Twentieth Century Negro Literature | Page 2

make greater efforts to ascend to that
plane of civilization occupied by the other enlightened peoples of the
world.
Now, among all the books on the Negro, there is none whose object is
so worthy, comprehensive, and specific as that above set forth. In this
the superiority of this book to all others, on the Negro, may be seen.
And the superior value of this book is also apparent from the following
considerations: (1) This is the only book in which there is such a
magnificent array of Negro talent. Other Negro books of a biographical
character are objected to, by the intelligent people who have read them,
on the ground that they contain too few sketches of scholarly Negroes,
and too many of Negroes of ordinary ability. But such a criticism
cannot be made on this book since, as a matter of fact, all of the one
hundred men and women, appearing in it, are among the best educated

Negroes in the world. (2) This is the only book from which one can get
anything like a definite and correct idea of the progress made by the
Negro since his Emancipation along all lines. (3) There is no book but
this one in which there can be found expressed the thoughts of any
considerable number of educated Negroes on so many political,
religious, civil, moral and sociological problems touching the Negro,
which are interesting alike to the politician, the moralist and the
sociologist.
But it is not to be understood that the one hundred men and women
mentioned in this book are the only Negro scholars in this country. So
far from this, there are hundreds of other Negroes who are as scholarly,
as prominent and as active in the work of uplifting their race as the one
hundred herein given. These one hundred appear here, rather than
others, for no other reason than that they are better known to the editor.
Now, in sending forth this book, the editor ardently hopes that it will
not only accomplish the objects herein set forth, but that it will also do
much towards bringing about a better understanding between the two
races in the South.
D. W. CULP, Palatka, Fla.
[Illustration: W. H. Crogman, A. M.]
PROF. W. H. CROGMAN, A. M.
Prof. W. H. Crogman, A. M., who occupies the chair of Greek and
Latin in Clark University, Atlanta, in Christian character, scholarship in
his department, literary ability, general culture and distinguished
services stands, it is safe to say, among the first four, if not at the head
of the Negro race. In all the particulars mentioned, he would honor a
professorship in any college in the land.
Prof. Crogman was born on the island of St. Martin, May 5, 1841. In
1855, Mr. B. L. Boomer, chief mate of the vessel, visiting the island,
became interested in the boy, then an orphan, and induced him to come
to the United States. Mr. Boomer took him to his home in Middleboro,
Mass., sent him to district school in the winter, and always took great

interest in him. Mr. Boomer's brothers were all seafaring men, captains
or officers of vessels. With one of these the boy, Willie, began to
follow the sea. This beginning afterward led to a life of eleven years on
the ocean. He visited many lands, and observant and thoughtful,
obtained a wide knowledge of various nationalities and parts of the
world. His visits included especially England, various points on the
Continent of Europe, Calcutta and Bombay in Asia, various places in
South America and Australia.
In 1866, at the suggestion of Mr. Boomer, that an academic education
would make him useful, Prof. Crogman, then at the age of twenty-five,
began to earn means to attend an academy. He worked and laid by
money till two years later in 1868, he entered Pierce Academy, in
Middleboro, Mass. He remained there two years, taking an English
course with French and bookkeeping.
After completing his academic course, in the Fall of 1870, Prof.
Crogman started for the South to give his life to the Christian education
and elevation of his race. He was recommended by the Boston
Preachers' Meeting to the work in South Carolina, and was employed
by Rev. T. W. Lewis as instructor in English branches, at Claflin
University, Orangeburg, S. C. Here he remained three years. In this
work he became impressed with the need of a knowledge of Greek and
Latin and began the study of Latin by himself. To gain a knowledge of
these branches he went to Atlanta University in the Fall of 1873. This
resulted in his completing there the full classical course in 1876. Prof.
Francis, of Atlanta University, who was one of his teachers there, was
present at the reception and in a