The Dallas express. [volume] (Dallas, Tex.) 1893-1970, 1922-12-30
PEN SKETCHES CT PREsENT-DAY
,RGRO NOTABLEs.
BY w. II. A. moore
dor The Associated Negro Press)
w. E. suReHARDT DUBOIS
Rr M. II. A. Moore

dor The Associated Negro Press)
w. E. suReHARDT DUBOIS
The personal note In the life of the
American Negro is pronouncedly audi
BILE. Our controversial storms gen
orally center about some one indi-
yidual. Just now it is w. Il. Burg
hardt Dubois. He is auspiciously
loved and widely hated. He has tai,
ent, he holds attracting attitudes and
he evolves suave POSITIVELY that Is
gracefully uttered and maintained
with fair measure of consistency.
Most members of the race are very
proud of the fact that he is one of
us. This is his just due. His liter
airy achievements are highly COM
mendable and hold, If not first
rank. very distinctive place in the
ranges of what is now being present
ed by American writer's. When !
declsim that he Is widely hated geog-
raphy, imagine, plays more dom
inant role in that conclusion than
people. 1t is one of the malforma-
lions of this period of controversy
through which we are passing. The
groups" literally hate each other.
The leaders" commonly. come in
for their share of the layings handed
around with lavish disregard for
fair dealing. No man can hope to
hide behind his assumptions with any
chance Of escape from the hide skin
ming in store for him at the hands
of the fellows In the other camps. In
this particular we are running true
to form. 1t proves that we are hui
man and 1t gives clear view OF our
vanities. And then Mr.. Dubois was
most unfortunate when some ardent
admirer named movement" in his
honor. He may have deserved greatly
the honor. II is as one feels about
1t. That he himself deemed 1t the
something worth possessing is proven
by his graceful acceptance of the
gift and by his ready taking of the
reins of the movement" and there
upon driving 1t with resolute dis
regard of consequences that Is adj
mirable In aspect II not wholly justi-
fable in point of principle. The rela.
tivities of wisdom are not easily dis
coverable. Many men have been wise
quite far beyond not only the per-
ception but the belief of their con.
temporaries. History shows us many
other instances where men of acutely
attuned sensibilities have run wild
in the pursuit of burdens of high
places when their judgments should
have called halt and led them away
from the finality Of a probable In
evitable failure Public estimations
have placed Mr.. Dubois fatty between
these two concepts of his availability
for the leadership of the race in this
country. He is at one and the same
time the beneficiary and the victim
Of state Of public mind which is
direct result of those measures of
asperity that insistently give increas-
ing heat to the CLOVIS Of controversy.
His is a double burden to shoulder.
He must live up close to the stand
ards of character and ability to do
set for him by the elements of the
race who have chosen him as the
most capable and likely to give force
and purpose to their ideas of social
philosophy. On the other hand he is
obliged equally to live down the de-
have concluded that he is little more
than a literary coxcomb possessed
with an obsession of importance that
is not established by either the prom
ises or accomplishments OF his ca
reer. confess to small sympathy
with either attitude. We poor hu.
mans, at best, are ignorant and blind.
Not ignorant in the absolute sense
nor wholly blind in perceptive ac-
QUESTION. But we yet are ignorant
and blind in that our sense of life
values. are oftenest imperfectly ex.
pressed because they are oftenest in.
differently conceived. 1t matters but
little to me that William E. Burg.
hardt Dubois is perceptibly self-cen.
tered; that he affects an attitude of
somewhat on the neither
side Of what he has actually achieved
since he has come into historical
view. He is one of The big figures
In group" that is Just getting out
of its swaddling clothes and conse-
quently not quite sure which is east
and which is west. Vanity is the be-
setting sin Of all social climbers.
Whether they are beginners In the
social game or misguided seasoned
in the pastime, 1t is one and
the same. America is drunk from
the drink of It, Negroes being Amer,
leans can not but reflect American
William e. Burghardt
Dubois is a capable man and | believe
sincere in his expressed hopes for the
future of the Negro throughout the
world. | pray for him long life and
a continuance in the gifts Of high
honors at the hands of his race.