The Washington herald., 1921-08-28
Answers Attack on Negro.
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10 the Editor, The Washington Herald:
| A recent issue of The Herald con-
tained a communication which put
the query, why Is it that a certain
small element of our population. the
negro, has to be constantly before
the public with complaints about
his rights" The query was based
upon the assertion that 1T Is gen.
ieralfy conceded that all enjoy their
liberty, civil rights and pursuit OF
happiness in this land OF the free"
Much follows. in similar vein. to the
end that the National Association
for the Advancement of Colore"
People and its official organ, the
Crisis, are accredited with lies, mis-
representations etc. which incul-
ate prejudice, hatred and riots. The
communication belittles the in
lfinitesimal" contribution of the
negro in making this country, while
I it extols the white man for bearing
long and uncomplainingly burdens
in behalf of the negro. 1t asserts
that two-thirds of the taxation in
the South for negro education is
paid by whites, and it affirms the
negro would be happier in his own
habitat.
Statements like these leave
negroes spellbound and speechless
We can ascribe them to but two
possibilities; first. thoughtless and
uniformed whites believe them to
be just and true. or, second. negroes
are regarded as helpless. alien
wards who are to be content with
such measure of the. benefits of
civilization as those in power find
1t practicable to allot them.
We can scarcely deign to notice
the alleged statements of fact. The
grievances of negroes arise because
it is not generally conceded that
constitutional guarantees are opera
tive as respects them. All negroes
know that powerful white America
sleeps while the Constitution is
abridged, negated and prostituted to
their continuous hurt. Many whites
know it as Welt. as is indicated by
the many who are members of the
National Association for the Ad-
vancement of Colored People.
Millions Of informed and honest
Americans, who love their country
no whit less than those who blind
themselves to her faults, decline to
make preposterous concessions to
save her from the shame which is
hers. They prefer to recognize and
repel the perennial attacks upon and
invasions of the Constitution and
the rights of man. and they feel
they are living up to freedoms
highest ideal when they do so.
Any white man who cannot un-
derstand why negroes are dis.
Rrunt'ed needs but saw he is coloreA
and board any railroad train for any
distant point in the South. If this
does not convince him of the iust-
ness Of the grievance he is without
heart. They cannot conceive how
mon e~pert other men to be hapny
when the public utilities. which in
laree part they make possible mere
J ly by e~istins. II in no larger meas
ure, deny them all ornortnnity ex-
cent to dig. sweep. clean and paw.
The commonest. dirtiest, cheanest
labor. plus denial of promotion
negroes do not consider conducive
to the pursuit Of happiness.
| The negroes grievances do no,
| arise necessarily becanse of "his'
lriehts. They arise because mieht
denies to American men the rights
Inherent in both manhood and
Amerfcanism. It is pnerile to ex-
pect men Of any race quietly to sub
NIT to the denials and affronts
LEGISLATIVE, civic, economic and So
cial. which are the lot OF the negro
daily. from his cradle to his grave.
WILLIAM II. WILSON, NJ. D.
Washington. d. C.