The Birmingham age-herald., 1923-06-11
PEOPLES FORUM
A NegrO's Appeal

To the Editor of The Age-Herald:
 It is true that in many cases we as a race have not been treat ed right in the South. But In all cases. all the civilization we have came from the white man. When ninety per cent. of it came from the Southern white man. When we came to this country we were heathens. we had no name, no re- Iigion, no civilization and no wealth. And today we have name. a civilization, a religion and millions and millions of dollars. We are the highest civilized ne groes in the world.
 Now, why should we attempt to destroy the interest of that people who has done so much for us? Stop and think. Don't leave the farms of the South, the only place of joy. and go to the cities. and suffer. Of course, I have as much interest in one part of the coun- try as l have in the other. I do not want any part of our country to go without the proper help in all of It's industries. There Is no need of that. We have in the to take care of our country, without taking a single farm hand from the South. and leave plenty men in the Southern cities to do all the work, and do 1t well. Let me ap- peal to my people to stop and think. Go to the people with whom you live and talk the matter over again and again. It is too big thing to settle in a day.
 To our white people in the South I am sure you can recall the day when you had a civilization-land, money. implements and no labor; a distressed condition; and at that point the negro came on the scene. and from that day until this you have grown by leaps and bounds. The once wilderness is now the happy home of the South, and that same man thinks you are not treating him right. It is up to you to convince him that you will treat him better in the fu- ture. The Southern white man and the Southern black man have done more for each other than they have done for anyone else. They have always been friends and are friends. They have helped each other in the time of peace and in time of war. on the battlefield and in the hospitals; {; in fact, everywhere. Even though we both have made some mis- takes, even though we have at times treated each other wrong, can we not forgive each other? Can we not remember the good deeds and forget the bad ones? The South Is the happy home for both races. Let us stay here to- gether in peace. We have done 1t and we can do 1t again. Let us save our dear old Southland, which will mean very largely the saving of the nation.
 Let me beg my people with a full heart to remember whence we came and who brought us from heathendom to our pres ent civilization. Don't strike the one that has done so much for us. Let no form of ingratitude get into our hearts. This is our homo and our best friends. Let us trust them the more and assure them that our advancement will not in any way endanger them, but will help them in all things. Then all of our battles will be fought. The white and the black man will be the happiest people on earth. Come on. that day I long to see: come on and strike the blow; come. the demon of prejudice kill; come and free our land; come, oh. come while yet I live. and let me see thee on every hill; come sweet day of rest.
 l delivered this address first in Savannah. Georgia. May 30. and shall continue to deliver it throughout the South. Kindly let this appear in your paper.
 R. S. STOUT.
 Louisville. Ky. June 2. 1923.