Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1897-08-28
HIGHER EDUCATION FOR THE NEGRO
Industrialism Alone Cannot Work Out
His Salvation.

slcx. C;ummell, ID. in the independent.
1t seems manifest that the major fact Or
in this work for the negro is his higher
culture. There is no dispute to the need
of industriaiism. That is universal con-
dition of life everywhere. But there is no
need of an undue or overshadowing exag-
geration of it in the case of the negro.
And, first of ALL industrfalism itself is a
result in mems civilization, not cause. 1t
may exist in a people and with much cx-
cellence- for ages, and still that people may
''lie in dull obstruction" semi-barbarous
and degraded. We see in all history large
populations moving in all the planes of
industrial life, both low and high, and yet
paralyZed in all the high springs of action.
and for the simple reason that the hand Of
man gets its cunning from the brain. And
without the enlightened brain what is the
hand of man more than the claw of bird
or the foot of a squirrel? In fine, without
the enlightened brain wnere is civilization
The negro race, then, needs new factor
for its future life and being, and this new
factor must come from a more vitalizing
source than any material condition. The
end of industrialism Is thrift, prosperity
or gain. But civilization has a loftier OBJ
ject in view. 1t is tic make men grander;
it is to exalt them in the scale of being;
and IFS main agency to this end is the
higher culture" -ll,
If a more precise and definite meaning
to this word is demanded 1 reply that l
use it as indicative of letters, literature,
science and philosophy. In other words.
that this negro race is to be lifted up to the
acquisition of the higher culture of the
age. This culture is to be made part
of its heritage; not at some distant day,
but now and all along the development of
the race. And no temporary fad of doubt
ing or purbind philanthropy is to be al
lowed to make industrial training a sub
stitute for it
This does not mean that noodles and
numbskulls shall be sent to college: nor
that every negro shall be made a scholar;
nor that there shall be a waste of time and
money upon incapacity. No one can make
a thimble hold the contents of bucket!
But what il does mean is this that the
whole world of scholarship shall be opened
to the negro mind; and that 1t is not to he
fastened temporarily or permanently, TO
or to the plane; that the negro shall be
allowed to do his own thinking in any
and in every sphere, and not 20 have that
thinking relesated to others. 1t means
that when genius arises in this race, and
elects with flaming torch, to push its way
into the grand arcanum of philosophy or
science or Imagination, no bar shall be
raised against its entrance; albeit II be in
carnated in form deply tinged with
THE Swallowed livery of the FURNISHED
SUM-
submit:
/. That civilization is the foremost, deep
est need of the negro race;
2. That the higher culture" is its grand
est source:
3. That the gift to the negro of the scien-
tific mind. by Fisk and Clark and Lincoln,
and Oberlin and Howard and Yale, and
Harvard and other colleges. is of the most
incalculable value to the black race.