| 1 | Author: | Washington
Booker T.
1856-1915 | Add | | Title: | The Future of the American Negro | | | Published: | 2003 | | | Subjects: | University of Virginia Library, Modern English collection | UVA-LIB-Text | | | Description: | In this volume I shall not attempt to
give the origin and history of the Negro
race either in Africa or in America.
My attempt is to deal only with conditions
that now exist and bear a relation
to the Negro in America and that are
likely to exist in the future. In discussing
the Negro, it is always to be borne
in mind that, unlike all the other inhabitants
of America, he came here without
his own consent; in fact, was compelled
to leave his own country and
become a part of another through physical
force. It should also be borne in
mind, in our efforts to change and improve
the present condition of the Negro,
that we are dealing with a race which
had little necessity to labour in its native
country. After being brought to
America, the Negroes were forced to
labour for about 250 years under circumstances
which were calculated not to
inspire them with love and respect for
labour. This constitutes a part of the
reason why I insist that it is necessary
to emphasise the matter of industrial
education as a means of giving the
black man the foundation of a civilisation
upon which he will grow and
prosper. When I speak of industrial
education, however, I wish it always
understood that I mean, as did General
Armstrong, the founder of the Hampton
Institute, for thorough academic
and religious training to go side by
side with industrial training. Mere
training of the hand without the culture
of brain and heart would mean
little. "The closing exercises of the city
coloured public school were held at St.
Luke's A. M. E. Church last night, and
were witnessed by a large gathering, including
many white. The recitations
by the pupils were excellent, and the
music was also an interesting feature.
Rev. R. T. Pollard delivered the address,
which was quite an able one; and
the certificates were presented by Professor
T. L. McCoy, white, of the Sanford
Street School. The success of the
exercises reflects great credit on Professor
S. M. Murphy, the principal, who
enjoys a deservedly good reputation as
a capable and efficient educator." | | Similar Items: | Find |
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