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emphasized racial pride heavily, advocated the development of Black enterprises
built on Black patronage as the key to progress, and was quoted as proclaiming "I
think segregation is a benefit." Despite this Black nationalism, Costonie's approach
to social questions often converged with Baltimore's traditional Black freedom
agenda and with the outlooks of its apparently non-nationalist civil rights
leaderships. For example, Costonie promoted education as the key to the
community's future, even proposing to teach "old people how to read and write."
He actually held free classes at several Baptist churches to educate children both in
the African American history and basic skills, and these classes ultimately enrolled
as many as 1400 students. During the classes, prizes were given to students for their
knowledge of great African Americans. Costonie's favorite student essay discussed
the life of Afro-American founder, John Murphy (not surprisingly, Costonie made
sure he mentioned this essay in his October presentation to IheAfiro club).10
Costonie also declared that one of his "ideals... is to teach the Negro to
vote. The ballot is the greatest weapon they have." He made Black freedom
movement activists take notice when, during the same period, he was organizing his
youth classes, he moved to make this ideal a reality through his own voter
registration campaign. Costonie provided his own funds to transport carload after
carload of voters to the courthouse downtown to declare their intention to vote. He
reacted angrily when it was suggested that his campaign was designed to augment
the Republican vote in the Fourth District, arguing that "the masses of Baltimore"
have no "faith in our supposed political leaders"; he told politicians of both parties
to stay away from his efforts. While he minimized the effect of his campaign, saying
he had only registered 200 people by early October, others, including some
clergymen and some Republicans, heeded his example and began their own
registration drives. The Afro was impressed:
Costonie, unhampered by the inhibitions, obligations and fears of retribution
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