The colored American, from slavery to honorable citizenship

Front matter

■jjLi.

DDD13aH7St33

Bonk ^G^C 4-4^

Introduction

The Progress of a Generation in the history of the Negro is the most fascinating study modern tiines possesses. Springing from the darkest depths of slavery and sorrowful ignorance to the heights of manhood and power almost at one bound, the Negro furnishes an unparalleled example of possibility. In the pages following, the authors have performed a duty at once difficult and needful — that of following the rise of the Negro through the different stages of his career. It is a task that merits respect, commands attention, and is, unhappily, too seldom attempted.

The task of a biographer of a people is too frequently a thankless one. In sifting out the conflicting elements which present themselves for his consideration he is apt to injure tradition. In using material which he thinks best he is likely to iipset preconceived ideas of theorists. His work must be the result of careful thinking and an astonishing amount oi finesse and diplomacy.

The historian of the Negro race has all this and more too. He must, in addition to the other duties which devolve upon him in his work, be able to prophecy and foresee the days to come. For the progress of the Negro is far from completed — it is yet in its incipient stage — and the eyes of the prophet must discern whither the road leads, upward or downward.

The unprecedented leap the Negro made when freed from the oppressing withes of bondage is more than deserving of a high place in history. It can never be chronicled. The world needs to know of what mettle these people are built. It needs to understand the vast possibility of a race, so much despised and so thoroughly able to prove without blare and flourish of trumpet its ability to hold its own and compete, after only thirty years of life, with those of centuries of lineage.

The dawn of new life is again gleaming behind the

VI INTRODUCTION.

horizon. After the words were spoken which pronounced the Negro free, he hesitated a minute, then sprang towards the highest place at once. It was not many days before he was heard from in all positions, in all walks of life ; he was in high government positions, his name was on the most exclusive professional roles, yet the common horde lingered in surprised helplessness, wondering what next. Such a state of affairs, though brilliant, was without foundation and could not last. In building the structure of his race-life the Negro had begun at the top. The cupola could not last without a foundation ; the work was shaking without a firm support. Of late years this is being realized, and we are turning our attention to the foundation work. It may be that some are blind to the crying needs of an absolute and unwrenchable foundation in the soil of the state, but those whose eyes are opened must realize that we can advance no further, or do no better work, until we have paused and implanted ourselves firmly. The progress made thus far has been magnificent, but like the house built upon sands. Ere we add another gable or tower to its structure we must insure it against the lash of the storm's fury by placing a solid rock beneath its surface.

This is where the progress of the Negro leads us today — to pause in the brilliant meteoric advance and stride forward henceforth as a solid phalanx of earnest, industrious toilers^ for a merited place in the world's array of nations. By the work-shop, the well-tilled farm, the scientifically conducted dairy, the mechanic's well-done work, our advance is now being noted. From gaining the wondering curiosity of the world for a chosen, brilliant few, we are compelling its respect and admiration for ourselves as a whole, as a people upon whom the stigma of idle dreaming can no longer be laid.

%Thus, while the authors record m these pages the progress of the Negro within the past generation, let us hope that when another quarter century has passed away the race's biographer may have a still more promising' story to tell. Let us hope that it will be a

INTRODUCTION. Vli

story of a people taking part in the affairs of a nation — not in isolated cases, but as an integral part of a magnificent whole. Let us hope that there will be manufacturers, as well as senators ; good and successful business men, as well as politicians; reputable artisans, as well as literateurs; millionaires, as well as laborers. Let us hope that the wave of industrial feeling now extending over the country may find its culmination in the unmistakable and solid foundation of a magnificent people, and crystallize a race into conformation with the highest standard reached by man in the present age.

BOOKER T. WASHINGTON, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial Institute. TusKEGEE, Ala., Atigust 8, 1897.

WE ARE RISING.

BY REV. GEORGE C. ROWE.

Among the sayings of our race,

Suggestive and surpiising, That fill a most exalted place,

Is, "Tell them we are rising!"

The question asked for right and truth, What to the North your greeting?

The answer from a Negro youth — "Tell them we are rising!"

Within Atlanta's classic halls,

This youth, self-sacrificing.

Wrote high his name upon her walls,

His motto: "We are rising!"

Out in the world he makes his mark,

Danger and fear despising.

E'er soaring upward like the lark,

My brethren: "We are rising!"

He meets the foe with voice and pen,

With eloquence surprising!

Give us a chance, for we are men!

Most surely we are rising!

Rising to take our place beside

The noble, the aspiring; With energy and conscious pride,

To the best things, we're rising!

Within the class-room is his place, ' Greek, Latin, criticising.

To raise the youthful of his race, And show the world we're rising!

Go forth, my friend, upon your way,

Each obstacle despising, Prove by your efforts every day

To all that we are arising!

In farming, trade and literature,

A people enterprising!

Our churches, schools, and home life pure.

Tell to the world we're rising!

Note.— About a score of years since, Gen. O. O. Howard, then connected with the Freedman's Bureau, on visiting one of the colored schools in (ieorj^ia, asked the children: "What message shall I take from j ou to the people of the North?" An intelligent boy answered promptly: "Tell them we are rising!" The boy was Richard Wright, of Augusta, Ga., who has since graduated from Atlanta Universitv, ably filled the editorial chair, and is now President of the State Normal School, of College, Georgia.

TABLE OF GONTENTS.