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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Jan. 4, 1919)
“I RESENT IT IN THE NAME OF DEMOCRACY, IN THE NAME OF LIBERTY, IN THE NAME OF BROTHERLY LOVE” (Continued from Page 1) "Looking forward with pleasure to your enrollment, we remain “Cordially yours, “(Signed) L. H. BISSELL, “President.” Presumably, sir, when you wrote this letter you did not know that you were addressing a colored man. Mr. Bissell, you cannot know as to what it means to be a colored man in Amer ica. I have heard that in France a native of my race is a Frenchman; in England he is an Englishman; in Spain he is a Spaniard; in Mexico he is a Mexican. Is it not possible for him to be a plain American where he is now, for the most part, considered as being a mere negro—with the in sinuating small “n”—or that despica ble .thing called “nigger,” which im plies about the value of a rimless zero? Mr. Bissell, I am sure you will pardon me when I say—If THE WORLD HAS BEEN MADE SAFE FOR DEMOCRACY, it now seems necessary that DEMOCRACY BE MADE SAFE FOR THE WORLD. Yes; I am a colored man. Whether or not this is my fate or my fortune I do not know. But I am a member of the race of Crispus Attucks, who died the first martyr for American In dependence. I belong to the race of “Big Jim’ Parker, who saved Mc Kinley from the second shot of the as sassin. I am a member of the race of Henson, who went with Peary to the Pole. I am one of the race of black boys who died gloriously in Flanders fields and in No Man’s Land —to establish on earth a Democracy . -» that is boundless and a Liberty that is color-blind. If it is a crime to be black, don’t charge it to me. Charge it to my Creator, because— K K 1! >1 ttm K !! K H B U X St !! !( !! !S H it !< it X H.S GOD MADE ME BLACK. God made me Black. It is to Him I owe Whate’er my mission in the Mighty Plan The Trinity resolved in making man. White, Yellow, Red and Brown—God made them so— He made me Black, and, toilers all, we go Each to his task. Though robed in white or tan, ’Tis but the service of the soul that can Make known the measure of the Man below. We prize the gleaming glory of the day— No less we love the beauty of the night; We pause to hear the song-bird’s roundelay, And praise its coat of color or of white; Far deeper than the reach of mortal sight God hath ordained and marked His men of clay. Emerson once wrote: “Of what avail the plow or sail Or Land or Life, if Freedom fail?” Today, we ask the same question. It seems to me that a just Democ racy must be founded on the princi ples that: Legally, there are but two classes of peoples in the world—those who behave themselves and those who do not. Morally, there are but two— those who love others and those who love themselves only. Spiritually, there are two—those who love God and those who love the Devil. Surely, ximmmmomimHmnXMxn k.x« » mm > good behavior, good will towards one’s fellowmen and devotion to God de serve the highest reward on earth— as in Heaven. Whoever discriminates because of the color of a man’s skin disgraces the very name of Democ racy and belies the great claim of Na tional Liberty. Of course, Mr. Bissell, you hold nothing against me—personally, since we have never met. You doubtless feel that you must bar “colored men” from your college purely in the inter est of your business. The other stu dents, etc. When one caters to a base prejudice one becomes a part of that evil and maintains the deplora ble condition that makes such a thing possible. Sir, should anything I have written seem, in your judgment, as unjust or unreasonable, please consider the fact that yours is but another door of op portunity that has been slammed in another black face—and I resent it. I would forever despise myself did I not resent this thing that, I believe, mocks the American flag I love and did my utmost to serve faithfully for nearly | seventeen years. I resent it, not self ishly, hut for the outraged race to : which I belong—and to whom I owe j the last breath of my devotion. I re sent it in the name of Democracy in the name of Liberty—in the name ! of Brotherly Love—in the name of the : crucified Christ—in the name of the Living God. I resent it in the name of the unhom generations of black ; babes—that they may be bom free. I resent it because Heaven gives me strength to resent it—and I must. I resent it—because myr heart bleeds the blind blood of an inward injury that no human eye can see. I resent it— because my spirit groans with the travail of the truth that msut be born again and again—till this war rent earth and its battle-maimed mil ::: >< !!,!< >< K'g#'# >< ■< KX« :: « tf tffadttMHMBgMHIB lions are saved from that insufferable hell of RACE PREJUDICE. “And the star-spangled banner in tri umph shall wave O’er the land of the free and the home of the brave.” Sincerely yours, LUCIAN B. WATKINS, Formerly Sergeant First Class, Med ical Department, U. S. A. IMPROVEMENT OF RACE IN HANDS OF SOLDIERS Colonel Young Gives Sound Advice to 812th Regiment of Infantry as They Are Mustered Out of Service. Camp Grant, 111.—Before an audi ence of over 2,000 soldiers of the 812th infantry, Col. Chas. Young de livered a stirring address at the Y. M. C. A. auditorium on a recent Sun day evening. The 812th regiment were about to be mustered out, and it was the desire of Col. Young to im press upon the minds of the depart ing soldiers the importance of mili tary training. When the armistice was signed, this regiment, under the command of Col. Fred V. Chamber lain (white) had started for France, and it was sorely disappointing to the colonel as well as to his men to be forced to return to camp. As a farewell celebration to his men before they should again go back to civil life, Colonel Chamberlain invited Colonel Young, who is assigned here with the development battalions, to give them a few words of advice. “It is within the power of the Col ored man,” said Col. Young, “to im prove the conditions of his race in the south. If you men will take advan tage of the training you have received in the army you can make your influ ence felt in the south as leaders. You can bring about changes of many a :: :: Si Si si si :: st si st st st st s; st st st st st st st st st st things in the south which are now distasteful to the race if you will only keep up the ambition, industry and at tentiveness to duty which you have shown while in the army." DETROIT COLORED BANKS ENCOURAGE THRIFT The Wage Earners and Mechanics Savings Ranks Distributed to Mem bers of Its Christmas Savings Club Nearly $35,000. Detroit, Mich., Dec. 20.—As a re sult of becoming members of the Christmas savings clubs of the Wage Earners and the Mechanics Savings Bank 2,728 Negroes received this Yuletide season $34,862.50. Of this amount the 2,000 members of the clubs of the Wage Earners received $25,000, saved by them during the year, and the 728 members of the savings club of the Mechanics Savings Bank a share in the distribution of the $9,862.50, which have been depos ited there. It is conservatively estimated that the total amount which the Negroes of the city received from this popular method of saving from all the banks of the city, both white and Colored, I was in the "neighborhood of $60,000. — OBSERVE EMANCIPATION DAY Des Moines, la., Jan. 1.—The Ne groes of this city observed Emancipa tion day on the evening of January 1, 1919, with appropriate exercises at St. Paul’s A. M. E. church, comer i Twelfth and Crocker streets. The pro gram was given under the auspices ' of the Des Moines branch of the N. A. A. C. P. Governor W. S. Harding was the principal speaker. Others who took ' part were Mrs. Ruth Blaise, contralto; tiara a » » » » a;» a u*-ax.«.ax'>flwwfiSBBHBBffi Prof. Ross Vernon Miller, basso; a quartet from Camp Dodge; Miss Mar vel Blackburn, reader; and Mrs. Ur sula Guy, pianist. Rev. W. C. Cole, pastor of Capitol Hill Church of Christ, gave the' invocation, and Rev. S. S. Birt, pastor of St. Paul’s A. M. E. church, the benediction. DES MOINES PLANS FOR A Y. M. C. A. Des Moines, la., Jan. 1.—At a mass meeting of Negro citizens Sunday aft ernoon at the Park Street Army Y. M. C. A., action was taken to trans form the Army “Y” branch into a branch of the general Y. M. C. A. Representatives from all the churches were present and gave their support to the movement. A census of the Negro population of the city of males between the ages of 12 and 30 will be taken within the next few days and a list of all adult members of the race who will give their support to the movement. ST. LOUIS ARGUS PURCHASES PLANT St. Louis, Mo.—It is with a sense of duty that we announce that the St. Louis Argus Publishing Co. has pur chased the printing plant known as the Osborne Printing Co. 2316 Mar ket St. The Osborne Printing Co., is one of the best equipped shops in St. Louis, and adding it to the already large printing department of the St. Louis Argus, makes the Argus print ing plant the largest and best equip ped in this section of the country. Furnished Rooms—Strictly mod em. With or without board. 1516 North 16th. Tel. Webster 4983. Smoke John Ruskin 5c Cigar. Big ; gest and Best.—Adv._ CgmitflglHMIUlfalrilglgffiWSM aiagrgl'gigMaBa t JJ Phones, Office, Douglas 7812; Res., Webster 6231 Office Hours, 10 to 12 A. M.; 3 to 5 % P. M.; 6 to 7 P. M. I Dr. L. E. Britt j PHYSICIAN AND SURGEON i w Office, N. W. Cor. 13th and Farnam j H (Over Pope’s Drug Store.) | ” Res., 2519 Maple St., Omaha, Neb. ‘J it 5 ;; K 't it :< ;; « K M « it it » it H M iOt it it it it « n it it j G.W. HOLMES ' 1 BARBER SHOP 1 6 X I >: : Electric Clippers jt> a £3 * Q M 5 1832 North 24th Street ;; ; :: ) X X X X X X X X X XX X XX X X X X X X X X X X X X X : | J. H. HOLMES I TAILOR All work Guaranteed. La- ‘ x dies’ and Gents’ Suits Re- 5 x modeled, Cleaned, Pressed '! and Repaired. New Hoff- jj i man Press. $ s ■'* ». 2022 N. 21th St. Web. 3320 ! « l H 0 " x x xix-x x.;x]x;i<jX,;x;X x x x;x;x x x x;x x x x'x’X j X I x : x : I Mme. Susie Smith j % 1 Poro Hair Culturist 1 All Work Done by Electricity. 1 Web. 3024. 2512 Lake St. jj 5 x;(KMBfMXMXIXix xKBf&flMHBWM x JflXSrx x x(«| «; Web. 2816. 1922 N. 25th St. j * *' 1 § Dressmaking and j 1 Ladies’ Tailoring j MRS. C. RIDLEY I ! x Omaha.Nebraska, j; || xfioflx x x x x XMSflXPi » Day Call Red 3203 x Nitfht C;dl Douulas 3718 j J. H. Russell & Co. . I UNDERTAKERS AND / «. EMBALMERS j _ LADY ATTENDANT Successors to BANKS & WILKES I 1914 CUMING STREET The Booker T. Washington j Hotel Strictly Modern Furnished Furnished Rooms First Class Service Reasonable Rates 523 N. 15th St. Tel. Tyler 897. > N. W. WARE, Prop. : si s: :i :: >; !! :! it :: ::)! si SI si st :l si si si si si s: si j ALAMO BARBER SHOP AND POCKET BILLIARD PARLOR : We pay the best prices; we have the best barbers. The only shop that pays their barbers 65 per cent on the t dollar. Killingsworth & Price Props. 2416 N. 24th St. j __ y 'It SI SI St It SI It St SI st s: si SI II SI st'si st stii- sues: St St st j ; ] I<et us make the world safe and opportunities better for j our posterity by patronizing j our own business enterprises. Business with us means a better opportunity for some boy or some girl or our race. Williamson for prescriptions; Williams for drugs. That’s a I good combination. 2306 N. 24th. Tel. Webster 4433. : i s: st st sen st st;st st s©t"st st; st it it st sf>OWOt:« « >C p Phone Webster 7924 HOT AND COLD BATHS IN CONNECTION, 25c “Please Help Us Grow” A. CHISLEY BARBER SHOP AND BILLIARD PARLOR Cigars, Tobacco and All Kinds of Soft Drinks 1320 North 24th St. OMAHA - - - NEB. t;st; st„stist; st sc St! st>!t;iut st int it st st sot st st st st st » j ji South & Thompson’s Cafe 2418 North 24th St. Webuter 4566 i) I SPECIAL SUNDAY DINNER Stewed cnicken with dumplings..40c j I toast rrime Beef au jus 40c j Roast Pork, Apple Sauce ..40c 1 toast Domestic Gooae, dressing 50c - Karly June Peas Mi lb hod Potatoes j; Salad Coffee Dessert We Serve Mexican Chile § fist stilt!St st,'it;st,st Strsot st'it:st;;st;,scst.1st st «stMst st st ij J I ; Mmes. South & Johnson B i Scientific Scalp Specialists Sole Manufacturers of MAGIC HAIR GROWER AND MAGIC STRAIGHTENING OIL Yve teach the Art of Hair Dress ing, Shampooing, Facial MaH.sage, Manicuring, Scalp Treatment and ! the Making of Hair goods. Hair Grower, per box 50c. Straightening Oil, per box 35c FOIt APPOINT CALL WKB. 880. 2416 Blondo St., Omaha, Neb. I _ I flHBHKKIHBMWMKSIMhftCWKMMMGUOtjSiJItis Omaha Colored People in Business and the Professions rpHE FOLLOWING BUSINESS and Professional People take this opoprtunity of thanking their patrons for appreciated patronage during the past year, of bespeaking its continuance and of wishing all a Happy and Prosperous i New Year. There is a large number of Colored people in business and professional life in Omaha, a much larger number than is generally known. Many of these business ventures are modest, but with proper support and encouragement they will grow. There are good opportunities for business in many other lines in which our people have not yet ventured. jj There still seems to be a disposition to overdo the matter in some business lines and to neglect other branches. Let some of our enterprising people invest their money in gentlemen’s furnishing stores, dry good stores, grocery stores, and similar lines. The business cards here inserted show only a part, and that a very small part, of the business and professions in which our people are engaged. » ! X X X X :: X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X X 1! X X X X X X X X X X X X :: X :: >: :: :: :: X X x 'J 7j/ig Monitor \( Wishes aii its readers a very I _ * J/fappy and Prosperous /few 2/ear . t w'ww W M w X.st w viM/VifUf u u MM it if tt I i The Warden Hotel | Office Phone Douglas 6332 H STEAM HEATED ROOMS By Day or Week Billiard Parlpr. In Connection Phone Tyler 822 CHAS. H. WARDEN, Proprietor ‘I 16th and Cuming Ste., Omaha, Neb. £ New American Book Store The Monitor. The Defender. The Indianapolis Ledger. MRS. NELSON, Secretary. 2516 Q St. Phone So. 2100 ikkikibih : J | Dr. Craig Morris j DENTIST ; j* X-Ray and Violet-Ray * Treatment ! 2407 Lake St. “ Web."4024 | I 1 | 1 i . It a; H..K. K « - W X X X it X 5 } • l j YOU < Can make this a Happy and ^ *; Prosperous New Year by jj j Purchasing a Home. We j i sell homes on easy pay- ;> | ments. “• The Western Real Estate Co. 413-4 Karbach Block I). 3607 i EUGENE THOMAS, Mngr. \ t | :)! 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 ! « : 1 J | Silas Johnson i FUNERAL DIRECTOR a > Service and Quality 4| j£ Licensed Embalnier in Attendance \ \ 1 2518 Lake Web. 248 > | 1 a :: a a a a a a a a a a :: a a a a a a a a a a a a a;; I Dr. J. Doston Hill l Physician and Surgeon | 1320 N. 24th St. Web. 827 | < S a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a a airtlMMMHMaBI 1 I Dr. C. H. Singleton DENTIST I Ills. 14th St. Doug. 2421 \ SMHHIHg a a a a a a a KJrXWWiKW I.L. Betts Staple and Fancy Groceries Cigars, Tobacco and Sundries 4 • I Web. 875 J. HALL - - - Prop. § I g. Progressive Tailor 1614 N. 24th St. j txMXMxixrgTgrsTXTKixixixixixixixsxixixpaKiytXiX1 g! Dee Gee Apartments f Strictly Modern ’ fij Rates Reasonable i 2020-22-24 Burt St. Telephone Red .3203 x I). G. RUSSELL, Prop. X X X K X :: X X X x X X X X. X :: :: :: :: :: :: g ;• * x J. W. LONG j Inspector of Weights and Measures CITY HALL X 1516 N. 24th St. Web. 5450 J The Jones Poro Culture College Res.. Web. 3290 MRS. EVANS JONES : I x:x.X<xix;Xx x x x x x x x x:x:x x x X X [Xli>®x IX r R. L. Woodard ; BARBER SHOP ? i Practical Artist—Try Us 4912 S. 26th St. South 4459. g ij HBBa«liail81»IMWMWW^ £ tj x | NORTH SIDE SECOND-HAND STORE f R. B. RHODES Dealer In New and Second-Hand Furniture and Stoves I HOUSEHOLD BOODS BOUGHT AND SOLD jf 2522 Lake St. Web. 908. jmfflnxixrxixaaMxixitfixrxixarxaMXKiaxiaisiaa