The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1940-09-27
Good Neighbors
By s. 7. McCants

Stunning very important and in
teresting title this issue in speak
ing for the majority of Negroes
in Seattle and the Northwest.
Having spent 81 years of my life
here continuously together with
personal experience and close OBJ
servations, 1 am forced at this
time, to bring to your attention,
some of the good and bad situa-
tons that daily confront the Me-
groes here in the Northwest. l
am sure that every race repre-
scented here, hold sacred the great
Joy and race pride of pointing
to some individual, organization
or race as a friend, and good
neighbor. My sole aim through
my column this week is to slim
ulate our grateful hearts, to act,
as well as to speak, of these God
given good neighbors and friends.
shall not hesitate to speak free
ly, concerning the Negroes friends
here in the Northwest. The Good
book, the Bible, our only safe
guide, for all the ages past and
present, tells us that the good
neighbor is the one who will feed
us when we are hungry, clothe
us when we are naked, take us in
and comfort US when we are sick,
give us drink when we are thirsty
I shall ask you THE NEGROES
of SEATTLE and the NORTH
WEST, if you know of any race
here that will refuse you food
when you are hungry? Or will
make it more explicit; do you
know of a race in Seattle that
will refuse you food and drink,
even though you have the good
American cash money to pay for
that food and drink? And do you
know of a race in authority who
refuses to employ you, so as to
keep your soul and body together?
And after obtaining your pittance
of cash as best you can, you are
restricted as to where you may
spend it. Do any of you know or
have heard of these ungodly acts
spoken of above? I think you
have, and to such undemocratic
we are forced to ex-
claim that you are not Good
Neighbors and it is impossible to
be good Americans, until we are
first Good Neighbors.
Who is Good Neighbor
To you who are guilty of the
above accusations of the Negroes
of the Northwest, we know how
many of your are so please give
us credit for some. We are CRATE
full for the kindly thoughts, and
deeds of many among the white
race, and we fully recognize the
fact that the good spirit exhibited
by the few, is overwhelmed by
the damnable prejudices and dis
elimination of the great majority.
Now then who performs the part
of the GOOD NEIGHBOR to the
Negro of the Northwest Who
has never failed to feed us when
were were hungry? 1 might add,
when we had no cash to pay, who
took us in their hotels and rooming
houses regardless of their loca-
tons and finery? Who is it that
tells the whites as well as all 9TH
-er races, that the Negroes are
as much human as any race of
people on earth? Who is it that
will ask anyone who complains
about the presence of Negroes in
their places of business to go and
jump in the lake?
l am going to tell you, and I
don't want any argument from
no, not a soul-this race
of people are first the Japanese,
and the Chinese. They have come
nearer living the part of a good
neighbor so far as the Negro is
concerned, then any race have
had to deal with in these u. S. of
America during my go years res
idence from coast to coast. The
Negroes of Seattle and the North
west owe the Japanese of this part
of the U. S. great dept of graf
itude for the many acts of mercy
extended to them during these ten
years of bitter depression I know
personally of so many acts of god
ly mercies extended to scores of
my race during these most trying
times. Many Negro, young and
old, practically owe their lives to
the Japanese Hotel and restaurant
owners in Seattle as elswhere. In
the meantime do not fail to be
reminded that those we have