Evening star., 1933-11-01
STUDY Of NEGRO
HISTORY IS URGED
Speakers Cite Prominent
Part Race Played in Early
Latin Countries.
Study of Romance languages as a

Study of Romance languages as a
key to the vast reservoir OF knowledge
of the achievements of their race was
urged on Negro students by spe akerS
tooay at the annual meeting of the
Association for the Study of Negro Life
and History, held in the Phyllis Wheat
ley Young Womens Christian Associa-
ton.
A four-fold purpose for attaining
knowledge of these languages was set
forth by Dr. w. Napoleon Rivers of the
Agricultural and Technical College
Greensboro N. c. The purpose was out
lined as ''to increase his knowledge OF
the history and literature of his race;
to combat falSehood with truth by
searching the sources in these languages
and bringing to light important facts
which have been obsCured, falSitied or
omitted, and to rehabilitate dlStln-
guished personages of African descent
who have contributed richly to worlc
culture, but have been detracted or
omitted in books printed in the EnglSh
language; to compete more effectively
for additional economic opportunities at
home and abroad: and to open up
newer and larger world Of ideas
Had Early African Contact.
No group of people knows so little
about certain aspects of its history and
civilization as the American Negro:
DR.. Rivers declared. and knowledge of
the Romance languages is the roadway
to such information. Those were the
languages and uteratures of Western
and Southern European countries, ne
explained, which after the Greeks and
Romans, established the earnest con-
facts with Africa.
nOintpG ont Snaln was unQer
African domination from 1881 to 1888
and during those two centuries 1t is
admitted that the Africans contributed
richly to Spanish civilization.
Giving facts selected at random re-
garding Negro influence on the Ro-
nance countries, he said:
In treating the golden age OF Span
ish painting. most English printed texts
omit the name of Juan de Pareja, who
was born of slave parents about 1906
and lived in Granada. He was STU
dent of the famous Velazquez His re-
ligiouS paintings are to be found in
European galleries and in the home of
rich Americans
Although the fact is not stressed in
the usual histories Of Spain, written il
English. we know that Africans, as Off
GERS and common soldiers, served with
distinction under Spanish arms in the
revolt of the Netherlands Andres de
Claramonte. a seventeenth century
Spanish dramatist. composed dram
based on the sterling qualities OF d
Negro in Flanders.
Reviews Negro History.
From 1864 to 1880, Portugal had in
her power all the coasts of Africa. eX-
cept those of the Mediterranean anG
Lo Dal IN 1870 AhHl1 Malily
ruler of Morocco. conquered Sebastian.
King of Portugal. at Alcassar. During
the sixteenth and seventeenth centuries,
the population of Algrave, a Southern
province of Portugal, was almost COM
pletely black; and in Lisbon. the cap
ital, at this same time. the blacks out
numbered the whites. Evidence has
been unearthed and is being popular
lied which shows those early Negroes
in Portugal not only contributed to that
country's economic life. but figured
also as statesmen. military leaders,
navigators and artists
LAS for Italys early contacts with
and regard for Negroes. We have as evi-
Jeenth century the historical fact that
was a Negro-Alessandro de Medici-
of the powerful house of the Medici.
He was the natural son of Pope
Clement VII, and consummated royal
and political alliance by marrying Mar
garet de Parma, the daughter Of
Charles V, Emperor of the Holy Ro.
man Empire
The first masterpiece Of French lit
erature mentions Negroes. The Chan
son de Rolard 1880, contains several
stanzas of tribute to the valor and PROV
ess of the soldiers of Ethiopia who deci-
mated the rear guard of Charlemagnes
army in the Spanish passes. This was
perhaps the first time Negroes appeared
in the literature of any European coun-
try.
Cites French Revolution.
An early F.ench history dealing with
distinguished Africans in Africa, states
there was at one time an African Joan
of Arc. one Kahina. who led success
fully her beeagued people against an
invading army.
mo picture of the French revolution
could omit TIE IA black generals who
served in the republican armies. includ-
ing Gen. Alexander Dumas. the father
of the novelist and grandfather of the
dramatist. He was. at one time, the
superior officer of Napoleon Bonaparte.
We recall the Chevalier de Saint
George, who was born a slave in the
West Indies. and became a courtier at
the royal court of Versailles. AS lieu
tenant colonel he returned to the West
Indies and raised a regiment of black
cavalry which was called the Black
Legion: Talleyrand has said Saint