The Omaha guide., 1935-05-18
A Message to Southern
Black Men
From The Chicago Defender.

From Inc OulCdSO Nh0
We have no hesitancy in stating-and lhis
statement is based upon a belief III the De.tei 0on
science Of American citizenry-that the Will OF me
-: naonle has been thwarted and defeated
m;nori+v IT IS our opinion that the CosCgan-
WAGNER Anti-Lynching Bill in its intent ana pu-
pose embodied the principles Tor "nch Inc sA0"
majority Of American citizenry STANDS N
Tho naonlA who defeated The antilynchlng Dill.
and the forces combined to make possible tins DE-
fea+ did not represen. nor speak for the lnlelieen'
and cultured white people OF the ooulh' i
forcos which succeeded in preventing the passage
of his measure typify and represent lnat 'na0
of the white South whose chief qualification mas
its highest attainment In a form OF cruelly ln"' 60
lis birth in sex and mental perverSlon-
This small minority, understanding us pui-
nose under the guise Of protec ing southern WON
1911 !, nos able "a muster to its side sufficient
g+reng1b under The skilful direction OF a much ao-
ver+ised constitutional lawyer to defeat the enac'-
,nent Of a piece of legislation which would nave
- Ia oolSiad hand of the murderer and lyncher.
The better thinking white women OF the oou'n
rave their moral support 20 the passage OIL lne n0dS-
nrA They knew. only too well, that the tght maui
aorain senators % the end that lynehing should
No maintained in the South as a security Of their
VIruP. was DOlQ anu SPNN
Him. They fur. her knew THAI when senators Oh
IL +loor II the senate declared, THAT the local
autboriii les could solve the %lynching problem lha'
that statement was a travesty upon reason ana :
perience. 81 -
Tbo intelHoent white people OF the South are
vol avare Of the fact that only 100 ofen the la"
officers themselves are a party to the lynchlngs-
They know tha. officials for public office IN certain
con+barn SAFE are elected to office because Oh
,boir attitude and heir favorable consideration Oh
lvncbars and l~vnchings. This is all known TO the
ir+aBio4nt and cultured While people OF the South
Unfortunately for the South the political Status
AZ most of thezstates is shaped and controlled by lhe
descendants OF the poorest type Of the slave hoIu-
iro class The politics Of the South and Shaping
of the laws of the South is IN control OF the
descendants of that type Of Southern white men
who v-er4. during slavery the holders Oh such po-
sitions ~ the social and economic lie OF the oouAn
a. nlanta-ion overseers and paddyrollers'
This class of Southern white men, by virtue q
+boir rasnonsibiIitv during the slave era, developed
. brn+alizing instinct, in fact a sadlstlc mind III lnat
+bo AGONY ana misery Of others became a JOY anu
hanpiness to them. The supporters ana delenuelS
ne Fvnehing are The heirs apparent to the throne =
tho savaoerv and mental perverslon OF their aheeS-
tors.
But to every black man OF the SCUM we az
sending this message: You are supposed u pe
fraamen the Constitution of your country says InaI
nd freeman shall be taken, or imprisoned, OF olseas-
ad or outlawed. OF banished, or in any way mJureo'
unless bv the legal judgement Of his peers or by Inc
law Of he land. This law came down to you III
common with other men from EnglandS hlghest
legal authorities.
Tn view of the repeated infringements upon your
RIGHTS and privileges by mobs with no authority Of
law and without any legal sanction for their actlon'
# now becomes your imperative duty as men 10 de-
fend Yourselves. You have observed the refusal Oh
the United States senate to enact into law a Dill
which would have sustained you in your cltlzensmp
rights. In view of its refusal you have no other
alternative but to exert every possible effort TO re-
sist the murderous mob when they attempt your
home or your person.
When the law enforcing agencies OF your couh-
ties refuse your aid, In fact connive with the mop
TO destroy your life and property, your only refuge
is to stand up and die like men. No man IS vlolat-
mo anv law when he defends himself against a
mob. Mobs are both cowardly and criminal at
heart: if you must 90, then take somebody with
YOU. Answer terror with terror; you can die only
/ once: this is the message to the South.
VIII