The Omaha guide., 1933-11-25
REV. ALBERTKUHN, WHITE MIN
lister, ADVISES OMAHA NEGRO
ES. 'ORGANIZE AMI STAND TO-
GETHER,' HE SAYS

l believe it lies entirely in your power to remove
some Of the undeserved, Unjust, unchristian and humiliat-
ing restrictions which have been placed upon your eco
nomlc, political and cultural life. here in Omaha as !
eryWhere in the United States.
will mention a few of these handicaps and re-
strictions.
the appointment of the working staff Of the different
departments of City and County government.
nor+;oa z e Local tbaiI shops and stores who receive a large pro-
hiring a fair proportion Of colored clerks.
- 3. Public Utilities like the Gas, Light, Water,
Telephone, Street Car Service do not give to our colored
people the share of employment which their PATRONAGE
should entitle them to.
q. In at least two of our Public Schools in which
coiored children form a large percentage of the pupils
nai1 Of the teaching positions including the position of
principal should be given by the School Board to Colored
Teachers. There s a super-abundence Of the finest Of
teaching talent among colored College Graduates.
That some of these unfair and exasperating dis
examinations have persisted so long is not due entirely to
the prejudice of more numerous white citizenship. A
large percentage of your white fellow townsmen have
enough OF the Christian and human spirit that they are
OF one mind with you about the injustice of it all. Thew
Will both respect you and support you if you make a de-
1berate, intelligent and courageous fight for your rights.
They will however not take the initiative. If you Negro
citizens have not got" the CUTS" (f YOU will nardon This
homely expresslon), of getting together and enforcing
your demands they feel you are not worth the victory.
The Whites had to fight and to suffer to gain democracy
and their other civic rights; the women braved ridicule
and persecution until their demands for political equality
were heard: the laborers Of Russia overthrow inequality
and tyranny only through a fearless struggle. The trouble
with you colored ~neighbors is that you did not have to
fight hard enough yourself to become free from slavery
in the days Of Lincoln; that is why you are still halfway
in the state of slavery. Your full emancipation waits for
your own concerted and s~acrificial efforts.
10 win out in your struggle for equality YOU need
neither brutal force nor money, You need the fearless.
h1ghminded courage of the eternal fidelity to a noble
ideal, OF Jesus, and, in modern times, of a Washington,
ia Gandhi. e
! j., 1 There ought to be somewhere in your midst a born,
naOn6T1c IAQ6Qr JHh0 0Oul6 mil xn, 40~o4Lz - - 1
you IN persistent united action. He ought to be a man Of
such an inspiring personality that most of those who
come IN contact with him could not help but respect and
Ike MN, both Colored and Whites. He ought to be not
SO much a great orator as a great ORGANIZER who could
develop his people into a well disciplined, enthusiastic
spiritual army; ne should have nothing in common with
tnoSe vain glorious, bOmbastic, selfseeking political trick
sters, who pose as leaders at election time. Both White
and COlOred have their fill Of such. H
Under such leadership all colored churches. clubs.
lodges should get busy to put before their members a
program for the recognition of the rights Of their race
such as | outlined above. Care should be taken to be mod
crate IN their demands SO, that they will impress With
their fairness and moderation even the white people.
They should then induce every colored man and
woman IN Omaha to sign a simple pledge something as
follows:
Il express my belief in the aims Of the OMAHA
RIGHTS LEAGUE Tor whatever title that
organization may have). | hereby enlist in the League as
a comrade and active member. Ishall obey the orders Of
the leader OF the League as long as it does not conflict
with my conscience or with the laws of our Country. lie
Tor any reason | cannot continue such obedience | shall
resign from the League"
After two thirds Of the colored populations have
Identified themselves with the organizations, the leader,
with a carefully selected group of assistants, can begin
the struggle for the realization of the program.
In a courteous but uncompromising manner. thew
would make their convictions known, both in con-
ferences, and individual interviews to the white business