(5.) The tragedy at Buffalo calls attention to the Negro, and
in a way that is worthy of more than a passing notice. The part
which Parker played in that scene, which sent a thrill of horror
throughout the nation, was magnificent. It was his strong right
arm which struck down the assassin and which prevented a third
shot. It is true that did not save the life of the President,
but that fact can not alter in the least the character of the
act. Without thought of self, in the consciousness of the fact
the the nation's head was imperiled, he threw himself with all
the power that he could command upon the assassin. It was heroic!
It was an act that was worthy of any man! I thank God for every
such exhibition of courage, of daring, of heroic self-forgetfulness,
by whosoever exhibited, but I am especially thankful that, in
this particular instance, it happened to be a Negro. The nation
needed, and never more so than at this time, just such an object
lesson to bring to its attention the true character of its black
loyal citizens. What Parker did at Buffalo is what the Negro has
ever stood ready to do in every crisis of its history. His strong
right arm has always stood ready to strike down all foes, foreign
or domestic. In the Revolutionary War, in the War of 1812, in
the great Civil War, in the War with Spain, he made a glorious
and imperishable record for himself. And at Buffalo he has given
another proof of the fact that he may always be depended upon.
There are no black traitors in this land, and never have been.
There are no black anarchists in this land, and never have been.
It is impossible to write the history of this country, to speak
of its patriotism, of its valor, of its heroism, and leave the
Negro out.
Parker's splendid deed at Buffalo---Parker, as the representative
of ten millions of loyal Negroes in this land---I want to hold
up this morning before the American people, and ask the nation
if it can afford to treat slightingly a people which is capable
of such deeds, and which has so true to it in all its history?
Let this deed of Parker's be lifted up; let us make much of it;
let it be spread far and wide, in the hope that the eyes of the
nation may be opened to see the true value of the people whom
he represents, and that its conscience may be quickened to do
right by this people.
A good deal has been said about getting up some form of testimonial,
of rewarding in some way this black hero, which is all well. Let
the subscriptions that have been opened in various parts of the
country go on; but if I understand the mind of this man Parker;
if I may venture to read his heart, as a self-respecting, race-loving
Negro, who has lived in this country, and who has felt the iron
heel of oppression upon his neck simply because of the color of
his skin, I know what he would say: "I thank you, gentlemen.
Get up testimonials, if you will; but don't stop there. If the
nation wants to show its appreciation of what I have done, let
it manifest it by throwing around my race the strong arm of its
protection; let it see to it that it is secured in the enjoyment
of all its rights---civil and political---just as other citizens
are. If the business and laboring men want to show their appreciation,
let them manifest it by throwing wide open their places of business
and labor organizations to the members of my race, as to other
races, and give them the same opportunity of earning an honest
and honorable living as is given to other. It wasn't the desire
for notoriety that prompted the deed; nor was it in the hope of
receiving any financial reward. It was simply from a sense of
duty; because I felt that it was the right thing to do. I am no
pauper, gentlemen; I have always been able to take care of myself.
The same strong arm that struck down the assassin is still able
to earn a living. Money is not an unacceptable gift; but nearer
to my heart, a thousand times than millions of dollars, are the
sacred, God-given rights that belong to me and my race as men
and as American citizens. Though you piled your gifts of money
to the skies and withheld from me and mine these rights or stood
by and saw us despoiled of them, I would spurn your gifts."
And those are the sentiments of this black race all over this
country, if I read its heart aright. It isn't notoriety that it
wants; it isn't financial reward that it is seeking for all of
its splendid service to the Republic. No! What it wants is its
rights--rights guaranteed under the Constitution; what it wants
is to be treated as other citizens of the Republic are treated.
It has a right to expect that, and the nation ought to be ashamed
of itself, in view of its past splendid record, to treat it otherwise.
The heroism of this man, Parker, at Buffalo, is a challenge to
the nation to show reasons why this black race should have its
rights abridged and its privileges curtailed; why it should be
treated with less consideration than other citizens of the Republic,
and it is a challenge which the nation can not and ought not to
ignore.
Full
text (Library of Congress/African-American Perspectives: Pamphlets
from the Daniel A.P.Murray Collection, 1818-1907)
