Friendship Between White Teachers and Negro Pupils at Hampton Institute Angers White People, July 21, 1925

Must Remove Charge

Raleigh News and Observer

North Carolina scarcely less than Virginia is greatly interested in the excellent educational work for negroes at Hampton Institute, and the people of this state were amazed as were the people of Virginia to learn on the charges made by Col. W.S. Copeland, Newport News publisher, who has been a loyal friend of the negro college, that this institution Is not only teaching the social equality of the races but is practicing racial equality.

Colonel Copeland’s charges have not as yet been answered by the head of Hampton Institute, but northern periodicals like The Cirsis, which are ardent supporters of social equality for the races, have advised President Gregg to admit the charge. He has as yet refused to accept the answer that has been made for him.

Colonel Copeland was careful to state that the graduates and students of the negro college as well behaved and manifestly negroes of character. He felt that in justice to the people of the South who were being asked to contribute to a $5 million drive for finances that he ought to make known the conditions as he had found them.

Hampton, like Tuskegee, has long been the object of large donations by northern millionaires. John D. Rockefeller Jr. has just given a million dollars to Hampton and Tuskegee, and George Eastman, the Kodak king, has given $3 million. These schools are recognized throughout the world as models of their kind. Referring to the recent charge of racial equality, the Richmond News-Leader, a friend of the institution, states the situation correctly, clearly and succinctly:

“But the Hampton Normal and Industrial School is not a model for the world because of an alleged spirit of unquestioning comradeship exists between white teachers and negro students. The rich northern men would not give to the school if the races were separated in the auditorium. The debated practice of social equality does not increase the college’s prestige among educators or among altruists.

“Hampton is designed to achieve two aims: To make the negro the best citizen possible and to keep unbroken friendship between the races. Now, racial carelessness does neither of these things. It unsettles the negro’s point of view and it moves the white race’s deepest emotions. To teach social equality to Hampton, even by implication, is to do Hampton to arm that no financial gifts can repair. The wealth of the North will be unavailing without the good will of the South. It lies in Dr. Gregg’s Hands to keep and extend that good will.”

From page 3 of the Concord Daily Tribune, Tuesday, July 21, 1925

newspapers.digitalnc.org/lccn/sn92073201/1925-07-21/ed-1/seq-3/