The broad ax., 1912-01-20

IRDOFInM EnAM Ql8lL1CAlOu IL AANN-o--SO-N-
ean az culture fnds be h an anomaly;
anda that be n sharing and participating
! a a cuituru that q bis only BY right Of
acquisition and not BY right OF inner
lEanca
To be mindful Of the distinction does not
neeessarily make the civilization and cub
ture we propose to claim and share any
the less ours. but Il does make II ours IN
a different way. This II the contention
that with the proper approach and reser-
Yations the frank admission that We par
ftcInate in an allen culture Justiies Us In
a certain historlc and actual pride OF &C
ouisition In having made our own what
vas In the beginning not ourS Further
such an admission should enable Us oy
vay of contrast to realize nationally our
own position, our own derivatons and al
legiances, and to help US 70 build up In
addition q tradition worthy OF our united
Royalties
meat contrast Of Aryan culture should
make II more meaningful TO be Negro.
The NeRro's attitude toward his past has
hitherto been a sentimental and mistaken
one There are grave dangers and DIM
cultIes In achieving q new attitude. but q
new one must be achieved We might In
time succeed In getting the first slave
ship into a historical perspective. which
would make IL q spiritual MayhoWer OF
freedom from the handicaps OF tropical
climate. but better than this would be an
attitude which would insist upon the fun
and remotest tradition OF the race As
natriot the American Is satisfied TO 90
back as far as the Mayhower. but as
scholar he Is forced 70 90 back niue
farther. We have then the phenomenon
of Anglo-Saxon tradition, Anglo-Saxon
civilization. Aryan culture! It should pc
indeed II must be-she same with US. The
American Negro must in time change his
attitude toward the past The stamp OF
the abolitionist experience and appeal Is
stiII upon US II deserves to be an indeli-
bic memory But the sentimental ties
which bind US to the abolitiOnist period OF
our history must not be allowed 10 con-
troll our historical attitudes. genera
tion that has not lived through such q
time can neNcr he expected TO care Tor
race history in exact. t.i. same way Al
ready the younger generation Is iapsinS
from that Sentimental attitude. and u Is
well. since the attitude which freed us
physically VIII never free as ...cntaliy. Il
binds Us -- 10 what Is after all only
one Ter,1I sc lace LIE. "a keeps us
from IL. .Iu.te. The scuOiIIly. at
titude J.W-... history Il chains uS to .g-
main in thu Vicious circle Of raTly amer
lean isol~Jo.. the hOpele--sly ..uiNotic
within Of a r=1ple that wishes 90 begin
history all over again. We cal .'t AFFORD
70 let our regard for our Immediate past
blind Us TO me remote RAJ "a past. a past
which stands - 49, o.. ...eIt and pains
taking SC..o..-.s...p Ja 'yvUver. but even
more PERHAPS la need Il n wOrthier his
torical attitude 10 accept il
American thought and scholarship are In
process OF broadening out in the name Of
culture, and for the sake OF tradition .
period Of reconstructive scholarship Is be-
ginning. a period that will retrieve the
necessary damage OF the democratic Sc
cession. This is being done that the
American OF culture need not have to pay
the high price OF eXpatriation for his cul-
ture. Our situation Is parallel Our in
voluntary transportation is analogous to
the colonial Americans voluntary revolu-
ton We must. like him. go back TO claim
As tradition and culture all We have
broken with as government and authority.
There Is for US no alternative 10 turning
back toward an African and racial past
But such a course need no more interfere
with our entering into the full heritage
OF a liberal education than race loyalty
to Anglo-Saxon civilization interferes with
American patriotism
America, standing. as It does. for the
common ownership OF the utilities OF CIV
nization. cannot stand for the analgama-
ton OF cultures. America, At all events
II not sure Of her own mental nationality,
and behind the traditional unIformitIes OF
American life and thought It is significant
to find certain latent racial traits and
traditions In process OF development and
assertion. The fear that the acknowledg-
ment OF the birth claim to ideas under
mines the republican claims TO free insti-
tutions the fear that a sense for race his
tory and tradition shuts one out from an
tmpersonal and more inclusive participa-
ton in general history and culture can
only be INDUCED by those who mIsunder-
stand the trend Of American institutions
Indeed, freed from national responsible
ties and governmental ambitions, racial
pretensions are free In this country to de-
Velop without opposition or misconstruc-
don- Certainly America has offered this
70 other races. Not only have certain
Irish ambitions and hopes impossible of
realization elsewhere been realized in this
country. but their realization, while con-
tributory largely and periodically to the
sum total OF American achievement has
reacted upon the whole status and welfare
Of that race in its native home. The Jew
lab communism In this country further
has contributed to its racial life the world
over and stands today as the champion OF
some OF its most significant reform move
oAADIOs pOSHl-
bility Of q race life and propaganda exist
ing without contradicting national and
% triotic Royalties and responsibilities.
The historical dilemma OF the American
Negro is a great culture problem Il f.
also great American problem. Its solu-
don will prove or disprove whether or not
culture by adoption is possible and wheth-
er race can exist within a nation with
out disrupting the nation or contradictinE
NCaNA
an experiment in this land OF experiment
It is because We have additional reasons
These additional reasons are the desire 70
solve our own problems. to convert in
Vtdious distinctions into others rational
and respected.
Good Work Of Memsn,a Club In Taxaa.