TRAITORS

IN THE FIGHT TO REACH THE TOP THE OPPRESSED HAVE ALWAYS BEEN ENCUMBERED BY THE TRAITORS OF THEIR OWN RACE, MADE UP OF THOSE OF LITTLE FAITH AND THOSE WHO ARE GENERAALY SUSCEPTIBLE TO BRIBERY FOR THE SELLING OUT OF THE RIGHTS OF THEIR OWN PEOPLE.

AS NEGROES, WE ARE NOT ENTIRELY FREE OF SUCH AN ENCUMBEREANCE. TO BE OUTSPOKEN, I BELIEVE WE ARE ENCUMBERED IN THIS WAY THAN ANY OTHER RACE IN THE WORLD, BECAUSE OF THE LACK OF TRAINING AND PREPARATION FOR FITTING US FOR A PLACE IN THE WORLD AMONG OTHER NATIONS AND RACES.

THE TRAITOR OF OTHER RACES IS GENERALLY CONFINED TO THE MEDIOCRE OR IRRESPONSIBLE INDIVIDUAL, BUT, UNFORTUNATELY, THE TRAITORS AMONG THE NEGRO RACE ARE GENERALLY TO BE FOUND AMONG THE MEN HIGHEST PLACED IN EDUCATION AND SOCIETY, THE FELLOWS WHO CALL THEMSELVES LEADERS.

FOR US TO EXAMINE OURSELVES THOROUGHLY AS A PEOPLE WE HAVE MORE TRAITORS THAN LEADERS, BECAUSE NEARLY EVERYONE WHO ESSAYS TO LEAD THE RACE AT THIS TIME DOES SO BY FIRST ESTABLISHING HIMSELF AS A PET OF SOME PHILANTHROPIST OF ANOTHER RACE, TO WHOM HE WILL GO AND DEBASE HIS RACE IN THE WORST FORM, HUMILIATE HIS OWN MANHOOD, AND THEREBY WIN SYMPATHY OF THE 'GREAT BENEFACTOR,' WHO WILL DICTATE TO HIM WHAT HE SHOULD DO IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE NEGRO RACE. IT IS GENERALLY 'YOU MUST GOUT AND TEACH YOUR PEOPLE TO BE MEEK AND HUMBLE; TELL THEM TO BE GOOD SERVANTS, LOYAL AND OBEDIENT TO THEIR MASTERS.' IF YOU WILL TEACH THEM SUCH A DOCTRINE YOU CAN ALWAYS DEPEND ON ME TO GIVE $1000 A YEAR OR $5000 A YEAR FOR THE SUPPORT OF YOURSELF, THE NEWSPAPER OR INSTITUTION YOU REPRESENT. I WILL ALWAYS RECOMMEND YOU TO MY FRIENDS AS A GOOD FELLOW WHO IS ALL RIGHT,' WITH THIS ADVICE AND PROSPECT OF PATRONAGE THE AVERAGE NEGRO LEADER GOES OUT TO LEAD THE UNFORTUNATE MASS. THESE LEADERS TELL US HOW GOOD SO AND SO IS, HOW MANY GOOD FRIENDS WE HAVE IN THE OPPOSITE RACE, AND THAT IF WE LEAVE EVERYTHING TO THEM ALL WILL WORK OUT WELL.

THIS IS THE KIND OF LEADERSHIP WE HAVE BEEN HAVING FOR THE LAST FIFTY YEARS. IT IS NOTHING ELSE BUT TREACHERY AND TREASON OF THE WORST KIND. THIS MAN WILL COMPROMISE THE ATTITUDE OF HIS COUNTRY IS A TRAITOR, AND EVEN SO THE MAN WHO WILL COMPOMISE THE RIGHTS OF HIS RACE CAN BE CLASSIFEIED IN NO OTHER WAY THAN THE TRAITOR ALSO.

NOT UNITL WE SETTLE DOWN AS FOUR HUNDRED MILLION PEOPLE AND LET THE MEN WHO HAVE PLACED THEMSELVES IN THE LEAD OF US REALIZE THAT WE ARE DISGUSTED AND DISSATISFIED, AND THAT WE SHALL HAVE A LEADESHIP OF OUR OWN AND STICK BY IT WHEN WE GET IT, WILL WE BE ABLE TO LIFT OURSELVES FROM THIS MIRE OF DEGREDATION TO THE HEIGHTS OF PROSPERITY, HUMAN LIBERTY AND HUMAN APPRECIATION.

-Rt Hon. Marcus Garvey

on this beautiful day i praise the holy name of His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie. Earth Rightful Ruler