The northwestern bulletin., 1923-12-01
BUSINESS LEAGUE
WRITES LETTER
To NEWSPAPER
Business Men of st. Paul Con-
denim Methods of Burlesque
Adopted by Daily Paper
URGE EDITOR TO STOP USE
OF DEROGATORY NAMES
Entire Organization Backs the
EndeavOr to Secure Race
Respect

Again the st. Paul Negro Business
League is demonstrating its worth in
the community in civic as well as
commercial life. Because of the IT,
ties given to the race by one of our
dailies, In several recent issues. The
following is the letter sent by the
local association:
Nov. rs, 1928.
Mr.. Chas. X. Blandin, Pres.
st. Paul Dispatch Printing Co.,
st. Paul, Mimi,
Dear Sir:
The Executive Committee of the
st. Paul Negro Business League wish
to call your attention to a matter
which is of grave concern to the
seven thousand five hundred Colored
citizens of st. Paul, many of whom
are readers of the st. Paul Dispatch
and Pioneer Press.
The matter of which we refer, is
the continued effort on the part of
your publications to humiliate the
Negro by the use of terms of re-
proach in dipiciting incidents in which
our people play a part.
In your issue of Friday, Nov. Esd,
of the Pioneer Press describing
prize fight which occurred in Mime
apolis, the Colored fighter was con-
tempuously referred to as "darky" in
large type, although from the de-
scription of the contest he fought not
only honorable but well.
Last Sunday in the report of
wedding consummated by two men,
bers of the Negro group, one of whom
had inherited considerable wealth,
your paper announced in bold head
lines, "DARKTOWN ATTENDS"
etc.
We can see no reason why your
publication should offer insult to the
Colored people by the use of these
purulent and offensive terms. Sure
iy it would seem vastly unjust If in
describing a wedding at which Jews
were in attendance you should say,
"Sheenytown attends fashionable
wedding" or In the report of a prize
fight in which an Italian was a par
ticipant you should say, "wop" loses
to Morris" etc.
And yet you use terms just as in
sulting as these continuously in de-
scribing the activities of Colored
people, There was nothing in the
fighting of the Colored lad at Mime
apolis that deserved reproach. accord
ing to your statement in the Pioneer
Press and Dispatch he was beaten but
did not quit. There was nothing
about the wedding in New York
which merited contempt but much to
be admired in the fact that this
wealth was acquired by lone Col
ored woman despite the handicaps
and prejudices to which her race is
subjected.
These terms, "darky, darktown"
and the like are distasteful to the
Colored people. We are Americans
with nothing to be ashamed of, but
much to be proud OF in our history
as Americans. In st. Paul our group
has made a splendid record as law
abiding citizens and 1t has been
stated with authority that there are
more Negroes in the City of st. Paul
owning their homes and as tax pay
ers than any other city in the country
in proportion to our population.
We have every reason to believe
that you, Mr.. Blandin, with many
other good citizens of st. Paul, have
no desire to injure the feelings Of
any particular group of people but
anxious and willing at all times to
do justice by all and by calling this
matter to your attention we hope
your publication will refrain from
this gratuitous insult and undeserved
humiliation.
Thanking you in advance for your
attention in the matter. We remain,
Yours very truly.
st. Paul Negro Business League
o. Howell. President.