The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1928-10-18

position as the Negro - W ihAi,
that is, the Southern white is in a
defensive position, and has been ever
since he has had the stigma of Civil
War defeat, and slave cruelty at
tached to him. just as an ordinary
mortal would, he wishes to present
his best side, and quickly suppresses
anything that would tend to show the
other side. understand that Uncle
Toms Cabin. which is true picture
of slavery, if anything was censored
in the South even at this late day.
On the other hand he is very active
about propaganda on the opposite
side, as the Birth of Nation. So, as
was said. il the Negro did not pro-
test against books and plays that
misrepresent him, or over-stress the
Objectionable features Of his life, he
would be sub-normal.
But as for me have long ceased
to have the least sympathy with these
protests, indignations, and frothings
at the mouth. There is but one way
to remedy any condition and that is
bv working to better il and not by
CRYING and protesting. AS long as
COlQE NAioiO III <hHlGii10f titN
white producers and publishers are
going to capitalize it, and instead Of
decrease of plays like Show Boat
and books like Home to Harlem we
may expect an increase in them
The obvious thing for Negroes to
do is to write their own plays and
their own books and produce and
publish them, and see that they get
to the attention of white people.
Some twelve million or more people
with considerable wealth and fair
~ well-developed degree of intelli-
genee ought to be able to do this.
But it will be long time before
this is done, because il does not seem
to dawn yet even on our Negro intel.
lectuals, as group, the Importance
of the written word. that sole thing
that divides the civilized man from
the savage. The cultivation Of an
independent literature, and by that
do not mean literature that paints
all the Negro characters, or even any
single character, as paragons. Let
us have the pimps, the drug-fiends,
the cabaret-hounds, but let us also
hear something about the lives of our
successful Negroes who have risen to
their positions through great toll. OF
the latter we are not going to hear
until done by Negroes and produced
by Negroes. SO far in our literature
the aspiring Negro is usually defeat
ed, because his victory would mean
the white mans defeat.
A Negro literature unsubsidized
by the white man, is as important as
churches, preparation for death, or
pool-rooms, or dance-halls, cabarets,
or policy games. In fact, in these
days the written word is as import
ant as eating. The white man real
ICES it, and as long as the Negro fails
to realize il he will be that many
miles behind. Many, many young
Negro writer's are ready to produce a
wholesouled literature, full of inspi-
ration, but let them try it and even
In this day they will meet the fate Of
DIR. johnson, and the writer's of those
times when the white man did not
recognize the value of the recorded
word. . si4 ~
In the meantime while do not adj
mire it, | cannot join in the indigna-
ton against those actors and writer's
who sell their services to the whites.
After all from doing that to accept
ing Spingarn medals. Harmon awards,
and soliciting subscriptions from
white people is but a step, more or
less removed. That is, a really in
dependent Negro would endeavor to
get out of those leading strings,
To finish as l began with the
theme | have so neglected, Show
Boat is evidently due for long run
in London, and perhaps translation
into other languages, for it is very
popular, and each night the house is
sold out. As to its effects, it is so
far as the Negro is concerned, a re-
grettable bit of American nigeerism
introduced into Europe. As to
whether it will do harm or good to
the Negro will depend on the spec
tator. And remember, the English
people do not need SO much teaching
in the matter of color prejudice.