Self-Help

In the creation of this healthier public sentiment, the Afro-American can do for himself what no one else can do for him. The world looks on with wonder that we have conceded so much and remain law-abiding under such great outrage and provocation.

Black Americans can do something for themselves that no one else can do: help create a healthier public attitude. The world watches in amazement as we give up so much and remain law-abiding despite such great injustice and provocation.

To Northern capital and Afro-American labor the South owes its rehabilitation. If labor is withdrawn capital will not remain. The Afro-American is thus the backbone of the South. A thorough knowledge and judicious exercise of this power in lynching localities could many times effect a bloodless revolution. The white man's dollar is his god, and to stop this will be to stop outrages in many localities.

The South owes its recovery to Northern capital and Black labor. If Black workers withdraw their labor, capital will not remain. Black people are thus the backbone of the South. In places where lynchings occur, understanding this power and using it wisely could often bring about a bloodless revolution. The white man’s dollar is his god. Stopping the flow of money will stop outrages in many places.

The Afro-Americans of Memphis denounced the lynching of three of their best citizens, and urged and waited for the authorities to act in the matter and bring the lynchers to justice. No attempt was made to do so, and the black men left the city by thousands, bringing about great stagnation in every branch of business. Those who remained so injured the business of the street car company by staying off the cars, that the superintendent, manager and treasurer called personally on the editor of the Free Speech, asked them to urge our people to give them their patronage again. Other business men became alarmed over the situation and the Free Speech was run away that the colored people might be more easily controlled. A meeting of white citizens in June, three months after the lynching, passed resolutions for the first time, condemning it. But they did not punish the lynchers. Every one of them was known by name, because they had been selected to do the dirty work, by some of the very citizens who passed these resolutions. Memphis is fast losing her black population, who proclaim as they go that there is no protection for the life and property of any Afro-American citizen in Memphis who is not a slave.

Black Americans in Memphis condemned the lynching of three of their best citizens. They urged the authorities to act and bring the lynchers to justice, and they waited. The authorities made no attempt to do so. Thousands of Black men left the city, causing serious stagnation in every branch of business. Those who stayed stopped riding the streetcars, hurting the streetcar company’s business. The superintendent, manager, and treasurer personally visited the editor of the Free Speech. They asked the editor to urge our people to ride the streetcars again. Other businesspeople became alarmed by the situation. The Free Speech was driven out so that Black people could be more easily controlled. In June, three months after the lynching, a meeting of white citizens passed resolutions condemning it for the first time. But they did not punish the lynchers. Every one of the lynchers was known by name. Some of the very citizens who passed the resolutions had selected them to do the dirty work. Memphis is rapidly losing its Black population. As they leave, they proclaim that Memphis offers no protection for the life and property of any Black citizen who is not a slave.

The Afro-American citizens of Kentucky, whose intellectual and financial improvement has been phenomenal, have never had a separate car law until now. Delegations and petitions poured into the Legislature against it, yet the bill passed and the Jim Crow Car of Kentucky is a legalized institution. Will the great mass of Negroes continue to patronize the railroad? A special from Covington, Ky., says:

Kentucky’s Black citizens have made phenomenal progress in education and financial standing. Until now, they have never faced a law requiring separate railroad cars. Delegations and petitions poured into the Legislature to oppose the bill. Yet it passed, and the Jim Crow Car of Kentucky is now a legal institution. Will most Black people continue to use the railroad? A special report from Covington, Ky., says:

Covington, June 13.—The railroads of the State are beginning to feel very markedly, the effects of the separate coach bill recently passed by the Legislature. No class of people in the State have so many and so largely attended excursions as the blacks. All these have been abandoned, and regular travel is reduced to a minimum. A competent authority says the loss to the various roads will reach $1,000,000 this year.

Covington, June 13. The state's railroads are beginning to feel the effects of the separate coach law recently passed by the Legislature. Black people organized more excursions than any other group in the state, and more people attended them. All these excursions have been abandoned, and regular travel has dropped to a minimum. A knowledgeable source says the railroads will lose $1,000,000 this year.

A call to a State Conference in Lexington, Ky., last June had delegates from every county in the State. Those delegates, the ministers, teachers, heads of secret and others orders, and the head of every family should pass the word around for every member of the race in Kentucky to stay oil railroads unless obliged to ride. If they did so, and their advice was followed persistently the convention would not need to petition the Legislature to repeal the law or raise money to file a suit. The railroad corporations would be so effected they would in self-defense lobby to have the separate car law repealed. On the other hand, as long as the railroads can get Afro-American excursions they will always have plenty of money to fight all the suits brought against them. They will be aided in so doing by the same partisan public sentiment which passed the law. White men passed the law, and white judges and juries would pass upon the suits against the law, and render judgment in line with their prejudices and in deference to the greater financial power.

A state conference in Lexington, Ky., last June had delegates from every county in the state. Those delegates should spread the word that every Black person in Kentucky should stay off trains unless they must ride. Ministers, teachers, leaders of secret societies and other orders, and heads of families should spread the word too. If they did so, and people followed their advice consistently, the convention would not need to petition the Legislature to repeal the law or raise money for a lawsuit. The railroad corporations would be so affected that they would lobby to repeal the separate car law in self-defense. On the other hand, as long as the railroads can get business from Black excursions, they will have plenty of money to fight every lawsuit brought against them. The same biased public opinion that passed the law will help the railroads fight those suits. White men passed the law, and white judges and juries would rule on the suits against it. They would judge according to their prejudices and defer to the greater financial power of the railroads.

The appeal to the white man's pocket has ever been more effectual than all the appeals ever made to his conscience. Nothing, absolutely nothing, is to be gained by a further sacrifice of manhood and self-respect. By the right exercise of his power as the industrial factor of the South, the Afro-American can demand and secure his rights, the punishment of lynchers, and a fair trial for accused rapists.

Appealing to white men's wallets has always been more effective than all appeals to their consciences. Nothing, absolutely nothing, can be gained by sacrificing any more manhood and self-respect. Black Americans can use their power as workers in the South to demand and secure their rights. They can also demand and secure the punishment of lynchers and fair trials for people accused of rape.

Of the many inhuman outrages of this present year, the only case where the proposed lynching did not occur, was where the men armed themselves in Jacksonville, Fla., and Paducah, Ky, and prevented it. The only times an Afro-American who was assaulted got away has been when he had a gun and used it in self-defense.

Of the many inhuman outrages this year, the only proposed lynchings that did not occur were in Jacksonville, Fla., and Paducah, Ky. In those cases, men armed themselves and prevented the lynchings. The only times a Black American escaped an attack were when he had a gun and used it in self-defense.

The lesson this teaches and which every Afro-American should ponder well, is that a Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every black home, and it should be used for that protection which the law refuses to give. When the white man who is always the aggressor knows he runs as great risk of biting the dust every time his Afro-American victim does, he will have greater respect for Afro-American life. The more the Afro-American yields and cringes and begs, the more he has to do so, the more he is insulted, outraged and lynched.

Every Black American should think carefully about the lesson this teaches. A Winchester rifle should have a place of honor in every Black home. It should be used for the protection the law refuses to provide. The white man is always the aggressor. When he knows he risks death every time his Black victim does, he will have greater respect for Black lives. The more Black Americans give in, cower, and beg, the more they have to do so. And the more they are insulted, abused, and lynched.

The assertion has been substantiated throughout these pages that the press contains unreliable and doctored reports of lynchings, and one of the most necessary things for the race to do is to get these facts before the public. The people must know before they can act, and there is no educator to compare with the press.

These pages have shown that the press publishes unreliable and doctored reports of lynchings. One of the most important things Black people must do is bring these facts before the public. People must know the facts before they can act, and no educator compares with the press.

The Afro-American papers are the only ones which will print the truth, and they lack means to employ agents and detectives to get at the facts. The race must rally a mighty host to the support of their journals, and thus enable them to do much in the way of investigation.

Black newspapers are the only ones that will print the truth. But they lack the money to hire agents and detectives to find the facts. Black people must come together in great numbers to support their newspapers. This will enable the papers to do much more investigative work.

A lynching occurred at Port Jarvis, N.Y., the first week in June. A white and colored man were implicated in the assault upon a white girl. It was charged that the white man paid the colored boy to make the assault, which he did on the public highway in broad day time, and was lynched. This, too was done by "parties unknown." The white man in the case still lives. He was imprisoned and promises to fight the case on trial. At the preliminary examination, it developed that he had been a suitor of the girl's. She had repulsed and refused him, yet had given him money, and he had sent threatening letters demanding more.

A lynching occurred in Port Jarvis, N.Y., during the first week of June. A white man and a Black man were implicated in an assault on a white girl. The white man was accused of paying the Black boy to assault her. The boy assaulted her on a public road in broad daylight and was lynched. This, too, was done by "parties unknown." The white man in the case is still alive. He was jailed and promises to fight the case at trial. At the preliminary hearing, it emerged that he had pursued the girl. She had rejected him, yet had given him money. He had sent her threatening letters demanding more.

The day before this examination she was so wrought up, she left home and wandered miles away. When found she said she did so because she was afraid of the man's testimony. Why should she be afraid of the prisoner! Why should she yield to his demands for money if not to prevent him exposing something he knew! It seems explainable only on the hypothesis that a liaison existed between the colored boy and the girl, and the white man knew of it. The press is singularly silent. Has it a motive? We owe it to ourselves to find out.

The day before this examination, she was so upset that she left home and wandered miles away. When she was found, she said she had left because she was afraid of the man's testimony. Why should she be afraid of the prisoner? Why should she give in to his demands for money unless she wanted to prevent him from exposing something he knew? It seems this can only be explained by the theory that a relationship existed between the Black boy and the girl, and the white man knew about it. The press is strangely silent. Does it have a motive? We owe it to ourselves to find out.

The story comes from Larned, Kansas, Oct. 1, that a young white lady held at bay until daylight, without alarming any one in the house, "a burly Negro" who entered her room and bed. The "burly Negro" was promptly lynched without investigation or examination of inconsistant stories.

A report from Larned, Kansas, on Oct. 1 tells of a young white woman who held "a burly Black man" at bay until daylight. He had entered her room and gotten into her bed, but she did not alert anyone in the house. The "burly Black man" was promptly lynched without any investigation or examination of the inconsistent stories.

A house was found burned down near Montgomery, Ala., in Monroe County, Oct. 13, a few weeks ago; also the burned bodies of the owners and melted piles of gold and silver.

On October 13, a few weeks ago, a burned-down house was found near Montgomery, Alabama, in Monroe County. The owners’ burned bodies and melted piles of gold and silver were also found.

These discoveries led to the conclusion that the awful crime was not prompted by motives of robbery. The suggestion of the whites was that "brutal lust was the incentive, and as there are nearly 200 Negroes living within a radius of five miles of the place the conclusion was inevitable that some of them were the perpetrators."

These discoveries led to the conclusion that robbery was not the motive for the terrible crime. White people suggested that “brutal lust was the motive. Nearly 200 Black people live within five miles of the place, so the conclusion was inevitable that some of them committed the crime.”

Upon this "suggestion" probably made by the real criminal, the mob acted upon the "conclusion" and arrested ten Afro-Americans, four of whom, they tell the world, confessed to the deed of murdering Richard L. Johnson and outraging his daughter, Jeanette. These four men, Berrell Jones, Moses Johnson, Jim and John Packer, none of them twenty-five years of age, upon this conclusion, were taken from jail, hanged, shot, and burned while yet alive the night of Oct. 12. The same report says Mr. Johnson was on the best of terms with his Negro tenants.

The mob acted on this "suggestion," probably made by the real criminal, and arrested ten African Americans. They tell the world that four of them confessed to murdering Richard L. Johnson and raping his daughter, Jeanette. The four men were Berrell Jones, Moses Johnson, Jim Packer, and John Packer. None was twenty-five years old. Based on this conclusion, they were taken from jail on the night of October 12. They were hanged, shot, and burned while still alive. The same report says Mr. Johnson was on the best of terms with his Black tenants.

The race thus outraged must find out the facts of this awful hurling of men into eternity on supposition, and give them to the indifferent and apathetic country. We feel this to be a garbled report, but how can we prove it?

The people who have suffered this outrage must uncover the facts about men being killed on mere suspicion. They must share those facts with a country that does not care. We believe this report is distorted, but how can we prove it?

Near Vicksburg, Miss., a murder was committed by a gang of burglars. Of course it must have been done by Negroes, and Negroes were arrested for it. It is believed that two men, Smith Tooley and John Adams belonged to a gang controlled by white men and, fearing exposure, on the night of July 4, they were hanged in the Court House yard by those interested in silencing them. Robberies since committed in the same vicinity have been known to be by white men who had their faces blackened. We strongly believe in the innocence of these murdered men, but we have no proof. No other news goes out to the world save that which stamps us as a race of cutthroats, robbers and lustful wild beasts. So great is Southern hate and prejudice, they legally(?) hung poor little thirteen-year-old Mildrey Brown at Columbia, S.C., Oct. 7, on the circumstantial evidence that she poisoned a white infant. If her guilt had been proven unmistakably, had she been white, Mildrey Brown would never have been hung.

Near Vicksburg, Miss., a gang of burglars committed a murder. Of course, Black people must have done it, and Black people were arrested for it. It is believed that two men, Smith Tooley and John Adams, belonged to a gang controlled by white men. Fearing exposure, those who wanted to silence them hanged them in the Court House yard on July 4. Since then, white men with blackened faces have been known to commit robberies in the same area. We strongly believe these murdered men were innocent, but we have no proof. The only news that goes out to the world portrays us as a race of cutthroats, robbers, and lustful wild beasts. Southern hate and prejudice are so great that they legally(?) hanged poor little thirteen-year-old Mildrey Brown. She was hanged at Columbia, S.C., on Oct. 7, on circumstantial evidence that she had poisoned a white infant. Even if her guilt had been proven beyond doubt, Mildrey Brown would never have been hanged if she had been white.

The country would have been aroused and South Carolina disgraced forever for such a crime. The Afro-American himself did not know as he should have known as his journals should be in a position to have him know and act.

The country would have been outraged, and South Carolina would have been disgraced forever for such a crime. Black Americans themselves did not know what they should have known. Their newspapers should have been able to inform them so they could act.

Nothing is more definitely settled than he must act for himself. I have shown how he may employ the boycott, emigration and the press, and I feel that by a combination of all these agencies can be effectually stamped out lynch law, that last relic of barbarism and slavery. "The gods help those who help themselves."

One thing is certain: he must act for himself. I have shown how he can use boycotts, emigration, and the press. I believe that together, these methods can effectively stamp out lynch law, the last relic of barbarism and slavery. "The gods help those who help themselves."