The Birmingham age-herald., 1911-04-17
COLLEGE AND 45s
 EDUCATION OF THE NEGRO
By WALTER HARPER.

l What does education do for the negro? | Sociologists, theologists and scientists have tried to answer the question Some of them agree.
 I shall not attempt to elucidate the problem. The possibilities of the race 4 it has possibilities are yet to be dis covered. + is the only race without a history or even a tradition. It has abso- lutely no record of achievement, no lter- ature, no racial ambition or great hu- man purpose. The only art of the race l-that Is distinctive is that of imitation. Millions upon millions of dollars have been spent upon the education of ne- eroes In the United States since the war and not one of them through individual force, character and effort has distin- gushed himself among the races. The stronger of them rise above the average of their race, and may be called leaders, but they are never leaders in new world thought, science and litera- ture. They never go beyond what may be initiated In a superior race. Not even an exceptional instance in history can be pointed out and proven. The leaders of the race cannot even lead the race. Booker Washington, the most success ful imtator of the race, receives mora discredit from members of his own race than from any other.
 The white man without prejudice ad- mires Washington for his success. He simply rises far enough above the racial herd to make him distinguished. No one can say that he has an original ele- ment of true greatness.
 A few days ago l heard part of tho evidence in the trial of a negro for con spiracy to murder at Talladega. Two negroes had already been convicted for murdering another negro and had been sentenced to 25 years each in the peni- tentiary
 As defense they put up the plea tha. fourth negro had "conjured' them with "cunjure bags and forced them to com- init the crime.
 The man charged with the conjuring had been arrested in connection with the killing and when he was taken by the sheriff odd looking bags in yarn and flannel were found on his person. These were preserved and in the trial for coz spiracy they were introduced as evl- dence.
 The strange little bags were identified by a number of colored witnesses as conjure bags. It developed that most ol the negroes have great faith not only in the "cunjure man. but in the ''cunjure bag" They are placed under doors and and other dsagreeable visitors of physical or mental fact.
 Under the shadow of the courthouse, where these disclosures of beknighted superstition were made, and 1t is said that at least 90 per cent of the negroes of the county are victims of such delusions, is To- cated the largest institution for the educa- tion of the negro in the country. I walked from the court room crowded with trembling, superstitious negroes tc the negro college.
 One of the first scraps of literature handed me on my arrival was leafle' that had just been issued by grad uate of the school now practicing in Tal- ladeea. The paper was on the prevention of tuberculosis.
 Omong other things this doctor advises with the accuracy of a mockingbird "Don't waste your money on root doctors You are never conjured." The first IS good professional advice. The second is Inland admission that his race believes in conjuring
 But what good was the preaching of this graduate of a negro college offl- cered and "chaired' by white men ana women done among his race? They still bane to their old superstition and 1 am not sure but that in his heart the eau cated mimic had rather have the friend- shin than the enmity of the conjure man
 After an inspection of the serving anu cooking department of Talledega college asked the white woman in charge II the training the negro girls received there n, ada them any more efficient and reliable as domestics She increased the New
  England arch to her nose and replied "Orr girls aim and go higher than that. We do not train our students here to work. They are teachers, professionals or become wives of our professionals, or business male graduates"
 "Oh'
 N
 The boy who shined> my shoes at tho hotel in Talladega had been student at inc college. It Is true he did not gradu- ate and that probably accounts for his chial meeting will be held Monday night for the purpose of electing the vestry for this year and delegates to tha council at St Johns church in Montgomery. May 30.
 The weekly services at St. Aloysius church will be discontinued this week.