The commonwealth. (Greenwood, Miss.) 1896-1923, 1905-04-01
Hrpnen1 5tutun nj
tlrr Negrn Rarp
By BOOKER T. WASHINGTON.

dations of living in a new territory relate mainly to the securing Of land,
the building Of homes, the production of food and the securing of educa-
ton. It is because of these conditions which confront the masses of our
people in the south that advocate the great Importance of education, not
only of the head and heart, but of the hand as well, SO that the foundation
can be properly laid in the material directions to which have referred.
In this connection am glad to add that the old prejudice which ex-
listed against industrial education or hand training some years ago among
Our people has almost completely disappeared. The present is. the time
for the negro to lay his foundations in the south. Land can be bought
at cheap rates Oh easy terms. The agricultural labor and the skilled la
Dor are very largely in the hands OF members of my race. And we will
continue to be a potent factor in the life of the south in this respect in
proportion as W prepare ourselves for usefulness in agriculture, in the
mechanics, IN domestic work, IS well as IN teaching and the other pro-
LESSONS. What we most need, however, just now, is a proper and thor
ough economic foundation, coupled with moral and religious training.
III many respects. the next 20 years are going to be the most serious
in the history of the race. Within this period it will be largely decided
whether the negro is going to be able to retain the hold which he now
has upon the industries of the south. II whether his place will be filled
by white people from a distance. The only way that we can prevent the
industries from slipping from. the negro in all parts of the south is for all
the educators, ministers and friends Of the negro to unite to push for
ward, in a who1e-soued manner, the industrial or business development
of the negro, either i'll school Or out of school, or both. There should
be a more vital and practical connection between the negros educated
brain and his opportunity of earning his daily living.
I repeat the industrial training will help cement the friendship of
the two races. The history of the world proves that trade-conmerce-
is the forerunner OF peace and civilization as between races and nations.
Say or think what we will, it is the tangible or visible element that
is going to tell largely during the next 20 years in the solution of the
race problem. Every white man will respect the negro who owns a
twotory brick business block in the center of town and has $1,000 in
the bank. When a black man is the largest taxpayer and owns and cul-
tvates the most successful farm in his county, his white neighbors will
not object very long to his voting and to having his vote honestly count
ed. The black mar who is the largest contractor in his town and lives
in a two~story brick house is not likely to be lynched.
l know that what I have said is likely to suggest the idea that I
have put stress upon the lower things of life, the material; that | have
overlooked the higher side. the ethical and religious 1 do not overlook
the higher or undervalue it's worth. All that I advocate S not Is an end,
of a firm foundation, that our tendency is too often to get the shadow
instead of the substance, the appearance rather than the reality.
Further, I know that it is not IN easy thing to make a good Chris
ton out OF : hungry man. 1 mean that just in proportion as the race
gets a proper industrial foundation. gets habits of industry, thrift, econ
omy, land, homes, profitable work, in the same proportion will it's MORAL
and religious life be improved.