The Jim Crow Car; Or, Denouncement of injustice meted out to the black race

Formerly Illustrating Lecturer on the “Progress of the Negro of the South,” “Bishop Taylor’s Mission to South Africa,” “Biblical Characters,” “A Drunkard’s Doom,” Etc.

TORONTO, ONT.: HILL PRINTING CO., 48 RICHMOND STREET WEST. 1898.

PREFACE.

My opposition to injustice, imposition, discrimination and prejudice, which have for many years existed against the colored people of the South, has led to this little book. In many parts of America the press has been furnished with “matter” for defending the colored people, through the medium of “Coleman’s Illustrated Lectures.” By request of my many auditors, some of whom being leading elements of the Northern States and Canada, this volume is published. Many persons interested in the welfare of the negro, have sought a more elaborate book on the Southern horrors. Therefore, the manner in which the colored people are treated, and the laws devised against them from time to time, are the chief subjects.

My endeavour to furnish those concerned in human welfare, with Southern railroad affairs, lynchings, etc., so far as the so-called law governing the white and black races is concerned, is evinced in the experience of eight years touring on various lines throughout the South. My statements being authentic and impartial, I have noted some incidents occurring on roads which I have travelled, amid peculiar circumstances, which I hope will prove serviceable to the reader. I have quoted Bishop Turner’s “Supreme Court Decision,” and Mrs. Ida B. Wells Barnett’s “The Reason Why,” largely because they contain facts agreeing very much with my experience and judgment. Opinions of leading Afro-American journals have been expressed as a unanimous sentiment of the race, regarding their loyalty to the flag under which they live and serve. The main object of this book is to create within the hearts of those who may read it, sympathy for the colored people of the South. So many unreasonable things have been alleged against the negro, that he now demands a reasonable consideration.

The Southern press has made scores of enemies for the entire race, and continues doing so. The “Rape” Bell has been sounded all over the world to degrade the negro and impede his rapid progress. Why did the negro not commit “rape” during his dark days of slavery? In slavery he was not allowed to know A from B, or 1 from 2. This means that a slave was esteemed a little higher than the cattle. Slavery is illiteracy. “God is a jealous God, visiting the iniquity of the fathers upon the children unto the third and fourth generation of them that hate Him.” “The people of the Southern States have enslaved the colored people; for 250 years held them a small degree above the dumb brute. To-day they lynch the negro, burn him, and refuse him justice on railway cars. God will visit the Americans. If not the 3rd generation, the 4th will be made repent, and humiliate to the black man.”—_Rev. J. C. Tolmie, B.A._

The fact that there are in the South about 20,000 teachers, 238,000 scholars, 150 schools for advanced education, and seven colleges with negro faculty, is sufficient proof itself that the current reports of “rape” are not true. There are about 8,000,000 colored people in the United States, and about half that number are Church goers, which proportionately far exceeds their white brethren. The people who have been prejudiced against the colored race by Southern newspapers, have never considered that there are no daily papers managed by the colored people to defend their side of the case. The weekly papers of colored editorship are not read by the white race. Then how can the considerate people who would know of the perpetual reports, arrive at a definite conclusion as to whether they are right or wrong? There are two sides to a case, and each side deserves scrutineering. No just judge will hear the plaintiff, and drive the defendant from the Court room door. Negro rights have been advocated, and are now being advocated by the British press, and by true, sympathetic ministers of the gospel of both the North and South. I pray that such a thirsting after righteousness will emanate from the Churches in America that will cause the world to see that Christianity predominates from the chilly plains of the North to the smoky regions of the South.

“Lord, while for all mankind we pray, Of every clime and coast, Oh, hear us for our precious race, The race we love the most.”

JOHN CLAY COLEMAN.

Toronto, Ont., Jan. 15th, 1898.

INTRODUCTION.

Rev. J. Clay Coleman was born 4 miles south of Durant, Holmes Co., Mississippi, Feb. 1st, 1876. Lived in Goodman, Holmes Co., Miss., until 1888. His parents were slaves on Tome Bigbee River, Alabama, a number of years, and afterwards sold to Botus, at Lexington, Holmes Co., Miss.; from Botus to Fletcher Harrington, at Goodman.

Peter Coleman, the father of J. C. Coleman, was very much devoted to his family, and took care to see that each of his seven children was to some extent educated. John Clay Coleman proceeded to the study of law; but by divine providence he was led to the study of the Bible, and became a minister and travelling Biblical illustrating lecturer. Mr. Coleman and the bulk of his relatives are Methodists, the majority of whom being members of the same Church at Georgeville, Miss. Mrs. Rowena Coleman, the faithful mother of Mr. Coleman, prayed that his calling would be to preach the gospel. Her fervent prayers are heard and answered. In 1887, J. C. Coleman had the management of the country mail route from Goodman to Cocksburg, Miss. Began travelling as lecturer in 1888. In 1892 he travelled the south through; visited the Columbian Exposition at Chicago in 1893, and appeared at the Turkish Panorama of the Holy Land, in the interest of “Coleman’s Great Biblical Exhibition.” This unique exhibition was methodized by Mr. Coleman in his youth, and had developed at this crisis into the most instructive mode of illustrating the Scriptures to Bible students. His liberality toward different institutions the past eight years has marked him a philanthropist. He has sacrificed time, talent, and “earthly store” to the advancement of his people. When leaving the World’s Columbian Exposition in 1893, he was fully determined to impart his remaining years to missionary work in Africa. He entered Canada in the “power of the Holy Spirit,” was ordained minister of the gospel at the Annual Conference of the A. M. E. Church, by Bishop H. M. Turner, at Windsor, Ont., Sept. 1st, 1895. Married Miss Hattie E. Johnson, of Halifax, N. S. Matrimony performed by Rev. James M. Henderson, M.A., D.D., President of Morris Brown College, Atlanta, Ga., Jan. 17th, 1894.

His wife being a consistent Church woman, has added well to his success in the ministry. He was educated for the ministry at Victoria University, Toronto, Ont., being the first colored student in this great University since its establishment in the City of Toronto. He was received with a cordial cheering.

His fame as an illustrating lecturer is extensive. Having collected from the Southern Horrors scenic views, and resplendently presented them by use of stereopticons before immense audiences, chiefly white people, who desired direct and accurate information of the condition of the “negro in the South,” Mr. Coleman has caused a sensation everywhere seen and heard. Persons have arose after his lectures and said, “Mr. Chairman, I move that a vote of thanks be tendered Professor Coleman for his excellent lecture and impressive views on the progress of the colored people in the Southern States. He has indeed given us facts concerning the outrages on the people of his nationality, illustrated by pictures taken from natural life.” Voices could be heard exclaiming, “Hear! hear!!” in all parts of the audience. Amid these demonstrations a unanimous vote would be rendered, and an immediate protest against the unfair burdens lavished upon the negro in the South would warmly ensue.

Mr. Coleman learned in his early public career, that the negro journals were not read by white people, and it was his highest ambition to carry the news to them. He is not, therefore, as prominent in his own race as he would be had he confined himself solely to them. That the Rev. Mr. Coleman is an original race man, is evidently seen in some notes on his boyhood traits, and his continuous advancement to a renowned defender of peace, prosperity, and race protection, both home and abroad. The leading elements of Goodman attest these facts in a meeting held in 1888, in honor of his departure: “We the undersigned citizens of Goodman know Prof. John C. Coleman to be a polite and inoffensive gentleman. We further know him to be of religious and high moral character, and trustworthy in all of his dealings. We hope his aim set forth, to achieve greater victories for his people, will be successfully accomplished. Signed, J. D. Powers, W. D. Waugh, L. W. Houghes, Robert Ford, A. S. Brumby, M.D., Rev. J. L. Crawford, P. Ward, J. M. Moody, W. W. Crawford, W. C. Graham, C. Davis.”

The reader of “THE JIM CROW CAR” will note that the author has not tried to show the “dark side” of his race. Illustrations of the poor unfortunate ex-slaves are not used, as in some books, touching the subjects herein.

TORONTO, January 15, 1898.

THE JIM CROW CAR.