Richmond planet., 1907-08-31
Mr.. BAKERS
NARRATIVE
Sketches from Lifc-The Loafng
Representations as They Are.
IAmerican Magazine 7

tAmerican Magazine
made a good many inquiries to
find out what was being done out
side OF the public schools by the
white people toward training the
Negro either morally industriauy
or intellectually-and 7 was aston
ished to find that &c was next to
nothing. The Negro is. of course.
not welcome at the white churches
or Sunday schools. and the senti-
ment is SO strong against teaching
the Negro that 1t is a brave South
ern man or woman, indeed. who
dares attempt anything of the sort.
! did find. however that the Central
Presbyterian Church OF Atlanta con-
Quoted a Negro Sunday school. OF
this DR.. Theron "A. Rice. the pastor.
said:
The Sunday School conducted in
Atlanta by my church is the out
come of the effort of some of the
most earnest and thoughtful OF our
people TO give careful religious train
ing TO the Negroes of this genera
tion and thus TO conserve the infIu-
ence begun with the fathers and
mothers and the grand fathers
and grand-mothers or these coIored
children when they were taught per
sonally by their devoted masters
aud mistresses. The work is small
in point OF the number reached.
but IL has been prodUctive Of sturdy
character and law abiding citizen
ship"
4 white man or woman. and es-
pecially a Northern white man or woI
man In Atlanta who teaches Necrocs
is vigorously ostracised by white
society ] visited one of the Negro
colleges where there are number
OF white teachers from the North.
We had quite a talk. When 7 came
20 leave one OF the teachers said TO
me;
You don't know how good it
seems TO talk with some one from
the outside world We work here
yeSr in and year out without
white visitor, except those who have
some necessary business with the
institution"
Explaining the attitude toward
these Northern teachers land we
must understand just how the South
ern people feel I'm this matter) q
prominent clergyman said that a lady
who made a special call upon a tea
cher in that institution would NOT
feel secure against having social
equality thrust upon her. and that
when the call was returned a similar
embarrassing situation might be
created.
APoGOGIZING FOR HELPING NE
GROES
Just in this connection: I found
a very remarkable and significant
letter published in the Orangeburg.
S. c., News, signed by a well-to do |
white citizen who thus APOLOGIES
for kind act TO a Negro school:
Il had left my place of business
here on a business trip a few miles
below; on returning / came by the
aforementioned school (the Prince
Institute. colored). and was held
up by the teacher and begged to
make a few remarks TO the children.
Very reluctantly ! did so, not think |
ing that publicity would be given
TO IL or that / was doing ANYTHING |
that would offend anyone. I wish to
say here and now that / am heartily |
'V'Ay III " nat AANf blAA4 nope aILer |
this humble confession and express
ion of regret that all whom | have |
will forgive me-"
The sentiment indicated by this |
letter, while widely prevalent, is by |
no means universal. have seen
Southern white men address Negro |
schools and Negro gatherings several |
times since | have been down here.
Some of the foremost men In the
South have accepted Booker T. Wash
ington's invitations to speak at Tus-
kegee. And concerning the very let
ter that / reproduce above, the Char |
lotte Observer. a strong Southern
newspaper, which copied 1t, said:
"A man would better be dead than
to thus abase himself. This man did
right to address the pupils OF a color
ed school. but has spoiled all by /
apologizing for it, Few people have
conceived that race prejudice went |
so far, even in South Carolina. as |
is here indicated. Logically IL is TO /
be assumed that this jelly-fish was
about to be put under the ban. and |
to secure exemption from this. pub
lished this abject card. To IL was
appended a certificate from certain
citizens, saying they are as anxious
to see the colored race elevated as
any people, but by all means let IL |
be done inside the color line sI
The narrowness and malignity be-
trayd I'm this Orangeburg incident is