So I Think We May Make Our Minds Easy On The Safety Of Sticking To
Outside Facts, And Say That
After all it does not much affect the
question of capacity for industrial training in the African if he
does
Choose to close up the top of his head early, and that the
whole attempt to make out that the African is a child-form, "an
arrested development," is - well, not supported by facts. The very
comparison between white and black children's intelligence to the
disadvantage of the former is all wrong. The white child is not his
inferior; he is not so quick in picking up parlour tricks; but then
where are either of the children at that alongside a French poodle?
What happens to the African from my observations is just what
happens to the European, namely, when he passes out of childhood, he
goes into a period of hobbledehoyhood. During this period, his
skull might just as well be filled inside with wool as covered
outside with it. But after a time, during which he has succeeded in
distracting and discouraging the white men who hoped so much of him
when he was a child, his mind clears up again and goes ahead all
right. It is utter rubbish to say "You cannot teach an adult
African," and that "he grows backwards"; for even without white
interference he gets more and more cunning as the time goes on.
Does any one who knows them feel inclined to tell me that those old
palm-oil chiefs have not learnt a thing or two during their lives?
or that a well-matured bush trader has not?
Enter page number
PreviousNext
Page 663 of 705
Words from 183155 to 183431
of 194943
