The Colorado statesman. [volume] (Denver, Colo.) 1895-1961, 1915-09-18
AFRO-AMER|CAN CULL|NGS

might be able to read the New Tesla
ment. When / realize what the Ne
gro has done for himself and what
has been done for him since, | am
astounded.
The object of the exposition is a
better understanding of the relation
between the white and the Negro pop
ulation of the United States.
We have from 100000 to II, 600, 900
Negroes-about one-tenth of our total
population. They have developed with
the nation. In every battle, from the
Civil war down, the Negro has fought.
He is found in every walk of our ma
tional life. There can be true racial
and social feeling only when there is
an end of needless antagonism.
Our aim is to make this exposition
the greatest movement ever created
to bring about better understanding.
The Negro has a capacity to grow. to
do things and to be one of US. We
aim to show that isolated cases trum-
peted all over the country are only the
muck thrown off the great wheel of
Negro progress.
AS a general l helped emancipate
the Negro. In my church life we early
gave Negro presNyters the same right
on the floor of our general council as
whites.
The Confederate officer who fired
one of the first shots at Sumter be-
came bishop in my church and de-
voted his whole life to the education
and development of the Negro. He was
Bishop E. F. Stevens.
Before the war he was commander
of the South Carolina Military insti
tute, which turned out more Confed-
crate officers than any other institu-
ton, save possibly one. After the war
he became bishop of all the Negroes of
his state. He was my close friend.
Indeed, It was on my motion that he
became a bishop.
The exposition will include singing
by great choruses of the most noted
jubilee singers in the country. There
will be folk song festivals, historical
tableaux de ,icting the advance of the
colored people, and other interesting
and instructive Features.
The work of the Tuskegee institu-
ton is extending. Mr.. julius Rosen-
wald of Chicago has givel this oppor-
tunity. He has reserved fund to be
expended in school extension among
the Negroes of Alabama. This beneti-
cence is to be distributed through
Tuskegee institute upon the recon-
mendation of its president. Already
kr,tl hn MI N
in IL counties, including Macon, Rus
sell, Lee, Chambers. Tallapoosa.
Coosa, Dallas, Perry, Hale, Montgom-
cry and Lowndes. Each county's
own people must raise $500 and Mr..
Rosenwald will give an equal amount;
the property is decided to the state;
the teachers paid by county school
funds and the schools are planned to
cover Just such work as l have above
described in the cottage training at
Tuskegee.
Can you see anything but help to
accrue-civilizatio better morals.
better service, less need of jails and
penitentiaries? When everything Is
done to build a better man or woman,
no matter what the color, it is social
service, kindness, uplift. The Negro
race today has leader who is mis-
sionary-the best among them; If they
follow his lessons as / saw them at
Tuskegee, they are entering new
life, and their white friends, North
and South, are glad to see them i'm
prove their character and their skill.
Mrs. ]. S. Reid in Birmingham Age
Herald.