Negro Congress Begins Its Work
August 4, 1906
Summary
In an assembly for the “Negro Congress,” Bishop Gaines advises his race and explains that black people cannot “get rid of the white man” who are responsible for “race prejudice and race hatred.”
Transcription
2,500 Delegates Assemble In Convention Hall
Mr. Bonaparte a Speaker.
Bishop Gaines Advises his Race and Flays Some Whites
Secretary of the Navy tells the Visitors that the Negro Cannot Get Rid of the White Man-- Colored Bishop Assails Senator Tillman and Gov. Vardaman, and takes Fling at Insurance Heads-- Mr. Dancy Among Speakers.
Washington, D.C., Aug. 1, 1906.
With delegates from practically every State in the Union and representatives from foreign lands present the second quadrennial convention of the Negro Young People’s Christian and Educational Congress began yesterday at 1:30 o’clock in Convention Hall, Fifth and L Streets northwest. At least 2,500 persons were in the hall.
The programme was an interesting one, and among the speakers were Charles J. Bonaparte, Secretary of the Navy; District Commissioner Henry L. West, and Recorder of Deeds John C. Dancy, Rev. Dr. M. W. D. Norman welcomed the Congress on behalf of the ministry and churches of the city.
Aside from the remarks of Mr. Bonaparte and Mr. West, the quadrennial address of Bishop Gaines was not the least interesting. While he delivered advice to his race at large, he did not neglect to flay those white men whom he characterized as being responsible for race prejudice and race hatred for the Negro.
He singled out United States Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, of South Carolina, and Gov. Vardaman, of Mississippi, as two great enemies of the Negro.
“They are leaving no stone unturned in arousing hatred between the races and they are doing a vast amount of injury to the whole community,” he declared. Continuing, he said:
Barbed Arrow for Senator.
“An editorial in a Southern paper has said the ‘the Negro is a helpless barbarian, not fit to be a citizen...’
Mr. Bonaparte a Speaker.
Bishop Gaines Advises his Race and Flays Some Whites
Secretary of the Navy tells the Visitors that the Negro Cannot Get Rid of the White Man-- Colored Bishop Assails Senator Tillman and Gov. Vardaman, and takes Fling at Insurance Heads-- Mr. Dancy Among Speakers.
Washington, D.C., Aug. 1, 1906.
With delegates from practically every State in the Union and representatives from foreign lands present the second quadrennial convention of the Negro Young People’s Christian and Educational Congress began yesterday at 1:30 o’clock in Convention Hall, Fifth and L Streets northwest. At least 2,500 persons were in the hall.
The programme was an interesting one, and among the speakers were Charles J. Bonaparte, Secretary of the Navy; District Commissioner Henry L. West, and Recorder of Deeds John C. Dancy, Rev. Dr. M. W. D. Norman welcomed the Congress on behalf of the ministry and churches of the city.
Aside from the remarks of Mr. Bonaparte and Mr. West, the quadrennial address of Bishop Gaines was not the least interesting. While he delivered advice to his race at large, he did not neglect to flay those white men whom he characterized as being responsible for race prejudice and race hatred for the Negro.
He singled out United States Senator Benjamin R. Tillman, of South Carolina, and Gov. Vardaman, of Mississippi, as two great enemies of the Negro.
“They are leaving no stone unturned in arousing hatred between the races and they are doing a vast amount of injury to the whole community,” he declared. Continuing, he said:
Barbed Arrow for Senator.
“An editorial in a Southern paper has said the ‘the Negro is a helpless barbarian, not fit to be a citizen...’
About this article
Source
Location on Page
Upper Right Quadrant
Topic
Contributed By
Emma Roberts
Citation
“Negro Congress Begins Its Work,” Black Virginia: The Richmond Planet, 1894-1909, accessed April 24, 2025, https://blackvirginia.richmond.edu/items/show/680.