Atlanta Daily World

By REV. J. RAYMOND HENDERSON

That the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History has chosen Atlanta as its meeting place November 13-16, is a compliment both to himself as well as to our city. It will bring to us a wealth of information and inspiration. In coming to us it comes to city which bids fair to be one a laboratory in Negro History and in the solution of those problems affecting inter-racial relations.

The Association will offer us a brief course in "Mass Education." We need this course. Too many Negroes are woefully uninformed as to their own group, its struggles and achievements, as well as its deficiencies. Every Negro in Atlanta should lay aside everything, and make his way Sunday afternoon to the First Congregational church. I hope such a crowd will attend that initial session as to make Mr. Cuveton, who has worked untiringly to make this occasion a success, wish that he had secured the city Auditorium. There are two big reasons why we should make this initial meeting an emphatic one. At that time we shall have the opportunity to hear Dr. John Hope. Negroes of Atlanta will some day, no doubt accord Dr. Hope a place of pre-eminence in the history of the race, such as they cannot now even envision. Atlanta University is, to my mind, the most significant experiment in Negro education here in the southland in the history of the Negro.

The other big reason we should "overtax" the First Congregational church Sunday afternoon is that we shall both see and hear Dr. Carter G. Woodson the man who knows more about Negro History than any other living man, and whose books are accepted as authority on the subject. Also Dr. Woodson is a man who through his writings makes the Negro think. He is a speaker and writer who irritates. He is a veritable God Fly. Negroes recoil from his sting. They rebuke him. I am afraid they have not yet learned to properly appreciate him. Personally, I admire only men who can do for me what Dr. Woodson does. The young Negro in high school and college should read after this man weekly. My sincere regret is that the Baptist convention will take many of us out of the city after Tuesday. I envy those who have the opportunity to attend all of the sessions of the association. I earnestly urge the members of all our churches to avail themselves of the opportunity which the coming of this august body affords this our city.