Leila Amos Pendleton

A Narrative of the Negro Leila Amos Pendleton

Large Print Edition, Printed in 18pt Font. MOST girls and boys, who are from twelve to fourteen years old can tell, if one should ask them, many interesting things about America, the country in which we live and most children whose fore-parents came from Europe or Asia have been taught to love those countries just because their kinfolk once lived there. Many little colored children can draw a map of Africa, tell some of its products and describe some of its people; I wonder how many have been taught to think of Africa with interest and affection, because our great, great grandparents came from that continent? Perhaps if we talk awhile about our Motherland and some of the notable things which have happened there, we shall all learn to love that wonderful country and be proud of it. In these talks, though sometimes the adjective "colored" will be used just as the word "white" is frequently made use of, we shall, as a rule speak of ourselves as "Negroes" and always begin the noun with a capital letter. It is true that the word Negro is considered by some a term of contempt and for that reason, many of us wince at it; but history tells us that when England had been conquered by the Normans, centuries ago, and the Norman barons were beating, starving and killing the natives, the name "Englishman" was considered an abusive term, and the greatest insult one Norman could offer another was to call him an "Englishman." You know that now all who claim England as home are justly proud of it, and no Englishman is ashamed of that name. If history repeats itself, as we are often told it does, the time will come when our whole race will feel it an honor to be called "Negroes." Let us each keep that hope before us and hasten the time by living so that those who know us best will respect us most; surely then those who follow will be proud of our memory and of our race-name.