Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-02-24
N. A. A. G. p. VS.. U. MI. A.
(By Floyd j. Calvin, Author: THE
Mirrors of Harlem")

(By Floyd j. Calvin, Author: "The
Mirrors of Harlem.")
The fight between the National AS
sociation for the Advancement or CO.
ored People and the Universal Negro
improvement Association has reached
such a stage that il might not be un.
wise to inpartiaily review both groups
and see what should be preserved ana
what destroyed in each organization
tor the best interests OF the pubic at
large.
The names OF both denote progress
One wishes to advance" the other 20
improve One has for its objective
building up the historic Motherlard,
Africa; the other, equality in Americ?
II both carry out their programs botn
Will render a distinct service to the
Negro race. But for either to forget its
primary purpose for existing and de-
vote its entire time to telling the 9th
er: Your program is impossible
is like the pot calling the kettle black
In the first place. neither program
Will be realized soon. The very foun6;;
tions of each denote a continuous
struggle in their respective fields. Ir
that the cardinal principles are sud
denly forgotten and the controversy
drops to the level of personalities,
then both sides should be .et severely
alone. If members of two organizations
cannot go about their business carry
ing out their respective programs
which are basically not programs OF
estruction-without being disgraced
by personal fights between their re-
spective leaders, tlren both leaders
should be repudiated.
Now what about the charges flying
to and fro? First. the followers have
not anything TO do with those charges
because they didn't make them. The
followers Joined with their respective
leaders to carry out what they believ-
ed to be good program. To be sure
they have right and ought to be 10y
al in crisis. But they have no right
to give their support until their caus,
denotes public nuisance rather than
public service. TREY have no right to
be worked into frenzy until they late
every one who is not of their Gulf
They have no right 20 become susp-
ci0us OF every one who is not as wild
and excited as they. 1t is then that
they become victims of personal griev.
ances rather than followers of con-
structive leaders. So that rather than
become demoraIiZed and undermining,
1t is better to dismiss the leaders be-
fore the leaders destroy the unity or
the people for the people can always
produce new leaders, but the same
leaders cannot regain the confidence OF
their former cupportorc
Who constitute the respective move
ments? What are the real differences
between the two groups?
The N. A. A. C.. p, has typical
American" as-"advancement."
political equality" The u. M. A,
has universal ideas-'improvem
-"redeeming Africa: :" Now everybody
wants to see the Negro "advance"-to
political equality II he can. Likewise
everybody wants to see the Negro "im
prove'--if he had Motherland he
would not be any the worse Off.
The immediate program OF the y. N.
/. A.. is businesses. self-respect. pride
OF race race-consciousness and general
uplifting. Certainly this would be
blessing to all. The immediate pro-
gram OF the N. A. A. G. p. is civil
rights. There is nothing wrong with
this. What must be done? Simply "im-
prove" and "advance"-the leaders to
the contrary, Notwithstanding.