Progressive Historical Narrative

he Progressive Historical Narrative

It had been a few weeks since I dropped out of college. Sometimes I wonder why I didn’t finish and kept going until I finally could graduate, but it put me under so much pressure I couldn’t take it anymore. I also felt like the profession I was prepared for would have no meaning to me in my later life.

With that thought in my head I walked into the cafe where I met my friend Chandler Owen. We had to talk about business. Since we both didn’t go to college anymore, we also talked about our daily life and how we prevent oneself from running out of money. We both knew how hard it was to get a job with a good wage. Especially when you are African American.

“Owen, how was your week?” I asked after I reached the table.

“Could not have

“We asked both heads how they came up with the theme of the magazine and that’s their answer: ‘Our aim is to appeal to reason, to lift our pens above the cringing demagogy of the times, and above the cheap peanut politics of the old reactionary Negro leaders. Patriotism has no appeal to us; justice has. Party has no weight with us; principle has. Loyalty is meaningless; it depends on what one is loyal to. Prayer is not one of our remedies; it depends on what one is praying for. We consider prayer as nothing more than a fervent wish; consequently the merit and worth of a prayer depend upon what the fervent wish is.’” I read out loud in front of all our employees, “‘The Messenger’ is a radical monthly magazine, which campaign against lynching, oppose U.S. participation in World War I, urge African Americans to resist being drafted and to fight for an integrated society. Their founders Chandler Owen and Philip Randolph will lead the magazine to success.” Everybody applauded for Chandler and me. It was an awesome feeling to know that your team keeps your back and to see that the effort you put in something is worth