Evening star., 1924-06-07

| Of reclaiming them for the sustenance OF
| mankind and the increasing security OF
the human community. 1t is great
| destiny, to which we may now look for
ward with confidence that it will be fully
| realized.
Locking back only few years we
appreciate how rapid has been the prog
ress of the colored people on this con-
| tinent- Emancipation brought them the
| opportunity Of which they have availed
| themselves. It has been calculated that
in the first year following the acceptance
| of their status as free people there were
approximately 100000 members Of the
race in this country, and that among
| these only $4,000 were the owners of
| their homes only 10000 among them
conducted their own farms, and the ag-
gregate wealth of these 100000 people
| hardly exceeded $20.000.000. In little
over a half century since the number
Of business enterprises operated by col
| ored people has grown to near $4,000.
while the wealth Of the negro commu-
nifty has grown to more than S1,100 ,000,-
900. And these figures convey a most
| inadequate suggestion OF the material
progress. The 1000 business enterprises
! which were in the hands of colored peo-
pie Immediately following emancipa-
| ton were almost without exception small
| and ru6imentary. Among the 10000
coiored people may be found every type
| of present-day affairs.
There are more than seventy banks
conducted by thoroughly competent
colored business men. More than 80
per cent of all American negroes are
now able to read and white; when
they achieved their freedom not 10
per cent were literate. There are
nearly 100000 negro pupils in the
public schools; wellnigh 10000 ne
gro teachers are listed, more than
| 5000 following their profession in
| normal schools and colleges. The list
| of educational institutions devotine
themselves to the race includes fifty
colleges, thirteen colleges for women
| twenty-six theological schools, a
standard school of law and two high
grade institutions of medicine
| Through the work of these institu-
tionS the negro race is equipping
men and women from its own ranks
to provide its leadership in business
| the professions, in all relations OF
life.
This, of course, is the special field
of usefulness for colored men and
| women, who find the opportunity to
get adequate education. Their own
leadership and inspiration. Those of
you who are fortunate enough to
equip yourselves for these tasks have
a special responsibility to make the
best use Of great opportunities. In a
very special way it is incumbent
their people. to maintain the truest
standards of character and unselfish
purpose. The negro community OF
| America has already SO far pro-
gressed that its members can be as
sured that their future is in their
| own hands. Racial hostility, ancient
tradition and social prejudice are not
to be eliminated Immediately or
easily. But they will be lessened as
the colored people by their own ef-
forts and under their own leaders
| measure of opportunity.
Lands War Service.
"The nation has need of all tina,
can be contributed to it through the
best efforts of all it's citizens. The
| colored people have repeatedly proved
their devotion to the high ideals OF
our country. They gave their serv.
| ices in the war with the same patriot
ism and readiness that other citizen.
did. The records of the selective
| 2.250,o00 colored men were registered
| The records further prove that, far
| from seeking to avoid participation
! in the national defense, they showed
that they wished to enlist, before the
| selective service act was put into
| operation, and they do not attemp,
| to evade that act afterward. The
propaganda of prejudice and hatred
which sought to keep the colored men
from supporting the national cause
| completely failed The black man
| showed himself the same kind of a
citizen, moved by the same kind OF
| patriotism. as the white man. They
were tempted but not one betrayed
his country. Among well-nigh 4oO,-
| 600 colored men who were taken into
the military service. about one-half
had overseas experience. They came
| home with many decorations, and
commendation from both American
| and European commanders.
The armies in the field could not
| have done their part in the war il
they had not been sustained and sup
| ported by the far great civilian forces
| at home, which through unremittine
| toll made it possible to sustain our
war effort No part of the commu-
| nifty responded more willingly, more
generously. more unqualifiedly to the
| demand for special extraordinary eX-
ertion, than did the members Of the
negro race. Whether in the military
| service or in the vast mobilizat ton OF
| industrial resources which the war
required, the negro did his part pre-
cisely as did the white man. He drew
| no color line when patriotism made
its call upon him. He gave precisely
| as his white fellow citizens gave to
| the limit Of resources and abilities to
help the general cause. Thus the
| to the gratitude and appreciation
| which the nation has been glad to ac-
cord.
Urges Devotion to Tasks.
I'VE are not all permitted the privi-
! lege of a university training We
cannot all enter the professions.
| What is the great need of American
citizenship? To my mind it is this,
that each should take up the burden
where he is. Do the days work /
have said, and it should be done in
the remembrance that all work is
dignified. Your race is entitled to
great praise for the contribution it
makes in doing the work of the
world.
There will be other crises in the
national history which will make
most unself1sh contribution to the ma
tional interest. No generation will
be denied its opportunity, will be
spared its duty, to put forth its best
efforts. We devouuy hope that these
upon the field of Battle. tafbev BUT thev
will be just as truly needed. Just as
urgently summoned, in the activities
of peace, the efforts of industry, the
performance of all the obligations of
citizenship. We cannot go out from
this place and occasion without re-
freshment of faith and renewal of
confidence that in every exigency our
negro fellow citizens will render the
best and fullest measure of service
whereof they are capable"
Degrees were awarded as follows:
School of Liberal Arts.
Bachelor Of arts, magma cum
laude-Mamie Geraldine Neale.
Bachelor of arts, cum laude-Mel.
vim j. Banks, Lorenzo Johnston
Green, Julia Beatrice Hubbard, Vir-
ginia Louise Ruff1n, Mabel Virgins