Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-01-12

lJerdCSS lue USp!uNIty VI IAO "nA'o
man in dealing with helples ana hap.
le:s race. 1t is q practical exempllt'-
cation of the axiom that might makes
right.
1t WAS to correct this evil that Christ
came into the world. Still THESE eXhi
tons of brute force and injustice
carry with it reactionary punishment
MIR. P3ston continues:
I am American trained, and in 60
lar as my African blood always revolt
me against certain customs has not
been able to prevail. can be said to De
truly American l love symphony,
can appreciate football game, ami
feel a hurt. Recently at an affair with
a young lady friend. big, burly white
man with less than average 1ntell!-
eence, proceeded to monopolize my
sunlight. My American training, mind
full of my rights. revolted, my African
instinct, equally aroused, protested. II
had in me a little Japanese presume
It too would have condemned 1t. MY
first impulse was to handle this man
who brutally INSTRUCTED my view had
no misgivings about my ability to d.
this, for whatever other failings they
assign to me even my blttere.t enemies
acknowledge the strength of my right
arm. But On second thought l con-
cluded that it would not be Wi to use
force. There were several hundred
other persons present of the same race
Of this gentleman. and though many
of them were highly trained. some cf
these would not have stood idly by
while I administered to this ruffian
the beating he deserved. They would
lave argued that white supremacy was
at stake. Yet if the scene shifted and
This ruffian ob-,tructed the view of any
of the dozens of white gentlemen OF
culture any one of them would have all
ministered him a beating with assis-
tance of others, if it was needed. Color
changes the complexion of white philos
ophy. In a case of this kind what was
there left for me to do?'I trained my
self to make out with less, sunlight in
order that this ruffian would be con-
founded by more than his share. This
is the story Of the average Negro in
America. Having little he trains him
self to get the maximum out Of that,
while his over-indulged white brother
is sad with eXceSses. Each Negro is
necessarily a philosopher, but his
philosophy is reaction against civI
lization rotten at heart and ready to-
be junked.
The argument that Mr.. Poston uses
IN the above recital is the logic that
the Negroes as a whole use in dealing
V ith an almost intolerable situation
in some sections of this country, Ana
again: IL:
Whether it is best to Cypress or tc
lie oppressed seems yet problem with
man. While the role Of the torment'r
may be more attractive on the surface,
those who patiently bear are not with
, ut their reward. I firmly believe THAI
the Negro occupies the most enVlable
position. His opportunities for cultl-
waiting those refining characteristics
which really distinguish man are
,rouble those Of his tormentor. VINO
knows? The role of the white man,
who seems more machine than a hui
man being may be to erect palaces for
those more capable of occupying them
than himself. If the present state .!
~pheaval in Europe has any lesson er
all for the world il is to confirm this
l.elief. The Whit man has proven him
self utterly incapable of living togeth
CT in peace. The success of the social
ed "inferior" races will depend upon
their ability to keep alive until this
Harlike white man has eliminated him.
self as a pos ible competitor through
civil strife.
This is hastily drawn conclusion
and it must be that Mr.. Poston is look
Ing long way ahead extending into
The coming centuries He says further:
The person VINO argues that his civil
lization must be best. for no other CIT
lzation is quite so powerful does not
bewilder with his logic. The lion is al
mittedly the king OF the forest, but he
s fast giving way to the common hare
who has better way of serving hui
manity. Nor $ the overworked argu-
mant that he has done more 10 develop
science given him the right to call his
civilization superior. 1t IS not ques-
ton of how soon get to where l am
going, but what is my business after l
get there. 1t is true the airplane has
added speed to travel but It must not
be forgotten that it has also added ter
ror to war. The world has moved very
fast but it has not and must not go far
;.way from Coils inscrutable law Of
Justice. love and mercy. If these can
be found in palatial homo. in breast
adorned with satin. then let US nave
them; but il they happen to be found In
a savage's cave. in a breast untouched
nv clothes. we mtst not ignore them
there.
In the above lines, Mr. Poston as
sumes the role of philosopher. He IS
drawing consolation at last from his
own store-house OF knowledge and reco
nizing the fact that we are to look to
God direct rather than to those, who
profess to be His followers ami
Ere phcts. He TaDts new leadership.
when he says: