Show SOCIAL STATUS OF THE RACE A GREAT deal has been said and written about the causes that operate against our success in competing in with the white man for an equal chance in in the race of life but the writers a and nd speakers overlook the f fact act talat we are handicapped by bv weights that we alone can remove we are continually conti dually c complaining of what we call color prejudice and charging our individual failure to that cause without taking into account existing conditions and facts it is a condition that we are to deal with and not I 1 color tue color find and features indicate us as the subjects of this condition this condition has been i brought about by permission of public opinion all the laws agai against n st us are merely public opinion in legal forms to change these laws we must change public opinion by meeting its demands public opinion refuses to enforce laws upon the statute books made for our protection but enforces those in made ade against us and when an appeal is made to the supreme court of the land by us it derides decides against us because of our condi condition tiou what are we to do educate public opinion public opinion is educated by our leaders men who are selected for places of trust and honor men who are supposed to voice our senti sentiments meats men who show in public our oar virtues or vicca vices in private men whose social and fin financial anceal status are supposed to be equal to those who occupy similar positions of leadership among white men M we forget that it ft is our soda statue and ideas of 0 social properties that 4 mt assi f more than adv any other sociological socia logical factor we have among us as leaders men who feast and fatten upon our credulity and generosity some of the most vicious z of the country are our reputed leaders we b have ave no rig rigid t d rule of exclusion by which our homes and families may be protected against e the incursions cur of fat indol indo ants lents aud and dangerous libertines our social condition must be greatly improved before adv any such rule rul e will ever be generally enforced or observed we must keep the education of the home up with that of the schoolhouse then we will be able to enforce at home the rules of decency and moral morality ltv that are the laws of pure and safe homes the world over this is done in in a number of homes but at the expense of being bein charged with being in stuck up an and d trying to get away away from the race V we e have some but bu t we need more leaders who will encourage their followers to draw around their homes a rig rigid id li line 1 ne aga against 1 i ast the 1 intrusion i n of dissolute and scandalous persons who impose themselves upon us by de declaring clarin declaring ea that one colored man is is just as good as another in keeping with the white man who davs says all colored people are alike public opinion is is effected by the inclination of the masses to make mak e common our professional fess ional men men who by bv education and position pooi tion should be ac accepted r apted as leaders but these professional men who are entitled to leadership are forced aside by bv a number of ministers who are neither fitted by bv nature or training for such work but who should encourage the bouno young ta laymen laomen in their congregations to come to the front and take their proper position in in soc society bety i amon among our ministerial leaders it makes no differ difference eDee with what one is charged and sometimes proven he is still retained in the pulpit and allowed to lead what effect can such leadership have upon the morals of the public we complain and abuse our leaders who own tonsorial tons onal parlors and refuse to accept the most refined of their brothers w with I 1 i th a tanned face as a customer because it would in injure his trade and public opinion supports him in it he like his white brother I 1 is in in the business for the money he can get out of it i and not for hi his s health we should remember these gentlemen are victims victim tims of circumstances and that they cannot afford to run the risk of losing the their if trade and the same is is true of the white man whose patrons are white we must allow him the same privilege we do our colored leader I 1 have no objection ec whatever to my colored brother refusing to receive me in his bis tonsorial parlor if my black face injures his trade and I 1 presume he has no objections to me when I 1 refuse to receive him in my parlor as my social equal when his business will not allow me to give him my patronage and in this we make a mistake these good gentlemen in a number of cases are our social and religious leaders they compose our boards of trustees stewards and deacons they sit in judgment upon the character of your family and dictate your actions yet they will not allow you yon in their office without your hat off lest it injure their business if you sit with your hat on OIL their customers will think you yon arbone cue and a leave these same gentlemen are willing to have the honor and enjoy the distinction of being the most intelligent 1 colored men in the city and expect to be consulted about all matters pertain pertaining i ng to the advancement ut of the race except to become I 1 one of their customers customers when a delegate is to be sent ent to a convention or society ine meeting eting he is is on j hand band as a the representative and where the white man is to take part in in sending one to represent us colored people they select their tonsorial artist as the proper persons to represent reD represent resent our colored people yet when our professional men of christian culture and refinement fail to unite with our churches with such officials anci anc pastors with less knowledge of the bible than an ordinary ordin arv sunday school pupil we c charge hare har r e them with trvin trying to get away away from the race we must improve our soc social lal status we must have social distinctions distie eions we must draw a line between the refined and unrefined jesus drew the li line 1 ne and had h his is intimate social friends and why not w we e ll 11 ALLEN ALLE allensworth fort DOUGLAS utah |