The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1940-05-03
Good Neighbors

this week to have a heart to heart
talk with the Good Neighbor scribe
concerning this great and free
America of ours. Also the price
demanded of some of Its citizens
for their freedom. I am sure that
after more than half a century
residence in different parts of the
United States. that the Negro
American holds a different view
of the word freedom" than that
forced upon us by other nations in
charge of affairs from year to
year.
I strive to make myself believe
that true freedom for the Negro
In America Is making progress.
But when I am brought face to
face with ideas like the one In the
following letter from a prominent
white minister in the State of New
York, I am made to wonder how
many of the so-called superior
races are in accord with this poor
and miserable. uniformed prelate.
We quote his letter sent to one of
the popular writrs of our Metro
politan Negro publications: "As a
white man having done Christian
work among your people, I believe
1t wise and expedient for me to
suggest to writers like yourself at
this time, the value of emphasize
ing the blessing that the Negro
race enjoys in this country as COM
pared to the rights and privileges
accorded it's darker kinsmen in
other countries. If were a Negro
I would praise God from morning
until night, for having delivered
me into the hands of Christian
white people of America. In view
of present European conditions I
feel our colored population is proud
to be in the care of, and under the
protecting wing of the American
white man. feel that the Negro
is fully aware of the freedom he
enjoys among us. And you colored
editors should regard it religious
duty to keep your race so advised"
Your Good Neighbor scribe once
more is lost for words to express
his attitude in regard to such a
message to an intelligent editor of
leading Negro publication in the
year of our Lord, 1910. I am sure
of one thing at this time: 1t is that
my present opinions need be pray
ed over before going to press. You
will please note that the so-called
Christian white preacher said, IF
I were NegropI would praise God
from morning until night for hav-
ing delivered me into the hands of
Christian white people of Ameri-
ca" This expression from the
would-be Christian preacher is the
American Negroes cup. In answer
to this assertion, I must honestly
say with all my heart, 1 wish he
and all who are in sympathy with
him could be a Negro for a short
while; travel up and down this
U.S.A. and really experience the
attitude the so-called Christian
white people of America extend to
the loyal colored citizens of this
country. IF I wer colored," says
the white prelate. Yes, If he We're
colored, he would soon find life
more of tragedy than anything
else he could compare with it. Here
are just few Of the heart-break-
ing scenes of the American Ngro
down the path of life: He is denied
birthrights of this wonderful land
that he has labored for hundreds
of years; little or no justice is CIV
en- him in the American Halls of
Justice; we are set upon, murder
ed, lynched, isolated, stigmatized,
placarded with badges of inferior
ity--in other words, classed as
American lepers. Only a black
man in America, surrounded by
freedom, wealth and happiness, yet
denied it, can ever know how it
feels to be Negro in America. A
white man can never know or even
imagine the hell that the Ameri-
can Negro is called upon to bear
in his heart. God and God only
can fully know the troubles we are
forced to bear.
The Reverend says "the colored
editor should regard it his relig-
ious duty to keep the Negro race
so advised" Well, Reverend, at
this point, in defiance of your at
titude to the American Negro, al
low the colored editors of the coun-
try to borrow your words. AS a
final answer to your un-Christian
attitude to the loyal Negro race of
America, we quote Christ's words
of consolation to those who love