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THE ATHENAEUM 85 THE NEGRO AND THE SPANISH LANGUAGE O. E. Jackson 11/fORE and more are classic languages in Negro Colleges are becom- ■ ing a thing of the past. The reasons for this deplorable thing are manifold but perhaps the most widely given reason is that of the alleged lack of serviceableness of the languages for one’s life work. Of course this assertion remains not only unproved but absurd as are many of the other reasons given and consequently there is noth ing for us to i do but continue and see what kinds of languages are attracting most attention. A slight observation reveals the fact that modern languages are in the limelight with highest honors probably between French and German. Undoubtedly these languages are very important just as the classic languages are important for various specious reasons, but a language which probably deserves more attention than either of these is rapidly coming into its own throughout the country- That language is the Spanish language. To anyone who has had even a “taste” of the Spanish language, so to speak, a particular appeal is made. How euphonious are the most ordinary of Spanish words falling on the ear when compared to those of other languages. More so than any other language does the Spanish language have something in common with Negroes and that thing is—music! It is noticeable that most of us listen with wide open eyes and mouths agape to one who speaks the Spanish language creditably. We are entranced by the cadence and the accent of the words and in Spanish songs—ah! It is easy for one to note, every day, how woefully ignorant he is concerning great Spanish speaking Negroes (I refer to Negroes with Spanish as the mother tongue). All of us know the life of Toussaint L’Overture, a great number of us knows something of General Antonis Maces but there is still more to be learned. How many, indeed, think of him as the Cuban liberator? How many know anything of Estavanillo? Negroes have played important roles in Spanish-American life since the days of Columbus and Balboa. To Estavanillo is attributed the discovery of New Mexico and the Zuni Indians. The man of all Spanish-speaking Negroes who should be known and as widely read as possible by College men is Placido- He is a more than worthy representative. He was born in 1809 of a Spanish dancing give and a mulatto hairdresser. Although very poor he was loaned books and taught to read by his friends- He was led to attempt the composition of verse by reading a volume of Marinez de la Rosa’s poems. He obtained the material and opport unity for writing from Placido Quentes whose name he adopted as