The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1919-09-27
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 81, 1913
WHAT TmR NEGRO WANTS.

OF all expressions recently maue
public by members OF the Race giving
the position OF the Negro himself
on his own problem, none has come
to our attention that goes to the
root Of the whole matter with more
precision and clearness than the
statement Of DR.. Emmett J. Scott
which appeared In The St Louis
Post Dispatch under date Of August
10, 1919. DE-. Scott Is eminently fit
ted to speak for the race on any
subject concerning its welfare. Long
years OF faithful devoted service to
the interest Of the race at Tuakegee,
in the very heart of the black belt
OF Alabama, and under the late
Booker T. Washington. Secretary Of
the National Negro Business League;
Assistant Secretary OF War during
the recent international conflict, have
given DR.. Scott an insight into the
many qualifications OF the Negro
problem possessed by few men OF
today and make him a most capable
interpreter Of the desires OF the race
in this country. He knows the souls
OF black people in every section
their aims, their hopes. their as
plrations. After discussing the late
race riots and other questions affect
In our people, DIR. Scott summarizes
as follows:
ITO all your questions there Is a
cheerful answer. If there Is crisis
In the race problem 1t Is because the
nation has ignored, neglected and
pushed the problem aside. To solve
IL we must face it--and who shall
say we are afraid TO face 1t?
aSOcial Equality A MisnOmer.
TOO often the whole question Is
complicated and well meaning efforts
negatived By many persons North
and South, who con1ure up the spec
tire OF social equality term which,
as often used. Is a misnomer. Every
self-respecting Colored man and wo-
men comedies the right Of every other
Individual to decide whom his as
sociates and companions shall be.
Nor is the Negro-and think ! am
rather well acquainted with the main
hopes and aspirations OF my race
DESTROYS OF imposing himself upon
anyone or any purely social group
In which he is not welcomed. But
that has nothing to do with the civic
rights and privileges to which every
decent man in the minds OF these
nearly 100000 black soldiers who
have returned from France, where
In the eyes Of native men and women
they were not REGARDED as pariahs,
but simply. as COCO fighting men who
knew how to do the job they were
sHnt TO do.
Nor do our people dream of us
ing force to overcome those WHO
spitefully treat them, save within the
bounds Of strict and instructive self
defense. What the Negro wants with
all his heart, and what America will
proudly concede him, I do believe.
can be stated very easily.
"In substitution for lynchin9 he
wants justice IN the courts; he !. ants
the privilege In the court be wants
the privilege Of serving On iuries;
the right to vote: the right to hold
office. like other citizens. He wants
better educational facilitie,, aboli-
ton OF the 'Jim-Crow' car and CT
and segrt cation in the
service. the same milf
tary training and chance for pro-
rrotion IN the army that white mer
6 10y; deF: iction OF tl3 peonage
system, an equal wage better hous-
ing. better sanitary conditions and
reforms in Southern nenal institu-
tons.
AThat is the Negro problem Does
II impose too much uron the great
est democracy in the world? can
not believe that It does.p
To bring these things 10 pass, we
are constrained to say. the Negro
Welcomes assistance from every
friond be he white or black. Jew or
reside he East or West,
North or South. This question is a
national question and It is going to
require the wisdom OF every section
to settle II.
We fully realize that these things
can not be brought to pass within al
day; Il is going to require much time.
much toll and some suffering But,
since God is God and right Is right.
they will surely come to pass. In
the mean time let us educate. let us
acquire wealth. let us be law abing
and cease not to intelligently protest
against injunction