Twentieth Century Negro Literature | Page 4

expressed themselves as being delighted. One man
said to a colored bishop that he didn't know there was a Negro in the
state that could have delivered such an address. The fact is, both the
good bishop and the writer of these lines might have found him twenty
who could, at least, deliver an address as good, and ten, probably, who
could deliver a better. Well, we don't know each other--we white and

black folk. We are neighbors, yet strangers. Our thoughts, our motives,
our desires are unknown to each other. Between the best white and
black people, in whom alone vests the possibility of a rational and
peaceful solution of the race question, there is absolutely no
communication, no opportunity for exchange of views. Herein lies the
danger; for both people, as a consequence, are suspicious, the one of
the other. Not infrequently, with much uncharitableness, we attribute
wrong motives to those who are truly our friends. Were we acquainted
with one another, as we ought to be, we would doubtless be surprised
to discover how little we differ in our thinking with reference to many
of the vexed questions confronting us. Indeed, it has always been the
belief of the writer, frequently expressed, that neither of the races is as
bad as it appears to the other. May we not hope, then, that "Twentieth
Century Negro Literature" may have the good fortune of falling into the
hands of many white friends.
On the other hand, the book must be stimulating to the Negro people,
especially to those of the younger generation, now blessed with large
educational privilege. It must awaken in them self-respect, self-reliance,
and the ambition to be and to do. By the perusal of its pages they will
be led to see more clearly the path of duty, and to feel more sensibly
the weight of responsibility resting upon them. The first generation of
Negroes after emancipation exhibited to a painful degree the spirit of
dependence, an inclination to lean on something and on
somebody--now on the politician, now on the philanthropist. The
reason for this, of course, is not far to fetch. The spirit of dependence is
invariably a characteristic of weakness. It was not to be expected that
the first generation emerging from slavery would possess all the heroic
qualities. Gradually, however, the Negro is realizing the importance of
self-help. Good books, among other agencies, will deepen this
impression, and ultimately lead him to imbibe in all its fulness the
sentiment of the poet,
"Destiny is not about thee, but within; Thyself must make thyself."
The contributors to this volume are worthy of notice. They are among
the best we have. Some of them are personally known to the writer.

They are men of experience, scholarly men, shunning rather than
courting notoriety--just the class of men to guide a people, alas, too
easily led astray by pretentious ignorance. From a number so large and
so meritorious it would seem invidious to select any for special
mention. It may not be out of place, however, to say a few words with
reference to the editor and compiler, Dr. D. W. Culp. Born a slave in
Union County, South Carolina, like many a black boy, he has had to
forge his way to the front. In 1876 we find him graduating in a class of
one from Biddle University--the first college graduate from that school.
In the fall of the same year he entered Princeton Theological Seminary,
and at the same time pursued studies in philosophy, history, and
psychology in the university under the eminent Doctor McCosh. His
first appearance in the university was the signal for a display of race
prejudice. To the Southern students especially his presence was very
obnoxious. Several of them immediately left the college and went
home. To the credit of their parents, it should be said, they were led to
return. Before the expiration of three years Mr. Culp, by exemplary
conduct and good scholarship, won the respect and friendship of the
students in both university and seminary, the Southerners included. He
was graduated from the seminary in 1879, and immediately found work
as pastor under the Freedmen's Board of the Northern Presbyterian
Church. He served in the pastorate several years in different states, was
for a time principal of a school in Jacksonville, Florida, the largest
school in the state. Becoming, however, more and more interested in
the physical salvation of his race, he entered upon the study of
medicine in the University of Michigan; but was finally graduated with
honor from the Ohio Medical University, in 1891, since which time he
has followed the practice of medicine. For a passionate love of
knowledge, and for persistent effort in trying to secure it, Dr. Culp is a
noble and inspiring example