Image provided by: University of Nebraska-Lincoln Libraries, Lincoln, NE
About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (April 7, 1917)
THE MONITOR A Weekly Newspaper devoted to the civic, social and religious interests of the Colored People of Nebraska and the West, with the desire to con tribute something to the general good and upbuilding of the community and of the race. Published Every Saturday. Entered as Second-Class Mail Matter July 2, 1916, at the Post Office at Omaha, Neb., under the act of March 3, 1879. THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor and Publisher. Lucille Skaggs Edwards and William Garnett Haynes, Associate Editors. George Wells Parker, Contributing Editor and Business Manager. Joseph LaCour, Jr., Lincoln Representative, 821 S. St., Lincoln. SUBSCRIPTION RATES, *1.50 PER YEAR Advertising Rates, 50 cents an Inch per issue. Address, The Monitor, 1119 North Twenty-first street, Omaha. Telephone Webster 4243. POPULARIZE ALBINO AS THE ANTONYM OF NEGRO We are unable to follow the reason ing of one of our correspondents, whose letter appears elsewhere in this issue, when he argues that because “what we call a ‘white man’ is not a ‘white man,’ but a pinkish man, hence no man at all.” We also regret that he seems to manifest so much bitterness, which in our judgment is always harmful to one’s self. It may be that Mr. Steward is writ ing sarcastically, using the apparent logic—if, indeed, it can be called logic —of narrow-browed and prejudiced albinoes, who seem to argue that be cause -the black man is not a white man (pinkish man, if you please), but a Negro, therefore he is no man at all. This does seem to be the line of ar gument by which many albino Amer icans justify their attitude towards Negro Americans. We have felt that this is the impression the albino American press has sought to convey and deepen by its use of the term “Negro,” which, when employed either as a substantive, in which case it is a proper noun, or as an adjective, is in variably printed by them, with a few notable exceptions, with a lower case “n.” This is, however, of minor im portance as compared with the pop ular usage almost invariably of “the negro” this and “the negro” that, after the fashion of writing “the ape,” “the elephant” or “the kangaroo.” We have always resented this usage, because, either rightly or wrongly, we have felt that, consciously or uncon sciously, the American press was bent upon perpetuating the baneful legacy and detestable heresy bequeathed from antebellum days, which taught that the Negro had no soul and there fore was not a human being. And not only so, but with the intention of creating an adverse sentiment against the Colored race. It is as an offset to this, in at least showing the absurdity of the popular albino newspaper usage, that we have suggested the use by the race press of the word “albino,” etymologically cor rect as descriptive of the white race, as the antonym of “negro.” In justification of our conviction that the albino press has not only been anxious to perpetuate a detestable ra cial heresy, but also to create an un favorable sentiment against a distinct racial group, we call attention to the fact that the Crisis, which is very careful as to its statements, is au thority for the statement that a group of daily papers in the western states have given written instructions t* their reporters to designate all per sons of color in their stories as Ne groes, but to refrain from mentioning nationality in the case of other races. This would seem to add weight to our contention. If their motive be a sinister one, let us, without bitterness, match their use of “Negro” with our use of “Albino.” The Negro Press versus the Albino Press. Popularize Albino as the an tonym of Negro. WAK The United States has been drawn into the world war. In our own mind there has long been the question as to just how far the greed of commercial ism has been responsible for the world war and just how much our na tion has been influenced by commer cialism to enter into it. As a nation our profession of being deeply moved by humanitarian in stincts has been so wantonly denied by our practice in dealing with one eighth of our citizenry, that we grave ly question the accuracy of the state ment that we have entered the con flict actuated solely by the desire to maintain justice, liberty, righteous ness and democracy. The United States has no room for boasting of her superiority over the autocracies of the old world, doomed though they be to dissolution, so long as she withholds or permits to be withheld “the right of those who sub mit to authority to have a voice in their own government,” or permits the glaring and notorious injustices which prevail against her black citi zens. But be that as it may. The die is cast. War is upon us. It will prove a gigantic conflict. Before it is over we shall pass through a baptism of fire and blood. May it prove a con secrating chrism, giving us a new birth and true conception of human brotherhood, which we will not merely profess with our lips, but show forth in our lives by our conduct towards all mankind! WANTED, 40,000 MEN FOR NAVY; NO NEGROES NEED APPLY The United States is advertising for 40,000 men for the navy. Colored Americans are not wanted. They are not permitted to enlist. As the en listments of the few who are already in the navy expire these are permitted with great reluctance on the part of the officials to re-enlist; but no new enlistments of Colored Americans are being permitted. The United States government, mark you, not benighted Romanoff ruled Russia, nor the Prussianized im perial German government, if you please, but the UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT, is refusing to per mit Colored Americans to enlist in the navy. “Wanted, 40,000 men for the navy,” but no Negroes need apply. What a commentary on the United States! We write this in sorrow, not in bitterness. We publish in this issue the notable speech of Roscoe Conkling Simmons, concerning which the great Henri W'atterson said, “That speech should make many white (albino) Americans hide their heads in shame.” SKITS OF SOLOMON Psychology Psychology is the diligent study of something we don’t know anything about and, furthermore, something we are not likely to know anything about for the next six or seven million years. 4t is chiefly an effort to find out something about ourselves. Of course we all know that we are so many feet tall, weigh so many pounds and have noble foreheads, fine chests, tiny feet and shapes that make Veny de Meelo look like a stogie; but that isn’t knowing anything about our selves, our sublimal ego, subconscious garages, dual personalities, and such junk. Those are only our general specifications. What is meant here is that we don’t know any more about our inherent possibilities than a hen knows about the science learned at a local sewing circle. The Egyptian used to be satisfied with five souls—his ka, bai, ran, khi bet and khat—while we tried for some time to struggle along with one. We did fairly well until some snooping kinoop discovered psychology and messed up the music. He and his suc cessors piled so many attributes upon the soul that the poor little chap for got his own name. It tried to recover its equilibrium and look respectable, but it is having a mighty hard time of it. Another lovely thing about psychol ogy is that it can always explain the unexplainable. There need be no mys teries, no hoodoo, no magifc, as long as old psycho is on the job. We have tried to locate some little thing that it hasn’t explained for the last twenty years, and we are still Sherlocking around. If you should find something lisp Central an earful of our number and shout the glad tidings. We want to hand old psycho one uppercut be fore we make the final shuffle. THE GET ONE CLUB. Who will be the next member of The Get One Club? We want our subscribers to “Get One New Sub scriber for The Monitor.” Who will be the first? All news must be in before Wednes day noon, in order to appear the fol lowing Saturday. Small Nebraska farms on easy pay ments, five acres up. “We farm the farm we sell you.” The Hungerford Potato Growers’ Assn., 15th and How ard Sts., Omaha. Douglas 9371. SUBSCRIBE FOR THE MONITOR. Theodore Roosevelt wants to fight Germany and has let it be known that he wants a Colored regiment. Teddy couldn’t well feel safe with any one else after the San Juan experience. Over 200,000 pounds of beans gone to waste right here in Omaha and to think how much we love beans. It’s a fright! The Hon. H. J. I’unkitt meandered into the daily colyums last week with a hundred-proof patriotic eruption, ending with the offer of his trusty right wing to the U. S. A. We called him up on the phone and told him the place to make such an offer was on the southwest corner of Sixteenth and Fa mam and—he slammed down the receiver. Have you seen the billboards with that little couple playing the blind parents of nine small children? We would hate to be the poster who would have to paste one of those on a bill board down in Bam. “O where, O where is the moral squad? O where, O where can it be?” Cabareting, Cecil, of course. It is rumored that England is now considering bringing black soldiers from Africa, and when those same sol diers offered themselves two years ago she insulted them by saying that she couldn’t afford to let black men fight white. We reckon the pride of many folk will get many a jolt before this world is at peace again. Saturday at 9:0 Governor Neville signed the Benson-Florence annexa tion bill. Some bust measurement, eh? They are talking about a bone-dry prohibition law, but come to think of it a dry bone has many a hole in it. We have to hand it to Commissioner Parks. When it comes to keeping a city clean he has all parts of him. Cupid has been so busy among the Colored population this winter that he has ordered a fresh consignment of arrows. Start working on your lawn. Noth ing sets off a home more prettily than soft green grass and a sprinkling of sweet flowers. We don’t use profanity, but if we have to trot down the cellar and start another fire in the furnace, women folk had better hold their shell pink ears. Thanking you for your kind atten tion, we will now proceed to warm our hands over the hot arguments in the Congressional Record. : II I! II II II HU II IIIl ll'llill lt II It li lt PlLaster Clothing J A SPLENDID SHOWING OF STYLISH SERVICE GIVING CLOTHES FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY Our Inexpensive Location and Ix»w Operating Expense Enables Us to Lower the Prices. UNION OUTFITTING COMPANY 16th and Jackson Streets Opposite Hotel Rome KiaXaXa X »' a.K-a'a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a. a. a a. t .. Street Car Transfer Points ————— The transfer point between any two lines is usually the first point of intersection. As there are some exceptions to this rule, however, the public is requested to ask the conductor in all cases of doubt. ■ - i. . Omaha & Council Bluffs Street Ry. Co.