Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-06-23
FROM BAHIA BRAZIL.
Bahia, Brazil.
May 81, 1928.

To The Richmond Planet
Richmond, Va, U. S. A.
NV Dear Mr.. Ed;tor:--
We now write from a heavy heart or
much experience for the years or its
pulsnUion. Still our sadness would he
more than recompensated ar at least
codnterbalanced should l know that
my pains have been for the removal OF
the evils which cause them. ThereI Jr.
l must again express my wholly disap
prevail of segregation OF the races il
democratic country. But to be hasty
in coming to the point of my reason.
ing, l will say that it only confuses
society and destroys all possibility
for harmonious progress. For a glar
ing example in evidence of this fact,
we have only to point you to the incid
ent of Tulsa, Oklahoma a year and a
half ago the case in Reighley, N. c..
and now the case of Stanley town.
Florida; with several others in the
State, clearly proves that any and all
forms Of forced segregation only az :
gravates the social question Of racial
harmony in the u. S. A, and does
not help it at all. To mix the people
socially, politically and industrially
is the only way to bring them to q
equitious cooperation with harmoni
Gus relations among their people. 1t
is the only way to consolidate the ma
ton into one progressive body. Why,
the white people of North and South
would long ago have settled their To-
Cal differences, had there been firm
stand taken by the colored people for
all the benefits and rights guaranteed
in the federal constitution to the citf
zens of the country.
It is the class Of colored men wnG
stand at the forefront who have been
so terrOrized by the brutality of their
white copatricios, that they cringe
to kneeling position; instead Of call
ing for help while they maintain a
manly contention for all the best prin
ciples of the American constitution.
They not only influence their weak
er brethren to surrender their rights
without a struggle, but they prevent
the laboring classes from coming to
an understanding among themselves
OIL account of the threatening question
OF having to compete with slave labor
throughout the country, which hope is
encourage by tie many cowardly eX
pressions made by the coIored leaders
This encourages the white people to
force the colOred people to take some
definite stand or leave the country.
They dare not let the colored PEG.
pl.' make any definite progress. even
separately, because if they go into pow
er without The necessary understand
ing they will not join the laboring elias
in their universal struggle for an
equitable basis of economies; but they
would very likely coincide with tho
capitalists unconditionly and drive
the white laboring classes to the wa;
Viewing the matter from this angle.
ole dares to say, that all of the ideas
of segregation as they have been
taught to the colored Americans and
by them to their children are corrupt
able and wrong. have had very I'M
common experience as a lone fighter
in this world for livelihood and from
which ] am quite prepared to tell you
that what ever your ability may be;
you need the cooperation of others in
order to succeed
Even should one try to cooperate
with the ignorant peoples without the
all of those of higher intelligence,
TIN ignorant will become intelligent
in the process Of time to know that by
euNOhinS the IdNOTS Ol the SCTOUS
would give immediate protection to
the individual while it worked disast
er to the stern competitors. Still, cpm
potion is the very life of progress ana
the moment we all or the greater
number of us sell out to our competi
tors; we not only invite condition
worse than slavery, but we call upon
ourselves the just scorn of our victors.
7 have made some very remarkable
fights as an individual; in which
have generally won; but after coming
right of a combat that few would sur
viye. only to engage into another of a
similar disadvantage, it spells ex-
haust of energy and money. The NOR
al victory won. il not given to the pub
lie and many unthankful people, IT,
will be lost entirely. The oddly OF
the stand which I always take In the
defense Of the right, always forces me
into kind OF isolation. and this isola
ton. which is equal to segregation,
only produces more difficulties for the
next fight. There is so much to learn
end to be gained by inter-L.ixture OF