Colored Convention Nonsense.
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Title
Colored Convention Nonsense.
Description
A report on the 1887 National Colored Press Association held in Louisville, Kentucky published in New York Age (January 1, 1887)
Source
From Gale. 19th Century U.S. Newspapers. ©2008 Gale, a part of Cengage Learning, Inc. Reproduced by permission. www.cengage.com/permissions
Publisher
New York Age
Date
1887-01-01
Type
Newspaper article
Scripto
Transcription
[PAGE 1]
Colored Convention Nonsense. There is some small talk in various quarters about a proposed convention of colored men. From the manner in which the matter is approached we are convinced that there is a central inspiration somewhere, but we have failed so far to properly locate it. Some man or some party is just now itching for an "endorsement," and a convention of colored men is hit upon. Who is it that needs an endorsement? And why should a handful of colored men be called together to do the endorsing of business? And, further, what right have they have to come together and give such endorsement in the name of the colored people of this country?
[PAGE 2]
We had hopes at one time that the Louisville Convention would be a representative gathering and that it would give an honest expression of the true condition and feelings of the race, but long before it assembled we became convinced that it was a put up job to endorse something and to glorify something else, and we consequently refrained from attending it. It resulted as we predicted it would. Then came the Pittsburg Convention, and we soon discovered that it was being engineered in the endorsement and glorification way, and we refrained from attending that. The New England Conference, held quite recently in Boston, was a howling failure, because it was in intended to be used as an endorsing and glorifying machine. Even the National Colored Press Association at its session last Summer at Atlantic City could not adjourn without indulging mildly in the endorsing and glorifying business, with Mr. Douglass and Mr. Wear on hand to whoop up the boys.
[PAGE 3]
We want it distinctly understood that we are not opposed to a National Convention of colored men, called by responsible men of good reputation, with the purpose of the gathering plainly and forcibly stated, and where the delegates are regularly selected by the people. We are opposed to all conventions called on false pretenses and composed of persons who are able to pay or beat their way to the place of meeting but who bring no credentials from the people that they have any authority to speak for them. Conventions got up and composed in this way are nothing more nor less than barefaced frauds, and do infinitely more harm than good. We have opposed all such in the past and we shall oppose all such in the future.
[PAGE 4]
There are entirely too many colored men abroad in the land who feel that they must lead something. A little learning hath made them mad. What they should do is to go to work in the honest, unobtrusive way God intended they should, and stop imposing their monumental smallness and insipidity upon the country and their impudence and fraudulency upon the race. These men may rest assured that when the condition of the race becomes such, or when the race realizes that it must stand up and strike from the shoulder, as we have so often advised it to do, a National convention will be held which will be so representative in character as to make somebody’s head swim.
Colored Convention Nonsense. There is some small talk in various quarters about a proposed convention of colored men. From the manner in which the matter is approached we are convinced that there is a central inspiration somewhere, but we have failed so far to properly locate it. Some man or some party is just now itching for an "endorsement," and a convention of colored men is hit upon. Who is it that needs an endorsement? And why should a handful of colored men be called together to do the endorsing of business? And, further, what right have they have to come together and give such endorsement in the name of the colored people of this country?
[PAGE 2]
We had hopes at one time that the Louisville Convention would be a representative gathering and that it would give an honest expression of the true condition and feelings of the race, but long before it assembled we became convinced that it was a put up job to endorse something and to glorify something else, and we consequently refrained from attending it. It resulted as we predicted it would. Then came the Pittsburg Convention, and we soon discovered that it was being engineered in the endorsement and glorification way, and we refrained from attending that. The New England Conference, held quite recently in Boston, was a howling failure, because it was in intended to be used as an endorsing and glorifying machine. Even the National Colored Press Association at its session last Summer at Atlantic City could not adjourn without indulging mildly in the endorsing and glorifying business, with Mr. Douglass and Mr. Wear on hand to whoop up the boys.
[PAGE 3]
We want it distinctly understood that we are not opposed to a National Convention of colored men, called by responsible men of good reputation, with the purpose of the gathering plainly and forcibly stated, and where the delegates are regularly selected by the people. We are opposed to all conventions called on false pretenses and composed of persons who are able to pay or beat their way to the place of meeting but who bring no credentials from the people that they have any authority to speak for them. Conventions got up and composed in this way are nothing more nor less than barefaced frauds, and do infinitely more harm than good. We have opposed all such in the past and we shall oppose all such in the future.
[PAGE 4]
There are entirely too many colored men abroad in the land who feel that they must lead something. A little learning hath made them mad. What they should do is to go to work in the honest, unobtrusive way God intended they should, and stop imposing their monumental smallness and insipidity upon the country and their impudence and fraudulency upon the race. These men may rest assured that when the condition of the race becomes such, or when the race realizes that it must stand up and strike from the shoulder, as we have so often advised it to do, a National convention will be held which will be so representative in character as to make somebody’s head swim.
Convention Minutes Item Type Metadata
City
Louisville
State
KY
Country
USA
Contributor
This transcription is the combination of work from more than 4,500 people who volunteered during the 2022 celebration of Douglass Day, held in partnership with Zooniverse.
Event ID
1887.KY-08.09.LOUI
Citation
“Colored Convention Nonsense.,” Colored Conventions Project Digital Records, accessed October 22, 2026, https://omeka.coloredconventions.org/items/show/1672.