The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1920-05-01

The officers of this company will be
men above reproach and with a keen
sense of Race and business pride. We
have no great captains of industry
they are now in the making.
The first move after this company
is formed and incorporated will be to
send a representative to Liberia to
look the field over and report its find
ings to the people. l hope to be that
representative and l expect to patron
ize the Black Star Line, a Negro
transportation company carrying mer-
chandise and passengers between this
country and the western coast of At
RIGA; from what l already know of
the great opportunities awaiting us
in Liberia, l feel sure that within 10
months after l return and the COM
pany starts on its way, substantial
dividends will be declared. If that por-
ton of the human race which 1 be-
long to, whether in Africa, Europe or
America, can advance there is a
chance for me; but as long as there
remains millions of uncivilized Black
people in Africa, Black people the
world over will feel the stigma.
An American Indian in Europe is
still an American Indian; an African
in America is still an African. You
cannot get around it, even though you
have been here for a long time; it is
our duty, no doubt, to strive to at
tain every right or privilege due an
American, but it is unwise, l think,
to forget that America was founded
by white men for white men, all other
races are mere subjects. Read Amer
lean history and you will find this
glazing truth, emphasized on every
page. The Negro in America is a
sleeping giant, unaware of his own
terrific strength, fleeced by something
he does not understands phantom
of the dark, as it were, that is sapping
his life and happiness. This will con-
tinue unless you change-change in
the habits and modes of thought that
have been forced into your mentality
and which now enslaves you.
Race must study tactics of domi-
nant race, especially the thrifty,
merge our wealth together by form
ing corporations that will take the
dollars of the people and set them to
work in basic industries, and then
give these people back all their dol
lars earned, less only actual running
expenses.
The white boys of this country who
are fortunate enough to go through
school have an elevating position
awaiting; u boys must take the job
of waiting table, shining shoes or
some other job which does not con-
tribute to his manhood. l shall never
feel right until this condition is i'm
proved.
In backing stock companies of this
kind you are making a place for your
son. If this Liberian Investment
Company a be organized by popu-
lar subscription it will mean also the
birth of many companies that are
badly needed, then we car joyfully
say a new era has ushered in, the
dawn of a brighter day for the Ne
gro has burst forth with all of it's
glory, giving a new birth to an op-
pressed people.
Write today, stating that you will
when the company is organized, sub
scribe for shares. Don't put it off;
your reply may be the life of the
project; do it now. 1t is your cause,
your fight; you can do for yourself
and posterity what your foreparents
could not do for themselves or you.
If it is a sacrifice for you to subscribe
for shares in this company-make it.
No one EVER made a sacrifice for a
good cause without receiving a Just
reward. The par value of shares is
one dollar, but tn. least we shall sell
in the formation of company is ten
shares to an individual. Get in on the
ground floor; if you ponder too long
they may be all taken up. Write to-:
Rucker Smith, 1403 Walnut Street,
Kansas City, Mo.