The broad ax., 1922-10-21
WHY ARE WE NOT
UNDERSTOOD?
By DR.. M. A. Majors

What is so different between the
races that colored people seem to be
a puzzle to white people: Let us take
up this question and try to analyze it.
Let us state here that the writer has
discovered not one particle OF differ
ence except some colored people are
not quite as white as some other peo-
pie who believe they are white. think
as many white people think. act as
many white people act. etc.
Looking at things through eyes that
are prejudiced, and reading by obser-
walton with their prejudiceS and not
with their eyes is cause for great
many puzzling things. If the white
race was only fair. and true to the
principles it advocates down deep in
its heart of hearts the white race
would see no difference IN the races.
Savagery. and the cave man stuff is
quite common in all of the races of
the earth. For well nigh fifty years
the white man has been lulled to re-
pose. feeling that his white skin was
securely quite sufficient to make him
superior TO the Negro, meanwhile the
Negro has been trying out every prin-
ciple of civilization to overcome the
silly sentiment that has almost had
him hog-tied to racial inferiority. In
his huge efforts TO prove that he was
human just like any other human
biped. he did not leave out of the
equation any one of the graces of hu-
man nobility. All of the factors of
development and progress regarded as
specific he set before him as cardinal.
There is possibly one emphasized
difference between colored and white
people. but that difference is not a ra-
cial trait. it belongs to conditions of
environment, resulting from the cruel
usage OF a horrible tyranny and OPP
preston visited upon his unfortunate
head by the white oppressor. That
difference is the disposition of the
Negro to show manly respect. and
exercise finer sense of honor toward |
the white race than the white race
will. or has ever exercised toward the
colored race And, naturally enough
this in itself is sufficient answer for
The Negro when he spends his money
freely with the white merchant. trusts
him without question. and manifests
/ kindly spirit in all of the white mans
The sum and substance of the
whole matter is that the white man
thoroughly understands the Negro.
he pretends that he does not. He is
aking the Negro seriously all the
ime he is laughing at US. assuming
hat we are funny and groteque. He
will call us George because he does G
lot want to respect US by addressing
IS as men are entitled to be addressed. !:
This belongs to the white mans tradi- 5
ion of cowardliness. There have S
zen white men who took no thought &
4 mans color. Abraham Lincoln. q
Bob lngersoll, Mayor VIM. Hale q
thompson, Rabbi Hirsch, and the d
amented George Burnhan Foster. L
Judge Edward Osgood Brown. the
lte Bishop Fallows. are few notable d
xamples worthy of mention. il
The educated among us know a p
ian not by his skin but by his truths. c
he has no principles he is worthless d
neither he is white or black. Why "
hould straight hair and a white skin ii
Shalt race? By the same token = o
'hIte goat. or a white horse is super u
n to black goat. or a black horse. ii
nd what IS straight hair to boast of?
judge OF the supreme court, in Okla W
oma recently handed down a deci-
on that black Hindoo was white &,
Ierely because it is traditional that all .,
Iindoos have straight black hair. a.
Some day we will have reached Y,
did enough ground to mould public
.ntiment, but we are sure it viii not a,
, maudlin. bulldozing and buffoonery. OF
Fe are sure Bert Williams was right Ia
hen he said the upper strata of c,