The Topeka state journal., 1902-01-20
MAKES HIM TIRED
Rev. G.. ID. Olden on LOWman
Hill Color Line Trouble
Eloquent Negro Preacher Calls
His Race to Account.
POSSESSES RACE PRIDE
Won't Force Himself Where He
Isn't Wanted.
POSSESSES RACE PRIDE
Says COl0red People Couldn't
Support One School.
Believes Separation is Good
Thing For the Negro.

'It makes me tired to hear colored
men complaining about this thing or
that thing. If they would take some
of the money they are throwing away
on amuSementS and give it to some of
the institutions of learning there would
be no complaint" This is a sample of
strong declaration hurled at a congre-
cation made up of many of the best
colored people in Topeka, by Rev. G. D.
Olden, pastor of the First African Bap-
tist church, in talk Sunday evening
on 1.-The Color Line in Our Public
Schools"
This continual complaint about not
being able to send our children to this
or that white school is a shame" he
went on. L believe in the negro de-
veloping himself along his own racial
lines; what he is to be he is to be to
himself he is to carve out his own des-
tiny. The trouble at Lowman Hill is
an uncalled for thing; we are in no
position today to make a fight along
those lines. There are many things
which the colored people have a right
to enjoy, but which they do not dare as
sert because public sentiment is against
1t. And 1T may be the best for US that
we don't get all we want because if
colored man were admitted to the ho-
tells here then there would be a lot of
fellows hanging around there who don't
keep themselves clean and who would
soon be elected. So the whites just
draw the line against them all. A few
years ago we had this same thing up
and it resulted in a division of the
schools. 1t was the best thing that
ever took place for the colored peo-
pie"
Continuing Mr. Olden said: Another
thing, L as opposed to trying to put
myself off on other people who don't
want me. 1 believe in race pride, but
not in forcing myself on other people.
They pay the taxes and it looks like the
man who is running the thing with his
money ought to have a say about how
it shall be run. Instead of that, we are
all the time saying we are entitled to
this or that. What is it that makes
one man entitled to the same as anoth-
er? 1t is in being equal in all things
in money and intelligence.
I'VE are making a great noise about this
when We ought 20 go way back and sit
down The taxes gathered from the col
poses wouldn't support a single school
three months, and when we consider that
the 20 colOred teachers are supported en-
tirely by the whites and the buildings
heated and lighted, we ought to get to-
gether and try to improve ourselves, in
stead of passing resolutions and COM
it is as well with us as it is 1t is no
disgrace for to bow our heads to the
truth if that has a tendency to cause you
I'VE don't have anybody to complain
to but ourselves The industrial school
receives $50 a. month from the state for
the colored people of the state. What are
doing for the advancement of the race
What is the other fellow doing? Every
This talk about a color line will not
ton" predicted Rev Olden "Compiaint
is coming in from all sources. The chair
man of the board of education told me