Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1890-10-25
A DISTINCTION WITH A DIFFER
ENCE.

The Richmond Dispatch in its
ssue OF the 18th inst. discourses on
Sour Afro Americans.n Its Ian
yuage surprised as betokening as
& does a change IN sentiment, and /
q recognition of the fact that our
people are trying to improve them
selves, the evidence being appar
emit by the fact that there exists
supper circles of colored soclc y.
But 20 the point in discussing |
the subject it says;
There seems TO be determined eff |
fort In the upper circles OF col0red
society to induce the public to ex-
change the word Negro for Afro
American
We DO not wish to discourage the pro
meters OF this movement, but really we
think it most improbable but that they
can ever be successful.
Ii is much easier TO say Negro than
Afro American and Negro Will
therefore long bold its place Ia the
popular vocabulary. IL means black
aud IL is u better word than oolored,
which indicates anything bat white or
black.
The term Negro is not Synonymous
with African and is not national ap
pellation, but denotes an ideal type
distinguished by certain physical char
sc ers, such as are seen Ia the people Of
the coast of Gninea-viz., Black skin,
woody hair, fiat nose. etc
The very defniti
gro affords the objection TO It's use.
Ii does not properly describe the
generation of people now bearing
that appellation. Some of our
leading men offer no objection TO
the use of the term so long as it
is spelled with a capital "N .
1t says:
ave never wish 10 use any personal
description offensive to the man OF
woman spoken OF or to, and for this
reason have often employed 'colored'
to describe those who would have been
more properly represented as Negroes
L. may be argued that inasmuch as there
are now almost as many mulattoes as
blacks in the South s'colorod" comes
nearer TO a true description Of them
than Negro but this Is not so fol
Negro carries with 1t the racia
peculiarities as well as the color. II
ofseu happens that in the traits thai
particularly distinguish this people the
mulatto is more genuine Negro than
his black brother"
The above liberal assertions pa
ticularly surprised us. Tue frs
half dozen lines carry with then
that gentIemanly refinement ans
respect VIII ch have won fame TO
Virginians the world over. The Ia
ter statements are the most con
plete assertions as 10 the reason
: why we are all termed Negroes tina
we have ever read. Personally w
have no objection TO the title, a
/, Stunning that it is more a design
ton OF honor than one OF degrad
t, ton. We are hot TO be gagged onl
: by what we have been, but by wha
( we are 10 day.
Al Our progress compares favor
4 bly, with that Of any race Of peopl
D on the globe. After asserting tbs
o it believes the term Negro to |
r the best of all it says:
o "Our views Of Negroes in politi
have been often expressed and mes
not be repeated here.
q We want To see them prosper VI
"a would have them teach their childrs
/: to be honest. truthful, Industrious, al
obliging. While we would have the
Ie acquire property, build themselves CO
Portable homes, and educate themselv
~ 10 become useful citizsns we do n
care to see the desirable traits of {
m old Virginia darby displaced by DC
~ ness and dudishness. To do it Is
III break 3 bond Of friendsh p that
10 long existed"
i'll We commend the above la
lg guage as being timely and W
Is said.
rs In it is expressed all that
al could reasonably expect from tho
no who had been educated ana trt
ed to believe otherwise.
dc We would remind our contem
be rary that there is an element no
ng ever in it's ranks that believe
pa the contrary. Like a dread
'sl scourge--a hideous phantom,
he stands ever ready to blast
ex future hopes of this enfranchil
OF race, and TO thereby blight
lot prosperity of old Virginia. Oh
it. ed peoples taxes only, for Colo
as peoples schools is its watch-c
ub obIiyious of the fact that the p
ent prosperity of Virginia is b
be upon the Drawn and muscle of
he faithful blacks. What he lack
oS mouav he navs in labor. He al