The Forrest City times., 1893-12-08
The Northerner and the Negro

| The NOTIneTnGT anu Ntto 'SCe' 1 If is sometimes quite amusing to the Southerner to hear the average Northerner ] dicourse about the negro. AS general thing he knows just as much about the he- gro AS we of the South do about the Alaskan Indians. His!nterest in him nevertecreases and his questions about him never cease that is. if he has never associated with him. The people of the North who have never been in the South are shamefully ignorant of all things that relate to the negro. and as 1 said before. their ques- tionss concerning him are highly amusing until they ssceTae tiresome. A lady said to me, Southern men must be much more immoral than Northern men," Why do you think SOP" 1 asked, Because" said she. "are not nearly all the negroes in the , South mulattoes ?" 1 laughed at such ig- norance. She seemed a little hurt, for she was perfectly sincere, and was really fseeking information. ] then informed lAer as nearly as 1 could of the true state of affairs. 1 told her then that would like to sit her down some Saturday in the lmiddle of an eastern Arkansas town. that she might study the negro as he really eX- ists. I think if this ceald be done with a good many Northerners, that their ideas concerning the negro would be somewhat dispeled. The halo of romance with which they surround him, would fade away somewhat.
 One day at the table the conversation turned, as was not unusual, upon this all absorbing topic, and the question arose as to whether the white man is superior to the negro. Most of the company thought not. 1 took no part in the conversation, until to draw me out" the direct question was asked, Do you not think negroes are as good as white people ?" 1 tried to pu. on one of Josiah Aliens Wife's "calm looks" as said, Il can't speak fer the rest of you, but as far as 1 am concerned, l know l am superior to the negro" Then everything was just as sHuiet for little while, and no one defended the negro.
 In their debating societies, the question of great prominence was always, What Shall We Do With The Negro 2" I felt q like giving them the answer that M- Dick gave Miss Betsy Protweed when she dShCu HUI WHdl elC StOuiu uOEWIlu DdNft Copperfield.
 When l was in Baltimore, 1 went out to Druid Hill park. 1 took seat in a ph8ton to drive around. The only other occupant was New York lady who had accompanied her husband on 6 business trip down to Baltimore. The driver was a negro, end she was immediately inter eSted in him. and asked him numberless questions about his business, how much he paid for privilege, fthe team belonged to him, how much he cleared per day, etc., etc. All the time she was extremely pO- lte,' ,''and her conversation was OverfOwIng in ''Sirs" as she addressed him. She was high1yAgratified to learn that he was doing a most lucrative business, and was fully satisfied wfth his position. The negro was genuine Southern darkey. and while somewhat fiattered, was yet highly res pectful.
 While l was at the Fair, took dime, one day iH the Casino. Here the walters were all negroes. A Michigan lady ana myself sat at the Same table. the waiter 'l came round for orders. After he left sht said. "I set they have all negroes here don't like Tor the thick lips to wait on me do you?'>I told her that was from the South and was used to them. etc. Sh, gave al affected little shudder and saiC ''Somehow l can't think they are clean This was the only time 1 eyer ssheard Northerner make a disrespectful remarl about the negro. Yet 1 have noticrt that when put to the test they in reality take care to have very little to do with him despite all their pletense to the contrary For instance. in the depots in the northern cities, though all use the same waitins and toilet rooms, yet they sit apart anC seldom have anything to do with eacl other. If you see white person entel nto conversation with negro, nine time out of ten-ft is goOdnatured SouthernerI who is really glad to meet with negr, when heagets up noith.
 l noticed this especially in Washington City, for had heard so much about socia equality in that city that was particular, observant. l noticed. also. that the ne groes had their excursions and the white people had theirs. So came to the con clusIon that when white people associate with negroes, in Washington as well a. elsewhere, that 1t is from some selfish mo tive. political or otherwise. It is tn, Northerner who is most unacquaintet with the negro that is so eager to play isocially, theagood Samaritan. CT.