race can expect to be respected which does not respect itself—which is constantly adopting an apologetic attitude. The negro, it was said, must "learn to acquire a habit of persistent self-respect, and dignified self-confidence. He must continue to respect himself, even when those around him do not respect him. He must 'develop a pride in American-African manhood.'"
The attention of a friend of mine was once called to a singularly bright and attractive little colored boy. He sighed, and said: "Yes, the boy will continue to be clever until he finds out that he is black." The leaders of the race wish to develop such a spirit in their people, that such boys will do all the better after they find out that they are black.
It is because of this necessity for fostering race-pride that many of the abler colored women, who are or might be honored members of white women's clubs, believe in clubs exclusively for colored women. For it is necessary to the development of self-respect that colored women should prove to themselves and to the world that they can do things without the help of white women—that they are capable of organized effort. "Not to foster prejudice," it was said, "but to create self-confidence." "We need," said one, "each one to believe in herself, and then to believe in others of her race. We must raise ourselves, if we are to rise. Our white sisters wish to help us, and do help us, but we ourselves must do a great share of the work, and we must do it among ourselves, and by ourselves."
In connection with the desirability of fostering race-pride, one lady, who had herself been educated in a school for white girls, and might have passed for a white woman, said that she had come to the conclusion that it was better for colored children to attend colored schools, even where they were allowed to attend white schools. For it was better for them to go where they would be instructed in the progress that their race had already made, and taught to honor their great men. The name of Frederick Douglass was mentioned several times with special reverence. Here in Detroit a home for aged colored people, supported by colored people, is called the Phyllis Wheatley Home, in honor, of the first poetess of the race.
