Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-07-02
FROM IslSAXIIi.
Bahia, Brazil. Jan. 8, 1921.
Mr.. John Mitchell, Jr.,
Richmond. Va


Dear Sir:
You have gained IN honorable
place in the hearts and minds of the
colOred people and some of the
whites in the u. S. A. But there is
even more to do now than ever. You
may not consider your position inse-
cure; but l will take this liberty with
you, to warn you, sir, that your per-
sonal safety, not speaking Of your
holdings, are less secure this mo-
ment, than it was twenty years ago
Remember, that | am thousands of
miles away from you: and doubt very
much If | could be able TO recognize
you should | meet you in the streets.
But will say. that self-protcction is
the commoncst sense. You, az an old
newspaper man should not need my
words to remind you of this. But
here! these organized and clandes-
tined groups preparing to work
havoc all about you. And men of
your race and prominence are espc-
cially marked and doomed. And the
laws are doing nothing to thwart it.
Nor can it; as things now stand.
The common ylncher has been bad
enough; but out of the common,
there comes a spirit of uncommon
, activity. And there is no position
or circle too secure for them to enter
and do their wishes to their Victims.
! 1T is exceedingly hard to get colored
people to see any farther than his
white friends want them to see. But
many of them have felt far beyond
the white mans counsel at least.
| Now, what do you think of scheme
Just walking up to the victims and
giving his dose, in the open street,
in his Office, on the road or in his
home? Does it not save the en-
pense of breaking down prisons and
| running the risk of meeting their
own men who must pretend, at least,
to uphold the dignity of the law?
AND do you believe that your good
| standing i'll the eyes Of the law and
certain other neighbors can save
you? Well: Just undcceive your
self. For those that are to do these
things there have far less respect
for the laws than tho rankest |. w.
w. or any other groups yet known.
NOW what are you going to do about
lll! You must not forget the shade of
your skin nor the kind of hair you
| SroW. For nothing else; but the pro-
tectlng hand of an Almighty God can
byou confidc in. And these things are
no secrets. Are they not even known
ITO you; as Anglo-SaXons domination
regardless to all right or reason?
lThe big man of color Is the eve-sore
now to certain people who are beg
lglng to veal Il destructive hand all
about you. There is no use in talk
ing, 1.-THE Reds" themselves are n
much greater assurance for your
safety than your richest and best
friend OF prominence. But certain
nope may be taken in the fact of a
double acting spirit being born
there. L mean, 1t does not only act
rapid; but it sometimes acts back
wards. And while this in itself
shields many 1t may be the means
Of forcing the big rats out of their
hoies. But the deadly hand will be
found working in the dark just the
J sane. Just wait until the factories
begin to close down and "get in the
fdollars while the rush Is on" Is over,
ana the fun CD will open up there
j III good fashion; that is, if the ma
ltlon Is not thrown into a new war.
Ana IN that case, other measures
I Will be taken under the protection
of the flag itself. Now, can YOU beat
this; without having the assuracc of
the Almighty God Himself; as YOU
now stand? You are a man with
fraternal and financial influence, as
well as that Of moral persuasion. So,
and but, what are you doing with 1t,
I III this case? And in case of war,
what have you to advise your fellow
racemen? There is no people in the
world. or ever has been here, which
stands greater in need of good lead
ership, than the colorcd Americans
do at this very moment. And their
4 Onn1 II Ii, H..
the old school, nor very common
men. Because Moses, of old, had
lonly two difficult tasks to start with
and yet God had promised him that
he only had to stand before the king
u of Egypt, and the people of Israel.
I And that God Himself would do the
rest; but colOred Americans have
the whole world to front. And even
their own leaders, race and country
men to combat with, aside from all
the strongest nations OF the world to
tcombat with. And their own ignc-
rance and division are both alarm
ing. But if it pleases God, l may
md hole in this awful net at the
moment when the hearts of the
i boosters will have melted in their
! bosoms. God is not dead! And he
= claims to be irrespective of persons.
And II He was not so, I could not
imagine that he was just nor al
mighty! 1t is for this reason that /
beg you to stand firm for the right:
and nothing more.
Tuskegee is Just as wrong as it's
i founder was. Bat DR.. Morton may
be one Of the victims, too, OF the
great slaughter. And if no thinks
that misleading his people he will
save his own skin he is far from
E, right. The race needs leaders who
can wit and work. Selling and trad
ing is growing questionable. Every
man must be taught to fight where
he is, and with the tools in his
hands. There is no place to flee for
safety when the battle begins. One
must fight where they are. And to
surrender Will be to die without even
lifting defending hand. There will
be no time to say that Il am not a
erap-shooter"! Because they will
know who you are. You are not
: what is termed iii America, a white
~ 10 h