Imperial Valley press., 1940-08-25
A PLEA FOR The
AMERICAN NEGRO
EDITOR. THE POST~PRESS:

| have been a constant reader of your
paper for number of years, during this
time | have given close observance of
your editorials. | would appreciate very
much if you would have this letter pub
lished in your paper. In times like these,
with blood being shed and men being
slaughtered ON land, sea and in the air,
there could be no greater gift bestowed
upon the American Negro, than to permit
him to enlist in every branch of our arm
ed forces as we make preparations to de-
fend our shores. Let us bear in mind
that the struggle Great Britain is making
to defend her homeland, is in sense our
struggle too. If Great Britain fails, all
decency and civilization is lost, and this
our Beloved Country may know chains
and horrors and suppressions of freedom
such as we have not known for genera
tionS.
1t is madness to think that it is none
of our affair. admit that they are fight
ing to save themselves, but if they save
themselves in this instance they will in
cidentally save civilization. May | call
your attention to that organization often
referred to as the Fifth Column. The
weaklings of our so-called superior race
are those who attempt to thrust the red
theory down the colored American
throats, by injecting the social equality
bugaboo into the issue. Should Commu-
nism gain foothold in this country,
Negroes will become overseers, etc. None
of these things appeal to the general
rank and file of the American Negro We
want white Americans to know now and
hereafter that we are opposed to all foes
of the American form of government, asd
naturally opposed to Communism. Mr..
Dies stated some time ago, and | quote:
Negroes are to be lauded for their re-
fusal to join the Communist party in
large numbers when bids were made for
their membership"
We are Americans; we hate Stain,
Molotoff, Ribbentrop, and Hitler's rule;
We hate autocrasy, and ask that in your
Investigations of the Fifth Column you
think of the needs of the sixth column
God is not dead, and thru His Divine
guidance we will break all these un-Am-
erican ideas in the good old American
way.
Americans have been horror stricken
at Hitler's treatment of the Jews We do
not pretend to understand how he could
be so brutal, yet as we shudder at his
unspeakable violence, we should realize
that We as a nation are not without guilt
in our treatment of the minority group
There is no sound reason, for example,
why four times as much money should
be spent on education of the white child
as on the Negro child. Let us not do less
for one but more for the other. Nor is
there reason to provide three times as
many hospital beds for white tubercular
patients as for colored tubercular pa
tients. The economic status of the Negro
caused by his almost impossible chance
of making decent living is no tribute
to our fairness. The remarkable advance
made by the Negro race in an almost in
credibly short time and under trying
conditions is ample evidence that all that
they need is further opportunities to ad-
vance. Even from selfish standpoint
we should help him. If he is infested with
disease, the white neighbor cannot keep
we'll, if he has no purchasing power, the
white man cannot do business with him,
if his education is neglected he becomes
more easily the prey of INSCRIPTIONS
persons who offer him bribes for his
support. Let us recognize the wisdom Of
seeking the highest good for the Negro
and realize that at the same time we are
helping ourselves as we'll.