Progress and Achievements of the Colored People: Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success — John Stuart Mill — John Shaqi
Progress and Achievements of the Colored People: Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success
John Stuart Mill · en
This can only be done by education and self-respect. The body of men or
the race that does not respect themselves, can not expect to command the
respect of others.
There are drones in every hive, and they live on the work of the busy
members of the hive. If you know anything about bees, you must know that
these drones are killed off and thrown out as useless members of the bee
colony.
Among men, if a man refuses to work when able, and nothing but laziness
is his trouble, he is quickly thrown out and becomes a “tramp,” and when
a man becomes a tramp, why then, an ignominious life and an ignominious
death are his portions.
The Colored Americans have it within their power to rise above any race
prejudice just as the Jews and other races are doing. They made a bitter
fight, and finding that the Constitution, while giving them political
rights, could not give them the respect of other fellow citizens, they,
turned to education, business, employment and embraced every opportunity
to get on top in progressive influences and they succeeded. They made
themselves kings of finance and are deeply concerned in scientific
investigations, appropriating large sums of money to the cause of
education.
The Irish stand in the front as builders and workers, and none can point
his finger at any particular successful Irishman and call him a “Flannel
mouth” in derision. “Paddy” can refuse to eat meat on Friday, or eat it
as he wishes without calling forth any vulgar remarks—he is respected as
a race worth respecting.
So with the Italian, he is a worker and a fruit and produce caterer. He
is no longer a mere member of the “Dago” race, he is a respectable
member of the community. He does something.
The once despised “Chink” has arisen out of ages of superstition into an
enlightened member of a great republic. He is no longer a
“washee-washee,” but a man. He has cut off his pigtail and put on
civilized clothing. At a banquet or gathering, the chairman is proud to
introduce to the audience “My friend Wun Lung, who started out as a
laundryman in the Fifth Ward, and has risen up to the presidency of the
great Ginseng Company.” The Chinese are doing things and none of them is
sitting around waiting for something to turn up. They go after
opportunities and seize the one nearest and hold on to it until another
and better one comes along and then they grasp that.