The Conquest: The Story of a Negro PioneerMicheaux, Oscar
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The Conquest: The Story of a Negro Pioneer
Micheaux, Oscar
African American pioneers -- Fiction; Autobiographical fiction; South Dakota -- Fiction; Western stories
Among the many faults of this class is, that they do not realize what it
takes to succeed, nor do they care, but spend their efforts loudly
claiming credit for the success of those who are honest in their
convictions and try to prove themselves indispensable citizens. Nothing
is more obvious and proves this more conclusively than to take notice,
as I have, of their own selection of reading matter.
Now, for instance, a few years ago a series of articles under the title
of "Following the Color Line" appeared in a certain periodical, the work
of a very well known writer whose specialty is writing on social
conditions, strikes, etc.
In justice to all concerned, the writer described the conditions which
his articles covered, just as he found them and in this, in my opinion,
he differed largely from many of the southern authors whose articles are
still inclined to treat the Ethiopians as a whole, as the old "time
worn" aunt and uncle. Not intending to digress, I want to put down here,
that negroes as a whole are changing to some extent, the same as the
whites and no liberty-loving colored man appreciates being regarded as
"aunt," or "uncle" even though some of these people were as honorable as
could be. This is a modern age.
Now getting back to the discussion that I seem to have for the moment
forgotten and as regards the article, while worthy in every respect, it
was no different in its way from any number of other articles published
at that time, as well as now, that deal on great and complex questions
of the day. Yet, this article caused thousands of colored people, who
never before bought a magazine or book, to subscribe for that magazine.
It was later published in book form and is conspicuous in the libraries
of many thousands of colored families.
What I have intended to put down in this lengthy discourse regarding my
race is, if they see or hear of an article concerning the race, they
will buy that magazine, to read the article spoken of and nothing more.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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