The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-08-25
INDICTMENT OF NEGRO COLLEGES
by Kelly Miller

The college world at large IL
put to it 10 Justify its existence
IN View OF us Obvious failure TO
meCr thc economic political ana
social requirements of q chang
ing world. The Nero colleges OF
to-day lag far behind the rest in
posting raison det.e for its eX-
isfcncc. / is mainly tho momon-
fum impaired generation ago
that Keeps Them going They fan
pa'hciically short OF the require
mouis 1i ne Aay and hour.
Two recent maealine articles
hate ihrrAn bomb shcll- into ihe
circh OF Me Negro college One
appeared IN opportunity for June
End tlio other in The Crisis for
July. Tie administration. faculty
and student body are taken caus-
tically to task for their delin-
qucncics and short comings.
I.angston Hughes. the noted Ne
gro poet and radical declares
that the colleges are producing
towards A serious accusation
this which Is sought To be sus-
tanned by a simple narration of
facts which came under his per-
son observation. On reading his
severe Arrangement was inn
pressed with the thought that Mr..
Hughes failed TO grasp or TO APP
preciate the motive. reason. and
end In view by those who founded
and who now support the higher
education OF the colored race.
The traditional ideal of the col
lege was to produce the scholar
and the gentleman and imhue
him with the political. ethical and
social aims approved by the do
minant social opinion. The ability
to make living is the fourth
dimension recently impaired TO
the collegiate function. Every
genuine college must root in It's
own soil and thrive on its own
nurture In inception. object and
purpose the Negro college was and
is vicarious plant of altruistic
and philan'hropic nurture. The
| philanihropists conceived the
place which they wanted the Ne
gro 10 occupy in the social
scheme and founded the Negro
college TO carry out that corcop-
tion No genuine Catholic college
could be supported by Protestants
nr could a Jewish seminary be
managed by Christians. But obvi-
'ously enough. the Negro was and
Is unable to furnish his own high
er education which must needs be
! supplied altruistIcally. As long AZ
human nature remains what II Is
The snan who plays the fiddle viii
call the tune. Negro education will
therefore conform 10 the tradition
and mores OF dominant white
opinion as long as they fall unde
white support and direction. TIL
installation Of colored instead o
white presidents and facultie
lend 20 increase rather than di
minish their dependency. Tn
time Is not IN sight when the Ne
gro can or will maintain or sup
port his own higher education
inc NekrO u encouraged 10 &c
velop himself and to make himsel
useful and happy 90 long and 8
far as Il does not far the accepte
mores. With this. background {
understanding &x>rHushes mfgf
E: :: !; e a.: :.sl ,::ss;'S e
college pr> sxssSa DO
am fully convinced thar they ip
culcate upon their student bod
az much courage, manliness an
Independence a. they Judge the
can safely DO and still be Above
70 function. II school must kee
n must conform 70 dominar
opinion. which n dares not q.
front. A capital illustration mu,
suffice Under the administrAtio
Q Of President Durkse, q book a.
3 lvcrfhng ne workfse. q n