The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-12-16
NATIONAL NEGRO
BOOK MOVEMENT
Aim Of Campaign Promoted by
Or. R. R. Wright, il.
DESCRIBES SOUTHERN TRIP


Philadelphia ciersymen Race 10 Fors.
Ing Ahead In "Dixis" In Spite Of Great
odds--coIored Children Need to Know
Achievements of Their Race.
The week OF Dec. IT to 20 is national
Negro literature week, according to
the decree of Dr. 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: II am
amazed at the progress our people are
making In the sections I visited in
spite Of their handicsps.
much of this progress is due to the
splendid devotion and Christian sacri'
fee Of the teachers of the children OF
our race" Continuing, DIR. Wright
said: Zone 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 found fair
collection of books telling about the
good things of the Negro race.
an many places found pictures Of
distinguished Negroes on the walls Of
the schools. But l am sorry to say
that In some places found not sin
gle book and not a single picture Of
Negro. In one school I found children
reading 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
of the robbers And l asked these
children IL 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. 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 Dud-
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 M. 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 have expressed their
hearty approval of the movement.
Leading public school teachers, libra
rians, authors, musicians and other
people of public interest have written
DR.. Wright expressing approval and
offering cooperation. Editors Of many
of the leading papers have commented
editorlally 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. request for every Negro to
buy at least one book by Negro au-
thor or book by white author about
the Negro as present to himself this
Christmas; second. to purchase Ne
gro book for friend or boy or girl
who might not be able to purchase
such or inclined to do so II 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, Dec. 10, as Negro litera-
ture night, when some one win speak
on Negro literature and funds will be
raised to purchase books for the H.
brary. Sunday, Dec. IT. is Book Sun
day, when every pastor Is asked to
take special collection to purchase
books for the Sunday school library.
During the week at the Book Con-
Germ. 631 Pine street, Philadelphia, DR..
Wright will exhibit Negro books, and
at each lecture these books will also be
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 II.
The first order for books which the
Book Concern received was for the
Spring Street mission, a work con-
Quoted by Quakers for Negroes in
Philadelphia. of which Ellwood 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
sent him and amounted to about 5000
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