Charlotte Maxeke Essay

CHARLOTTE MANYE ( MRS. MAXEKE ) " R&kat an Educated Âfrican Cfirl Gan <Do" -By- ALFRED XUMA M. D., B. Sc., L. R. C. P. (Edin.) L. R. F. P. & S. (Glasg.) —Edited by— DOVIE KING CLARKE, B.S. For The Women's Parent Mite Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church Copyrighted 1930 Foreword by w. E. B. DUBOIS, PH. D. CHARLOTTE MAN\E ( Mrs. Maxeke ) uClo)hat Ân Educated Âfrican §irl Gan ^Do" - By - f Alfred B. Xuma, M. D., B. Sc., L R.C.P., (Edin) [ L. R. F. P. & S. (Glasg ) Foreword by W. E. Burghardt DuBois, Ph. D. Edited by Dovie King Clarke, S. for The Women's Parent Mite Missionary Society of the A. M. E. Church Copyrighted 1930 CHARLOTTE MANYE upon her graduation from Wilberforce University in 1901 at the completion of ten years' schooling by the women of the Third District. CHARLOTTE MANYE MAXEKE take upon her first visit back to the United States as a guest of the Women's Parent. Mite Missionary Society in 1928. Preface The following pages are in no sense intended to be a biography of our subject "Charlotte", Mrs. Charlotte Manye Maxeke. She is used only as an argument for higher education of our African women. She is the first woman of our race in South Africa to hold a college degree. Her education translated into service for humanity has been a blessing and a God-send for our people and for better race relations in South Africa. Should this sketch arouse interest in the education of African women and offer them facilities in after life to enable them to work among their sisters and thereby spread the spirit of service and leadership, it will have served its purpose. May each reader be inspired to work spiritual- ly and materially for the redemption of the African, —body, mind, and soul. A. B. XUMA Johannesburg, S. A. Foreword New York, August 28, 1930. I have known Charlotte Manye Maxeke since 1894 when I went to Wilberforce University as a teacher. She was one of three or four students from South Africa, and was the only woman. She was especially the friend of Nina Gomer, the stu- dent who afterward became my wife. We were interested in Charlotte Manye because of her clear mind, her fund of subtle humor, and the straight- forward honesty of her character. She was having difficulties with language and the new environ- ment, but she did her work with a slow, quiet de- termination that augured well for her future. Since then, and at long intervals, I have had the opportunity of following her work through the glimpses which I have had from far-off South Africa. I regard Mrs. Maxeke as a pioneer in one of the greatest of human causes, working under extra- ordinarily difficult circumstances to lead a people, in the face of prejudice, not only against her race, but against her sex. To fight not simply the natural and inherent difficulties of education and social uplift, but to fight with little money and little outside aid was indeed a tremendous task. I think that what Mrs. Maxeke has accomplished should encourage all men, and especially those of Afri- can descent. And in addition to that, it should inspire the white residents of South Africa and of America to revise their hastily-made judgments concerning the possibilities of the Negro race. w. E. B. DUBOIS. # Charlotte Manye (Maxeke) or WHAT AN EDUCATED AFRICAN GIRL CAM DO Biographers, in whose society and group, thank God, I do not belong, are usually great enthusiasts about their subjects. Being artists they often create hero and heroine rather than relate true history and activity. They polish and gloss over the rough edges; they are sometimes so successful in their art, creating a picture or image which though perfect is so unlike the subject that he al- most fails of recognition by those who knew him in life, and if living, himself is urged to ask, "Whose life is this? Is this my life story?" Now I feel myself lacking in this creative quality as well as in the desire to make a heroine. I shall only at- tempt to record, for the benefit of her friends and admirers, and enemies as well, this brief sketch and outline of the life story of Charlotte Manye Maxeke. Now known, appreciated, and admired in three continents by different racial groups, "Charlotte" Manye was born at Fort Beaufort, Cape Province, South Africa. A Basuto woman by nationality but born among the Xosa tribes. Through her mother, a Xosa woman, she had already acquired a strong blood bond with those people. This blood tie was to be made stronger later by her marriage to one Marshall M. Maxeke, a young Xosa whom Povidence had ordained in His mysterious ways to meet Charlotte and study with her in the far off Wilberforce University, U. S. A. There is often nothing strange or extraordi- nary about one's birth or birth place. It usually is like other birth days or is the birth place of many others. However, it is of great importance to note that Charlotte's father had come down from the Transvaal to the Cape Province for the sole purpose of buying guns with which to fight the Boers. However, as the songster says, "Great and mar- vellous are thy works, Lord God Almighty." This man was himself shot down by the "Big Gun/' the Word of God. This changed his mission and also his outlook upon life. It was a warrior who went out to arm himself for war and the destruction of human life, but returned a messenger of peace and goodwill: At the Cape he had heard, learned, and believed that "Blessed are the peacemakers, for they shall be called the children of God." He had been born again. This change of mission, of outlook, was going to have a tremendous influence over the new family life. The children had to be led through the paths of peace into light and fullness of life. Charlotte, with her sister, then entered the mission school of the Congregational Church at Uitenhage. Later the family moved to Port Elizabeth where she continued her education. It was here that she began to show some buds of vocal musical tal- ents. Begins Musical Career Later she went to Kimberley to teach in a Weslyan School. It was there that these buds of musical talent attracted the attention of music lovers among both races. Some enterprising white people, with artistic temperament, who had come to Kimberley in search of diamonds, now discovered a new and undreamed of diamond,—Africa's own riches in the beautiful contralto voice of Charlotte Manye. Her voice was successfully trained by a competent artist. The bud of musical talent that appeared at Port Elizabeth had now. under the care of an expert florist, blossomed into a beautiful flower with its aroma. It was as though one of those large, blue, precious stones from the sands of Kimberley had been washed, cut, and polished by an expert diamond cutter until its radiance made the darkest night brighter than the light of the moon and all the stars in a cloudless wintry night. Charlotte had now become the idol of music lovers in the Town Hall at Kinberley. It was her talent that inspired J. H. Balmer, R. A. M., Black- pool, England, to organize and train a group of young men and women for a two years' concert tour in British Isles. Charlotte was among the group. So successful were their performances that they had the unique experience of singing before the late Queen Victoria and other members of the Royal Family, who enjoyed their rendering of English songs and still more particularly of the native compositions set to more or less traditional tunes. They returned home to South Africa after spending two years in the British Isles. Their stay was to be very short. They had made an experiment; it had been successful beyond any- one's dreams. They must repeat or excel it; con- sequently, after further training and perhaps some reorganization they were off again. This time not to the British Isles alone but their tour was to include Canada and the United States of America. Reverdy Ransom and Charlotte's Future It was in the United States that things were to take a turn and a sudden turn at that. Charloti with the rest of the troop, six persons in all, met with Rev. R. C. Ransom, later Bishop Ransom, at Cleveland, Ohio. A vision at once flamed into Mr. Ransom's mind. He asked them if they did not want an education. They were eager for it. He at once telegraphed Bishop Arnett who relayed a message of consent and instructions to the then Secretary of Missions of the A. M. E. Church, Dr. Benjamin Derrick, to make arrangements for them to enter Wilberfoce University at Wilberforce, Ohio. At New York When they arrived in New York, Dr. Derrick had all the arrangements complete for them to enter school. He saw the manager and chaperone of the troupe, but they could not consent as they were responsible to the parents for the return of their children. Dr. Derrick was intent on making use of his God-given opportunity; so he "kidnapped" Charlotte, a consenting party, and despatched her to Wilberforce where she was received temporarily as one of the family in Bishop Arnett's home. La- ter she was adopted by the Third Episcopal District as their African daughter.

Load more