Pittsburg dispatch. [volume] (Pittsburg [Pa.]) 1880-1923, 1890-04-29
LITERATURE AND THE NEGRO.

The discussion as to the future of the negro
and his capabilities has developed rather
remarkable dispute as to the literary tastes of
the colored race. A correspondent OF the
Nation at Washington reveals the astonish-
ing discovery that the negroes, as q class,
are devoting their attention to the highest
and most improving books. They eschew
works OF 6ction-with the exception, we sup
pose, of party newspapers-and, accord
ing 10 this statement, make their liter
airy investments in such storehouses of in
formation as the Library of Universal
knowledge; while the more educated class
OF colored people devote themselves earn
estly to the study of Aristotle, Plato and
Cicero. This claim of high literary taste
for the African race evokes a challenge
from the Atlanta Constitution, which gives
its evidence to the effect that the younger
negroes of its State delight in cheap and sem
sational stories, looking more eagerly for
the murder than the moral in a story
This conflict of testimony permits the i'm
partial judge to believe as much of each
side as he chooses. Probably a very Just
way OF estimating the two statements would
be to accept certain portion of each. 1t is
probably true that the prosperous colored
people are showing disposition to reinforce
their stores OF information py the possession
of the Library of Universal knowledge 1t
may be correct that some of them are read
ing the works of the classic philosophers.
But that all the colored people eschew fiction,
We believe to be an undue derogation OF
that imaginative race. On the other hand,
We are quite ready to give much confidence
to the Atlanta statement that the younger
colored people revel in the delights of
murder stories and detective literature. In
that there is no impeachment of the prog
ress of the colored race. For if the youth
of that race has developed to the point of
cheap and sensational fiction, the evidence
is complete that they are on an equality
as regards literary tastes with the Caucasian
youth. Whether they are guilty of reading
Zola, Amelie Rives, or Mr.. Barnes OF New
York, does not appear in evidence; but even if
they do perpetrate the perusal OF that trash,
their standard of reading will not suffer in
comparison with that of the heretofore su-
peTlOG race.
There is no need of taking pessimistic
view of the fact that a large number of
people, both white and black, find the pres
ent satisfaction of their appetite for reading,
in sensational trash. 1t is better to read de-
tective novels than not to read at all; and
that the younger colored generation are able
to read the literature which has furnished
the pabulum for two generations of our own
race, is an evidence of progress from the
comparatively recent period when the mass
of negroes could not even read their prim-
ers. We are more inclined to place faith in
this Southern evidence than in the rather
strong statement that the colored people are
proving themselves to be the superior race
b. reading Plato. 1t is more credible and
indeed is more satisfactory as showing proc
ess o. natural development which is more
likely to yield permanent results. than an
abrupt attack upon the mysteries of classic
philosophy.
Indeed. if it were proved to'be the case