The Providence news. (Providence [R.I.]) 1891-1906, 1905-03-06
ADVICE To
NORTHERN
NEGROES

New Rochelle, n. Y, March 6-A crowd
OF 1000 people, the largest ever seen in the
New Rochelle, theatre came out yester-
day afternoon to hear Booker r. Wash
ington lecture before the Peoples Forum
on The Successful Training Of the Ne
gro"
DIR. Washlngton's speech was frequently
applauded. and when he left the theatre
hundreds Of people. both colored and
white. blocked the way TO his carriage
In their efforts to shake hands with him.
"Eschew cheap jewelry," quit taking
s. buggy rides on ss a week" Don't put
"A 81 hat on "A fve-cent head" were some
OF the admonitions Or. Washington
shouted to his brethren.
Get a bank account" he continued:
get a home of your own Get some
property. Get start i'm the world in
some way What good IL IL TO you north
ern negroes that you live In cities with
paved streets. II you don't own anything?
Don't be satisfied with the shadows OF
civilization; get some OF the substance
for yourself. Just as soon as you DO you
~tH-her eeognized and encouraged,
whether you are in the north or south"
Judge Alton u. Parker was asked 20
preside at the meeting. but ne declined,
because he wished TO so TO Washington
10 witness the Inauguration OF President
Roosevelt
A feature OF the meeting was that col
ored people sat elbow to elbow with the
society mon and women OF New Rochelle
and Larchmont.
WILL STAY HERE
DR.. Washington continued; Now. some
people are bold enough 10 say that there
is not room enough in this country for
the negro. and the best thing ne can
do is TO return TO Africa
The negro race is not preparing 10 go
to Africa, nor the Philippines, nor any
other foreign country We will remain
here. Whatever problems grow out Of
our presence will have TO be worked out
between the white race and ours. | be-
lieve that there is common sense enough
among the American people and fairness
enough to enable the two races 10 Iva
side by side and work ont our destiny"
DR. Washington reviewed the sugges-
tions and experiments Of the past and
eliminated them nearly ali as impractic-
able.
What the colorcd people want TO do,
he said, was To begin away back. Get
n little piece of land. build a cottage. edu-
cate the children, learn to grow 80 BUSH
els OF corn where only = grew before.
He advised them TO keep away from the
cities unless drawn there for some special
reason or advantage.
Rural life he said was the best for
the negroes. They are at their best i'm
the country and worst in the city he said.
DR.. Washington said that there was no
problem concerning the employment ot
the skilled colored mechanic or farmer.
The problem. he said. consisted i'm being
able to turn them out fast enough. He
said that there was no race line I'm the
labor market IN the south the white inSn
and colored men worked together a the
same shops and benches.
what the negro should do. he said. was
10 catch UP with the white men. when
we catch up with tho American white
men" he said there won't he anyone
ahead OF us Hos the one were after"
NEED OF ENCOURAGEMENT.
Dr Washington continued: I'm this CON
neotion let me FREQ your minds II can
fr, n, possible fear and apprehension IN
two directions. Tha negro I'm this country
ooes not seek as a race 10 exercise polit-
cal supremacy over the white man. nor
is social ntermiuglng with any race con-
S'Osrcd hy the negro 10 ne one OF lne Ps-
s,utials TO his progress.
"You may not krow IL. but nv people
a~e MS proud OF their racial identity as
you are OF yours. and IN the degree that
they become intelligent. social pride in
@. eases was never prouder of the fact
tha; | am classed as a negro than I am
today.
You of tho white race do not know
Of the best that is occurring among
my people Many 90 you know more
of the best N Japanese Italian and
French life than that or the negro right
az your door.
n people should be Judged bv their best.
not by their wors. one should see the
negro I'm his Industrial and business oc-
cupation. and especially in his progress I'm
chirch. school ana homo life before
Judgment be passed.
There are two classes among us iu all
races, the vicious and the y1rtuous
can point YOU to groups OF my people
in nearly every part OF our country
that IN intelligence and high and un-
selfish purpose Of their school and church
life and I'm the purity and sweetness OF
their home life and social intercourse will
compare favOrably TO the races OF tn"
earth You can never lift any large soc
tim of people by continually calling at
tention 90 their weak points race. like
tNe child I'm school needs encouragement
as well az chastisomcnt."