Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-05-21
CAN NEGROES WIN?

The question is being asked. Can
Negroes VIM" This relates to their
struggles in obtaining civil justice,
civil and political equality and thai
official recognition, to which they are
entitled under the laws of 'his coun
t"y. 1t is indeed a rtomentous qucs'
ton and it demands, an answer. mdi
vidually speaking there is but one
answer. They are alreadq winning
but can this selfish policy of individ
ualism get this people to the table land
OF prosperity as race, where they
will not be handicapped by racial
characteristics?
We are frank to say that we do not
believe that they tan win along the
; lines marked out by the average in
dividual. Thousands of colored PEG
pie have an antipathy to their own
people and will Join in with white
people to dcride and bclittlc them :.
Much of this has come through tho
sources. where money has been con
tributcd by phlanthropists for tho
education and betterment Of Il people
known as Negroes and regarded IN
the same category with the tribes Of
Africa or the Indians upon the plains
of the Far West.
But there are thousands OF new
day Negroes" They have been educat
ed in the schools and colleges of the
country and while processing an
equality with all other citizens with
their mouths, away down in their
heart Of hearts," they believe the
teachings cngrafted in them in south
en- schools that they are inherently
inferior and that they are nothing
but Il Negro, no how" Can this man
ner and method J." Cblitcratcd save
by organized concerted effort, backed
Ivy money? Leading colorcd men navc
seen the danger of all OF this ana
have vainly attempted to organize the
Negroes of the country.
1t has required money to do this
and when the call for money has been
made, the NEGRO has just gone" This
has been disheartening. Or course
some have put up some money, but the
amount has been so small when com
parison is made of the work that is
to be done, that it HAS caused feel
ing OF dependency to seize most of
those engaged in the work. II. five
thousand dollars are raised, 1t Is re-.
garded rs being too much money and
IL ten thousand dollars are a?n;lable, it
is regarded rs too much money
And yet, what can men like DR.. vii,
liam e. Du Bois. Editor William Mon
roe Trottcr, Rev. DR.. w. II. Jcrnignn,
10 with ten thousand dollars in cam
pnign, where five hundred Thousand
dollars are needed?
The Hebrews talk very little, when
, it comes to money and then Start out
Il most powerful propaganda after the
money is raised. The amount is the
smallest part of the business The
campaign wagcd by the Proh:b.;ionia,;
, represented many millions. They were
, CON ending for IL principle and whcl.
the women came into the limelight in
demanding Woman's Suffrage, they
made no secret Of the golden waves
that dashed upon the shores of the
opposition until, calm came and
their bark was brought safely into
port. But colored folks sometimes
| called Negroes cannot trust each 9th
. or enough to give them the necessary
| funds to conduct campaign in their
| own interest.
If they think n race leader has So
cured a million dollars. they become
frantic. They forget the principles 70,
| which they are contending. They arc
thinking of the golden flood that fails
to reach either their front door O,
| their back gate. We are Of the opin
| ION then. when this individualism as
TO action becomes broadened into that
universal brotherhood between on
colored individual and another. then
Will come the dawn of the day, whe,
| all or our rights and privileges shall
De secured by the action of our own
leaders. duly chosen and substantial
ly backed by money enough to mnke
| 'hclr pleas for our absolute recognit
ION heard and granted not only ~
thls country, but in the chancollcries
| Of Europe.
| eet--.--..- ....a~s:-se:s<.sss..s..-~sr~>..
/