside with wave Of the
hand, and curry to the favor of the
white. The third, may be
u but are dangerous to the
peace.
The world it not going backward, it
is going forward. Out of the grind
Of war; murder, riot strife and desc
Iation there will come peace Our