The colored American., 1903-01-31
A WESTERN IDEA
Of DIR. Washington end ms Power
W.T. and OrateI-A Writer of his to
Lead as d InsIrhct Men.


he appears to be a conspicuously bless
ed individual. To begin, he espouses
what may be called a popular cause,
inasmuch as it appeals to about every
sensible man and woman. Then he
combines in his intellectually certain
traits which he draws from the two
races to which he belongs. He calls
himself a black man." but he isn't
that Everybody seeing him for the
first time must be surprised to observe
the color of his skin He is a great
deaI white. and he is thoroughly civ
ilized," TO use an expression OF which
he is fond. True his features have
the African cast, his speech the soft
accent OF the race, but his attitude to-
ward the black man is that OF su-
perlor brother, not that of an equally
black brother.
Then in his humor-and he is as
witty as an Irishman-it seems to me
there is the childish cunning Of the
Negro. the unconscious drollery CT
him. the pathOs of his color with the
added intelligence and point OF view
that belongs to the white man. Can
ANYBODY tell a genuine niger
story so well as he2 Does he miss the
slightest phase of Uncle Zeke'S unctu-
business or Aunt Hebe's amazing art
Iessness Much is expressed by into
nation and dialect, but the story takes
a double significance when played up
on by the intelligence OF this truly re-
markable man. To him the chicken
stealing propensity of his race is as
deliciously humorous as it is TO any
of us His dancing eyes, the drop OF
his chin and the suppressed smile OF
his lips after an interpolated joke con-
cerning this fOible, testify TO ms
thorough understanding of all sides or
the story.
These same humorous incidents are
not Iugged in by reason of an orators
desire to amuse or edify; they serve
deeDer purpose broader than that
Don't you suppose the little story
about the hen house at TuSkegee that
was wanted for a class room, the Ola
colored mans surprise that the ooss
was goin' to clean it out befo' dark,
makes one understand certain crudl-
ties of the people he works with ana
their normal understanding clearer
than any solemn treaties on the sub
ject-'
He sees the Negro better. knows him
hotter than any living black man to-
dav. or white man either for that mat
ter. He tacks skillfully so as to steer
clear of race prejudice and Suspicion
nv nointing out how the white man Is
invading the Negro domain, how var
ions occupations have been wrested
from the black man because he dldn
studv TO improve his work He MIN
listers TO the pride OF his race Oy
dweIling on the Importance OF the
black man watching his own lndus-
tries so they will not be taken from
him He tells how Uncle Sam and MS
long mole and whitewash bucket were
first in the field. Now, through the
shiftIesspess of Uncle Sam, brlght,
nrogressive white men have elevated
the business into the house decoratlhS
nrofession. and the old Metro has loSI
his job. ui+;,,,
Tben. Quick as a flash, his position
changes TO that of a student, VINO
locks at all questions impersonaliy-
He tells his audience that TO de-
veIop a mans desires and neea9
nv education and not train MS
hands so he can support these re-
o,,irements is to encourage danger
o,,s TYNE of citizen. Therefore ne IN
sists on al industrial education for the
bIack man whose intellectual nature
;s being aroused. He would nave ms
90 composed of men all skilled Ia
borars and craftsmen. and incldentalIy
he remarks that on this point ne mas
hi