The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-11-22
COMMUNICATION.
"PRESIDENTS OF NEGRO COL
LEGES.

MbhAA nAA NAk1 AAN - 8N
concerning Negro presidents of col
leges for Negroes. And yet in dis
cussing the subject, I would insist
upon the opposition sticking to the
text.
The editor Of the Globe said in the
last weeks issue of the paper. that
I did not advance a single reason"
why I affirmed that Fisk University
would never be presided over by a,
Negro as long as It belonged to
white people. How strange that
sounds! Why, Mr.. Editor, I express
ed the reason, when I said, "as long
as it belonged to and was controlled
by white people" I do not contend
that it is reasonable" but I do in
sist that it is the reason. 1t is not
reasonable" that Negroes should be
denied accommodations in a public
restaurant, run by white men, on ac-
count of their color; but that is the
"reason" that they are denied.
The editor Of the Globe knows
quite we'll, that when it comes to
dealing with the color question in
this country, white men do not act
from the standpoint Of treason"
They are governed by their pet
prejudices. And what is more, they
do not make any apology for it
either.
The Globe says that Negroes have
been elected to the presidency Of
schools owned and controlled by
white people, and of which the ma
jority of the trustees are white"
Why did not the Globe name one?
There was certainly space enough in
the columns Of the paper to name
one, at least. d.
Now, Mr.. Editor, when you name
the school or schools, be Ire you
name n that is in the class with
Fisk University. Don't name some
State Normal school, which was
r established with the distinct under
!. standing that a Negro was to be put
!, in charge. For after all, a state
school is not owned by white people.
It belongs to the citizens of the state.
t And colored people r a part of the
: state. .o rs
Don't name some preparatory
: school, which was established by
> white people, with the understand
ing, to start with, that a colored man
should be its principal. But in dis
cussing this subject, stick to your
text. Mention a single instance
where a great university owned by
any class of white people or any de-
5 nomination, to whose presidency
> white men may aspire, where they
ever turned down a white man for a
Negro.
And then you make the remarka-
e BILE declaration, ITO say that the trus-
tees of Fisk University will lever
elect a Negro president would infer
that they have prejudice against
. black men," Certainly, I mean that
e What else could I mean? Is it pos
! sible that the editor of the Globe
has not yet learned that there is
such a thing in this country as race
" prejudice? Who doubts 1t? You say
''if it is true Chat there is race
d preiudice) the Negroes of the coun
!, try should know it." I did not think
i, there were any sensible NEGROES II
this country who did not know 1t
IF the Negroes of this country have
not vet been convinced that race
prejudice EXISTS in this country, from
3. the Atlantic to the Pacific, and from
h the Lakes to the Gulf, then they ar
q tho blindest race on the face of tn,
earth.
Put a black man at the head o
Fisk University. and it will at ono
be the signal for the elimination o
every white teacher from the facul
ty. If they did not voluntary resign
~ it would not be long before som
a "stateoman' on Capitol hill woul
10 rrse IN in all his might of estates
70 manshin" and put through an ac
-o prohibiting white and colored fror
N giving instruction in the same inst
trtior That is only one side of tn
N question, however.
Your naragranh IN the failures {
white men as presidents Of Negr
70 COLLEGES is ALTOGETHER another rhae
q. this discussion. I am not prepare
N TO say whether or not they are a fol
or rrn or a success. But ] agree wit
re Won, for the most part. in what 20
IN soy along that line. That grand 81
ID of men, such IS were the nioneel
in the work o. Fisk, Roger William
a. and Walden. have about all nasso
away. We will hard'y see their liz
again, but I will saw, narentheticalr
v th7t we must remember that cond
tions make mon. The times demar
men Of certain stamD. The prese1
bo tir'os do not demand men Of th'
strine.
Now, Won say, che students WI
a enter a COLLEGE under a white Dres
~ dert and a white f%ocrltv, enter VIII
The feeling If reetleesness and disco
tent" etc II that is trre. WHY is
true? Is il not on account of II
10 sers'tiveness of the Nero studer
who oomos with - krowledoa Of II
Sc ~projudice that alreodv exists again
rE him on tha mort Of the white fqcr
n tv ard president Vet 7 do not {
ne tooctber aoreo With Won in t''e stat
he ment. For my observation has bee
on rather to the contrary. The averaj