The colored American., 1903-12-19
BEHIND THE SCENES

~~oNSSrSNSSS'SSrSNS
Noticing the crowds that daily
throng the streets and stores, and cor
sidering the number of colOred shop
pers, we reflect on the large amount
OF money spent during the Xmas sea-
son by the lat.cr and why it should
all flow into the coffers of the white
man. Dry goods stores, jewelry estab-
lishments and b. siless of every des-
cription all ownel and controlled by
the whites with ret even a colored
clerk employed in any of them. There
are 10000 Negroes in Washington and
yet not a business house owned by
them that will reap material benefit
from the $4,000 or $4,000 spent by
the race in preparation for Christmas.
This is a sad commentary on the bus
mess qualifications of the race. 1t
has been claimed that they will not
patronize their own, this no doubt has
come from having to pay a little more
and get a little less from those doing
a small trade with limited capital.
We believe if a firS-claSS enterprise
was started and inteIligently conduct
ed there would be no question as to
patronage. Surely we have the intel
ligence and the money, but the fear of
failure and lack of confidence seem
to block the way. Let US hope that
before another year colored men of
means will form a company and give
employment to young colored men and
women and afford US an opportunity
to spend our money with our own.
The opportunity OF a number of col
ored members OF the local bar to the
reappointment of Judge Scott and
Kimball of the Police Court was based
upon the severity shown in the cases
of colored offenders. There is no
reason that a heavier sentence should
be given a colored culprit than white
one charged with the same offence,
yet the discrimination was so marked
that the attorneys trying cases in this
court were compelled to enter an earn
est protest. Judge KimbalPs case is
being held up in the Senate pending
investigation.
The Christian Advocate publishes an
article which endeavors to prove that
the, best education for the Negro is In
1.-The great school or the cotton field.
That a publication in the interest OF
Christianity should prostitute itself Dy
allowing such traVesty on right ana
Justice to appear in its columns. md1-
Gates that its sincerity along reIglous
lines is of very doubtful character
When men making d pIOlCuSO oAo -
borers in the Lords vineyard ran
against the lowly and unfortunate,
advocate slavery as a divine 1nstltu-
ton and believe thai part OF Coo S
own children should be kept in the
mental darkness their sentence, when
they appear before the bar OF the Su-
preme Court of Courts, should be 60
from me, ye accursed, l know ye not
There is a weakly contributor to the
Monday edition of the washington
Post who echoes the sentiment OF that
paper by advising Negroes, not to 40
this" and mot to do that. AS an apol
ogisr for supposed overt acts OF MS
race he is omni present IN PRINT
It is not pleasant to be constantly re-
minded of our faults even If we nave
them. but to have man OF supposed
intelligence and information parade
imperfections that exist only In MS
imagination produces that weary feel
ing that comes from being bored II
this self appointed custodian Of 10000
600 Negroes will rest his pen 1T may
give his brain an opportunity TO De
come normal.