Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1920-04-17
THE NEGRO SPEAKS


me one of the sweetest books I have ever
read. Il was born by golden river.''
DIR. Du Bots records, land in the shadow
of two great hills five years after the Eman-
cipation Proclamation. The shadows lie on
his book, but the gideon river runs through
1t, and the waters Of the river are sweet
Only an artist like DR.. Dubois can pos
sibly speak as he does for the Negro The
mission OF Booker Washington-''a great
man, Booker Washington DR.. Du Bots calls
h1m-Was to work out definite and immedi-
ate programs that required the cooperation
OF white folk TO that mission DR.. Du Bots
pays tribute. But his own business is the
much less tangible, much more difficult one
of opposing to the white conception of the
Negro the black conception of the Negro, and
in that way showing his belief in his own
Negro blood. Only an artist can do that
DIR. Du Bois is an artist, and his book must
be reckoned among those that add not only
to the wisdom but to the exaltation and
glory Of man.
We all know the delicacies that surround
oppressed peoples. Oppressed peoples are
beyond doubt, an enormous nuisance. Worse
than oppressed classes, they carry around
the manner and substance of failure and
inferiority. These characteristics failure
ticularly for those who know success and
superiority and hate the atmosphere of dis
ease. 1t is mighty unpleasant to see and
hear whole groups and herds Of people who
have chronic complaint against society,"
1t is unpleasant and unflattering and de-
pressing and degrading And the only thing
that can be done is to ordain the delicacy
OF silence and keep the veil Of silence as
thick and heavy as possible
But oppressed peoples, like oppressed
classes, have become literate and articuate
The mute are speaking. And no matter
how deep their failure and how hopeless
their inferiority, they evidently intend to
go speaking believing that there is such
a thing as the conscience Of mankind The
conscience of mankind. curiously enough. is
not their invention. It is the tenet of the
successful and superior who otherwise would
have no elevated sanction for their super
iority and success. So the oppressed peoples
have a practical inducement to speak and
go on speaking-to work through the in
terests and nerves and dear pretensons of
their masters up to that last stronghold and
gun-pit of superiority, the ethics of those
who rule In speaking for the Negro, con-
sequently, DR.. Du Bots is forced to apply
to the Negro situation the Ethics Of Chris
tan America. That is what gives his po-
sltion such strength.
SO, combined with the personal sweetness
that Dr. Du Bots manfests so aboundingly
there is a sterness that belongs to his cause
He examines with tense feeling some of the
claims of white folk to call themselves SUI
prior to black folk, and by Christian ethics
he judges the Southern white woman and
the behavior of East St. Louis and the Jim
Crow car. 1t is not fattering to the white
people, It is blunt and stubborn. But is
not useless and unjust. Heaven knows that
America asserts often enough it's respect for
the elevated principles to which DR.. Du Bots
appeals. The truth stings not because Dr.
Du Bots is bitter but because we are vul-
nerable
The sinfulness of the United States is oc-
casonally exaggerated by DR.. Du Bots. He
has touches Of hypochondria. 81 remember
once, in Nashville brushing by accident
against white woman in the street. Po
litely and eagerly I raised my hat to apollo
gize That was thirty-fve years ago. From