"Those who profess to favor freedom, and yet deprecate agitation are men who want rain without thunder and lightning. They want the ocean without the roar of its many waters." (Frederick Douglass)
Douglass expresses the necessity for agitation in a democratic society.Does this advice, given during the troubled times of the civil War, still apply to us today, and if so, how can we best implement his advice?
Answer:
I think the advice does apply today. Of course differently, due to the difference in the times. There's no question about it, there is no way of getting progress without effort. We say there is a necessity of always someone muddying the waters and it's quite true that in order to go about change of any nature, it's necessary to push for such change. And in all cases, it will be met with some opposition from some and approval from others. But in any case, to get progress, it is necessary to somewhat muddy the waters and agitate and certainly do things that some people wouldn't approve of.
Question 2
"Any man that says I am (for colonization or going back to Africa) behind my back is an assasin and a liar and I stamp the infamous charge upon his forehead." (Henry Highland Garnet)
This quote shows Mr. Garnet's strong opinion during the time of the "Back to Africa" movement. What do you think Africa reprsents to African-Americans of today?
Answer:
I think that to most African-Americans, Africa is the place of our roots. It is the place of our ancestors. But we now are, of course, Americans- some of us, simply because we claim this as the place of our birth; others because we fought for it and had to gain the independence we have now. So we are, in my opinion, Americans. Our background goes back to Africa, but this is our home. Although we feel an attachment with Africa, this truely is our home. And we should treat it as such and we should do everything we can to uphold the ideals expounded by the U.S. constitution.
Question 3
"No two people on earth are alike, and it's got to be that way in music or it isn't music." (Billie Holiday)
Why is it that we celebrate and enjoy originality of expression in the arts and yet are troubled by diversity in society?
Answer:
This is true. African-Americans are more readily accepted in forms of art. It seems that the first bit of integration and recognition we received was started with the arts. Certainly the great black musicians led the way towards whatever integration we had. White Americans very readily accepted black Americans as entertainers and as influences, espceially in music. Back in the early days, many of our leading stars were accepted in performance but were still segregated. They were recognized for their art more easily than there was a recognition for us to get together in a social way. So it does seem that the progress of the American negro is more readily accepted in the theater, particularly in music, than as a social equal.
Question 4
What advice would you give to the youth about achievement?
Answer:
There are different bits of information that need to be given to different people because people respond differently to different motivation. But there are some things that apply to any young person that has a goal to achieve. First, I feel that all young people should set achievable goals. And by that, I mean, goals that can be reached. They've got to realize that everyone can't be a superstar in every sport, perhaps in no sport at all. So I think that the first thing to do is to recognize or to accept what one can achieve, set achievable goals and work toward them, keeping in mind that there is no work without reward and no reward without work. And certainly, there is hardly anything a person cannot do if he first decides that he wants to do it and is willing to do everything to achieve that goal.
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