Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-06-28
BASIC PRINCIPLES.

BASIC PRlNClPLES.
The New York Crisis for July says
Within the Negro race we are col
tinually scoring ourselves for lack 0
unity and we are holding up othe
races and other groups as splendid e.
| amples of perfect agreement. We for
get in this criticism one thing: tn
| basis of all advance and development
| is Diversity; the characteristic or staE
nation and death is Unity. Any AT
tempt in a growing organism to maxi
all of it's factors act alike, IS Simply
and definitely to stop growth.
1t continues:
On the other hand, without doubt
diversity, difference, the struggle O
ideas and ideals means lost motor
and personal pickering; but some mil
imum of this is absolutely essential II
the present situation Of the Negro
race. There must be among bot[
white people and coloredl grave ane
deep differences of opinion as to metn
cd and end with regard to black folF
in America.
This is statement Of facts that nc
truth-loving intelligent person eau
deny. 1t says further:
The National Association Tor the
Advancement of Colored People repre-
sents one point of view. 1t represents
it sincerely and definitely. 1t believes
that either the Negro will become Il
full Pledged American citizen the equal
of every other citizen in legal rights,
political power, civil opportunity anu
social recognition-that either this
will happen or democracy in America
will die and democracy in the world
receive a mortal blow. 1t believes pas
sionately that the attempt to arrange
this world in hierarchy of races with
the so-called "Nordics" dominating
and subordinating the mass of men, is
the most outrageous and foolhardy pro
gram that thoughtful people can be
a party to. The National Association
for the Advancement Of Colored People
recognizes that. compared with the at
titude Of the bourbon South, It's pro-
gram is revolutionary; that compared
with what the best and forward look
ing elements of the South are willing
to concede, this program is radical
and exceeds their will and wish. N
addition to this our association knows
that there are many honest colored
people who believe that we will never
get our rights by the sort of agitation
and fighting which this association
and the Crisis carries on, but that sub
mission to evil, catering to the best
white South and in general laying
low" is the only way for us to achieve
even partial freedom.
The position stated is eternally
right and. no one who has read history
and studied the events OF centuries
will for a moment suestion the truths
herein contained. Cowardice is an in
slant realization that the race exercls-
ing it is to be the inferior type OF hu-
man origin. We get no more OF our
fundamental rights than we are ready
to make sacrifices and risk even life
to obtain. We can secure these rights
by diplomatic, skillful efforts devoia
of all bragadocia and insult. bat we
should contend for them just The same.
When we concede The permanent SUI
periority of any race. we admit the
permanent inferiority OF our own. on
this great platform, the National Asso-
citation for the Advancement OF Co..
ored People can afford to stand. IN
this whole matter, most important
factor has been overlooked, God still
rules in the affairs of men and after a
patriotic struggle We can afford to
leave the result to Him.