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serve。 You students here this morning represent the fortunate
few of our race。 Most of our people are not allowed to go to
school at all。 For each one of you there are dozens of young
people who can hardly write their names。 We are denied the
dignity of study and wisdom。
' 〃From each according to his ability； to each according to his
needs。〃 All of us here know what it is to suffer for real need。
That is a great injustice。 But there is one injustice bitterer
even than that—to be denied the right to work according to
one's ability。 To labor a lifetime uselessly。 To be denied the
chance to serve。 It is far better for the profits of our purse to
be taken from us than to be robbed of the riches of our minds
and souls。
'Some of you young people here this morning may feel the
need to be teachers or nurses or leaders of your race。 But most
of you will be denied。 You will have to sell yourselves for a
useless purpose in order to keep alive。 You will be thrust back
and defeated。 The young chemist picks cotton。 The young
writer is unable to learn to read。 The teacher is held in useless
slavery at some ironing board。 We have no representatives in
government。 We have no vote。 In all of this great country we
are the most oppressed of all people。 We cannot lift up our
voices。 Our tongues rot in our mouths from lack of use。 Our
hearts grow empty and lose strength for our purpose。
'People of the Negro race！ We bring with us all the riches of
the human mind and soul。 We offer the most precious of all
gifts。 And our offerings are held in scorn and contempt。 Our
gifts are trampled in the mud and made useless。 We are put to
labor more useless than the work of beasts。 Negroes！ We must
arise and be whole again！ We must be free！'
In the room there was a murmur。 Hysteria mounted。 Doctor
Copeland choked and clenched his fists。 He felt as though he
had swelled up to the size of a giant。 The love in
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him made his chest a dynamo； and he wanted to shout so that
his voice could be heard throughout the town。 He wanted to
fall upon the floor and call out in a giant voice。 The room was
full of moans and shouts。
'Save us！'
'Mighty Lord！ Lead us from this wilderness of death！
'Hallelujah！ Save us； Lord！'
He struggled for the control in htm。 He struggled and at last
the discipline returned。 He pushed down the shout in him and
sought for the strong； true voice。
'Attention！' he called。 'We will save ourselves。 But not by
prayers of mourning。 Not by indolence or strong drink。 Not by
the pleasures of the body or by ignorance。 Not by submission
and humbleness。 But by pride。 By dignity。 By becoming hard
and strong。 We must build strength for our real true purpose。'
He stopped abruptly and held himself very straight。 'Each year
at this time we illustrate in our small way the first
commandment from Karl Marx。 Every one of you at this
gathering has brought in advance some gift。 Many of you have
denied yourselves comfort that the needs of others may be
lessened。 Each of you has given according to his best ability；
without thought to the value of the gift he will receive in
return。 It is natural for us to share with each other。 We have
long realized that it is more blessed to give than to receive。
The words of Karl Marx have always been known in our
hearts： 〃From each according to his ability； to each according
to his needs。〃 '
Doctor Copeland was silent a long time as though his words
were complete。 Then he spoke again：
'Our mission is to walk with strength and dignity through the
days of our humiliation。 Our pride must be strong； for we
know the value of the human mind and soul。 We must teach
our children。 We must sacrifice so that they may earn the
dignity of study and wisdom。 For the time will come。 The time
will come when the riches in us will not be held in scorn and
contempt。 The time will come when we will be allowed to
serve。 When we will labor and our labor will not be wasted。
And our mission is to await this time with strength and faith。'
It was finished。 Hands were clapped； feet were stamped upon
the floor and en the hard winter ground outside。 The166
odor of hot； strong coffee floated from the kitchen。 John
Roberts took charge of the presents； calling out the names
written on the cards。 Portia ladled the coffee from the dish…pan
on the stove while Marshall Nicolls passed slices of cake。
Doctor Copeland moved about among the guests； a little
crowd always surrounding him。
Someone nagged at his elbow： 'He the one your Buddy named
for？' He answered yes。 Lancy Davis followed him with
questions； he answered yes to everything。 The joy made him
feel like a drunken man。 To teach and exhort and explain to
his people—and to have them understand。 That was the best
of all。 To speak the truth and be attended。
'Us certainly have had one fine time at this party。'
He stood in the vestibule saying good…bye。 Over and over he
shook hands。 He leaned heavily against the wall and only his
eyes moved； for he was tired。
'I certainly do appreciate。'
Mr。 Singer was the last to leave。 He was a truly good man。 He
was a white man of intellect and true knowledge。 In him there
was none of the mean insolence。 When all had departed he
was the last to remain。 He waited and seemed to expect some
final word。
Doctor Copeland held his hand to his throat because his
larynx was sore。 'Teachers；' he said huskily。 'That is our
greatest need。 Leaders。 Someone to unite and guide us。'
After the festivity the rooms had a bare； ruined look。 The
house was cold。 Portia was washing the cups in the kitchen。
The silver snow on the Christmas tree had been tracked over
the floors and two of the ornaments were broken。
He was tired； but the joy and the fever would not let him rest
Beginning with the bedroom； he set to work to put the house
in order。 On the top of the filing case there was a loose card—
the note on Lancy Davis。 The words that he would say to him
began to form in his mind； and he was restless because he
could not speak them now。 The boy's sullen face was full of
heart and he could not thrust it from his thoughts。 He opened
the top drawer of the file to replace the card； A； B； C—he
thumbed through the letters nervously。 Then his eye was fixed
on his own name： Copeland； Benedict Mady。
167
In the folder were several lung X…rays and a short case history。
He held an X…ray up to the light。 On the upper left lung there
was a bright place like a calcified star。 And lower down a
large clouded spot that duplicated itself in the right lung
farther up。 Doctor Copeland quickly replaced the X…rays in the
folder。 Only the brief notes he had written on himself were
still in his hand。 The words stretched out large and scrawling
so that he could hardly read them。 '1920—calcif。 of lymph
glands—very pronounced thickening of hili。 Lesions arrested
—duties resumed。 1937—lesion reopened—X…ray
shows' He
could not read the notes。 At first he could not make out the
words； and then when he read them clearly they made no
reason。 At the finish there