When a white boy
undertakes a task, it is taken for granted that he will succeed.
On the other hand, people are usually surprised if the Negro boy
does not fail. In a word, the Negro youth starts out with the
presumption against him.
The influence of ancestry, however, is important in helping
forward any individual or race, if too much reliance is not
placed upon it. Those who constantly direct attention to the
Negro youth's moral weaknesses, and compare his advancement with
that of white youths, do not consider the influence of the
memories which cling about the old family homesteads. I have no
idea, as I have stated elsewhere, who my grandmother was. I have,
or have had, uncles and aunts and cousins, but I have no
knowledge as to where most of them are. My case will illustrate
that of hundreds of thousands of black people in every part of
our country. The very fact that the white boy is conscious that,
if he fails in life, he will disgrace the whole family record,
extending back through many generations, is of tremendous value
in helping him to resist temptations. The fact that the
individual has behind and surrounding him proud family history
and connection serves as a stimulus to help him to overcome
obstacles when striving for success.
Pages:
43
44
45
46
47
48
49
50
51
52
53
54
55
56
57
58
59
60
61
62
63
64
65
66
67