Afterthought
WE verily believe that the scriptural passage used as an introduction to these thoughts, is the rock upon which the colored people of America must build the superstructure of their civilization for all their future. It offers the only sure solution for their many difficulties, although it must be accompanied by righteous and indignant protest against injustice.
Some were not anxious for the colored soldier to take a part in the great World War. They felt that it would be a needless sacrifice for something that would bring no tangible results by way of alleviating his present condition; others felt that if he offered his life upon the altar for the principles of a new freedom, the remaining shackles that have so long bound him would be wholly broken.
Neither were correct; for while the shackles have not been wholly removed from his body there have been wonderful results accomplished that have in some measure removed the fetters from his soul.
Approximately 150,000 soldiers, officers and men went to France to represent the colored race in America. Many of them were brigaded with the French, while other thousands had a contact and association with this people which resulted in bringing for the entire number a broader view of life; they caught the vision of a freedom that gave them new hope and a new inspiration.
Some of them received the rudiments of an education through direct instruction; a thing that would not have come to them in all the years of a lifetime at home, while many hundreds had the opportunity of traveling through the flowering fields of a country long famed for its love of the beautiful, and seeing its wonderful monuments, cathedrals, art galleries, palaces, chateaux, etc., that represent the highest attainment in the world of architecture and art. They looked upon the relics left by a people long gone, and saw the picturesqueness of a great and wonderful country, as they took their way from the port cities to the front line trenches, or to the towering Alps, or through the farms and villages of a quaint and thrifty people. And while they traveled they learned that there is a fair-skinned people in the world who believe in the equality of races, and who practice what they believe.
In addition to this they had an opportunity of making a record for themselves that will be in no wise hidden from the generations of the future; a proud record of which the Frenchman took note, and for which he will be given due credit in the true history of the Great World War.
They also had an opportunity to give the truth a hearing before the Court of Justice of the civilized world; the truth with regard to their conduct, their mental capacity, their God-given talents, and their ability for the leadership of men and the accomplishment of results that were a credit to themselves and to the nation which they represented.
All of these things were quite enough to offset whatever came to them of hardship and sacrifice, of war and suffering, of mean prejudice and subtle propaganda, of misrepresentation and glaring injustice.
They have a right to have a wonderful hope for the future. Nothing but the Hand of Providence could have guided them into a great world maelstrom and brought them out with such wonderful and satisfying results. Their future endeavor should be to a greater extent than ever before along the line of demonstrating to the world their ability to follow that Providence more closely and with a greater faith; to become to the world a living example that the principles of Christianity can be applied with greater and increasing success to everyday life; and to blaze a pathway for themselves whose brightness and beauty will make a plea so eloquent that the ancient doctrine of the Brotherhood of Man will finally become the chief cornerstone of our Democracy.
NOTES AND EXPLANATIONS
[1.] A riot between colored troops and the citizens of Houston resulted in 13 colored soldiers being condemned to death. As a consequence the Des Moines Officers’ Training School had its term lengthened by one month, making the necessary time for obtaining a commission, four months instead of three; believing they were to be denied commissions altogether, many of the candidates went home.
[2.] See Crisis magazine, 70 Fifth Avenue, New York City, Page 19, issue of May, 1919.
[3.] From official record taken by soldier who was in Brest at the time.
[4.] See Crisis, May, 1919, Pages 16 and 17.
[5.] A term of contempt used in referring to the French people.
[6.] From report of supervisor of instruction for colored soldiers in France.
Abbreviations.
S. O. S. Service of Supplies. Referred to men engaged in getting supplies of food and ammunition to the troops.
A. P. O. Army Post Office. The post offices were known by numbers so that names of towns giving location of troops would not be placed on paper.
A. E. F. American Expeditionary Force or Forces. Both terms were used, and referred to troops, welfare workers, etc., serving overseas.
G. O. General Orders. Orders issued from general army headquarters.
Det. Detached.
M. P. Military Police.
F. A. Field Artillery.
C. O. Commanding Officer.
D. I. Divisional Infantry. I. D. Infantry Division.
R. I. U. S. Reserved Infantry United States.
Transcriber’s Note (continued)
The spelling and the hyphenation used in the original publication have been retained in this transcription except where noted below. Minor typographical errors have been corrected without note while other changes to the original text are as stated in the following:
Page 31 – “reburying” changed to “re-burying” (re-burying the dead)
Page 53 – “Gondre Court” changed to “Gondrecourt” (American Training School at Gondrecourt)
Page 60 – “court-martialed” changed to “court-martialled?” (why he should not be court-martialled?)
Page 79 – “Singnes” changed to “Signes” (took position opposite Mont de Signes)
Page 86 – “effectives” changed to “effectiveness” (diminish its effectiveness)
Page 101 – “entré” changed to “entrée” (given entrée to the heart of the war)
Page 147 – “wrapt” changed to “rapt” (they listened in rapt silence)
Page 212 – “Pittsburg, Pa.” changed to “Pittsburgh, Pa.”
Page 220 – “President Poincairé” changed to “President Poincaré”
Page 222 – in plate facing, “Saxaphonist” changed to “Saxophonist” (3. Sgt. Jefferson, Saxophonist.)
Page 226 – “alway” changed to “always” (Lo, I am with you always)
Page 231 – “alway” changed to “always” (Lo, I am with you always)
Page 242 – “Bois de Bologne” changed to “Bois de Boulogne”
Page 248 – “every-day” changed to “everyday” (everyday life of those inhabitants)
Page 249 – “Carmac” changed to “Carnac” (Carnac with its Druid Stones)
Page 255 – “every-day” changed to “everyday” (increasing success to everyday life)