The forum. [volume] (Springfield, Ill.) 1904-192?, 1916-12-09
RACE LITERATURE WEEK.
Novel Plan to Aequaint Our People
With Their Own Authors.

WIKI OWu SutnOFo.
The national buy a book campaign
in the interest of Negro literature had
its inception In the fertile brain of K.
II. Wright Phi. D., editor of the Chris
tian Recorder and manager Of the A.
NJ. q. 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
ticularly suggested the second week
In December as Negro literature week.
In giving his reasons for such a
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 ia Negro
history and literature is being recog-
nized by educators throughout our ma
ton as weak point in Negro educa-
tion.
To be strong the Negro child must
know and love the heroes of the Ne
gro race from Crispus Attacks to the
gallant Tenth cavalry at Carrizal. He
must know the past achievements of
the race in Africa and America. He
must imbibe the 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 the
part played by their ancestors I'm At
RIGA and America; ignorant OF their
proves; ignorant of their opportuni.
ties.
The only mention most children OF
the race read OF their race I'm history
is that they were brought to this eoun.
try as slaves in 1919 and freed by
Abraham Lincoln in 1863 Not one in
thousand ever heard of Negro aid
ing In the exploration OF America
many years before 1919 and of the
10000 Of their kind who fought to
save this nation fifty years ago. And
there is greater ignorance on the part
of the younger generation than of the
one now passing.
The Book Concern is nearly 100 years
old, and we therefore think it our duty
to carry the light of literature to our
benighted people We therefore are
asking that every public institution
make public appeal in behalf of Ne
gro literature We suggest the month
of December as the time and the sec
ond week in December particularly as
Negro literature week" During this
week we should like every Negro to
purchase a book written by a Negro
author or about Negroes.
During this week let the ministers
talk Negro literature from their pull
pits; let the teachers talk 1t to their
pupils; let every literary society have
Negro literature night" We sug-
gest Friday night. Dec. 10. at which
time we desire to have every school
and church of any size have some one
speak Of Negro literature.