Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1930-09-06
SAYS JOE
SIMPSON
R a ideals

applied W IlllS, aiiu oeiieA
.ers the country over, times with
out number, and is usually con-
sidered by those usingit as a
badge of disrespect and 'deri-
sion. We are glad to note, how
ever, that this state of mind is
gradually disappearing. We see
the radical today in an entirely
different light from that in
which we saw him a few years
back, his position has been
moved from the debit to the
credit side of the ledger, he is
considered as an asset rather
than a liability, as has hereto
fore been the case.
If we will but look back over
the Negroes record of achieve
ment we will find that the credit
in each instance was due, if not
given, to some radical. Those
who were responsible for the
agitation which later brought
about American Independence
were radicals, those responsible
for what little freedom we now
enjoy were radicals; in short,
anywhere we look in the musty
pages of history we find con-
elusive proof that all the i'm
provements in the conditions OF
the known world, as recorded
in the pages of history, were
brought about by those termed
in their day as radicals, extre-
mists or ultra-liberals.
If there is anything, in our
opinion. that the Negro in the
South needs worse than it needs
radicals, it is more radicals. AS
necessity is the mother of in
vention, so is radicalism the
mother of progress and achieve
emit. We concede the fact that
where radical thought reigns
and radical action is apparent,
someone must suffer as a con-
sequence. The Parker incident
we believeto be a case in point,
the orgy of lvnching that has
been going on practically ever
since the defeat of Judge Par
ker, for which the Negro,
through the N. A. A. C. P, has
been held responsible by ignor-
ant whites, this class of whites
has been using this method to
show to the Negro their resent
ment, and to drive home in the
Negroes mind the fact that he
can not dictate to the white man
politically or otherwise, without
bringing down upon his head the
wrath and vengeance of the
mighty Nordics of America.
We rejoice in the fact that de-
spite the barbarous crimes that
are being committed, despite the
manifold injustices that are
heaped upon us, despite the an
tagonistic attitude of the lower
class of whites, the contempt in
which we are held by them, and
despite the lethargic and Uncle
Tom attitudes of some of the
members of the race, the Negro
has refused to be cowed, and is
steadily pressing onward and
upward, hoping for the dawn of
the day when he will come into
a full realization of the unham-
pered enjoyment of his rights
and privileges, the same as are
granted to other nations of the
world.
1t is an undisputable fact that
all Negroes as we'll as all other
nations crave liberty. 1t is an
inherent lust in mankind that
can not forever be denied
Thousands have been offered UP
on the altar of prejudice, the
blood of many innocents have
been spilled since we began our
fight for freedom and we may
make up our minds that the
blood of many more will be
! spilled before the contest is
won. Our fight is not one OF
force or arms, for we are vel
aware of the fact that we car
not win that way; arms will be
used, it is true, but they will be
used by those opposed to us and
our cause.
Is it not better that few
should perish, than that the
whole race should be destroyed
Have we not learned in all these
years that liberty is bought
with price? We must let the
blood that has been spilled spur
us on to greater efforts as other