The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 10, October, 1888 — John Shaqi
The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 10, October, 1888Various
Religion
The American Missionary — Volume 42, No. 10, October, 1888
Various
Congregational churches -- Missions -- Periodicals; Home missions -- Periodicals
There, after all this rambling, I have reached the one idea which I
believe ought to stick in the mind of every A.M.A. worker and every
A.M.A. supporter--the children! If we can only teach them, save them,
the African in America and in Africa is saved. It seems to me this is
the solution of the problem. The longer one labors among the colored
people and learns them and their surroundings, the more difficult
seems the solution of the negro problem. Tourists in the South and
people at a distance are very prolific in suggestions as to the best
methods for elevating the negro. Why! visitors who have spent hardly
twenty-four hours in a Southern city can write home marvellous letters
as to the wonderful progress of the colored race, and prophesy a
speedy settlement of the matter of negro education and race prejudice.
It is a fact, however, that the longer one stays here the more
puzzled he grows about these matters. An old A.M.A. worker said
to me, "The first year of your work you will think you understand the
colored people pretty well; the second year you won't know quite so
much; the third year still less, and so on until by the tenth year you
will think you don't know anything about them." But we all come to one
conclusion, that all the trouble arising from race prejudice will pass
away as the negro rises. When he is able to intelligently exercise all
his rights, then the white man will have to acknowledge them. This
result is in the distance, and while due attention is given to the
older ones, yet the destiny of the colored race is wrapt up in the
rising generation. They are terribly endangered, but they must be
saved if the race is saved. A new generation, who knew nothing of
slavery but much of the dangers of freedom, are taking hold upon
manhood. They must be taught to read, to think, to work, to save and
to love goodness for its own sake. If all this can be brought about I
believe the Negro question will be settled. This must be done. I trust
that not all of the 1,500 who have lately signified a willingness to
enter the mission field will suppose that all of the ignorant and
needy millions are on the other side of the globe. We hear a good deal
just now about patriotism. Now, how can one better prove his
patriotism than by giving his money or service to save his country
from ignorance and degradation? It will pay you back in dollars and
cents, to say nothing of the reward of learning that "it is more
blessed to give than to receive."
* * * * *
INTEMPERANCE.
The few lines below indicate the quality and flavor of the papers
read by the graduating class at Atlanta University.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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