The Denver star., 1914-08-15
HAVE PROVED THEIR WORTH.
Part Played by colored Americans In
Country's History Fully Told.
Bv John H. WILLS

By JOHN II. WILLS.
Through the curse and degradation
of slavery the Negro was debased. de-
retrograded. The Negro In Amer
ican History" by John w. Cromwell,
Is grand effort in the right direction.
In inspires. encourages and strength
ems by its sincere presentation of many
powerful influences and incidents that
have worked for the good Of this un-
fortunate people.
Seventeen chapters are given to a
strong presentation and clear account
of the part and place Of the Negro in
the making of American history-his
influence, efforts, struggles and re-
strictions, his efforts to prove himself
man and win mans place In this
nation by his valor in war and his in
dustry in peace, to prove to stony
hearted nation by deeds and sacrifices
his worth and right to life, liberty
and the pursuit of happiness" that in
the face of a constitution that may
well be called a league with death and
covenant with hell he believed the
spirit of the Declaration Of lndepend-
ence would prevail in this land.
Mr.. Cromwell has the true historical
viewpoint. He shows step by step
the philosophical development Of the
forces Of darkness and Of light, the
forces that hindered and helped until
at the last page we see the broadening
rays of hope and the diminishing
shadow Of despair. In discovery, col
onization, slavery, the slave code,
slave insurrections, some early striv-
ings, the early convention movement,
the Negro as a soldier, the Negro
church, we have a series Of historical
masterpieces, direct, concise and
forcible showing forth Of truth that
must convince the most prejudiced,
hearten and cheer the most Respondent
and enlighten the most dense, besides
opening to the student and scholar end
less vistas Of speculation and research.
Had Phillis Wheatley been shipped
to Virginia instead Of to Massachu-
setts, what would have been her fate?
1 asked myself after reading the
charming picture of her life and liter
ary labors in the chapter given to her,
the greatest woman poet Of her CEN
tury! 1.-The feeling that the Negro
! was in all cases necessarily inferior
(page 16O) has existed in this country.
always and still exists, and rests in
the hearts. sad to say, of many of our
people. We must live down. work
down, fight down, this feeling Of in
feriority in ourselves and the idea of
it in the minds of others; must strive
continually to overthrow the influence
of centuries Of degradation and ostra-
cism.
Here is book that will greatly help
US, a grand monument of inspiration
to those doubtful ones who fear their
own powers and distrust the sincerity
and ability of their people.
The book contains many fine bio
graphical sketches, particularly Phfllis
Wheatley; Sojourner Truth. the story
OF wonderful woman faithfully told;
Paul CufYe, the navigator; Daniel A.
Payne, who cleared the weeds Of igno-
rance from many path and made more
straight the way to God for many
faltering feet; Henry Highland Garnet
and Alexander Crummell, two brave
men, foremost in the fight for God and
the right. and for their people; Henry
o. Tanner, the artist, who by the
purity and power of his genius has at
tanned to the heights Of fame; Fred
erick Douglass, John NJ. Langston.
B. K. Bruce. Joseph G. Price, Robert
Brown Elliott, Paul Laurence dunbar,
Booker r. Washington. These and
more are faithfully and Intimately
placed before us in true. pleasing, well
balanced picture. Mr.. Cromwell had
I the good fortune to know many Of the
subjects Of his sketches, and this gives
to them the added charm Of personal
| ity that decidedly strengthens them.
The world admits the equality of
the Negro as soldier and as an
orator Mr.. Cromwell has pictured
| these two classes with absolute fidel-
ity to the merits of each. But It Is
to those who labored in the gentler
arts of peace. in the nobler fields Of
quiet endeavor that he has shown the
greater skill in presentation. The in
spring efforts of unknown heroes, the
sacrifices of those who toiled in the
dark. who wrought and spoke no word,
these be has shown to light In such
manner that we admire them, bless
them and hold them in loving memory.
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