Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-09-10

4 ltSil way lhlouoh hSl ShSAh
lions OF learning have been from the
South with fresh incentive Of the mass
cS upon them. But us their numbers
| increase and concentrate in tho larg-
or centers, the circGe OF racial oppor.
tunity widens. The inspiration or rae
ial lifo and uplift gives spurs to high
or aspiration. The inherent needs ana
necessities Of the masses create Oppor
tunitics in the higher lines Of leader
| ship and service that demand the full
est educational equipment. Wherever
| the number Of Negroes in a commun.
ty is too small to create Il center of
racial life and activity there Is apt TO
DO shown Il corresponding lack ambi.
| ton and upward purpose on the part
of colored youth. Wherever Il handful
| OF Negroes are gathered together IN
| the North, there springs up Il little
! church, which serves as an outlet for
| leadership and as a center Of race
| aspiration. The largest Negro cities
| In tho world arc found in the North.
| New York. Philadelphia, Baltimore.
| Washington, and Chicago contain each
| Il sufficient number OF Negroes to en-
| gage the highest human powers and
J i'N"iNlSS w lbo" IL lllc HcpuS VI SH
| largo number of human beings. Tho
| ever widening field invites the high.
| est ambition Of Negro youth to rise to
tho level Of tho opportunity that a.
| waits them.
/ In all OF the northern cities tho Ne
! gro in concentrated in segregated
areas ami districts. This residential
segregation creates demand for lead
! crshp and self direction. Large as
! his numbers seem, taken by them
! selves the Negro constitutes only n
, small percentage Of the total popula,
, ton except in several Of the border
| cities. If they were evenly dstribut.
cd throughout the white population
they would be practically unnoticcd
rs factor i'll the general equation
One hundred and fifty thousand Nc
groeS in New York In the midst Of
six million whites, il evenly diffuscd
would count but one in forty, and
would be negligible entity in the
general life Of tho metropolis. But a
constitute Il city within a city. The
racial needs Of this Large mass mus,
be suppied by their own leadership
almost as if they constituted n scpar
alto community. Negro ministers
physicians, lawyers, editors, teachers
ana business men must conform with
reasonable approximation to the Pre-
Vailing standards Of the community
This opportunity gives incentive and
condition to tho youth of the race to
equip themselves with the fullest edu
cati0nal notifications
In most OF tho northern states
primary education is compulsory, sc
that every negro child. in compliance
with the law, must attend the public
schools for Il given period of years
in tho near future We may expect
that the Negro will approximate his
full quota in high schools, norma
schools; technical schools and cole
gcs in the great centorE OF population
where he is rapidly congrcgating.
There were more than four hun
drcd Negro graduates from high
schools in the class of 1920 and
more than one hundred graduates
graduates from colleges and profes
"iartl sohnnle IN the n0rthn~a states
This Indicates the rapid growth II
enrolment Of tho Negro In second
airy as we'll as in higher institutions
There were probably 500 Negroes
enrolled in colleges and professional
schools OF the North during the past
year. This educational awakening
In the North but indicates what may
be expected In the near future.
The question naturally arises as tc
how far separate educational facil
ties will be deemed advisable for tht
Negroes in the northern cities as
their numbers tend to increase. THIS
Il already mootcG question IN auci
cities as Philadelphia, Pittsburgh
Cincinnati, and Chicago. In Wash.
ing'oE, Baltimore, st. Louis, and
Kansas City, where separate colored
schools are maintained, there is G
much larger enrolment Of colorcd
pupils In the higher levels OF I'm.
struction than III Philadelphia, New
York and Boston, where the schools
are mixed. Tho separate systems
seem to invoke n keener incentive
and Zest.
VIII separate schools bring out the
higher aspirations of the Negro and
lead to the unfolding of his powers
and possibilities? is the question
countcred by tho query; VIII not
scholastic separation on racial lines
vitiate the spirit Of democracy and
lower the standards Of the less IA
yored race? This controversy will
doubtless engender great heat OF
feeling and luminosity on part Of
both races.
! The final outcome should be de-
termined in the light OF the best
; good to the Negro rs we'll as that
OF tho community. Tho purpose of
the schools is to produce good and
+ useful citizens. This objective should
! transcend all theoretical question of
manner or method. And yet tho
great democratic ideal must be kept
| constantly In mind.
! While the mass Of the race re-
I mains In tho South, the educational
center Of gravity will be shifting
! toward the North. Ambitious youth
will flock to the centers Of the best
educational advantage, regardless Of
national or racial border lines.
; Northern institutions are filled with
white southern youth, because they
find there at present better educa-