The Wisconsin weekly blade. [volume] (Madison, Wis.) 1916-1925, 1916-12-21
NATIONAL NEGRO
BOOK MOVEMENT
Aim Of Campaign Promoted by
Dr.. R. R. Wright, Jr.
DESCRIBES SOUTHERN TRIP
Editor of the Christian Recorder Tells
Philadelphia clergynen Race Is Forg.
ing Ahead In Dixie" In Spite of Great
Odds-Colored Children Need to Know
Achievements of Their Race.


odds-colored Children Need to Know
Achievements of Their Race.
The week of Dec. II to p Is national
Negro literature week, according to
the decree of Or. r. X. Wright, Jr.,
editor Of the Christian Recorder, Phila-
delphia. DIR. Wright has returned from
an extended tour OF the south, where
he visited many OF the schools. In ad-
dressing the Philadelphia Ministerial
association recently he said: Il am
amazed at the progress our people are
making in the sections l visited In
spite of their handicaps.
'Much of this progress is due to the
| splendid devotion and Christian sacri-
| fee Of the teachers of the children of
our race" Continuing, DR.. Wright
said: "One Of the handicaps of the col
ored child is the lack of inspirational
| books which tell of his own people and
their achievements. Too often the boy
Is kept in ignorance Of the splendid
achievements of his race, except where
the public minded teacher does extra
work and puts race books in his
hands. In many schools I found a fair
collection of books telling about the
good things of the Negro race
an many places l found pictures of
distinguished Negroes on the walls of
the schools. But l am sorry to say
that in some places l found not a sin
gle book and not a single picture of
Negro. In one school | found children
reading a biography of Thomas Dixon,
Jr., the greatest foe of the Negro living,
and being taught that the period when
| Negroes were members of the state
legislature was the period of the rule
of the robbers And | asked these
children if they had known Of a Negro
senator or representative. and they
could name none This impressed upon
me the need of putting Negro books in
the hands of our children. and hence |
have asked the public to cooperate
with me in the movement to put Negro
books in our private libraries. in
schools, in Sunday schools. l have
: written over 10000 letters, and have
had hundreds of responses"
The idea Of the national movement
for Negro books has had the indorse-
ment of many of the leading institu-
tons of the country. President bud.
ley of the A. and NJ. college of North
Carolina. President Wilkinson of the
A. and NJ. college, South Carolina:
| President Young of the A. and NJ col
lege of Florida. Professor Kelly Miller
of Howard university; Presidents In
borden of ]. X. Brick college, Scar
borough Of Wherefore university.
Fountain of Morris Brown university,
Nance of Allen university, Williams Of
Paul Quinn college. Healing OF West
ern university. Motion of Tuskegee;
Principals Hunt of Fort Valley Indus
trial and Hill OF Cheyney institute,
President Wright of the A. and NJ.
college of Georgia and more than
hundred others haIb expressed their
hearty approval of the movement
Leading public school teachers, libra
rians. authors musicians and other
people Of public interest have written
DIR. Wright expressing approval and
offering cooperation. Editors of many
Of the leading papers have commented
editoriaIly upon the movement
among them the New York News. the
New Orleans Southwestern Christian
Advocate. the Star Of Zion, the Dallas
| Express etc
The national book movement is mere
ly, first. "A request for every Negro TO
buy at least one book by Negro au-
e thor or "A book by white author about
the Negro as "A present to himself this
Christmas: second. to purchase a Ne
. gro book for friend or a boy or girl
who might not be able to purchase
/ such or inclined TO do 50 if able: third,
! TO encourage the putting OF Negro
books in public school and Sunday
school libraries
! To this end every public school, col
lege and university is asked to observe
| Friday NIGHT. De-. 10. as Negro litera-
! ture night, when some one will speak
on Negro literature and funds will be
raised to purchase books for the Ii
brary SUNDAY. Dec II. is Book Sun
! day. when every pastor is asked TO
take a special collection to purchase
books for the sunday school library.
During the week at the Book Con-
Germ, 631 Pine street. Philadelphia. Dr.
Wright viii exhibit Negro books. and
At each lecture these books will also he
exhibited He has prepared an elabo-
rate list of books of biography. fiction.
religion, history. sociology, essays, ju-
venile, etc, and can supply this list to
any who desire IT,
The first order for hooks which the
Book Concern received was for the
Spring Street mission. work CON
Quoted by QuakerS for Negroes in
Philadelphia. of which Elwood Hea-
cock. for many years secretary Of the
Pennsylvania Abolition society. IS the
leading spirit This order was for ev-
cry book on the list which DIR WRIGHT