"What the people say: voices loud protest."
Dublin Core
Title
"What the people say: voices loud protest."
Description
"Brooklyn, N. Y., July 17 I clipped the following from the New York Herald-Tribune of July 4,
1931: “Detroit, July 3. Folded into a tiny coop where his chin rests on his knees and his arms
cannot be stretched full length, Ike Morrow is headed back to Texas and prison. The Negro was
shoved today into a heavy wire cage like those on the rear of a dog catcher’s cart.
“The cage is right over the rear wheels of a small truck. A grim-faced Texas prison agent who
broke his taciturnity only to exclaim, “In Texas we don’t fool around with niggers,” snapped two
heavy pad-locks on the door that had closed on Ike.
“The prisoner in his 4x4 cage will be carted through eight states 1,100 long, dusty and humpy
miles before they pull up at Huntsville, whence Ike escaped. He slipped his shackles and swan a
stream, eluding bloodhounds and bullets. This trip back is to be a lesson on him.” in the face of
such barbarity we read that certain so-called leaders of the race are base enough to ask us to
celebrate the “Fourth of July.” the writers of the Declaration of Independence never intended to
give us any consideration. Paine's attempt to have inserted a paragraph denouncing the slave
trade was defeated. And the statement upholding the rights to life, liberty and happiness were
mentioned only in reference to white men. Where is the liberty, justice and equality for us in
these united states? Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are splendid examples! Maybe we can turn
the Fourth of July into a day of agitation against the numerous injustices perpetrated against us.if
you lead, I am positive your followers will be numerous.
We must speak out. We must organize and resent all insults and injustices, or be stamped by our
children (and justly so) as a bunch of spineless cowards. I hope you will give this letter
immediate publication.
Rotschild Francis"
1931: “Detroit, July 3. Folded into a tiny coop where his chin rests on his knees and his arms
cannot be stretched full length, Ike Morrow is headed back to Texas and prison. The Negro was
shoved today into a heavy wire cage like those on the rear of a dog catcher’s cart.
“The cage is right over the rear wheels of a small truck. A grim-faced Texas prison agent who
broke his taciturnity only to exclaim, “In Texas we don’t fool around with niggers,” snapped two
heavy pad-locks on the door that had closed on Ike.
“The prisoner in his 4x4 cage will be carted through eight states 1,100 long, dusty and humpy
miles before they pull up at Huntsville, whence Ike escaped. He slipped his shackles and swan a
stream, eluding bloodhounds and bullets. This trip back is to be a lesson on him.” in the face of
such barbarity we read that certain so-called leaders of the race are base enough to ask us to
celebrate the “Fourth of July.” the writers of the Declaration of Independence never intended to
give us any consideration. Paine's attempt to have inserted a paragraph denouncing the slave
trade was defeated. And the statement upholding the rights to life, liberty and happiness were
mentioned only in reference to white men. Where is the liberty, justice and equality for us in
these united states? Alabama, Georgia and Tennessee are splendid examples! Maybe we can turn
the Fourth of July into a day of agitation against the numerous injustices perpetrated against us.if
you lead, I am positive your followers will be numerous.
We must speak out. We must organize and resent all insults and injustices, or be stamped by our
children (and justly so) as a bunch of spineless cowards. I hope you will give this letter
immediate publication.
Rotschild Francis"
Creator
N/A
Publisher
Chicago Defender
Date
1931-7-17
Collection
Citation
N/A, “"What the people say: voices loud protest.",” African American Fourth of July, accessed April 29, 2024, https://africanamerican4th.omeka.net/items/show/384.