Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-07-29
YOUTHFUL DAYS
Copyright 1888 by Robert j. willis
CHAPTER 2

The impressions that on re-
celves in the days of youth are
lasting ones. II is then that our
lmaginations run riot. We listen To
the tales Of deeds of valor per-
formed by our parents with rap
ture that words cannot express.
and in the end we conclude that
our own dear dad is the greatest
hero of them all. The constant mi
grafton OF Elijah Willis from cana
da to the United States and vice
versa. created in Robert j. spirit
or adventure. This longing to know
Just what lay beyond the horizon.
eventually led him around the en-
tire world. Even as his father be-
fore him knew not the meaning of
the word fear, so has il always
been with Willis. No matter wheth
er he followed the stars and strip-
es in battle. or chased his onw
favorite phantoms. the element Of
courage has always been his forte
During the period of his early
education, before the Civil War.
Robert j. had many unique expert
ences. AT that time there were no
provisions made for the education
OF Negro children in the state of
Michigan. Even in Canada the edu.
cation of the freedmen or fugi-
tives was carried on In a desultory
manner. In some sections there
was a tendancy to isolate the few
children of color. who attended
the local schools. In telling Of his
first entry into school room
Robert j. relates the following:
when / was about ten years old
my parents moved to that section
of Chatham known as Bloomfield.
We were sent to school at a place
called Hard Scrabble. In this inn
mediate vicinity lived three color
ed families, the Bannisters, the
Bibbs, and the Willises. There
were five children in these fami-
lies. who were eligible to attend
school. On the board of trustees
was a man by the name of Farmer
Bennett No one knew anything
about his previous life before he
settled in our community. but It
didn't take the colored people long
20 realize that he was friendly
enemy of theirs. He did not be-
lieve that colored children and
white children should be allowed
to intermingle. Acting upon this
conviction he had a small parti-
ton built at the end of the school
room. A small window was cut be-
tween this partition and the main
class room; through this window
the teacher would instruct us.
The teacher. whose name was
Wilson, could not understand the
attitude of Farmer Bennett in in
stituting segregation under the
British flag. especially when the
white children were friends to-
ward us.
This episode which occurred in
my early life caused me to think
deeply upon the actions OF chill
dren and their parents. II has been
my experiece in travelling through
life that the children of the entire
world would live in peace and har-
mony. If their parents did not in
still into their young hearts the
poison Of racial animostities.'
Realizing the bad effect this
treatment would have upon the
morale of his children. Elijah VIII
lis moved to another LOCALITY
where the people were courteous
and non prejudice as to race, col
or. or creed. r. J. Willis attended
this settlement school for some
time. He received from Abraham
Schadd. the colored teacher, Q
solid foundation for his future stu
dies. I have already mentioned the
name of Mary Schadd Carry In
previous chapter of this book
Abraham Schadd was a nephew OF
this wonderful woman. Together
they did many wonderful things t'