The New York herald., 1922-02-19

THE SOCIAL HISTORY OF THE
NEGRO. BY Benjamin Brawley. The
Macmillan Company.
" HE introduction Of African
slaves into this country is an
event which has affected our
whole later history. Slavery was
our biggest national issue. 1t nearly
divided our country. Freedom for the
negro did not solve the question.
Black labor is an economic necessity
in portions of the South. The black
man has been loyal in all our wars
and has earned a right to regard
America as his native land. Never
theless it seems almost impossible to
give him a complete part in Ameri-
can life.
During most of this period circum-
stances made the negro inarticulate.
He did not have the academic train
ing which would enable him to pre-
sent his story. Mr.. Brawley is a
Harvard graduate who has dedicated
his life to historical research. He has
gift for accumulating facts. His
Social History of the Negro" is the
best book ON the topic since Booker
T. Washington's "Story of the
Negro" 1t is remarkably complete.
Mr.. Brawley shows that the negro
was very important as a pioneer. On
his third voyage Columbus had a
negro pilot. Pedro Alonso Nino Es-
tevanico, a negro, helped explore the
new country. Negroes were en-
ployed by the French in Louisiana.
The negro was more important in
colonial life than has been realized.
He rendered assistance in the War
of the Revolution. and Crispus At
tucks was negro. whose monument
stands on Boston Common. Mr..
Brawley traces the story of the negro
from his first appearance through
to the close of the great war. He
gives the general public much in
formation as to the attainments OF
his race which has never before been
called to our attention. Gilpin's tri-
umph in the emperor Jones" was
anticipated by Mr.. Aldridge, who in
1857 was regarded as one of the
worlds greatest actors. The negro
made other intellectual contributions
which were remarkable in view of
his handicaps. His conquest of diff
fculties might be a source of inspira-
ton to all mankind.
Mr.. Brawley writes of the negro
primarily as a problem rather than
as race. His title, Social History"
Is rather misnomer. He writes more
about the negro as a football in ma
tional politics than about the GUS
toms and institutions of his race. 1t
is normal for the historian to en-
l'phasiZe war, as that has been re-
garded as the chief function of his
tory since the days when the cave
man scrawled pictures Of battles on
| the walls Of his cave. Our school
textbooks have always had martial
viewpoint. 1t is very natural that
Mr.. Brawley should follow this con-
vention. 1t has been held that the
negro was less worthy of sympathy
than the Indian because he permitted
himself to be enslaved. Accordingly
Mr.. Brawley shows that there were
| slave rebellions of great magnitude
which were well conducted. He also
shows that the negro served us well
| in all our wars.
No history of the negro should
gloss over the wrongs perpetrated
against the race. Mr. Brawley, how
ever, places an undue emphasis upon
lynchings. The last chapters of his
book give details of lynchings, race
riots and race wars. They contain
nothing but the truth, but they are
not the whole truth. These painful
| incidents are blemish upon our civ
ilization, but since the negro never
theless loves this country it must be
that he finds some kindness and some
opportunity he could not find else
where. The hatred and distrust
caused by lynchings are doomed to
perish, but constructive efforts to
solve the problem are being made by
men of both races. and these cannot
fail OF permanent results. 1t is un-