Featherstone in his “Social History of the Races of Mankind,” goes still
further, and confidently asserts that the ancient Egyptians were of the
Negro race.
“This,” he adds, substantially, “is borne out on all the Egyptian
paintings, sculptures, and mummies; the hair found, as well as that
possessed by their descendants, the Copts, is the curly, or woolly
variety, and the lips and nose the same.
“The fact that the ancient Egyptians were Negroes three thousand six
hundred years before the Christian era is substantiated, and that their
population in Egypt at that period amounted to seven millions.”
Admitting all these things to be true, it may be asked: “Well, what of
it? What good will that do the Colored Americans?”
It has to do with Colored Americans as much as an ancient highly
civilized ancestry has to do with the modern Jews. They know that their
race is not extinct; that they are an integral part of the great
movement of all mankind toward a unification of mind and intelligence.
This fact burned into their minds must operate as an incentive of the
greatest propelling force to urge them onward toward the high destiny
that awaits all mankind.
That they are working out the plans of the Almighty by so doing, puts
them in the vanguard of civilization, with opportunities at hand to
avail themselves of all the advantages attached to such a high purpose.
There is something to work for—something worth working for, and when the
Colored American takes this high view of his destiny, it will be too
small a thing to notice, even should he be denied the privilege of
sitting beside a white man.