Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-12-10
GREAT MANIFESTO OF
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some of them, has usually declined
even to try to train black and brown
men in real seI-goyernment, to rccos~
nize civilized black folks as civilized
or to grant to colored colonies tlose
rights of se.f-gou, rnment which it free
~ gives to white men.
Belgium is q nation which has but
recently assumed responsibility lor
her coionies,,a and has taken some steps
to lift them from tho worst abuses OIL
the autocrutic regime; but She has
not confirmed to tire people the posses
sion of their land and labor, and she
shows no disposition to allow tho nae
tives any voice IL their own govern
ment, or to provide for their political
future. Her colonial policy Is still
mainly dominated by the banks anG
great corporations. But we are grad
to learn that the present government
is considering liberal program OF
reform for the future. -..
Portugal and Spain have never
drawn 3 legal caste line against per-
sons of culture who happen to be OF
Negro descent. Portugal has hui
name code for the natives and has be
gun their education III some regions.
But unfortunately, the industrial con-
cessions of Portuguese Africa are AZ
most wholly in the hands Of foreig-
ners whom Portugal cannot or will
not control and who arc exploiting
land and re-establishing the African
slave trade.
The United States of America after
brutally enslaving millions Of black
folks suddenly emancipated them and
began their education; but it acted
without system or forethought, throw
ing the freed men upon the world
penniless and landless, educating them
without tlroroughness and system, and
subjecting them the while to lynching,
1awlessncss, discrimination, insult and
SANDER, such us human beings have
seldom endured and survived. TO save
their own government, they enfran
chized the Negro and then when dan.
ger passed, allowed hundreds Of thous
ands Of educated and civilized black
folks to be lawlessly disfranchised
and subjected to caste system; and,
at the same tins, in 1176, 1912, 1861
1897 and 1917, tlrey asked and allow.
ed thousands Of black men to offer up
their lives as O. sacrifice to the coun.
try which despised and despises them.
France alone OF the great colonial
powers has sought to place her cultur-
ed black citizens OH plane Of abso.
Lutte legal and social equality with her
white and given them representation
in her highest legislature. In her col.
onies sire has u widespread but still
imperfect System Of state education.
This splendid beginning must be com.
pieted by widening the political basis
or her native government by restor.
Ing to the indfgences tho ownership
OF the soil, by protecting native labor
against the aggression of established
capital, and by asking no man, black
or white. to be q soldier unless tho
country gives him voice in his own
government. ...
The Independence Of. Abyssinia, Lii.
IBERIA. Haitiand San Domingo, is abso,
lutely necessary to any sustained be-
lief of the black folk in the sincerity
and honesty OF the white. These ma
lions have earned the right to be free.
they deserve the recognition Of the
world; notwithstanding all their faults
and mistakes, and the fact that they
are behind the most advanced civilian
ton OF tho day, nevertheless they con,
pare favorably with the past, and even
more recent. history of most Europ-
can nations and it slames civilization
that the treaty Of London practically
invited Italy to aggression In Abyssin
yia, and that free America has unjust'y
and cruelty seized Haiti, murdered
and for q time ensSayed her workmen,
oyerthrown her free institutions by
force, and has so far failed in return
TO give single bit of help, aid, or
sympathy. ~
What do those wish who see these
evils OF tire color line and racial dis
elimination and who believe in the
divine right of suppressed and back
ward peoples to learn and aspire aui
be free?
The Negro race through it's thin0-
ing intelligentsia is demanding:
1.-The recognition of civilized mel
as civilized despite their race or color
II-Local self government for back
ward groups, deliberately rising as OK
plete self government under the linn.
tations Of self governed world.
ll1-Education in self knowledge,
In scientific truth and in industrial
technique, undivorced from the art OF
beauty.
IV--Freedom in their own religion
and social customs, and with the right
to be different and non-comformist.
Incorporation with the rest of tho
world in government, industry ard
art on the basis of Justice, Freedom
and Peace.
VI-The ancient common ownership
OF the land and its natural fruits and
defence againstfthe unrestraincd greed
OF invested capital
V1I-The establishment under the
League Of Nations Of an international
institution for tho stud,, ~ Niece - 49,.