Civilization the Primal Need of the Race, and The Attitude of the American Mind Toward the Negro Intellect The American Negro Academy. Occasional Paper No. 3

"Civilization the Primal Need of the Race, and The Attitude of the American Mind Toward the Negro Intellect" by Alexander Crummell presents a powerful argument for the importance of cultural and intellectual growth within the African American community, while also confronting the prejudice that hindered that progress; through two compelling addresses, Crummell stresses that engaging with fields like literature and philosophy is key to racial advancement, directly challenging the era’s biased views on the intellectual capacity of black individuals and Crummell points out how the denial of educational opportunities has negatively impacted the cultural development of African Americans, and he champions self-empowerment and advocacy as essential tools for navigating prejudice and fostering change from within.