Phoenix tribune., 1919-01-25
EDUCATOR
PLEADS FOR JUSTICE
AND EQUAL RIGHTS
Takes Advanced Ground on All I'M
portant Issues Affecting Darker
Races-sees Glorious Visions for
the Future.

Jubilee of the landing of the African
| slaves in America, held in the new
and magnificent Mother A. M. E. Zion
church, 151 West both street, DR..
James E. Shepard, the widely known
president of the National Training
School at Durham, N. c., was the
principal speaker. The immense au-
| ditorium was packed by the repre-
| sentative people of the nations me-
| tropolis and all listened with the clos
est attention to DR.. Shepard's mas
terly analysis of 'The Possibilities
and Responsibilities of American Cit
izenship." The frequent bursts of en-
thusiastic applause indicated that the
throng was in entire sympathy with
the strong points brought out in the
eloquent address, and that the ad-
vanced position taken by this virile
and courageous young leader on the
important questions of the day, af-
fecting the Negro in America and the
world struck responsive chord.
DR.. Shepard handled his subject
without gloves, urging as remedy
| for many of the ills that the darker
races are made to endure, the forma-
tion of an independent state in Africa
as an object lesson of their capacity
for lf-government; the necessity for
Christian education, the equality of
opportunity everywhere in the battle
of life; and the granting of the bal
lot as the Negroes most effective in
strumentality for protection and prog
ress. The argument of DR.. Shepard
in support of these primary princi-
pies was temperate, but the forcible
manner in which he presented them
| left no doubt in the mind of any
hearer of his absolute sincerity of
purpose, nor of his intense earnest
ness in his propaganda for human
uplift, in which the black man is de-
termined to have his just proportion.
Rev. J. w. Brown, pastor of Mother
Zion welcomed the vast assemblage
to the beautiful edifice, and Hon. Ed
ward A. Johnson, the first colored
member of the Legislature of the
State of New York, presided and in
troduced the speaker.
For self-Governing State in Africa
DR.. Sheppard spoke, in part, as fol-
lows: II hope the Allies of the world
will do justice to all people; that they
will not fail to remember the daring
| deeds of the black men of Africa;
for civilization must not forget that
100000 black men of Africa saved the
day for civilization at the first battle
of the Marne. I desire therefore, to
see great state in Africa, ruled over
by black men, under the guidance and
support of the more favored nations,
until this Independent state gets on
its feet. But l desire this state
guarded over and directed by the
brains of black men, fostering the
arts, sciences literature and music
desire to see it with a great fleet
and large army, ready to land upon
any shore where people are oppressed
and denied the right of growth.
"But this state should be primarily
for the native Africans, for America
is ours by deeds of sacrifice and pa
triotism, love and labor, and the
American Negro intends to stay here.
So 1 say truthfully and reverently,
with all of it's injustices and discrim-
nations, this is our country. Let us
love her and appreciate her!"
Equality Of Opportunity the Negro's
Eearnest Plea
Contending for equality of oppor-
tunity for the Negro as a primary
element in his progress, DR.. Shepard
continued: Il do not advocate social
equality in any sense l do advocate
equal rights on public highways
equal protection before the law, and
the right and opportunity to work
out our salvation, so as to fit us for
the best associations of our own race
could never favor separate cars on
public highways, because such segre
cation is fundamentally wrong in a
republic. In all public places, or or
all public conveyances. All public
privileges in county, city, state oil
nation should be open to the enjoy
ment of all. There should be abso
lutely no discrimination on account
of race or color There should be a
perfect understanding as to what
rights are general and those that are
purely personal. We have won a
great fight to make the world safe
for democracy. 1t has yet to be
proved whether democracy is the saf
est thing for the world
Fundamental Importance Of the Bal
lot as Weapon of Defense
please follow me closely in the