The Detroit Tribune

THE TURNING WORM

Apparently weary of being chased, shot at, beaten up and persecuted, certain Negroes in Anniston, Ala., last week took it upon themselves to speak with gunfire to a white mob—described in daily papers as a "posse"—seeking one of their number for allegedly attempting to kidnap a white baby. Currently Anniston is the worst spot in Dixie. Within the past few months several Negroes have been arrested, tried, and sentenced to the electric chair for allegedly attacking white women. The state militia has been called there five times to quell disorders. Lynchings have been narrowly averted. During this period colored residents have merely fled and made no attempt to fight back. Naturally this lack of guts has not helped them. Attacks have come with increased frequency by bullying whites who knew from the past they had nothing to fear as they engaged in typical Southern fun. Police have for the most part sided with these rowdies. By the time national guardsmen could be rushed to Anniston, this white spree had ended and the Negroes had taken to the tall neighboring timber or quaked in the cellars of their shacks. It seemed last week that the worm had turned. A few Negroes fit to be called men got tired of playing rabbit and shot up three members of a mob. The tragedy is that not enough took similar action to impress belligerent whites that they were tired of persecution. Several dozen determined brown men with loaded guns and the will to use them could break up practically any mob which undertakes Negro-fries, for the danger of personal bodily injury would deter most of the would-be lynchers.