The bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1916-1922, 1916-06-02
AFRO-AMER|CAN CULL|NCS

III In an address delivered before the
1 graduating class Of the night colored
iiigh school At Houston, Tex. Prof.
Ss- NJ. Terrell said in part:
n THE fact that the city Of Houston
makes appropriations for the mainte.
taance Of colored night school Ger.
tainly has Significance which por-
lends good for the future relationship
s,f the race In this city. 1t further
yyoes to show that the tendency of
Ghe governing element 10 toward a
greater and greater care and interest
IN all of its citizens. Houston has
learned the lesson that its perma-
pence and growth. like that Of any city.
-est In the highest intelligence and de-.
selopment Of all its people. And it
M gratifying to note that its public
,1mcials as well q It's press are show.
ing such broad spirit In their atti.
ude with respect to it, colored con-
Bdtuency.
II 1T makes my heart glad to witness
this response which my people are
living to the, opportunities afforded
Shem in the night school. AS the
\, Post editorial 80 magnanimously said
ecsntly, the white people Of Houston
AN no more get along and do not
s.sant to get along without the Negro
han the Negro without the white peo-
DE. .
While this 10 true, want to warn
Ssrou that We are less able to get along
without them than they without us.
lind 1t Il to our interest to make
ourselves more and moro indispensa.
Die By increasing our usefulness.
Nothing is necessary but what is of
sise and value to tho development and
progress OF world civilization. And
ihe consciousness OF this fact should
fserve to inspire M to greater useful.
less both to ourselves and to the pub.
&c generally. This graduating class
slhould be an inspiration to the whole
Negro population not only in Houston
put Texas. These men and women
,.ealixed the possible increase of
heir value to themselves and to the
s,aty by = systematic training of their
minds and hands and they have had
The ambition and will to apply them
,sslves IN order TO secure It.
/ ''As . constituent Of society, in an
.,conomic way, each individual owes
Il to that society to become Just as
= Sw&%h(sH hio
slacity to be. And the man or wom-
i'm who ID unselfish enough to study
Ills relations and duties to the society
5n which he lives. and seeks to ad-
inst himself Herewith in such way as
WIN promote the highest good Of all,
o the most useful and = bound to Sc
s:ure the good will and praise of that
I,ociety. This statement has a sub
~ meaning and II II for you to
work out that meaning. l might en-
gnrge upon It somewhat BY saying that
she individual who would be satisfied
With q thing. whatever It was, upon
he sole condition that It suited him.
without regard to how It affected the
,'est Of humanity. is an unfit and un-
desirable citizen. This applies alike
70 all men Of all stations. every.
where.
Il am glad that we have some among
sls. as represented by the % persons
who have come up through the courses
pf the night school to the point where
hey are permitted to sit before US
10 graduate, who have been broad
Inough in their vision to see that their
,luty is not to themselves alone: and
hat. although they have met with
obstacles and hsd difficulties to sur.
mount, they have been willing to make
ne sacrifice IN order to make of
themselves more useful citizens. And