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Why Labor for Colored People?

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Review and Herald Publishing Association · Takoma Park Station, Washington, D. C. · Sep 20, 1906

FromReview and Herald, Vol. 83, No. 38.

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Why Labor for Colored People?

By Clarence Santée

CLARENCE SANTÉE
WE owe them a debt that God has laid upon us. “Go ye therefore, and teach all nations.” Matt. 28:19. “Teaching them to observe all things whatsoever I have commanded you.” Verse 20. It is plain that we are responsible for all that he has given us reaching them, and it is equally plain that they will be as accountable before God as we are for the way they treat the light God sends them. The Lord says he “hath made of one blood all nations of men . . . that they should seek the Lord, if haply they might feel after him, and find him.” Acts 17:26, 27.
If we ever reach these people, it must be now. Some have thought that the need for means was more urgent among the colored people in foreign fields than for carrying the truth among these people, but I believe this is not correct. There is no field in the world that presents more difficulties and more perplexing problems than our own Southern colored field presents. And any man who is acquainted with the conditions will say that they are rapidly becoming more complicated, and some places are great already closing up. In other fields a white man can labor beside the colored man and instruct him in his work. Here, we must reach him at arm’s length, and very carefully. The “color-line” is strongly drawn. The sensational reports that come before the public from time to time, are rapidly deepening this feeling. This makes the effort for their uplifting difficult, and sometimes dangerous; yet the work of giving them this message must be done.
While there are hardened, desperate characters among them, bright jewels are also found. God can not close his work while these are left outside. I fear that the opportunity for carrying on this work for this class will not long be ours. Then there is no place on the earth that should more deeply interest us, just now, and claim a greater part in our donations, than this field, so near, yet when considering its difficulties, so far off, and getting constantly farther. What we do must be done quickly. Brethren, take this to heart, and in the general donation assist us in hastening this work.
Keene, Tex.