Question

According to Rev. D.A. Graham, what were the facts of lynching in America?

Answer 1

In May 1899, the newly formed African American Council issued a proclamation calling on black Americans to set apart Friday, June 2, "as a day of fasting and prayer." The following Sunday, as a protest against lynching, special exercises were to be held in black churches across the nation. Reverend Graham delivered his sermon as part of the protest on June 4 at Bethel A.M.E. Church in Indianapolis.

As per Graham The American Negro is afflicted, and a most unfair and stupid prejudice among white Americans is the cause of his affliction. If the hatred were reversed, it would seem more reasonable, as the Caucasian suffered nothing from the Negro, while the Negro suffered everything from the Caucasian's hands.

While this prejudice is strongest in the South, it is also significantly manifested in the North's colored man's affliction. He is often turned away because of his color when he wishes to purchase land or rent a house. When he's looking for a job where help is advertised, he's told that "Negroes don't need to apply." Girls can't get a job in shops, stores, or factories, no matter how well trained, sophisticated, and look nice. This, of course, leads many to fall into evil ways, making dishonest youth people who would have become honorable and industrious citizens with a man's opportunity.

The South Negroes ' franchise is not the worst evil. If all electors needed an instructional qualification, we would not see anything evil in it.

The biggest distress we have to endure is the absence of jury trial accused of crime. Negroes lynching is becoming a Southern pastime. They say, "The only way to prevent lynching is to stop the crime that leads to lynching," when reproved for their barbarity. Many Northern individuals are affected by this cry and speak about lynching as if it were always for women's offenses. Even some colorful individuals here fell into this mistake

Again, white people are often black and committing crime, then leading a mob to lynch some Negro who might happen to be in the neighborhood. A black guy was found in the room of a young white girl of high standing about four years ago in Atlanta, Georgia. He was fired and caught while trying to flee. The black guy with his face and hands blacked was discovered to be the son of a prominent white neighbor. If some bad Negro had not been caught, they would have been seized, "almost favorably" recognized, and hung to the closest tree.

If American justice and Christianity have decreed that by our own bootstraps individuals have to lift themselves, let us heroically set ourselves to the challenge. We have a great deal to encourage us, measured by the depth from which we came; casting our eyes to the summits that are yet to be achieved, let us thank God and press on.