The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-11-01
COMMUNICATION.
aPresIdents Of Nearo coIIeaes.o


The Globe, in it's last issue, con-
tanned a lengthy editorial under the
above caption, using as its initial SEN
tence the following: rs there a Ne
gro anywhere in this country who is
capable of filling the position as pres
ident of Fisk University"
Without waiting for a reply, the
Globe proceeds to discuss the sub
iect, siding with the views expressed
by the Fellowship Herald, a Negro
journal, published in Chicago, to the
effect that this question may readily
be answered in the affirmative.
| wish to say that it all depends en-
tirely upon the point of view. The
Globe says: eve believe that the time
is opportune when the administration
of affairs at Fisk University should be
placed in the hands of a Negro presi-
dent" In all seriousness and fair
ness, let us ask, by what course of rea-
sonlng does the Globe arrive at the
conclusion that an institution owned
by white people should be turned over
into the hands of Negroes? If Ne
groes owned such a magnificent edu-
cational plant as Fisk University,
would they turn it " into the hands
of white people or be willing to put
a white man in charge?
The Herald says and is endorsed
by the Globe: There must be men of
the Negro race qualified to fill these
posts" That is doubtless true; but
that is only one point of view. In or
der to see an object clearly or under
stand a subject, it must be considered
from every conceivable angle.
Fisk University was founded by
white men; it has been fostered by
men of that race for nearly half a cen
fury; that race has sacrificed some
of the best men and women OF their
day and generation to build up a great
school in the Southland. The Negroes
and not the whites have been the
benefciaries and not the benefactors.
They have not, and could not, pay in
dollars and cents, value received for
what they, as a race, have been bene-
zted by these good people.
tt is true that the work of the famous
Jubilee Singers will forever rebound
to the honor of that band of choristers'
who contributed towards the erection
of Jubilee Hall, but they were paid
well for their services in more ways
than might be mentioned here.
What claim has the Negro upon
Fisk University? Nothing, more than
the privilege of attending 1t.
Fisk University is owned and opera
ted under the auepices of the Congre-
gational Church through the American
Missionary Association. They have
schools established throughout the
South, but with the shrewdness char
acteristic of the Yankee. they always
know how to control them.
The Negro must learn how to differ
entiate between a Negro college, and
q college for Negroes; how to discern
tn fne-spun distinction between a
president of a Negro college" and a
president of a college for Negroes.
The number of Negro colleges or
schools may easily be counted within
the range of three figures, but the
number of schools for Negroes is le'
: gion. Such institutions as Tuskegee
Normal. Fisk, Atlanta University, and
the new State Normal in Nashville
!, are all schools for the education oil
Negroes. but none of that class be
D long to the race.
And be it remembered that wher
: schools like Fisk University so out
d grow the intentions Of their founders
as to put a Negro in complete charge
the sun will be standing still in the
heavens. ducks will be flying will
their backs d~ownwards, and snakes
r will be holding high carnival on tn
n icebeIgs in the arctic regions.
i The Globe says, There are mel
who still hold that it is yet too earl,
3 to place a Negro at the head of Fisl
e University" No, it is not too early,
n viewed from the standpoint OF eff
cheney A thousand tines, no. Blu
it is too early to think that it viii
V ever be done as long as white me
own il; and there is no talk, that w
know of, of them selling out.
Il Schools like Fisk, aside from tn
charitable feature, which places then
D among the e~leemosinary institutions
have a business side. We might wit
It equal propriety ask why a Negr'
n might not finally be made president o
one of the white banks, because tn
- bank has colored patrons; or why
e white merchant, doing business in
,e purely Negro settlement, may not b
4. asked to surrender his business to
Negro.
y AS long as Roger Williams Univel
70 sity was owned by the whites, the