The North Star (Rochester)/1848/01/07/Colored newspapers
COLORED NEWSPAPERS.
They are sometimes objected to, on the ground that they serve to keep up an odious and wicked distinction between white and colored persons, and are a barrier to that very equality which we are wont to advocate. We have, sometimes, heard persons regret the very mention of color, on this account, and to counsel its abandonment. We confess to no such feelings; we are in no wise sensitive on this point. Facts are facts; white is not black, and black is not white. There is neither good sense, nor common honesty, in trying to forget this distinction. So far from the truth is the notion that colored newspapers are serving to keep up that cruel distinction, the want of them is the main cause of its continuance. The distinction which degrades us, is not that which exists between a white man and a black man. They are equal men: the one is white, and the other is black; but both are men, and equal men. The white man is only superior to the black man, when he outstrips him in the race of improvement; and the black man is only inferior, when he proves himself incapable of doing just what is done by his white brother. In order to remove this odious distinction, we must do just what white men do. It must be no longer white lawyer, and black woodsawyer,—white editor, and black street cleaner: it must be no longer white, intelligent, and black, ignorant; but we must take our stand side by side with our white fellow countrymen, in all the trades, arts, profession and callings of the day.
It is one of the most cheering signs of the times, that colored persons are becoming farmers, mechanics, lecturers, doctors, lawyers, merchants, teachers, professors and editors. The more we have of them, the better; and the sooner will the distinction of which we complain be removed. Man's greatness consists in his ability to do, and the proper application of his powers to things needful to be done, and not in the color of his skin.