The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1940-03-01
Honor Our Great
Men And Women
BY Eunice Mott

Faith Is the substance OF InlnSS
hoped for, the evidence 70 things
not SEEN" This biblical quotation
sums up the facts which the Negro
youth have concerning the achieve
ments of the Negro.
A long time ago-maybe to ma
ny of us--just a few years ago
out of many, one, little, black boy
aspired to those heights where he
would be recognized with his white
brother-not as just an ordinary
Negro, but as an intelligent, in
tellectual and an American man.
Booker T. Washington knew that
to achieve his aims was going to
be a slow and patient task. His
convictions told him that IL the
black man wanted a position in
this great world, he must work
and pray, pray and work for what
ever he received. For who would
give him a right to civil liberties?
Surely not the white man who had
kidnapped him from Africa and
sold him as slave machine to
lazy Caucasians. But we all are
familiar with the life of this out
standing, historical character, so,
why go into detail concerning his
struggles, his endurances which
brought him the respect of his
white brother and the lasting love
and admiration Of his people, the
Negro. However, we can never
laud too much on this great per-
son, but we can and should al
ways believe that Booker T. Wash
ington sanctioned in the very
depths of his soul, that-"faith
is the substance of things hoped
for" 1.-The evidence of things not
seen" by Booker T. Washington,
we appreciate, enjoy and see to-
day.
Paul Lawrence Dunbar, I'M
ashamed of his dark color, related
the human side of his race through
poetry. The late James Weldon
Johnson gave the Negro added
hope, new inspiration, sound ad-
vice and worthy pride through his
wonderful contributions to the
world of literature. illustrating the
latter, James Weldon johnson told
the Negro to "loft every voice and
sing till earth and heaven ring"
Negro, "sing song, full Of the
faith that the dark past has
taught us" Negro "sing a song
full of hope that the present has
brought u.s. in other words,
faith is the substance of things
hoped for"
How much easier "the stony
road" we young people will trod
are troding. When we look back
on our past, memorial leaders with
the highest of self-esteem, can you
doubt that we will fail you toward
adding to Negro accomplishments?
Carter Woodsin, Sojourner Truth,
Booker T. Washington, friedrich
Douglses, Harriet Tubman, and so
many others too numerous to men
ton at this time, lived in those
days, struggled in those days,
achieved in those days, when "hope
unborn had died"-yet they ven
tured on with STEADY beat
poor, tired, weary feet-and with
their increasing faith in God were
led to the white CLEAN of our
bright star"
There are so many things we,
young people, desire. Those things
which you can no longer give us.
Those things we must strive for to
attain. Those things we will seek
until "our victory-our victory as
an American Negro" having those
inalienable rights as an American
citizen and endowed, only, by the
Creator.
And so, by this time next year, I
trust, sincerely want that one of
us will be able to face you-not
with just simple praise of our fore
fathers, but, with an account of
what the Negro youth of Portland
has accomplished during the year
of 1910. And I'm sure that you
will hear that report, for we be-
lieve just as our foreparents, our
parents, you believe, that-"Faith
is the substance of things hoped
for, the evidence of things not
SEEM"