The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1910-12-08
New Race Problem
CoNTINUEp FROM PAGE ONE

&''>AA'~oN' 'NoA Saer' SNh'
ana women in the South, who have
anything at all like ambition and
common sense with it. Few Of these
know either man personally. All Of
them have heard and read more
about Booker washington than
about Burghardt Dubois and yet
the latter has as much influence in
their lives as the former. The in
telligent Negroes have carried the
spirit of Dubois with them into
every nook and corner of the South.
Many Of them have done so uncon-
sciously. They have done it, not so
much because they are in love with
the man, Dubois, but rather be-
cause they feel it their duty to teach
liberty, justice and the equality Of
all men before the law and in the
pursuit OF happiness. They believe
like Dubois, that the black man
should protest and defend himself
when it is right 10 do so. No power
Oh earth can ever crush this spirit
The next generation Of Negroes will
haze liberty thoroughly stamped III
to their lives and they will know
beyond the shadow of a doubt what
it means. They will know more, too
OF Dubois and his influence in shap-
ing the welfare of the race.
thoughtful people of the race
South of the Ohio are coming more
and more to see Washington and Du-
Bots in a different way than in the
past. They are proud Of the achieve
ments Of both. No criticism by the
friends of either man can make
thinking people believe less in the
sensible words and works of either
OF the two. No man in America has
ever become SO great, that it is Grim
NAL to criticise him if he so deserves.
| 1T would speak poorly for the white
race in America to have all its
thought and influence centered
| around one man. 1t would be just
as poor a thing for the Negroes.
No Negro man or woman enthus-
in the South or who olives in the
North and has had experience in the
south can swallow with grace the
| peaceful preachments" of Booker
| washington. They may get it down
somehow but it has to pass through
a throat almost choking with the
sensitive and "bitter resentment" of
Dubois. Any one Of them with the
| mere semblence Of manhood or
"omanhood doubts the final result
or too much "Optimism' as much as
they question eXtraYagant "railinc''
anu agitation. Both would be bet
ter in smaller doses. Too much
'Optimism and peace" would finally
land the Negroes where they could
rot be indignant at insult or enthu-
slastlc in the right. They would be-
come stagant and lifeless burden
on the South and nation. Overmuch
railing and agitation" would have
as BAD an affect, because it will take
the mind Of the Negro too far awav
from what opportunity he already
has. -------------2
travelling from place to place,
without personal feeling and under
no Obligations Of any sort to either
or these men, We meet and talk with
the trends Of both. They all want
material prosperity and are making
strenuous efforts to succeed. Then
1oo' they all want liberty and the
projection Of the law in their pur-
suit OF happiness. They are all
clamorIng for the opening of "the
ooor Of hoDe.' All Of them resent
the disabilities Of caste and oppose
the race responsible for them.
A great many Tennessee Negroes
sensible ones too---voiced these
sentiments when approached on the
points touched upon in the Banner
editorial Of Wednesday evening,
November goth. They all believe in
Iuskegee and its ideals. They be-
heVe Just as strongly in Fisk Uni
'erslty, Howard University, Atlanta
University and what they stand for.
Ihey think as we'll Of 1.-THE Souls Of
b'ack folks" as they do up from
slavery Then finally they are
ueeDly concerned about the politics
or booker Washington and the in
Ve8tigations Of Burghardt Dubois,
me Sociolpgist.
\ WOMAN'S GREAT IDEA.