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History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With MexicoSweeney, William Allison

History

History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With Mexico

Name: History of the American Negro in the Great World War: His Splendid Record in the Battle Zones of Europe; Including a Resume of His Past Services to his Country in the Wars of the Revolution, of 1812, the War of Rebellion, the Indian Wars on the Frontier, the Spanish-American War, and the Late Imbroglio With Mexico
Author: Sweeney, William Allison

Sweeney, William Allison

African American soldiers; African Americans -- History -- 1877-1964; World War, 1914-1918 -- Participation, African American

born here, and shall at all times be found with the flag; hence I ask,
     that in your recommendations, looking to the betterment and enlargement
     of the army, you give THE BLACK PATRIOT such consideration, as I cannot
     but feel is due him, the thousands of young colored men who have passed
     through colleges and schools in an effort to prepare themselves for
     filling a place in the world.
          "I am opposed to segregation, but as it seems, under the present
     conditions of the races socially to be the ONLY way to a square deal, I
     accept it. There are Irish regiments, German regiments, etc., let us
     then have Negro regiments. The coming generations will look after the
     rest. I am, very respectfully,
                                               R.P. ROOTS
     400 26th Ave., North, Late Capt. 8th Ill. Vol. Infantry."


                                             "Seattle, Wash., Nov. 9, 1915.
     "Hon Joseph Tumulty, Secretary to the President, Washington, D.C.
     Dear Sir:--I am enclosing a copy of a letter sent to the Secretary of
     War, which I would be very much pleased to have you call the President's
     attention to, and ask if he can approve of it.
          "I was not fully informed as to the President's policy in regard to
     Haiti at the time of writing, and am not now, except through such
     information as received by the daily press. Taking that, in the main as
     authentic, I wish to add that I think a Brigade of Colored Troops, such
     as recommended in my letter to the Secretary for foreign service, would
     be the proper thing for Haiti.
          "It being a Negro Republic, the racial feeling as to the Negro's
     treatment in this country, which I need not mention, has been enlarged
     upon and not understood by the Negroes of other parts of the world, so
     that as it seems to me, to organize a constabulary officered by white
     Americans, would be inviting murder; for agitators from other
     governments, if they so desired, would soon cause a rebellion, and then
     you would have it all to do over again.
          "Colored troops from this country, I mean officers as well, would tend
     to cause a good feeling among the natives, not at first but later on as
     each became used to the other. THE WHITE MAN THINKS HE IS SUPERIOR TO
     ANY NEGRO, AND WOULD SHOW IT EVEN THOUGH HE TRIED NOT TO, and the
     Haitian would be going around with a chip on his shoulder looking for
     someone to knock it off.
          "You have three men in the regular army who could supervise the
     organization of these troops, and one who is already a Colonel of the
     Eighth Illinois National Guard, also several others if you wished to
     consider them.
          "Hoping that you will see the advisability of such an organization for
     diplomatic reasons and for JUSTICE TO THE AMERICAN NEGRO--who has been
     loyal--and served from Bunker Hill until now, I am,

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