The Upward Path: A Reader For Colored Children

In Short

Compiled to offer Black children inspiring literature created by members of their own race, this early twentieth-century anthology presents a rich tapestry of stories, poems, historical sketches, and first-hand accounts. The volume spans childhood moral tales, athletic trials, historical revolts, wartime bravery, African exploration, and international artistic acclaim. Designed to instil pride and foster moral growth, the collection endures as a vital historical artifact that reflects the traditions, struggles, and aspirations of Black writers and historical figures who helped shape their era.

The Story

The collection opens with intimate domestic and childhood scenes that test integrity and character. A young boy named Bud copes with the shame of spoiling his military company's drill, ultimately finding the strength to return to school through his mother's insistence on resilience and his little sister's unconditional devotion. Nearby, a young girl named Anna-Margaret learns a gentle lesson about honesty when her mother refuses to lie about who tied her shoes. Moving from domestic realism to folklore and fable, two orphaned brothers trapped in poverty and abuse encounter a magical visitor who encourages them to seek out the Land of Laughter, while traditional trickster tales show how the clever rabbit uses his wits against larger woodland beasts.

As the narrative focus expands, the text moves into historical accounts of struggle, resistance, and self-determination. It examines the agricultural realities of the Southern black belt, arguing against destructive soil depletion, erosion, and lack of crop rotation that threaten whole communities with economic hardship. The narrative then turns to historical liberation, detailing how Toussaint L'Ouverture organized Maroon forces in Saint-Domingue, defeated rival powers, established a constitution of equality, and governed Hayti before being treacherously captured by Napoleon's forces.

Personal accounts of discipline and daring carry the anthology forward. A cadet recounts his grueling, high-pressure entrance into the West Point military barracks, navigating rigid inspections and traditional hazing to earn his place. On the athletic field, a football player named Robertson struggles against his own fierce temper during a championship match; refusing to make an illegal, dangerous tackle even though it allows the opposing team to score a winning touchdown, he chooses personal integrity over public glory. Frederick Douglass details his perilous escape from slavery disguised as a sailor, enduring breathless moments of potential betrayal on trains and ferry boats across border states until reaching safety.

The final movements take the reader across global frontiers. A missionary describes surviving driver ants and learning the rich natural lore of native African communities, while explorer Matthew A. Henson receives tribute from Admiral Peary for his indispensable skill in reaching the North Pole. Black soldiers face machine-gun fire in the trenches of World War I, remaining resolute under orders and receiving military honors. In Africa, Captain William H. Sheppard meets King Lukenga in a grand court surrounded by ivory and traditional music, while back in Western capitals, actor Ira Aldridge achieves international renown playing Shakespearean roles across Europe.

How It Unfolds

The test of youth Children face everyday moral choices and emotional setbacks, learning the value of truthfulness from devoted mothers, finding solace in family solidarity, or discovering magic and wit in traditional fables.

The fight for the land and liberty Clear-eyed prose evaluates the economic perils of Southern farming while historical accounts document Toussaint L'Ouverture's brilliant leadership during the revolution that freed Hayti from colonial oppression.

The trials of discipline and escape Courage is tested through severe West Point hazing, a high-stakes football game where self-control triumphs over revenge, and Frederick Douglass's nerve-wracking train flight toward freedom.

Service and global discovery Missionaries, soldiers, and explorers travel from African interiors to the frozen Arctic, demonstrating bravery in wartime trenches, surviving wild wilderness encounters, and achieving world-class mastery.

The People

• Bud wants to earn the respect of his schoolmates and family, but his spirit is crushed when he ruins his drill team's performance. Guided by his mother's call for fortitude and his sister's love, he resolves to face his peers without backing down.
• Anna-Margaret is a little girl who wants to appear older by claiming she laced her own shoes. Her mother gently holds the line against lying, teaching her the quiet importance of absolute honesty.
• Toussaint L'Ouverture seeks total equality and self-governance for the people of Hayti. Rising from Maroon leadership to master the island, he establishes a fair constitution before being betrayed by Napoleon's forces.
• Robertson wants to avenge himself against a rival football player during a crucial game, but his true battle is against his own quick temper. By holding back an illegal tackle, he loses the game but wins mastery over himself.
• Frederick Douglass seeks passage out of human bondage while disguised as a sailor. Walking a tightrope through slaveholding territory, he manages to evade old acquaintances and suspicious onlookers until reaching free soil.
• Ira Aldridge aspires to excel as a dramatic actor despite the racial barriers of his era. Moving to Europe, he earns international acclaim playing Shakespearean roles in English while supported by foreign-language casts.

In Its Own Voice

"He was a better dog driver and can handle a sledge better than any man living, except some of the best Esquimo hunters themselves." — Admiral Peary commends the exceptional skill and loyalty of his assistant, North Pole explorer Matthew A. Henson.

"I only know we have been ordered to go forward, and we are going." — Captain Fairfax delivers his final, resolute words to his men before charging into machine-gun fire.

"His neighbor was the ignorant that needed to be instructed, the vicious that needed to be reclaimed, the despondent that needed to be encouraged." — A biographical sketch highlights the expansive empathy and active service that defined Bishop Haygood's life.

What It's Really About

Underneath its varied stories and historical accounts, the book is fundamentally about character, resilience, and self-determination. It argues that dignity is forged through interior discipline—whether that means mastering one's temper on a football field, telling the truth in childhood, or maintaining composure while escaping tyranny. The text continually links individual moral strength to collective racial uplift, showing that personal integrity and bravery directly advance the broader community. It also challenges narrow geographic and racial boundaries, presenting Black figures not merely as victims of hardship, but as capable leaders, brilliant artists, brave soldiers, and skilled explorers navigating a complex global landscape.

Why Read It Today

This volume offers a compelling glimpse into early twentieth-century African American pedagogy and literature. Readers interested in American history, educational heritage, and Black studies will appreciate how the editors curated material to instill pride, discipline, and ambition in young minds. The prose varies from intimate dialect in family scenes to formal historical narrative and vivid travelogue, giving the reader a rich sense of the period's diverse literary styles. While modern readers may note dated phrasing or period attitudes in some of the dialect and moral framing, the core themes of courage, truthfulness, and persistence remain timeless. It leaves you with a deep appreciation for the historical figures and quiet heroes who paved the path forward.