Manuscript titled "Beware of Corrupt Negro Politics", Circa 1920s-1940s 1 Folder
- Abstract Or Scope
-
Manuscript titled "Beware of Corrupt Negro Politics." Circa 1920s-1950s. Transcript: It has been reliably reported that corruption has creeped into the negro political set up in Fort Lauderdale. The political aspirations and desires of the honest and representative citizens of the negro section of Fort Lauderdale are on the verge of seeing their birth right sole for a "mess of pottage." The sincerity and honesty which the leaders of the negro section are working are being underminded by a few negro who have set themselves up a self styled leader and going to the candidates for public office end telling them that if they will give him a certain sum of money he will swing the negro block vote to his support. This to us is a very dangerous and serious matter and these individuals who are guilty of such fraud and misrepresentation of the people are traitors to his race and should be [illegible] as such! We have some evidence and as soon as we have more we are going to expose these individuals by names and acts for public consideration. It is most discouraging to the rest of us who are honestly trying to guide the negroes into clean, fair political views to see our people because of the corrupt individual throw back as was done during the carpet baggers. The Flappers will openly condemn any and all individual who take advantage of his so called leadership position to sell the votes of his people for his own personal financial gains or privileges in the community. One can hardly over look the great amount of enthusiasm with which the negro bootleggers and gamblers are [illegible] the outcome of political campaigns. [illegible] great need for the religious element of the negro sections to get busy or the underworld will be pushing the negro churches around and telling the ministers what to preach about if he is to continue to live here. They will also [illegible] the decent citizens who might raise their voices against their prayers. The proper solution to this dangerous problem is for the negro masses [illegible] their leaders to call a mass of all the citizens and elect for them selves a spokesman and leader which they believe will truthfully and honestly represent them in a proper manner and without seeking personal gains to elect the candidates the negro should vote for.
- Collection Context