The Democratic advocate. [volume] (Westminster, Md.) 1865-1972, 1904-08-20
Negroes Combine to Secure Desir-
able Homes,


The New York correspondent of the Phila-
delphia Ledger says;
Students of the negro problem are watching
with great interest the efforts of real estate
corporation, organized by negroes, to fnd de
sirable homes in this city for negroes who can
afford better accommodations than those now
open to them. The company has announced
its purpose 10 make race prejudice costly to
many to those who harbor ii. This to be ac
complished by buying dwellings or apartment
houses in sections of the city from which the
negro is excluded. If this should result in
the depreciation of neighboring property, as
it undoubtedly would. the negro realty com
pany will purchase at the deprecated price
the property so injured.
While from many sources not untrlendly TO
the negro advice has been offered against this
scheme, which would intensity the prejudice
against the race, the company is proceeding
with its plans. A few days ago it purchased a
large apartment house in West 131st street, u
desirable section, which hitherto has had no
negro residents. The apartments are to be
rented to negro tenants only. In a short time
houses in the neighborhood can doubtless be
bought at a much lower figure than that at
which they are now held, and new negro
quarter can be established at comparatively
small cost. This plan is to be pursued in
various parts of the Gty, so that race preju
dice will result within a few years in the loss
of millions to property owners.
There are now about so, 900 negroes in New
York city and they pay taxes on property
valued at about ST, 100000. The leaders in
the new movement assert that an effort is be-
ing made to force even the better class of ne
groes into dilapidated buildings along North
river, and that it has become absolutely neces-
sary 10 provide homes for negroes ofeducation
and wealth where the surroundings are desir-
able and wholesome.
Though there may be criticism or approval
of this attempt Of the negroes to force resi-
dence among white people, it cannot be denied
that prejudice against the negro is almost as
strong here as in the cities of the South. The
negro is not only finding it difficult to secure
a place to hive that pleaSes him, but he is eX
perieneing greater difficulty each year 10 OBJ
tain employment. There is no place for him
in the ranks ofskilled labor, even if he could
fill it, while Hungarians Bohemians and ltal-
ians are taking the places of negro waters,
and the Italian has nearly driven the negro
out of the barber shop and from the streets as
a bootblack. The black man who attempts i
professional life finds no encouragement.
. This accounts for the small number of negroes
in the professions. OF males. according to
the last census, there are only 704 in the pro-
fessions in New York Of these PSI are
actors and showmen, Is are artists, so clergy
men, Is electricians % dentists, civil engi-
neers aud surveyors, journalists, 20 lawyers.
s literary and scientific persons, 1872 musicians
and teachers of music, government officials,
80 physicians aud druggists and 80 teachers
and professors in colleges. Though there is a
law prohibiting discrimination against the
negro in hotels, he can no more get accommo-
dations in the good hotels in New York than
he could in those Of Richmond, Va. Had it
not been for the strength OF the police force
many lyuchings of negroes would haye &C
CURED in the metropolis during the past four
years.