Twentieth Century Negro Literature | Page 3

most happy speech paid a high tribute
to Prof. Crogman's manhood, industry, thorough scholarship and rapid
advancement during his college life, completing as he did the four
years' course in three years. He spoke also of Prof. Crogman's carrying
off as his bride one of their noblest and most gifted and cultured young
ladies, Miss Lavinia C. Mott, of Charlotte, N. C. Immediately on his
graduating from Atlanta University, Prof. Crogman was called to a
position on the faculty of Clark University, where he has been ever
since, having occupied his present chair since 1880. Letters expressive
of their highest appreciation of him and his work were read from

several of his students, who now themselves occupy prominent
positions.
Prof. Crogman is author of "Talks for the Times," a book in which
almost every phase of the Race Problem is discussed in a very practical
and fascinating style. Speaking of this book, the "Independent" says:
"We notice this collection of 'Talks for the Times' with unusual
pleasure. They are worthy of the strong and cultivated gentleman who
is their author. They deal largely with Negro education, educational
institutions and educators, but occasionally deal with general topics,
such as 'Life's Deeper Meanings.' The author speaks of his race and
speaks in strong, polished English, full of nerve and rich in the music
of good English prose."
The "California Christian Advocate" says:
"We are minded to say, 'here is a volume that must be intensely
interesting to all who are interested in the culture and continued
advancement of the Negro.' But why should we thus write? It would be
nearer our deliberate estimate to say, 'Here is a book made up of manly
and vigorous addresses by a vigorous, scholarly and independent
thinker.' Whoever values the result of scholarly investigation will be
interested in this volume. We do not hesitate to say that but for the
noble identification of the author with his own people in such addresses
as 'The Negro's Need,' 'The Negro's Claims,' and 'The Negro Problem,'
no one who reads this book would guess that Professor Crogman was
other than a vigorous minded Anglo-Saxon. And yet to our thinking, it
is much to say that 'Talks for the Times' is the production of a ripe
scholar who is of almost pure African blood--a man who almost
entirely by his own exertion has climbed steadily up the ladder of
scholarship until he is no mean exponent of the culture of our day."

INTRODUCTION.
BY PROF. W. H. CROGMAN.

I am requested to write an introduction to this volume of essays, written
by representative men and women of the Negro race and touching
almost every phase of the Negro question. Certainly it is a hopeful sign
that the Negro is beginning, with some degree of seriousness, to turn
his eyes inward, to study himself, and try to discover what are his
possibilities, and what the obstructions that lie in the way to his larger
development. Undoubtedly this is a rational method of procedure, and
the one most likely to reward his effort; for it is only in proportion as
we become interested in ourselves that we enlist the interest of others,
and only in proportion as we respect ourselves that we command the
respect of others. The story is told of a Negro who, at some time during
the War of the Rebellion, being asked why he did not enlist in the army,
replied: "De Norf and de Souf am two dogs fightin' over a bone. De
nigger am de bone and takes no part in de conflict." That this is not the
language of an intelligent Negro is quite evident, if, indeed, it be the
language of a Negro at all. So common has it been in this country to
caricature the black man, to represent him as a driveler in speech and a
buffoon in action, that I am always loath to accept as his those many
would-be-witty sayings which, too often, originating with others, have
been attributed to him. But be the author of that remark whosoever he
may, one thing now is perfectly apparent--the Negro has reached
beyond the "bone" stage. He is no longer content with being a passive
observer, a quiet looker-on, while his character and interests are under
discussion. He is now disposed to speak for himself, to "take part in the
conflict." Any one desiring evidence of this will find it in the following
pages of "Twentieth Century Negro Literature."
This book will do good. It will enlighten many of both races on topics
respecting which they seem to be profoundly ignorant. Not very long
ago a Negro delivered an address in one of the largest churches in
Atlanta. It was an occasion in which a goodly number of white people
was present. They