Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-12-29

DR.. Kerlin Is former instructor at
the Virginia Military Institute, where
he was dismissed because he wrote the
Governor of Arkansas letter denounc
ing the decision to hang the victims of
the Elaine Riot merely ON account of
heir rebellion against peonage Un-
daunted by this injustice, he has never
lost interest in the Negro. Finding in
the mind of the race so many beautiful
elements worthwhile he has given us
this valuable work on Negro poetry.
The purpose of this book is so lofty,
its style is so polished, and its interpre
tation Is so philosophical that we can
easily establish its claim as the first
book Of its kind hitherto published.
The author has been wise enough 10
find an empire Of letters developing
in sequestered sphere of the literary
world. He appreciates the Negro h.eri
tage of song. He sees the presen:
renaissance of the Negro He sympa-
'hiZes with the race in it's struggles.
He Justifies their protest against the
hypocrisy Of a so-called democracy
founded upon the caste of color.
"Dr. Kerlin's book makes two c,1
tributions of real Significance to the
progress of inter-racial understandings.
In the first place this book. dealing
with the higher things of the spirit.
reveals to Negroes themselves a whole
unexplored region Of spiritual treasure
OF which we know altogether too little,
Here are three score men and women
who feel the stress and weight of that
strange life all colored people must
I've. They are bordering all the prob
lens and all the deep meanings OF
that life. There is a certain rhythmic
.oftfness about thib singing. These neo
pie are not made sour or dumb by sor.
row. They have glorified the cross.
They have burned off the dross of hit
ter experience and grasped eagerly the
residue Of gold. Here one finds faith
Defiance gent1eness, love of country
vision warning and the sense of beaJ
ty all clothed in remarkably movin,,
rhythm of language.
I'm the second place. this book -
both an Interpretation to the whitet
ne1ghbor Of his dark brothers heart
and mind. and the strongest possible in
dictment of those deliberate barriers
raised by sheer rare prejudice across
the path Of the black mans progress.
Whatever limitations the Harm Of
10y bNNS LII tuc OF
Inc method of the selections II does
reveal to white America, that the Ma.
gro feels and thinks and dreams ana
aspires and achieves even as his wbi,a
neighbor He refuses to despair or od
NIT defeat. He will let no present hin
GRANGE cloud his view. He will over
come the world not by might nor now
er' nor by any of the Instruments OF
hatred. but by the spirit. He will over
come evil with good. He will take the
way Of beauty"
Wen might the author say. then.
10 the Black and Unknown Rarde
VINO gave to the world the priceless
of those 'canticles of love
no Woe the carnpmeeting Spirituals:
more particularly to those of the old
FORMATIONS of the South. whose melo-
nous iulabies to the babes of boio
races entered with genius-uufckeniue
power into the souls of Poe and Lanier
lumbar and Cotter: TO them. for whom
our monument in stone or bronze were
Dut mockery, dedicate this monu-
nent OF verse. builded by the children
II their vision"