The Washington times. (Washington [D.C.]) 1901-1902, 1902-02-22
AN EARNEST APPEAL
FOR EQUAL RIGHTS

dIOunu ncr, endowed Win the same non
est heart and purpose. and those same
children form the large army of teachers
who are now doing the work of lifting
their children from ignorance into a full
err life
Gould the poor mother have a nobler
monument erected to her memory? | wish
to say right here. ana God forbid that we
should ever forget it, that 10 the gener
Gus. whole-souled Northern white men
who sacrificed the comforts of home. the
association OF friends, who came 10 the
South where they were as completely os-
tracised. as ever the coIored man or wom-
an Of today, who came in the missionary
spirit 10 give the liberated slaves their
hrst impetus toward an education who
were the first TO attempt to lift the great
Iall of ignorance in which they were en-
quilted, to them | say the colorCd people
of this country owe a debt of gratitude
that can never be paid Let them never
forget it.
LAS the first thirst for knowledge was
appcased for getting some or any kind Of
knowledge or education, so in time has
come the question which is the best edu-
cation. Tho day of specialization is with
us and with us to stay. The question is
asked Of every boy. white or black. which
course will you pursue, academic, scien-
IlHC. business. or lnduSirl9lE
We have learned that by specialization
giving the most of ones time to one sub
ject. is The only way of guaranteeing sue
cess in any line Of work
Need Industrial Training.
The condition of the colored people in
this country makes it imperative that the
majority secure Industrial training. Edu-
cation and industry have been the chief
hulwarks in this grand civilization. BY
them and them alone Will the great mass
of ignorance and poverty of a race he ele-
waited This is true of all races. The
masses must be not only educationally and
industrially trained, but must be indus
trially employed. l wish to emphasize
here that the colorcd youth Is being
trained industrially.
Many industrial schools are situated in
various parts OF our country. Tuskegee's
Industrial ana Normal School and Hamp-
ton Normal and Agricultural Institute are
the largest and best known. but any num-
her OF similar schools. though carried on
in smaller way. are doing good and eff
feCtive work. But the opportunity for US
ing this training is limited. so far as the
Colored boy or girl is concerned. Men and
women OF the AnglO-Saxon race throw
color enters. He is deb3rTed because OF
his color from entering this great arena
Of which the American nation is SO proud.
I trust I am not too liberal in stating
that the colored race in this country is
doing as well as any ether race would
do under similar circumstances. With
so many avenues Of employment closed
against him, | often wonder he is doing
so we'll.
Pleads for a Chance.
1T is for the ameHoration of this par
ticular condition that appeal to you to-
night-that the doors of all industries
and trades be opened to the technically
trained men and women Of our race. that
the same opportunity be given them that
is given other races. We come com
pletely acknowledging your power to aid,
and trusting TO your generosity to do so.
You cannot" she continued view
with Justice a people whose home and
social life is unknown to you. This land
must not tolerate inequalities and in
justice. Passive sympathy will not help
US. We need active, assertiye sympathy
with the multitude OF men and women
who are making brave fight against
overwhelming odds.
"If the women OF this country are
courts will feel that influence. / feel that
these words do not fall upon hearts steri-
LIKED by prejudice and race hatred. No
harm can be greater to a people than to
be shut out from the privilege of aspiring
to the highest development. 1t is my
faith that the colored American will fin
ally emerge from this difficult position
and gain every privilege and prerogatiye
due to citizen of this land
Woman n Factor.
Mrs. Josephine Silom Yates then spoke
of Woman as Factor in Race Develop
ment." She said that the two great prob
lens before the country were the race
problem and the equitable distribution of
wealth, and that in settling the race prob
len the work of the sociologist was i'm
portant
THE condition of the wO-nan of a race"
she said indicates the condition of the
race. The emancipation OF woman and
of an ensiaved race came to pass about
the same time, but in the one case there
were centuries OF preparation, in the
other, but a few years. In those days
white and black women worked side by
side for the solving Of a great problem
such cooperation is no less necessary
now. \ thorough understanding between
the races is necessary to the solution of
any race problem. At present the negro
the white man far better than
the white man understands him, for the
latter, coming in contact only with the
ignorant and deprayed negro. and CON
stantly reading of the acts of the crimi-
nal class, comes to the conclusion tina
this is degraded race, best left uncul-
tivated.''
Quotes III. Press.
She then quoted articles which have
appeared in newspapers. commenting ON
the work of colored womcns clubs, among
them a quotation which read: When all
colored people are like these there will
be no race problem" The census of 1900
credits the negro race with owning $780,
00e, 0cU worth of real estate, besides per
sonal property and church property
Mrs. Lewis E. Murray, promoter of kim
dergarten work among colored children.
then made a short address on the needs
of the submerged class of the race
Need Character
1T is not what the colored people need
as race" she said. but what the ma
jority of the American people need. and
that IS character. The colored people
have reduced their illiteracy IS per cent
in forty years. The Southern white peo-
pie have not reduced their illiteracy /
per cent. What right have they to take.
from us our sole right Of defence?"
Mrs. Murray then made a plea for the
kindergarten as a factor in the early
formation of character.
Mrs. Margaret Dye Ellis then spoke on
the topic our Duty to the Women OF Our
New Possessions"
She mentioned the visit made by the