The scriptural pericope below came to mind as I read, "Civilization the Primal Need," in CIVILIZATION AND BLACK PROGRESS SELECTED WRITINGS OF ALEXANDER CRUMMELL (1995), where, in March 1896, he states: "I doubt if there is a man here in this presence who has a higher conception of Negro capacity than your speaker; and this of itself, precludes the idea, on my part, of racial disparagement. But it seems manifest to me that, as a race in this land, we have no art; we have no science ; we have no philosophy; we have no scholarship .... The special need in such a case is the force and application of the highest arts; not mere mechanism; not mere machinery ; not here handicraft; not the mere grasp on material things; not mere temporal ambitions... To make men you need civilization; and what I mean by civilization is the action of exalted forces, both of God and man. For manhood is the most majestic thing in God's creation; and hence the demand for the very highest art in the shaping and molding of human souls." P. 196-7.
What struck me about this bold statement is its failure to lift up science or mathematics; nor manufacturers or inventors among the blacks; nor history!
His call for the highest art is apparently limited to opera, symphony and fine arts like painting, heedless of spirituals or other products of African American culture, which this Episcopal priest claims not to disparage! Could have fooled me!
Matthew 7:24-27English Standard Version (ESV)
Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.
Thursday, May 14, 2015
CIVILIZATION AND BLACK PROGRESS---RECONSIDERED...
The scriptural pericope below came to mind as I read, "Civilization the Primal Need," in CIVILIZATION AND BLACK PROGRESS SELECTED WRITINGS OF ALEXANDER CRUMMELL (1995), where, in March 1896, he states: "I doubt if there is a man here in this presence who has a higher conception of Negro capacity than your speaker; and this of itself, precludes the idea, on my part, of racial disparagement. But it seems manifest to me that, as a race in this land, we have no art; we have no science ; we have no philosophy; we have no scholarship .... The special need in such a case is the force and application of the highest arts; not mere mechanism; not mere machinery ; not here handicraft; not the mere grasp on material things; not mere temporal ambitions... To make men you need civilization; and what I mean by civilization is the action of exalted forces, both of God and man. For manhood is the most majestic thing in God's creation; and hence the demand for the very highest art in the shaping and molding of human souls." P. 196-7.
What struck me about this bold statement is its failure to lift up science or mathematics; nor manufacturers or inventors among the blacks; nor history!
His call for the highest art is apparently limited to opera, symphony and fine arts like painting, heedless of spirituals or other products of African American culture, which this Episcopal priest claims not to disparage! Could have fooled me!
Matthew 7:24-27English Standard Version (ESV)
Build Your House on the Rock
24 “Everyone then who hears these words of mine and does them will be like a wise man who built his house on the rock. 25 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat on that house, but it did not fall, because it had been founded on the rock. 26 And everyone who hears these words of mine and does not do them will be like a foolish man who built his house on the sand. 27 And the rain fell, and the floods came, and the winds blew and beat against that house, and it fell, and great was the fall of it.”
English Standard Version (ESV)
The Holy Bible, English Standard Version Copyright © 2001 by Crossway Bibles, a publishing ministry of Good News Publishers.