Cayton's weekly. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1916-1921, 1920-12-04
COLORED AMERICAS KINSMAN

There is a close connection between the
history of the Negro in America and that in
Africa. This connection or relationship is
along the lines Of racial ties and similar
conditions under which the race in Africa
and in America now lives. By this [ mean
that the race problem in Africa and in
America is very similar.
There is also psychological relationship
between the Negro in America and in Africa.
For the most part the Negroes in America
know but little of the history Of the race
in Africa. They generally accept as true
the statements that their ancestors in Africa
were Naked jungle living, cannibal eaters
without any trace Of culture or civilization.
The part which Negroes have played in the
history of the world in contributing to the
beginnings Of civilization are not generally
known. This is especially true Of the part
which the Ethiopian Empire played in the
ancient world.
Negro Africa is commercially connected
with Europe and Asia This connection is
by way Of three routes: the valley of the
Nile, by way of Abyssinia across the Red
Sea to the Arabian peninsula, and by Cara
van route across the Sahara Desert. 1t is
very probable that this commercial connec-
ton has had an important influence on the
development of civilization.
Researchers appear to indicate that the
basic population Of Egypt, which has
noticeable Negroid admixture, is racially
about the same as it was in the days when
the Pyramids were erected. There are facts
which would appar to indicate that one of
tire centers Of the beginnings Of civilization
may hav been in the upper reaches Of the
Nile, that is in Ethiopia, and had Negroid
basis In this connection it is we'll to point
out that it is very probable that out OF
Negro Africa came one of the most import
ant contributions to civilization, namely: the
art of smelling iron.
The basis of the claim that the art of
smelling iron may have originated IN Negro
Africa. is that apparently no iron was
smelted in Europe before 900 B. c. and that
before 5000 B. G. there began to appear
on Egyptian monuments, pictures OF Afrl-
cans bringing iron from the South to Egypt.
Tt further appears that it was considerable
time later than this when iron implements
began to appear in Asia There is no iron
ore in Egypt In Negro Africa on the other
hand, iron ore is abundant and is of a quail
ity which is very easily smelted.
A very striking argument was made some
time ago by Sir Harry H. Johnston to the
effect that there were facts which would
seem to indicate that the Negro may have
originated in Western Europe and thence
spread southwark into Africa and across
Western and Southern Asia into Australia.
Regardless to whether there is any truth In
Johnston's view, the fact remains that the
archaeological researches which have been
made in the valley of the Nile indicate a
very close connection between ancient and
modern Egypt and between Egypt and
Negro Africa.
Should we make serious study OF our
past history? From racial standpoint. 1t
is very important that we should. we
should know as much as possible OF our
mast history. From this knowledge we would
draw inspiration. 1t would influence us to
cn,leavor to make contributions to clvlllza-
ticn and to world progress. If the true
history Of the Negroes achievement IN an
cient times were fully known and set forth'
Hack would once more be dignifed; the
fame of Ethiopia would again be spread
Throughout the world.-Monroe n. Work