71

OverviewTranscribeVersionsHelp

Facsimile

Transcription

Status: Complete

LIFE AND TIMES OF FREDERICK DOUGLASS 223

and harder modes of living, and of gaining a livelihood, we cannot, and we
ought not to hope that in a single leap from our low condition, we can reach
that of Ministers, Lawyers, Doctors, Editors, Merchants, etc. These will
doubtless be attained by us; but this will only be, when we have patiently
and laboriously, and I may add successfully, mastered and passed through
the intermediate gradations of agriculture and the mechanic arts. Besides,
there are (and perhaps this is a better reason for my view of the case) numerous
institutions of learning in this country, already thrown open to colored
youth. To my thinking, there are quite as many facilities now afforded to the
colored people, as they can spare the time, from the sterner duties of life, to
avail themselves of. In their present condition of poverty, they cannot spare
their sons and daughters two or three years at boarding-schools or colleges,
to say nothing of finding the means to sustain them while at such institutions.
I take it, therefore, that we are well provided for in this respect; and
that it may be fairly inferred from the fact, that the facilities for our education,
so for as schools and colleges in the Free States are concerned, will
increase quite in proportion with our future wants. Colleges have been open
to colored youth in this country during the last dozen years. Yet few comparatively,
have acquired a classical education; and even this few have
found themselves educated far above a living condition, there being no
methods by which they could turn their learning to account. Several of this
latter class have entered the ministry; but you need not be told that an educated
people is needed to sustain an educated ministry. There must be a
certain amount of cultivation among the people, to sustain such a ministry,
At present we have not that cultivation amongst us; and therefore, we value
in the preacher, strong lungs, rather than high learning. I do not say, that
educated ministers are not needed amongst us, far from it! I wish there were
more of them! But to increase their number, is not the largest benefit you
can bestow upon us.

"We have two or three colored lawyers in this country; and I rejoice in
the fact; for it affords very gratifying evidence of our progress. Yet it must
be confessed, that in point of success, our lawyers are as great failures as our
ministers. White people will not employ them to the obvious embarrassment
of their causes, and the blacks, taking their cue from the whites, have not
sufficient confidence in their abilities to employ them. Hence educated colored
men, among the colored people, are at a very great discount. It would
seem that education and emigration go together with us, for as soon as a man
rises amongst us, capable, by his genius and learning, to do us great service,
just so soon he finds that he can serve himself better by going elsewhere. In

Notes and Questions

Nobody has written a note for this page yet

Please sign in to write a note for this page