Page:Chicago Race Riots (Sandburg, 1919).djvu/67

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NEGRO CRIME TALES
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town," said Lieut. Duke. "One New Orleans newspaper reported that the victim had confessed, while another newspaper said it was reported that he had confessed to a crime. On so vitally important a matter as whether a man to be burned by a mob had confessed guilt the mediums of public information did not agree."

A committee representing a number of organizations of colored people called on the Illinois state council of defense one day while the late war was on. They carried copies of a front page newspaper story wherein it was stated that at a north shore society event the hostess took particular pains not to shake hands with the members of the colored "jazz" orchestra. The members of the state council of defense recognized that the article was a gratuitous insult to the colored people, and the continuance of such a news policy during the war might seriously affect the colored fighters and workers.

Equality is a big word in the various public movements among the colored people. The following program adopted recently by the National Association for the Advancement of the Colored People contains in brief a statement of the kinds of equality they are seeking:

1. A vote for every negro man and woman on the same terms as for white men and women. This is accorded in practically all northern states, but not in the states south of Mason and Dixon's line.

2. An equal chance to acquire the kind of an education that will enable the negro everywhere to use his vote wisely.

3. A fair trial in the courts for all crimes of which he is accused by judges in whose election he has participated, without discrimination because of race.

4. A right to sit upon the jury which passes upon him.