The historic times. [volume] (Lawrence, Kansas) 1891-1891, 1891-09-05
SEPARATE EXHIBIT.

honor and q credit to the state or Onlu
SEPARATE EXHIBIT.
A writer in the indianapolis Freeman,
writing from Washington, ID. c., the
city which harbors more prejudice
against the race to the square inch than
any other city in the Union, takes ex-
ceptions to our advocacy of no sepa-
rate colored exhibit at the Worlds
fair.
He claims that the race wants Sepa-
rate exhibit His claim is no doubt
made upon the assumption that prog
ress tends to separation. We differ,
and believe that progress tends to the
celebrating of all lines of distinction
because of color. Newspapers reflect
public opinion. This is as true of the
Afro-American press as of the white
press, and a careful perusal of all the
Afro-American papers shows that the
Negro press, with very few exceptions,
are opposed to a separate exhibit or de-
partment for Afro Americans.
What is to be gained by separate de-
partment for the race?
Nothing save perhaps the giving OF
employment to a few colored men and
women on the sole ground that they
are colored We are at all times for
the greatest good to the greatest num-
Der, and the history of the past shows
conclusively that as the lines of distinc-
ton become less marked, the progress
of the race becomes more apparent II
perhaps might be a novel sight to see
the products of Afro Americans in arts,
science and the mechanical fields, col
lected together 1t might, and no doubt
would reflect great credit upon the race
when the conditions surrounding were
considered
1t would no doubt show wonderful
progress but how much more wonder
full would be the progress shown were
the exhibits of the Afro-Americans
placed along side of the whites, and
Judged from the same standard of ex-
cellence. 1t would show that we had
accomplished what we have contended
for, viz: that we be given an equal
chance with the whites, that we be
placed upon the same level, that the
fact of our color be no disbarment to our
acceptance anywhere and at any time.
Our Washington neighbor seems to
labor under the impression that If our
exhibits are not separate, the fact that
they are the products of Afro-American
genius will be lost sight of This i'm
preston is erroneous. Afro-American
| excellence, in any of the avenues OF
life, has always bobbed up to the sur
face and to the gaze of the public, even
though it has not always received its
Just credit ami reward, and if at the
Worlds fair our products are placed
alongside of the whites, no prescription
will hide the fact that they are the emf
nations from Afro-American minds and
the results of Afro American labor.
Our race should be the last to attempt
to draw the lines of distinction, and
separation any place and at any time,
can always be safely opposed by the
members of the race, as in the line of
progress. Because a man happens to
bear the title of minister of the Gospel
is no assurance that his opinion is law,
and we dare question any man who
gives utterance or commits acts in di-
rect opposition to the races veal We
| do not belong to that limited few who
permit the ministers to do both the bid
| ding and thinking to the exclusion
of all others. We contend that an es-
pousal of separate department for col
| ored exhibits will force the lines of dis
| tinction, which are obnoxious to every
| fair-mined Afro-American who is unset
| fshly interested in his races advance
ment. We contend that separate de
/ partment is in the line of retrogression
and not progression. We have, for the
/ past two months, watched closely the
Afro-American papers, and find that oul
/ position is backed by the utterances OF
! our press. We have not perused one or
/ two. but all the Afro American papers,
/ and find that ninety per cent of them
are opposed to separate department
/ for colored exhibits at the Worlds fair
| The procession has passed those sleepy
/ Rip Van Wrinkles who favor separa
+ ton. and they do not realize that pro
/ gress dictates that there be no separate
( exhibit
/ Hon. Frederick Douglass was inter
I viewed at Washington the other day
regarding his resignation. and
/ said: In no manner whatever
/ has either the president or tbs
state department ever intimatec
/ to me that my resignation would be az
J ceptable. On the contrary, / received