Albuquerque daily citizen. [volume] (Albuquerque, N.M.) 1895-1903, 1898-08-05
EMANCIPATION CELEBRATION.
Afro-Amerieans observe the Great Even
with speech and Song.

Afro-AmerIeans observe the Great Event
with Speech and Song.
The Afro-Americans OF Albuquerque
celebrated the emancipation OF their race
last night at the A. N. X. church with
speech and song. Commencing at 0 p.
m. supprr was served until late In the
evening. The yard outside Of the church
was beautifully illuminated with Japan
csc lanterns, while the interior OF the
church was handsomely decorated with
national colors. The program OF tho
evening was carried out on a platform
erected outside Of the church. Rev. j..
Allen acted a. master OF ceremonies and
G. G. Crockett was the orator OF the even
ing. delivering q stirring and eloquent
address.
Hon. b. 8. Il dey opened his address
with a humorous story or two suggested
by Rev. Aliens story Of the fugitive
slaves text Of "Now you see me, and yet
in a little while you see me not" and
continued: 1T Ia riyht and proper that
you should celebrate Emancipation day.
From the Hrst OF these days in your his.
tory dates the birth OF your legal free
dom, and ever since you have at least the
right TO try and place yourselves where
your capacities and talents entitle you IA
be; and want to say right here, that
do not think history shows a parallel tC
the progress you have made in these few
years, under such trying circumstances
You are fast showing the world that
prejudice aside, the black man Is any
body's equal. both physically and men
tally.
There Is yet an antagonism between
the races. Then go on educating your
selves aud your children Have high
ideals, and your progress will be- faster
Brains and energy are what count. Gel
out OF the rut OF servitude. Try and on.
gage In independent employment GIL
farms, start small manufacturing bust.
ness, do anything except this continual
working for some n else. Have self
reliance. and then whenever you are In
tellectually superior TO those around you
you will know 1t, and they will know 1t
The man with the superior brain Il
higher than a king, though he serve,
him as his slave-and the king knows II
Learn trades where you can work alonI
and make an independent living. Fla
It 30 that the white men will have Il
come among you and not you among
the white men. Take up land anC
make farms for yourselves. Band to
gether and form small manufacturing
communities. Take advantage Of ever
chance TO educate yourselves and you
children, and that will solve the problem
for you. II Is no easy matter. Whit,
industrial slavery Is as bad az yours. B,
respectable; strike for high ideals. s,
conduct yourselves that TO mention
crap game, a razor. a watermelon or
chicken won't be a suggestion Of a negro
Go into the mining camps aud take al
mines. Keep barber shops, restaurants
stores or anything rather than bs eter
nally servants. Don't be afraid OF hon
eat labor, but try TO work, 80 as TO max
yourselves happier. and not be the sub
ject OF any bOdy's sneers.
The negro is all right: What an op.
tlmist he Is. He is as light hearted a.
child. His soul is wreathed in song
There Is music in his very manner, an
/ melody In his motion. Drop suddenly Fl
on one Of his picnics or his dances; se
/ the boys and girls and the pickaninle
dance to the rythmic clapping of the oil
tsrs' hands and the melodiOus pink
plunky pSnky OF the banjo. while tn
clean -aprOned mammies and the frizzlt
headed uncles seated around the ROOF
look approyingly on, and carry abOu
them an air OF venerable respectabilitl
and II you don't feel the better for 4
then you are a chronic dyspeptic. L
/ rather have the disposition OF a happ
negro, than all the gold OF 0phir an
D Ind.
Hon. T, n. Wilkerson followed Mr.. Roc
ney. In opening he gave an account {
T his early life among the negroes and II
lated many amusing "reminiscences. The
= he opened up and in a very forcible an
2 decidedly eloquent manner pictured II
a negro situation generally, and for twent
, minutes held the audience 10 the closes
attention and received we'll merited a.
plause.
The grafton, "Toussiant L'0vertur'
Wendell Phillips, by Mrs. Eva Buckne
was good.
Mrs. l., 8. Black read the emancipatlC
proclamation by the immortal LincOl
The Rotations by Chauncey RumtOl
and Gary Buekner were we'll rendered.
The choir sang Marching Throul
\ Georgia" and America" In a mann
which stirred every hesrt-string vii
1 patriotic devotion,
The emancipation celebration of 49,
was o grand success In every way, al
reflects credit on every one who had an
l. thing 10 do with 1t.