I been reading the articles of a brother called Du Bois in the Pittsburgh Courier. Do you follow him at all? If anyone is going to give us coloured folks a chance, it’s him. First American Negro to earn a doctorate—went to Harvard and the University of Berlin. This brother’s a real revolutionary and a real intellectual both at the same time. Got a million ideas for how to get us out from under the boot of the white man. He’s really something, gives me new faith every time I pick up his words. I get the Courier sent all the way up here to the Dominion of Newfoundland just so I can follow this guy’s thinking. He says things hopping in Asia. He says the Japanese are going to drive those bastard colonizers out, make Asia for Asian people, just like how our brothers and sisters across the water going to make Africa for Africans again. Du Bois went to Japan and said he was treated with great respect there. He says Japan has discovered the secret of the white man’s power, and without violence has changed her whole stance toward the world. Japan has sacrificed nobly and has emerged in the twentieth century as Europe’s equal in education, health, industry, and art. He talks about the oil refineries she has built, and the factories, boats, and trains—just everything flourishing. He says the land is beautiful too, tall mountains covered in pine trees. He says Japan wants to share all she has built with her Asian cousins—cousins like you, Izzy! That’s what I thought right away when I read that. I thought, hey, my little cousin is half-Asian, lives in Hong Kong. Soon maybe the Japanese come liberate Hong Kong from the British! Well, that would really be something now, something I’d sure like to witness.

Cousin, do the Asians drink rum? I don’t mean to sound foolish, but I don’t know if they do. ’Cause I’m thinking if Newfoundlanders aren’t buying enough, maybe Asia would be a good place to do business. Daddy wants me to go to America now that Prohibition is over, but honestly, I’d like to see that place where Brother Du Bois says the revolution is imminent. And see my little cousin, his new wife, and maybe a couple of pickney too. Isn’t Hong Kong some kind of entrepôt? Isn’t there a way I could move my stuff there? Maybe you got a contact who can help me out. If you do, I thought I’d come join you and make a go of it. A good idea, do you think? Love to hear your thoughts.

Niceness and love from your big cousin,

Morgan

119 Lai Chi Kok Road

Mong Kok, Hong Kong

April 4, 1937

Dear Morgan,