The guardian. [volume] (Boston, Mass.) 1901-1960, 1954-10-23


of their effors, the apprecia
ton coming after they ar
dead. This is especially tru
of races given to personal ami
rnosities jealousies and mis-
understanding. Only when rae
workers against wrongs ar
dead are their true motive
and aims seen clearly. Fortu
nately, however, the world /
realizing the harm OF this t,
mankind In that it cripple
worthy efforts and shorteni
service. Recognition of length
OF service in life instead o
shortening that service leng,
thens that life and preserves
the yigor Of the reformer.
It is real test of the char
scter and grade of a race
whether it can or cannot riss
10 the height Of discerning
and appreciation honesty and
earnestneSs in a worker
against injustice TO that race
A race shows its own intrinsic
strength and quality. or its
innate weakness and inferior
ity, by the exten to which it
perceives that 1t has a COM
mon cause, that he who works
for it serves the personal in
terest Of every member, and
mostly by its willingness or
unwillingnesS to share the
net loses Of a consistent race
workers steady campaign
against wrong to the race.
Milestones in careers of
work for humanity are mark
ed. so the custom goes, by de-
cades or by quarter-centuries
One decade Of strenuous and
constant effort, II unsubsidized
and unsalaried, is by white
races, considered quite an
achievement and honor is paid
to the reformer. A quarter
century Of such effort, espec-
tally where the fight is hard
and the going difficult is
hailed as a life-epoch for the
worker and for the race. But
is it so with the Colored race?
Do Colored Americans. es-
pecially those now living in
Boston and Massachusetts,
realize that by one of their
own members whose Justice
work for the race has been
carried on publicly and cons
picuously in their midst, a
quarter-century Of steady
campaigning against injustice.
repression and inequality for
race has been accomplished!
Do eolored Americans, ma
ton wide realize that a race
man still living and working
among and for them has this
year, 1924. turned his steps
into a quarter-century Of ma
tional struggle by and through
which a continuous and con
sistent fight against denial OF
tn recognition of Colored
Americans for free and equal
citizenship in all matters ci-
VIC Is a monumental reality7
Listen! William Monroe Trot-
ter, born April 7, 1872, has at
last reached his quarter-cen-
fury Of reform work against
wrong to his race. Hail him
BOSTON and Massachusetts,
Encourage him in life, Color
ca Americans of the nation.
IN 1899 Mr.. Trotter, aged 27
already succeeding in rea-
estate brokerage, an A. B. anC
a M. of Harvard University
US hrst colored Phi Bet
Kappa man, and OF the AIRS
group, married and living If
his own fne home, anon,
White neighbors, enlisted +,
combat denial OF life-protec.
tion, of suffrage, of court ius.
tice, Of civil rights and pri,
1iges, and Of equal opportu.
nifty, because of color.
First his challenge to con.
tempt for his race was by All,
,tation, through banquets ans
mass meetings against denia
OF higher education and den.
I al Of the ballot in the south
Then he took part in racia
protective organization unde.
the leadership Of the late Rev
VIM. H. Scott, from the FRS
lighting everything and every
body white or black, VIII.
denied identical rights. or VIII,
by compromise accepted ant
aided such denials. His earl,
EFFORTS we're in part a strenu
Gus battle against the race,
claim 10 full equality beins
lost by the imposing upor
the race Of a compromise anc
rights relinquishing race lead.
ership.
In two years the need of 4
defense organ was 40 snpha-