Evening Republican, Volume 21, Number 285, Rensselaer, Jasper County, 6 December 1918 — The Color Line [ARTICLE]

The Color Line

By ISOBEL HELD

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Race prejudice is shifting from America over to the battlefields of France. As the pride of our negro soldier grows in this country a very violent dislike for him is spreading all along the German front In more than one place the color line and the front fine of battle merged into one —to the rage and dismay of the Hun. The Teuton prejudice against color would be even more intense if Germany could know what the American negroes are doing in every department of war work. Our enemies have fWt the force of negro valor as exemplified by Henry Johnston with his bolo knife and Needham Roberts with his stack of bombs; but there is more behind. . . . Of the stevedores, George Freeman, the American labor contractor (who took 1.500 of them to France), says: •They are the finest workers you ever saw. One negro can do four times as much work as any other man, and have fun doing ft. The French stevedores stand by and look on with amazement at my hustling gangs. The way they handle a 100-pound crate makes the Frenchmen’,B eyes bulge." In the shipbuilding yards the whirlwind methods of the negroes have caused a sensation both in this country and in England. Charles Knight, a colored man, won the prize for fast riveting—2s pounds in money—from Lord Northcliffe and a letter from that Englishman which says: “Your world’s record feat of driving 4,875 rivets on May 16th has set for American shipbuilders the fast pace that is necessary for carrying on the war successfully. Such an achievement as yours carries across the seas an inspiring message of American domination and ability.” Negro Women In France. Seven hundred volunteer negro women are in France working in the huts and canteens of the Y. M. C. A., and there are many colored secretaries in this same noble service abroad. The Red Cross is placing colored trained nurses in the base hospitals in this country, and is considering the plea of 3,000 graduate negro nurses for overseas service. All over the country 12,000,000 colored Americans are, loyally backing the government with their hard-earned money. Out of their wages and savings they invested $7,000,000 in three issues of the Liberty Loan bonds. They gave one million in the 'first Red Cross drive and two million In the second, be-

sides Investing four million in Thrift stamps. This fine record cannot be told in terms of money alone, for It Is the spirit that counts, and the spirit of the colored Americans is lassionaiely loyal. Now, when a new loan is to be launched the negroes will be found well prepared to meet it. They have learned more about their government in the last year than they ever knew in their lives before. The growing sympathy and! appreciation of their patriotic efforts by the white people have given them confidence. The success of the colored troops abroad have thrilled them with a pride that will express itself in renewed efforts. During the last year many new societies have been formed among the colored people and these, with the old established ones, have been actively and intelligently engaged In war work. Doing Great Service. They have formed committees to sell Liberty bonds and Thrift stamps; they have helped the two Red Cross drives; they care for the dependents of negro soldiers; they send comforts to their troops abroad; they have opened their canteens In several large cities for the benefit of negro soldiers on leave, and they meet to knit, sew and roll bandages. All this work has been so well organized that the varlrious societies are now civic centers wdll prepared to launch any patriotic service with every appearance of success. * In the magazines and many newspapers published by the negroes every effort is being made to encourage their readers to the utmost. Race troubles: the ignominy of “Jim Crow” cars in the South; the delay of the Red Cross In sending trained colored nurses abroad; the antinegro riots in Philadelphia, have all been passed over with the urgent plea that personal grievances be forgotten In the one great unanimous aim—-to win the war. With such a spirit animating our colored Americans the government may rest assured that Liberty loans, like the black troops at the front, will go “over the top” with enthusiasm. Well may Germany wish to draw the color line!