The advocate. [volume] (Charleston, W. Va.) 1901-1913, 1911-06-22
DELIVERED BY WASHINGTON AT
WILBERFORCE COMMENCE
MENT EAERCISES
Great Opportunities
offered by the South in the Profess
sions and Many Lines OF Business
for the Educated Colored Man
Upon Which the Destiny Of the
Race Depends.

Wherefore, Ohio, June 15-
Brooker T. Washia gton, head of the
famous Tuskegee Normal and In
Gustrial Institute, delivered the prin
cipal address today at the Centen-
.nial Celebration i4 honor Bishop
| Daniel A. Payne, founder and first
bishop of the A. NJ e. Church, be-
colored people.
The exercises were held in con-
| nection with the forty-eighth annual
| commencement Of Wilberforce Uni
| versity which was also founded by
Bishop Payne. ..@nQa,
| II sometimes fear that we, as a
race, do not rightly appreciate the
advantages and opportunities which
We enjoy in this country Since the
great bulk Of our people, 5000, 900
at least, reside in the Southern
| States, you must excuse me if |
| dwell a good deal on what I shall
say UPON the opportunities afforded
our people in the Southern States
opportunities for development in
material, educational, professional
and religious directions.
''In numbers, we constitute, as 1t
| were, a nation within ourselves. We
are 100000 strong. Canada has
only 100000 Of people; Australia
4,00O,O00, Belgium 100000 and
Holland 5,00O,0O0. The combined
population Of Norway, Sweden, Swift
Zerland and Denmark is about
equal to the population OF the black
race in America We must learn to
use the strength of;numbers and i'm
prove our condition.
''This means that we should cul-
tivate in an increasing degree in
every part Of the country, pride Of
race. If there is any one human be-
ing whom | detest, it is the man or
woman who is ashamed Of the race
to which he or she belongs; who is
all the. time trying to get away from
the race: who would rather be a
third rate white man than a first
rate black man. The Negro in
America must learn to have as much
pride in his race as the Frenchman
or German or the Irishman has in
his racial identity.
"There is a passage in the scrip
ture which reads something like
this: The heavens were opened
and | saw visions of God I be-
lieNe that the heavens are just as
truly open today as they were
thousands of years ago; that we can
see visions Of God just as truly as
the prophets of old did thousands Of
years ago, and we must begin to
see these visions before it is too
late. Let us open our eyes and see
the visions that are in the South in
the direction Of opportunity for ma
terial advancement.
THE foreigners who are fast flock
ing into the Southern states see
these visions and the Negro must
see them or the time will come when
he will be shut out from many op-
Dortunities now offered him III the
Southland. We have a right by in
heritance, a right by the labor Of
our forefathers to share in the rich
es Of the South, and we must not let
prejudice nor Inconvenience fright
en- US away from sharing in this
birthright Of today.
Two hundred mlillon acres, or
over hfty per cent or the total lano
IN the South IS unlmproVeo. 1here
are ABOUT lo'VoV'ooo acres IN Nla-
oalnas Twelve nlil'oh III Heoreid' hVe
hli'loh III houiSialla, Blk "hi'i'on II.
South Carolina and one hundred
'"'''' 49,, 80 0N"o NC. ', ~,
| ,,s ,,,Iie., an.au - l,s ait
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