Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1892-03-23
THE MATTER OF COLOR PREJUDICE.
1t 10 Discussed at Meeting OF the Bethel
Society.

Mr.. HILrER GIVES AN ANALYSIS OF THE EXISTING
STATE OF FEELrSG-How HE ADVISES THAT IT
SHOULD BE OVERCOME SOCIAL EQUALITY NOT DE-
| MASDED-INDUsTRIAL OPPORTUNITIES WANTED
| Those who attended the meeting Of the
Bethel Literary and Historical Association, held
/ last night in the lecture room of the Metro
! politan A NJ. Z. Church. had opportunity Of
| learning how those of negro blood-the edu-
Gated colored men-regard color prejudice
| The lecture room was well filled. The attrac-
| ton of the evening was an address by Mr.
I Andrew f. Hilyer entitled "An Analysis of
! American Color Prejudice and How to Over
| come It." The paper discussed by num-
Der of those present All of the speakers were
| colored men except ex-Ciov. Thos. G. Fletcher
who was present and was invited to speak
Mr.. Hilyer traced race prejudice to the egotistic
principle. the desire for self-assertion for
donlineering over men, combined with the
anti social feelings. He sketched the hostile
feelings that grew mp in primitive societies be-
tween clans or tribes, arising frOms differences
in manners, customs or geographic location.
COLOR PREJUDICE IN THE UNITED STATES
After considering in a general way the sub
jects Of race prejudice and caste prejudice. as
they exist among different people, Mr.. Hilyer
proceeded to discuss color prejudice in the
United States. He referred to the American
society as IT a condition Of settling and urged
that If the present system Of social and ildus-
trial caste exclusiveEess fastens its manacles
upon their limbs they would be doomed to re-
main in that relation for untold ages. II they
let things take their natural course. the speaker
said. from now on they would see fewer and
fewer colcred men filling positions desired by
white men.
I'm the feeling Of color prejudice" con-
finued the speaker. there are involved four
points OF difference. But only two of them
would naturally originate a race prejudice, the
race prejudice existing. the two las. affording
an excuse Tor having a race prejudice, and at
times stimulate and excite it to activity. The
first is difference of race. the second differ
ence OF color or complexion, third the differ
ence in actual developed power, the fourth
difference in the south in politics.
We speak the same language read, enjoy the
same literature. venerGte and supplicate the
same deity. have the samo ideals. the same
standards OF taste, the same manners and Gus
toms, love the same country and worship the
same flag. We have overcome every difference
except the four mentioned.
DIFFERENCES IN RACE.
We will consider these differences in the or
der of their Importance. beginning first with
difference in race. The two races show con-
siderable difference in appearance. The one is
white, with straight hair. the other dark or
colored, with hair not SO straight. There are
some additional differences in physical ap-
pearance- Historically the one race is identi-
fled with the development of the civilization in
which We live. The other has descended from
a race, so Caucasian writer's say. that has not
produced single philosopher, scientist. poet,
author, inventor or ruler OF the first magni-
tude in all the ages. These differences of race
and some other statements of differences which,
however much they may apply to some of the
most backward African tribes, are not true in re-
gard to the Afro-American. are put forward
by those white men whose minds have so far
developed as to require a reason for their race
prejudices justification for the feeling. In
this country II must be remembered that the
negro question has been and is a political ques-
ton. In order to Justify the measures of po-
litical party the Afro-American has been made
the victim of the most outrageous misstate-
ments as to his race differences and racial in
feriority to the whites these writer's knowing
full well that the prejudices of white people
could be easily played upon by pointing out
racial differences and Geducing racial inferior
itv. The purpose of this is to drive away from
us our proud Anglo-Saxon friends. ARE glad
to say. while it is well aimed, it does not always
succeed.
Some writers. like Prof Workman. call atten-
ton to the racial differences between the Anglo
Saxon and the most backward tribes of Africa
and then by dexterous Juggling of words and
a confusion of ideas leave the impression that
such great differences exist between the white
American and the Afro-American. The typical
negro described by these writer's is not the
typical Afro-American. II we except color or
complexion and a few other distinguishing
physical features of no importance in this dis
cussion the Afro-American has no distinctively
racial characteristics not easily and with GER
tainty traceable to our history in this country
There exist great differences in mental, moral
and material development. But these differ
ences are not racial. The differences in these
particulars between Afro and white Americans
is no greater than the differences between the
Dohemians and the English.
THE TYPICAL AFRo-AMERICAN.
If these writer's were disposed to be fair and
truthful they would describe the average, the
typical, the composite Afro-American or of an
olive brown complexion, with a slight African
cast Of eountenanee The cranial cavity is
somewhat less and the brain slightly less de
veloped than in the white IL head of q fam
lily. pays taxes on an assessed valuation OF $780,
can read fairly WELL Is aspiring. law-abiding
and firmly rooted in the doctrines of the Chris
tan religion. We have adopted eagerly the
Anglo-Saxon civilization in every particular
We have given up Africa ana don want to
hear anything about it. We have no race in
situations not forced upon US. We have no race
Character, as the jews have; no associations
that We are not anxious to be rid of and forget
We have no race cohesiveness, no common idea
or purpose around which we can all rally that
does not appeal with equal force to white men,
We have given up every difference that we
COULD ana fallen In with the general trend of
the civilization Of the people among whom we
are dwelling. We have the same feeling of
patriotisms. "My Country" and THE led,
White and Blue" will be cheered Just as loudly
and readily when played Lefore a colored
audience as before white audience. We are
Americans in the highest and best sense
DIFFERENCE IN COLOR.
The difference in color or complexion The
anti-color feeling is coextensive with Caucasian
civilization. We read that it caused Hannibal
trouble during his invasion of Italy Shake
speare knew of it when he wrote Othello 1t
shows the least strength In the Span;ard and
the Gaui. more in the Teuton. most in the
Anglo-Saxon. In the Spanish and French
colonies where African slavery once existed.
there was not any determined policy to press
every element OF manhood out of the slave.
And when freedom came the anti-color feeling
was not strong IL was the policy of the En-
glish to reduce the slaves nearly as possible
TO the relation Of beast Of burden. Hence in
the United States we find this feeling more per-
sistent and tenacious than do in any other
part of the world There Is n feeling In all
Caucasian countries inimlcal to colored people,
and would be awakened and manifested under
sufficient provocation The white Ameri-
can is great traveller. He is also a
color-prejudice missionary wherever he goes.
In the United States this feeling is never mani
fest, unless the Afro American aspires to be an
equal As an inferior he il never offensive
In that relation he is very much thought of,
is treated with kindness. Before the war it