The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1916-12-09
RACE LITERATURE WEEK.
Novel Plan to Aequaint Our People
With Their Own Authors.

win heir -OWn authors.
The national buy book campaign
in the interest Of Negro literature had
It's inception in the fertile brain of R.
R. Wright, Ph. d., editor Of the Chris
tian Recorder and manager of the A..
M. e. Church Book Concern, Philadel-
phia. DR.. Wright's plan is to endeavor
to have every family of colored peo-
pie purchase at least one book during
the month Of December. He has par
tcularly suggested the second week
In December as Negro literature week.
In giving his reasons for such q
movement DR.. Wright says: Negro
children need to read books which tell
Of the more hopeful side of their race
life, and that Negro men and women
need the same is no longer open to
debate. No people that does not know
and love its own history, enjoy its
own literature, reverence its own he
rOes, has ever amounted to much. Can
the Negro hope to be an exception ?
The fact that the public schools do
not give our children courses in Negro
history and literature Is being recog-
.nized by educators throughout our ma
ton as a weak point in Negro educa-
ton. .. s.~... =.
To be strong the Negro child must
know and love the heroes Of the Ne
gro race from Crispus Attucks to the
gallant Tenth cavalry at Carrizal. He
must know the past achievements Of
the race in Africa and America. He
must imbibe tie ideals which the mu-
sic and poetry Of the race are designed
to inspire. -.
He must see the pictures Of men and
women of like hue as himself, so that,
acting upon the maxim that what black
man has done black man can do, he
may be nerved to greater accomplish
ments. .
Every home should have its collec-
ton Of Negro books of poetry, fiction,
history and religion-not one book, but
many, in order that it may have its
proper atmosphere of racial self re-
spect, which is the foundation of racial
progress But alas. we have so few
homes with Negro books. Not one Ne
gro In a thousand has read book on
Negro history. The 900 are ignorant
Of their glorious past; ignorant Of til
part played by their ancestors I'm ~
rica and America; ignorant Of the
prowess; ignorant Of their opportu
ties. ; =
The only mention most children
the race read of their race in histor
Is that they were brought to this cour
try as slaves in 1919 and freed b
Abraham Lincoln in 1863. Not one
q thousand ever heard Of a Negro a.
ing in the exploration of Ameri
many years before 1919 and Of II
10000 Of their kind who fought
save this nation fifty years ago. Ar
there is greater ignorance on the pa
Of the younger generation than Of t.
one now passing. s..
The Book Concern Is nearly 100 yea ,
old, and we therefore think It our dut
to carry the light of literature to ou
benighted people. We therefore ar
asking that every public institution
make a public appeal In behalf Of Nc
gro literature. We suggest the mont
Of December as the time and the sec
ond week in December particularly
"Negro literature week." During thl
week we should like every Negro I
purchase q book written by q Negr
author or about Negroes.
During this week let the ministe'
talk Negro literature from their p,
pits; let the teachers talk 1t to th,
pupils; let every literary society ha'
"Negro literature night" We SUI
gest Friday night,(Dec. IS, at whic
time we desire to have every schoo
and church Of any size have some on
speak Of Negro literature.