New national era. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1870-1874, 1871-12-14


at which they wish to sit and their seats a
such table. But, sir, could you go into tina
beautiful hall at some meal time you would SET
there in some obscure corner, at some of thu
less favorably situated tables, now and ther
a dark object at the ends of the tables. YoI
would fiud on very close examination that those
dark spots were human beings, but having beer
created by God with dark faces, they are placed
in the most obscure position, at the ends of the
tables. so that their pale-faced brethren and
sisters may not have to sit down close to them
"as many Of them cere mever used TO colored
people before they came to Oberlin." AT the
opening of the fall term, year ago, one of our
students went to the hall and was pointed by
the manager to the most obscure seat in the
room, but he refused to take it, claiming the
right with the whites of choosing his own seat.
This right was denied by the manager, where
upon a very spirited conversation took place
| between them, i'm which such plain language
was used by both that there was no need of
consulting Webster to ascertain their meaning.
We will quote a few words uttered by the man.
ager on this occasion:
| You colored people will have to under
| stand that if you board in this hail. you must
sit where tell you. and nowhere else and
will not have you sit anywhere except at the
in with the white boarders. You ought to es-
TEEN it great privilege to be admitted into
| the hail to sit even at the ends of the tables
He further avowed his determination to put
all the colored boarders at one table by them
selves if they would come to the hall to board,
but at the same time declared that he would
much rather they wonld not come at ALL And
to prove that he did not want colored boarders,
he offered to pay this student what it would
cost extra to board in a private family if he
would leave the hall. The offer was treated
with the contempt which it deserved and the
whole matter was laid before the president,
who like an honorable man (as he is) decided
in accordance with justice.
Such is some of the prejudice existing among
the members of the Faculty of Oberln Col.
lege. Yet they claim that the letter of " Don
Carlos'--a man whom we love to honor, and
one WHO'S well known among his classmates and
friends for his uprightness and truthfulness-
that statement. There is not member of the
Oberlin Faculty who can honestly and truly
say that they treat their white and colored
students on an equality. They say they have
no prejudice on account of color. Can it be
possible that out of the many colored students
who have graduated here only one poor girl
Whose skin was almost as pale as their own)
could be found who was competent to teach a
class of the Anglo Saxons? Can these things
be? II so, then we say shame on college
that will take students through a course of
from four to six years study and allow them to
class of pale face pupils in the common En-
glish branches. If they have no prejudice, as
they claim, let them come out and avow their
adherence to right principals, and show to the
world that they have no prejudice, by giving
some OF their colored students opportunity
to help themselves along by teaching in the
preparatory department here. If they do this,
and we have been wrong in accusing our
mother, We will return most penitently and
say, 81 Mother, we have sinned against heaven
and against thee, forgive US of our sin and we
will sin against thee no more" But if they
will not do this let them no longer keep us ia
doubt, but come out and tell Us plainly, that it
is on account of our color that we are refused :;
that it is not expedient for colored students to
teach here. Professor Langston a short time
ago paid into the treasury Of this college the
sum of Isl, 250) twelve hundred and fifty dollars
for the support of teachers, yet colored students
have not even the privilege of laborng honestly
for the money given to the college by colored
friends. What an Inconsistency IS this! We
trust that the world will not think that it is for
| the want of brains on the part of the colored
students of Oberlin that they are debarred
from the privilege of teaching, for it is indeed
the want of unparalleled hearts in the bosoms
of the faculty.
Why, sir, the readers of your paper will be
surprised when we tell them that here in Ober-
lin-the underground station from which they
say are to proceed the trains going forth bearing
laborers TO cviize and Christianize the world
they will not so much as offer Christian col
ored student an opportunity to begin his
life work by teaching class in Sunday
School But such is an undenlable fact. We
do not mean to be ungrateful we love and
honor Oberlin, her college and faculty, for all
the good they have done aud are now doing
but we cannot but denounce in the strongest
terms that detestable prejudice which exists in
their midst, and is still increasing. We can
not but ignore and despse Christianity that
will discover in the complexion of mans skin
something that in its estimation should place
him midway between the lower animal king
dom and the Anglo-Saxon race. 1t is toe
much like the religion of the Pharasees of old
who made long prayers in the synagogues ant
on the corner Of the streets, that they might BIZ
seen of men.
coiored man in Oberln committing any
crime is promptly arrested and punished.
which is all right and proper. But not SO with
their white brethren. There are several Whit
fellows in this town who are guilty of crimes
which would send any dark skinned individual &c
the States prison, but they are white, and moth
ing is said A few weeks ago the people Of
this quiet little village were greatly alarmed
about robbers Several houses were entered q,
night and various things stolen. Many SLEPT
with loaded pistols under their heads some
with axes at their bedside; others with chair.
against their doors and sticks of wood over
their windows, so as to make noise if the
thieves attempted to enter by either Of those
ways and some did not sleep at all for severa