The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928, November 27, 1915, Page 4, Image 4
The Monitor A Weekly Newspaper devoted to the civic, social and religious interests of the Colored People of Omaha and vicinity, with the desire to contribute something to the general good and upbuilding of the community. Published Every Saturday. Entered as Second-Class Mail Matter July 2, 1915, 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, William Garnett Haynes and Ellsworth W. Pryor, Associate Editors. Joseph LaCour, Jr., Advertising and Circulation Manager. SUBSCRIPTION RATES, $1.00 per year. Advertising rates, 50 cents an inch per issue. Address, The Monitor, 1119 North Twenty-first street, Omaha. ATTORNEY H. J. PINKETT MISQUOTED BY THE OMAHA DAILY NEWS Friday night’s Omaha Daily News contained a purported interview with Attorney H. J. Pinkett, in which he was represented as stating in sub stance that “The Birth of a Nation” was not seriously objectionable, save in two very minor and unimportant parts, and urging all to see it. While frankly admitting everyone’s right to his own opinion, the colored people of Omaha felt very indignant indeed that this position should be taken by a man of Mr. Pinkett’s training and advantages in the face of the opposition that is being of fered all over the country, and which is being made here to have at least the most objectionable features elimi nated from the sinister designed pro duction. It was further known by some that Mr. Pinkett, at his own expense, had sent a night letter to Mr. Arthur D. Brandeis in New York, urging him to use his influence there to have at least the most objectionable features cut out. The reported interview and his activity at suppression seemed strangely inconsistent. It was therefore gratifying to see published in Saturday’s issue of the News the following signed communi cation from Mr. Pinkett: “In a recent issue of your paper yon published an interview with me in which you wrongly make me say that “The Birth of a Nation” is a praiseworthy production. “Everybody is quite ready to con cede that the Negro has done his full duty in all our country’s wars, up to 1850 the wealth of the nation was the result of Negro slave labor. His reward for these contributions was what chattel slavery gives to all its victims. “When the Civil war ended in 1865 the Negro was supposed to be free. But the war had no sooner ended than the legislatures of the seceueu states assembled and enacted what were known as “black codes,” or vagrancy laws, which declared all persons to be vagrants who could not show they paid taxes on real estate of a certain value or had been regu larly employed in the service of some white person for pay for an impossi ble time. Upon the failure of any person or persons to meet these re quirements (and, of course, it ap plied to Negroes only) they were tried, convicted and sentenced and let to service until they had worked out the fine. (‘Aftermath of Slavery,’ by Wm. A. Sinclair.) Thus, in a short time after the war the Negro was found in a worse slavery than ms former state. If this should continue the fruits of the war would be nil. “Two courses were open to the friends of freedom—either to arm all the Negroes or place the ballot in their hands, that they might defend themselves. Frederick Douglass, the great Negro of that day; Thaddeus Stevens of Pennsylvania and Charles Sumner of Massachusetts believed in gradual enfranchisement of the Ne groes. But the seceded states would make no compromise, would do no justice. After a struggle of four years the ballot was given to the Ne gro. And among the first things which the Negro legislatures of the south did was to pass laws creating the free public school system of the south, where, as is well known, there had been none before. “Out of that pei’iod came such men as Douglass, Langston, Bruce, Elliott and Pinchback, who have been an inspiration to colored youth ' throughout the years that have passed. And thanks to a generous north, schools were established all over the southland, and she gave the very flower of her youth to teach the Negro how to re-establish family life and become a useful part of society. How well they have succeeded, the Negro’s progress attests. “May we not fairly ask of the Eng lish-speaking race, which has done so much to spread the spirit of liberty in the world, if they would not make a better case for their claims to greatness by refusing to further han dicap the already unfortunate Negro by exploiting his weakness through a highly-developed photographic art? Are you not strong enough to be just? “It is a small thing to cripple a man and then chide him for his fail ure to win the race, as some scenes in this play would do. At best, the lot of the Negro in America today is hard enough, and such plays as ‘The Birth of a Nation’ and ‘The Nigger’ should be suppressed, that it may not be made more difficult. “H. J. PINKETT.” “AN ORDINANCE IS PENDING.” “We have no ordinance at present to reach it. If we had one, of course I would see that it was enforced.” This statement was made to us by Mayor Dahlman, in whose sincerity we have had the utmost confidence, Saturday morning, November 6. An ordinance was introduced the following week, was favorably re ported, but has been held up at the behest of a sentiment,defying outside corporation, until they are about ready to leave town. The city authorities are reminded that this movement on their part is regarded in a most unfavorable light by nearly 1,800 voters. It will require lots of explanation THAT WILL NOT SATISFACTOR ILY EXPLAIN. Do your Christmas shopping early and give preference to our adver tisers. Self-respecting members of the race will not spend their money to help any cause that is designed for their injury, but upon the contrary they will contribute their money to fight such enterprises. Do not forget that we suggested some weeks ago that our people here pay for the Old Folks’ home. The Monitor has started a fund to help on the good work. One contribution of $5 has been received. Don’t hesitate to send in your contribution because you think it is too small. “Buy homes.” This was the fa vorite and persistent slogan of our journalistic predecessor, The Enter prise, published for many years by T. P. Mahammitt. That slogan was ef fective. Many of our people were in duced to undertake home-buying. Let the good work go on. BUY HOMES. We have devoted a great deal of our space in this issue to editorial and personal comments on the life and work of Booker T. Washington, be liev:ng that the same would be of in terest to our readers who might not otherwise see these tributes to a great man and leader. Of course, what we have been able to find space for forms a very infinitesimal part of what has been said and written. As a race we must gain inspiration from the fact that one of our own kith and kin rose from lowly and adverse surroundings | to such a commanding place in Amer ican history. It should be an inspira tion to every Negro youth to make the best and most of his opportunities. James Johnson, a young colored man who plays on the Y. M. C. A. football team (white) of Oil City, Pa., has been re-elected captain of the team. WHITES, NOT NEGROES ARE RESPONSIBLE (Continued from first page) chance except such as the white man, his master, had given him. It shows us, in a word, the Negro as the white man had made him. Compare the typical Negro or “The Birth of a Nation” with the Negro of today, either north or south. The writte nhistory of all time records no other human achievement comparable with what the Negro has made of himself, under the most ad verse and discouraging circum stances, in barely two generations of freedom—or freedom of a sort. The more unflatteringly the Negro as he came from the hands of the white man in 1865, is depicted, the more startling becomes the contrast with the Negro of fifty years later, and the higher the degree of credit due the race. The solemn truth is that the Negro of today finds far less occasion for shame and apology in anything pre sented in “The Birth of a Nation” than does the white man. It was the whites, not the Negroes, who were mostly responsible for the condi tions depicted in this drama. It was the whites who were guilty first of the inhumanity and impiety of en slaving and brutalizing the blacks, ind guilty next of dealing with the problems following the emancipation with a degree of ignorance and stu pidity, unfair to the Negroes as it was harmful to themselves, that was a disgrace to civilization. SUBSCRIBE FOR THE MONITOR. Phone South 701 Phone Webster 4820 Floral Designs for All Occasions F. H. SWANSON FLORIST Cut Flowers and Potted Plants ] Office. 532 n. 24th St. Gritnhouu, 1411 N. 11th St. South Omohi Omiht XUSMSBI XrXJ XialXWLJMiKiaMKBa 1 I I1 Next Saturday’s j calendar of sales contains a number of features of great interest to ™ shoppers who must get themselves, their families and their homes ready for winter or the holidays. Saturday will occur the season’s first great sale of FURS—a wonderful purchase fairly startling in value giving. Also a sale of trimmed hats—choice of the house—at a very low figure. A big sale of jewelry for Christmas gifts. Three extremely important sales of Hosiery, Handkerchiefs and Ribbons, bringing truly wonderful values. In the Men’s Store will occur a sale of Pure Thread Silk Hose that will interest every man in Omaha. Opening of Toyland Next Monday The great Christmas fairyland of toys, dolls, games and books; everything for all ages; for indoors and out—Santa Claus will dis play his wonderful wares next Monday. See Sunday’s advertise ment.