The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-10-31
WASHINGTON ON
 BIG ANNIVERSARY
President of Tuskegee Explains Plans for Observing Semi-Centennial of Negro's Freedom in
 America.

In 1913, four years from now, the negro will have been free 50 years. I have spoken with several white men, and all those wiln whom I have spoken have stated their belief that the anniversary of this event. which in my opinion was just as important to the south as a whole as it is to the negro, should be fittingy celebrated.
 At a recent meeting of the National Negro Business league at Louisville, Ky, t was proposed that l should take the first step in a movement for getting this celebration under way. Since that time a number of negro organizations and in- diyiduals have signified their interest in the proposed exposition and repeated the
 wish that 1 should take the lead in the
 matter? To every one who has asked me
 to lead or take part in the task of or ganizing such a celebration l have said
 that I would do so on condition that it have the support, the good will and the
 cordial cooperation of southern white
 people. as well as northern white people
 and of the negro race
 1 have stated further that it seemed to
 me that such an exposition should show | not merely the progress which the negro l has made in freedom, but the progress he | made before freedom came, in days of slavery.
 Without at this time going further into
 the details, the tremendous fact stands ! out that 1000, GOO of negroes in America [ the greater part of whom have spent all | their lives in the southern states, are, as 1 simple matter of fact in material, edu- | cational, moral and religious advance
 ment, hundred years and more ahead of l cft11 fIof of nv xrxub bpr l else in the world. All of the people,
 north and south, black and white. have had their part In bringing about this progress. Hence it seems fitting that such a celebration as is proposed should
 not only command the sympathy of both black people and white people, but should represent in it's results their united eff forts.
 I believe 1t will be possible to have an exposition representing the progress of a whole race from barbarsm to Christian civilization, which will astonish the world
 I believe the time has come also when all the people of this country, black and white, north and south, are prepared to rejoice that slavery is at an end. If such an exposition as I have described should be held in celebration of this event I would advocate that the emphasis should be placed on those things which have tended, not only in freedom, but also in slavery, to uplift and Christianize the ne- gro; upon those things which will show to the world what the negro has accom- plished because of the support and inter est of the white people who live In the south, the white people who live in the north, as well as upon those efforts which the negro himself has made for the education and higher civilization of the race.
 l believe that aside from every value such an exposition would have, 1t would be worth while for the encouragement 1t would give to the members of my race In emphasizing the interest which the world at large and especially the south ern people have in their progress. The masses of the negro people are bet ter off, In my opinion. In the southern states than in any other part of the world, and for that reason, if for no other. the masses of the people are going to remain in the south. That being so I believe every sensible person will want to do all he can to see that the black man leads such life here in the south as will make him of the highest usefulness to himself and to the community in which he lives. Every one knows that a race, like an individual, is always more useful when that race is cheerful, happy and making progress. discontented, morose and embittered people is greater burden than any country can afford to carry Everything therefore, that arouses inter- est in the development of the masses of the negro race and tends to make them more contented, more happy, and moro useful should enlist the helpful sympathy of their neighbors.
 Such an exhibit as I have tried to de- scribe will go further toward plotting out | racial bitterness, wherever it may exist, | than anything which I can at present | mention. It would show how the white | man of the south has assisted the negro | since he became free in every real endeav- | or he has made to improve his moral and | material condition. It will show how the 1 negro has been assisted in the matter of | saving money, buying land and going into | business; how he has been protected in time of trouble and assisted in hundred | ways of which the outside world has no | knowledge, but which 1t is important that the world should know and recognize.
 In planning for such an exposition I would strongly urge that each state, in addition to what the colored people themselves might do, and in addition to what the national government might be called upon to do should make an ap- propration for an exhibit of the progress of the negro people of that state. Such an exposition should be held at some cen tral point in some southern state. which could be easily reached by people from every part of the country.
 Especially at the present time, when the people of Europe are grapplng as never before with the African problem with a view of solving 1t, I believe that we could make an exhibit that would set them such an example in the way of proper treatment of the black people of Africa. in which the southern people are quite as much interested as any other portion of the world
 I mention these facts here because, of friction between the races and not at tempting to minimize the injustice which the negro in the south frequently suffers, I think do not exaggerate when I say | there Is not a parallel case in the world l where two races so dissimi1ar in origin | and in character. and so large in number, | are living side by side so peacefully and ! successfully as is true of the negro and l the wkite man in the southern states.
 If it be urged that there have been a | great many expositfons of various kinds l it may be said in reply that this will be | one so entirely different in character from | every other, so unique in fact that be- | lieve the country will feel that there is a | real occasion for 1t, and will support 1t.
 In order to have an exposition that will | do credit to all concerned 1t will be nec- essary to begin at an early date to make | preparations. but as I have said, should not desire to take a prominent part in | this matter unless felt certain that all | the people of both races would lend their 1