The broad ax. [volume] (Salt Lake City, Utah) 1895-19??, 1921-12-03
THE WILL NOT WRITE
By DR.. M. A. Majors

Some months ago the writer sug-
gested for the sake OF good fellow
ship that The Broad Ak readers try
their hands at short bits of fun and
fancy for each issue of the paper. We
proposed by such help to supply a
column well worth reading. and with
out which il was humanity impossible.
For several months the writer has
had to depend upon his own magma
ton to supply copy, such as it has
been. The absolute neglect on the
part Of the public to respond to the
appeal the writer made is in greater
part responsible for US not living up
to the letter and spirit of our prom
Use.
Yet it is worth noting that dozen
newspapers have tried to get in on
this idea with us, hoping that we
would comply with their wishes at
so much per issue of their paper. For
tunately for the writer that he does
not have to depend on writing for
living, having other interests that
keep the worlf quite distance from
our door, at least for the present.
We had hopes that the public would
avail itself merrily of the opportunity
offered, and that by its aid we could
at least supply a column in which all
of US might feel a personal interest.
We see it as a case of hope deferred.
There are lots of people in the world
who will not pay the fiddler. even if
they would dance. We regret that
we are so backward. II some of the
white newspapers were to offer freely
their columns to our race there would
be spirit of rivalry among many OF
US to supply copy, especially if it was
requested. But we will awake some
day. They have got to shoot US, lynch
US, deprive us, ridicule US, diseredit
US, defy US, outrage US some more be-
fore we will get very close together
on any proposition. They have to
make US very angry before we can be
stirred to action, and then it is only
With a heart full of re-
ligious forgiveness we soon <forset
everything we ought to remember,
and remember what we ought to for
get.
There are people of our race in Chi
cago who are as capable in matters |
of a literary nature as can be found |
in any race. They hail from all of the
of America. There are
poets, authors and writers of some re-
known here among US who could in
terest the most expert critics, or
make the very elite in literature of
any race sit up and take notice. But
It has ever been that the very capable
ones among US wait to criticise all
those who, although they are but half
1T, do the best they can. Big-souled
competent in every way, wait
ng for some credulous white man to
praise some shallow pated Negro,
hen they become aroused and help
augh down the race to which they
,elong.
Paul Laurence Dunbar, the poet
whom, the race cannot honor too
much, had to suffer and die an almost
gnominous death because of the big
culled Negro who had been to COL
eye. Nature found Paul Dunbar in
N elevator, Lincoln split rails, Gar
leld driving canal boat. Shakespeare
q cheap theater. Nature does not
SIX if you have college degree. She
Doesn't care a rap who you are or
THAT your anteeedehts were, if her
over is in You it must find a way
ut.
The qualifications are not wanting
ny more because of ones color.
Again we are asking you to contrib
tie something to our column, a few
mes, verse, a joke, little story, a
Dem, yarn, something real strong,
heavy prose, or a poem.
i've your self a non de plume, and
ign it that way. Come on, let US
ave a real column made up each
Teek with something from as many
S dozen writers.