The colored American., 1903-04-18
Negro in Business.
4 Contributor Takes Issue With The
Colored American.
Editor The Colored American:


which is to be regretted, the follow
ing: Our own business enterprises
languish for the patronage of our own
DeOple; our financial institutions fail
for the same cause, and we are not
exhibiting the Intelligent appreciation
of race possibilities which our asso-
ciated press friends have a right to eX-
pect from us, ETC., ETC." Then you go
on. Mr.. Editor, and ask the question,
Where is the public spirited colored
man who will rise up and lead us to
higher conception of our duties to our
selves and to the younger genera
tiOn?"
You will please pardon my boldness,
if such you might term it, Mr.. Editor,
but | wish to ask why is it that you
present the names and pictures Of
lot of men, and say to the many read
ers of your newsy journal that these
are the true leaders of the race
leaders who have the interest of their
people at heart and will lead us to
victory; and then, in the next breath,
come out and ask the question, Where
is the cOlOred man who will rise up
and lead us?" Pears to me that our
editors get things mixed up little.
Editors to a certain extent, are
leaders, and they should set an ex-
ample by patronizing the business en-
terpriSe of the cOlOred race themselves,
and then say to the readers of their
papers to come on, and do likewise.
See?
But since the question, where is
the cOlOred man to rise up and lead
us to a higher cOnception?" is asked,
| shall endeavOr to point out just "a
few of them. l shall not speak of our
inTo cxf !
cuSsing business enterprises, for the
majority of them are a set of lying
ours, who are not at all interested in
the welfare of the race further than
to use them for their personal gain.
But shall give the other side of the
history of some of them later on. If
you would build up our business enter
prises you will do well to follow such
leaders as Booker T. Washington
Bishop Walters, Rev. w. L. Taylor
the great leader of the True Reform
ers, (who has done more for the col
Ored race than thousand politicians) =,
the young men who have opened up a
nice little shoe store here in Washing
ton, our colored photograhpers-whe
the pictures of our colored ladies and
gentlemen are not too hideous to be
displayed in front of the photograph
gallery), Mrs l.. r. Clarke, the great
teacher in dressmaking, etc, etc.
Follow such leaders as these, and
urge the many readers of The Colored
American to do likewise, and many of
the thousands of dollars of the colbred
peoples money will find its way into
the black mans pocket, instead of
going into the white mans pocket who
turns up his red nose at the very
thought of waiting on a Negro in his
place of business.
II seems to me that the much dis
elimination and persecution through
which the colored race is going now
d-days ought to be enough to drive
any sane people to unite more closely
together.
Behold, if you please, the great
crowds of colored men and women as
tney march by the colored shoe store
10 spend their money in the white shoe
stores The white man won't have
COIored clerk in his place of business.
NOT a single little colored boy or girl
Is Is gwen place to wrap bundles in
.hese stores. Still, these stores are
taking in thousands of dollars of the
CoIored peoples money Why is this?
Canhot the Negro go into business as
wen as the white man? Look at the
S0"s- See what fine stores they have
Here IN Washington. They give en-
PIoyment to hundreds of white clerks.