The Indianapolis journal., 1898-12-19
THE EDUCATED NEGRO.
DiscOuraging Problem That COnfronts
Him I'm the Labor Field.


Him I'm the Labor Field.
Prof. w. S. Scarborough, in December Fo-
rum.
With the conviction that the situation OF
the educated negro as a mental. when found
in such "a position, is most largely one of
necessity, let us why it is so. The negro
boy or girl who has pursued an educational
course TO completion is in the most literal
sense thrown out into the world to sink or
swim. Let us look at this world into which
a colored youth is thrown. Let us contrast
MS condition with that of his white school,
mate and see if we can find a reason for the
necessity that confronts him at almost every
turn
Why does he not go into an office, learn
his fathers business become a merchant
a business man of some sort or a clerk T?
Why does he not lead life of leisure? Why
does he not find himself called to the ed
ltOfS char, to the presidency of a college
to a professorship. to a diplomatic posi-
ton? The colored youth teaches and
breaches; but such positions are limited in
number and scope He must do something
else. Few offices are open to him; and these
are besieged. Sometimes he gets a place as
clerk, secretary, typewriter, stenographer
more often the only vacancy for him is that
of janitor doorkeeper He may perhaps
study law; but that brings him no income
unless he plays the part of the lawyers Of
flee boy while so studying. As to learning his
fathers buSineSs-the father seldom has
a paying business into which he can take
his son or daughter. When he has, the
graduate does not take to mental work.
Again. to become man of business calls
Tor capital as We'll as brains, Dut every e0u-
Gated man is not cut out for a business life
Inclination and adaptability are to be con-
sdered here as elsewhere. Travel is out of
the question as a rule, because of lack of
means. Should he WELD brilliant. trench
ant pen, he can expect his talents to find
recognition only as he enters the army of
reporters. This he does at times: but a
chair In the editors sanctum is seldom for
him. Though he may be a graduate and
post graduate. he cannot expect the presi-
dency of any but a negro college The ma
%
men; and the professorships follow largely
along the same line. Only the inferior APP
possibly be his. The fact that he is a spe-
cialist, post graduate, makes little diff
ference. The same holds true in regard to
diplomatic positions; only minor appoint
ments are his.
When it comes to considering the possi-
One of luxurious idleness is, happily for the
race, out of the question; and negro tramp,
as / have said, is a rara avis. AS for the
enforced idlenesS of a felon's cell, the fact
is that the educated negro is very seldom
a Smoking Flax" and such
atrocious Misrepresentation to the contrary
Notwithstanding. Unfortunately, some are
lazy; but the vice of laZness is not pecul-
iary the negro's. If the negro youth starts
out in law or medicine or business he has
an exceptionally uphill task. The conditions
are, however, growing better in these lines;
for the race has more confidence in men of
it's own color than it once had. The colored
lawyer, editor, dentist, physician and grocer
are all better patronized than formerly. 1t
is all matter of growth; and until a GER
tain healthy maturity comes there will be
the blighting influence of discouragement.
These then. are reasons why the educated
negro youth does not do the things that the
educated white youth does so largely. II
he becomes Dessimstic and thinks it all
mistake-this education he has gained at
such an expense of pains and time-and
should turn to a trade as last resort for
livelihood. he finds himself again balked.
Trades unions have shut their doors; and
the Labor party has see-sawed so much on
the question of his admittance that it is diff
icult to know where it stands. Here and
there he may succeed in attaching himself
to a master workman who will give him
work and teach him the trade; but this is
the exception. Because of these conditions
there are many who, seeing only this phase
of life make the unqualified assertion that
the negro was vastly better off during the
slavery regime. when the negro master
workman was no rarity. But there is light
ahead in this respect. Such schools as
Hampton and Tuskegee, with their magnih-
cent equipment of industrial shops, are help
ing to solve this part of the problem. They
will give the negro the knowledge. He must
then push out and compete for the work.