When Africa awakes: The "inside story" of the stirrings and strivings of the new Negro in the Western worldHarrison, Hubert H.
History
When Africa awakes: The "inside story" of the stirrings and strivings of the new Negro in the Western world
Harrison, Hubert H.
African Americans; African Americans -- Race identity; United States -- Race relations
What part in this great drama of the future are the Negroes of the
Western world to play? The answer is on the knees of the gods, who often
make hash of the predictions of men. But it is safe to say that, before
the Negroes of the Western world can play any effective part they must
first acquaint themselves with what is taking place in that larger world
whose millions are in motion. They must keep well informed of the trend
of that motion and of its range and possibilities. If our problem here
is really a part of a great world-wide problem, we must make our
attempts to solve our part link up with the attempts being made
elsewhere to solve the other parts. So will we profit by a wider
experience and perhaps be able to lend some assistance to that ancient
Mother Land of ours to whom we may fittingly apply the words of Milton:
“Methinks I see in my mind a mighty and puissant nation, rousing herself
like a strong man after sleep and shaking her invincible locks; methinks
I see her like an eagle mewing her mighty youth and kindling her
undazzled eyes at the full noon-day beam; methinks I see her scaling and
improving her sight at the fountain itself of heavenly radiance, while
the whole noise of timorous and flocking birds—with them also that love
the twilight—hover around, amazed at what she means, and in their
useless gabble would prognosticate a year of sects and schisms.” —The
New Negro, August, 1919.
_Help Wanted for Hayti_
While we were at war our President declared, over and over again, that
we were calling upon the flower of our manhood to go to France and make
itself into manure in order that the world might be made safe for
democracy. Today the deluded people of the earth realize that the accent
is on the “moc(k).” Ireland, India and Egypt are living proofs that the
world has been lied to. We need not bite our tongues about it. Those who
told us that the world would be made safe for democracy have lied to us.
All over the world men and women are finding out that when an American
President, a British Premier or a French “tiger” speaks of “the world,”
he does not include the black and brow: and yellow millions, who make up
the vast majority of the earth’s population. And now the sheeted ghost
of a black republic rises above the tomb where its bones lie buried and
points its silent but accusing finger at American democracy. What can we
answer in the case of Hayti? British India and Ireland, Turkish Armenia
or Russian Poland have never presented such ruthless savagery as has
been let loose in Hayti in a private war for which President Wilson has
never had the consent of Congress. The white daily papers speak
complacently of the repulse of “bandits.” What is this but a developing
disease of the American conscience, to put the blinkers of a catchword
over the eyes of the spirit?
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
Reviews
Reviews
No reviews yet
Be the first to share your thoughts on this work.
Elsewhere in the archive
Join the Discussion
Join the discussion
Sign in to leave a comment or review.
Sign InorCreate an account