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The American And The South African Negro

The American And The South African Negro image
Parent Issue
Day
24
Month
March
Year
1897
Copyright
Public Domain
OCR Text

Tlie word negro ia not heard in Soutli África excepting as a term of opprobrium. Often and often again have Africander Engljshmen stopped me, when speaking of Zulus, Basutos, Matabele, and so on, as negroes. "You in America only know tlie blacks wlio come over as slaves- that is to say, the West African negro; - and tliis they say witli aome pride - "our blacks are of a very superior character, and not at all to be confused with the material forrad on tlie Guinea coast." Though this is a popular notion amongst Africanders and Englishmen generally, it is not, I think, fouuded eitherupon historicalresearches or upon observation of the negro indifferent places. It is true that the most common slave trade in times past was between the African west cost and the easteru sliores of America, but it is equally true that the Portuguese carried on a steady and very profitable trafiic of the same nature from their East African possessions, notably Mozambique. This alone can account for a large portion of Zulu and Basutó blood amongst the American slaves, but aside from this tliere is every reason for believing that even on the west coást a considerable portion of the slaves sbipped to America were prisoners of war captured far in tlie interior, from tribes that liad been recruited from the east coast. The life of an African negro nation is practically the life of one remarkable man wbo may possess a gift for war inucli above tlie average of lus blood. Thus we hear of Lobengula creating the Matabele, of Cetyvvayo and the Zulns, and, greater that] all, of Moshesh, the great organizer of the Basutos. These black leaders have made so-called nations, because they readily attracted to theinselves the warriors from surrounding tribes or families, who were glad to follow any leader that promised them plunder in war and security for what they might take in the way of booty. Whoever glances'at successive mapsof África must be struck by the rapidity wilh wbich names of territories have been changed within the last three hundred years. It is, however, what one might reasonably expect from the negroes incapable of self-control, living only ior the gratifleation of momentary needs, and leaving behind them absolutely no record of achieveinonts calculated to advance the cause of civilization. When we hear by our fire sides of negro wars, we are apt to receive statements, very much exaggerated, and certainly calculated to make us feel that the negro can be the most daring and dangerous eneniy. No doubt he is sucli íor a short ti me and under extraordinarv circumstances, but taken as a. race there is no more gentle servant and conipanion than a properly treated negro. It has boen my fortune to see something of him in the West lndies, in Soutli America, and in every state of the Un.ted States. Comparing that type of negro with the black man of South África as appears bet ween the Zambesi Uiver and the Cape of Good Hope, I confess that I see very little difference. There are highly bred negroes in America, as well as low-bred ones, and as slaves we know that their price varied enormously on this account alone; but I aro confldent that if a given number of negroes were picked up haphazard from the different portions of África, and then brought to Virginia or Louisana, dressed after the manner of American negroes, they would attract no more attention on the streets of New Orleans or Richmond than tbey do now along the Zamhesi or the daledon. - From "Tlie last of the Great Black Nation." by Poui.tnky Biglow', in Hu:i'Eu's Magazine for Maren.

Article

Subjects
Old News
Ann Arbor Courier