The Colorado statesman., 1912-06-01
LESSONS FROM The NEGRO
CONFERENCE At TUSKEGEE
BY WIN. HIcks, 3. p, UNIoNToWN,
ALA,

The call of this, the first and only
gro ever held. was suggested to "Tus-
kegee Wizard" and the greatest edu-
Gator of our race by letters coming to
him from nearly every part Of the
globe, where the negro lives in large
numbers. These letters have been
coming to Dr. Washington for years,
asking him for information that would
put the writer's in touch with the
methods Of education employed at
Tuskegee. Hence the idea of calling
representatives of the dark races of
earth together to receive this informa-
ton was born In the fertile mind of
the great educator.
The writer. as an eyewitness, is
pleased to testify that these messen-
gers from over the seas, not only re-
ceived information, but they gave us
the religious, educational and industri-
al status of our brothers in distant
climes that we could not have gotten
from books. The first lesson was that
the black mans condition from
world viewpoint is encouraging, but
possibly the reports were discouraging
where they showed that Africa, our
fatherland, was sliced up and owned
by European powers. with few ex-
ceptions, and that missionaries are up
against seemingly impossible PROPOSE
tions because of this fact. The re-
ports were encouraging and optimistic
when they told Of the large amount of
work that has been and is today be-
ing accomplished under these adverse
circumstances. More churches and
schools are being organized and estab-
lished among the natives, and much
good and abiding work is being done.
This is evidenced by the fact that two
Africans from the schools of West
Africa were roommates of the writer
at Tuskegee during the conference.
These young men conversed as intel
ligently and deported themselves as
well as any American negro.
1t was easily learned also from the
reports that the salvation of the Amer
lean negro means the salvation of the
negro in Africa, and that the failure
of the American negro means the fail
ure of the negro in Africa. We in
America have devolved upon us won
derful responsibility. We must act
well our part, as keys to the unlocking
of the jungles, letting our brethren
out into the enjoyment of civil and re-
ligious liberties, and to the walks of
industrial life. To this end DR.. Wash
ington issued the call for the confer
ence, and to this end every one of us
should cooperate with him, and labor.
When DR.. Washington asked Mr.. w.
H. Plant, head master of the Titch-
field school, Kingston, Jamaica; R. C.
Thompson, master of the Old Harbour
Elementary school, of Kingston. ia
maica; and Washington Harper, ship
wright; A r. Parkinson, teacher:
Elliott Durant, journalist (all of Bar
Barbados) What was the best and
most practical way we here in Ameri-
ca could help you all in the islands of
the sea- they promptly replied, Give
us Tuskegee Institute"
Mr.. Thompson said further In con-
Guiding his address, I'VE consider
ourselves, while in Tuskegee, students
and learners endeavoring to take in all
we can, and to return to our native
country. We mean to take away with
us, in mind, some part, if not the
whole of this wonderful Industrial in
stitution, to erect in substantial
manner on other spots beyond the
sea-" Our line Of duty is closely
seen.
Finally, the next lesson taught by
this conference is that applied Chris
tianity and applied industrialism are
the negro's high tower and fortress
which alone will shield and protect
him from the beating winds of adver-
sity and besetment in the onward
march of progress. Life is a game.
The individual, race, or nation that
plays best will win. We have oppor-
tunities more than two to one when
compared with negroes in other parts
of the world. 1t was easy to see at
this great meeting that the American
negro is in the worlds garden spot
right here in the south, where he has
a field of opportunities.
The first session of the International
Negro conference has passed into his
tory the greatest meeting ever held
for the tangible and constructive de-
velopment of negroes throughout the
world.