The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1908-07-10
COMMUNICATION.
A Victory for the Race.
To The Nashville Globe:

A Victory for the Race.
To The Nashville Globe:
Little Marie c. Bolden, of Cleveland,
Ohio, thirteen years old, has won a
signal and brilliant victory for herself
and her people as we'll in being award
ed the gold medal for the best speller
in the national spelling contest which
was participated in by representatives
from four Of the great city schools of
the country. These representatives
were in teams, composed of fifteen pu-
pills, and came from the following CT
ties: Cleveland, Ohio; Pittsburg, Pa;
Erie, Pa, and New Orleans, La. The
latter represented Dixie Land. 1t is
significant that though no child be-
longing to the Negro race was a mem
Der of the team coming from this the
largest city of the South and represent
ing its highest culture, it was the
farthest from the goal when the con-
test was ended. 1t is also significant
that one of the teams having Negro
children in it was the winner and that
little Negro lassie was the best of
that team and was accordingly award
ed the coveted medal as the champion
child speller of the United States. She
is the product of people of less than
fifty years of freedom, and her achieve
ment is indicative of what is be-
ing done by people whose soul is
hungering for mental culture. Does
not this particular contest tell in a
way palmer than words that the
whites of the South have devoted too
much time teaching their children
race prejudice, to keep abreast with
the Northern schools, where Negro
children are not debarred.
Has not such course on the part
of the whites been the greatest retar-
dation to the progress of the South?
1t has been MANNED and injured by its
friends for the unwarranted reason of
keeping the Negro people down. Its
material progress as we'll as it's mental
advancement has been held in abey-
ance, because of the fatal weakness of
trying to stop the upward march of
the Negro.
But the fact that the Negro is max
ing the best of his advantages or op-
pOl CuhAClOo 10 OC1u6 uCulOnoIIdLCu GNCI
and anon from childhood to manhood.
1t is a worthy and commendable am
bition that he is writing his name
higher and higher upon the shaft that
holds the records of the achievements
of modern civilization.
1t is we'll that some of the fairest
and most representative white newspa-
pers have said that little Miss Bolden
covered herself as we'll as her team
and school with glory. She measured
up grandly to the task assigned her,
and every member of her race should
be and is proud of her. She is the
justly proud possessor of a gold medal
that attests her ability in photography
and proclaims to the world that she is
the best child speller in America. Out
of the 500 test words given her she
did not misspell one. Therein she
covered herself with glory and reflect
ed credit upon her people. Another
Esther to the rescue of her people
she will help to thwart the machi
nations of the Haamans who would
cast aspersions of doubt upon the
ability of her people.
In conclusion, let it be said that the
Negro is going to stick to his purpose
and upon the anvil of endeavor is go
ing to hammer out glorious destiny
JADECEE.