The colored American., 1903-05-16
A VOICE FROM TEXAS.

Drairie view, 1OAS oPCCAc1A' hO
yonng Negro, to help solve the race
nroblem must believe and adhere 10
PPooTer T. Washington's doctrine; that
SOctrine that is preparing the hand
~ w we'll as the head to perform the
,rI @ for producing the necessities of
TSa The majority of the young people
.hot are blessed with the privilege of
..tonding college seem to be impressed
rJtb the idea of becoming leaders.
Tbie asDiratino is not to be discounted
tr there will be leaders produced from
NV various schools; but those leaders
~ NOT of that class who work for fame
I'd GREAT names, but who earnestly,
-aoIonslv and conscientiously labor for
rood that might be affected by their
oSorte In the interest Of the race when
tbav have entered upon hfe's duties.
We will continue to need leaders TO
boIn our DeODle IN their onward march
IN civilization; but we will need earn
oct nractical labors as well; therefore
tho young Negro should not be edu-
cotad to scOrn work; but he should be
gIad that the Divine hand of Prov1-
dancn provided for him a strong heal
thy body and active limbs to do the
work that the world demands.
In his acquisition of an education he
sbould not build castles in the air by
reaching at a shadow instead OF sub
stance. but his aim should be to ac-
complish that education that Will best
Al him for a useful citizen in his COM
munity.
We all are proud of good leaders, but
foil me- is a man a true leader who
hasn't a bank accaunt, a foot of land
and without useful employment? We
admire good worthy leaders, and we do
well to admire them; but if man is
leader and is minus home and bank
account and useful employment, can he
lead? These questions should COM
mand our attention. We all cannot be
engaged in the same YocatiOns, but in
asmuch as we need leaders, we need
tOilers. Let us not all get the idea
that we are to become leaders, but do
with our might what our hands find to
do and let our fame take care of it.
self think if we do this our success
will be just what 1t ought to be-
We are glad to have professional
men, but We should be equally glad to
have wealthy farmers, successful mer-
chants and skilled mechanics We
need more of the latter than the former
to help in the construction of a foun-
The training the young people most
need is that kind that will fit them for
useful employment in the professions
or YOcatiOns they are to embark, and
not great deal Of impractical know
ledge which will be of no service in
thelr respective trades of professions.
IN conclusion l would say that it
would be well for our people to open
thelr eyes to this fact, that is support
ing these Jack-a-leg preachers whose
efmons are affecting no good" but
lhey only have a tendency to help IN
tearing down the respects of the race.
"hat object looks any worse than a
Slong fellow lOafing about with a long
greasy Jim-swinger, and a three story
uefOy? And many of our people sup
port these kind of loafers too, when, if
tley were preaching for house rent
uney would always be moving. Let us
wake up and not be so emotional. Let
Us quit supporting shiftlessness, and
eI these unworthy, uncalled stout able
tehows get out and toll, and show us
now to get prosperity and build UP
Dank accounts and by this way they
VIII be helping to solve the race
question. (This does not apply to
worthy preachers.)
W. NJ. King, State Normal College.