The McDowell times. [volume] (Keystone, W. Va.) 1904-1941, 1938-07-15

/ u SlCSpy hldDetlild lOWIl WITH all
Indian name, and within a few
years made Tuskeegee the
center of the whole raceSHRDL
center to which the mind and
imagination of the whole race
was directed. 1t became the
obvious purpose of this Negro
leader and of the white race who
believed in him, to make Tuske-
gee the capital where should be
headed up the life activities of
the Negro race. The Negro
Heaven was to be shifted from
the capital of the nation to the
heart of the South.
Upon conclusion of h e Civil
w ar, Washington City became
suddenly aggrandized as the
Capital of the greatest nation
on the face of the earth The
wealth, power, and glory of the
nation was drawn unto her.
T he recently emancipated
slave tiocked to the capital as to
a city of refuge. The Civil War
Amendments humanized t h e
Constitution and made the seat
OF government dear to the
Negroes soul. r h e reconstruct
tion dignitarics rushed to the
nations capital bringing with
them the new-found dignity and
conceit, Negro senator's, con-
gressmen, and high government
officials captivated the magma
ton of the natives as something
new under the political sun. A
public school system with
equipped Negro teachers and
directors from top to bottom.
Colored men and women who
mad been exposed to educational
and cultural contact in the
Northern states rushed to the
capita to take advantage of
teaching opportunities. "A
Washington School Teacher"
on ones card was sufficient
entree to polite colorcd circles
in ali parts of the country.
Howard University, the center
of the higher education of the
race, appealed to the ambitious
colored youth in all ends of the
land.
For a full generation Wash
ington not only possessed the
largest Negro population but
enjoyed political, educational
and social advantages far be-
yond that of any other city in
the United States.
But in the course of time these
earlier advantages began to
dWlndIe. The gloFy and glamour
.ot reconstruction days faded
away. The politician and the
Office holders withdrew. Othcf,
cities and communities began to
compete with the national
capital for population and prcsti-
age. New York, Chicago, Phila-
delphia and Baltimore have out
stripped the population Of the
capital of the nation i'm recent
decades. The title Of Negro
Heaven was disputed by other
communities. Indeed, N cw
York, the metropolis Of the
nation, with two or three times
t h G population of Washington
has stolen Washington's title
slightly modified as "The Niger
Heaven" The capital Of the
nation still has the only com.
plctc public school system man
ned from top to bottom by a
Negro staff. The center Of the
Negro life has been shifted from
Washington to Harlem. The
capital city still retains the
larGcsi number Of educated
Negroes with higher stated
salaries and dignifled occupa-
tons a school teachers and
government employees.
Howard Univerity, the premi-
en- Ncgo Institution for thu
higher education with the larp-
est teaching staff and student
body Of Ncgocs pursuing the
higher levels Of collegiate and
special training TO be found any
whore in the word, is situated
atop commanding hillside
overlooking the national capital.
There is also located here al
growing body Of rctirals from
the government service. public
schools and from Howard Uni
versity which constitutes al
cultivated leisurely class which
/ 80 IL