Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1909-05-21
Is the Negro Of the North Pro-
crossing Commensurate
with His Opportunities
An Able Address Delivered Be
fore the Des Moiues Negro
Lyceum by pr. Jobu H.
Williams, one of Our
Physicians.

free Negroes scattered throughout
nearly every state in the union, and in
their ranks were to be found men en-
gagged in nearly every form of indus
trial enterprise followed by such per-
sons today. In almost all of the large
cities of the North there were certain
occupations which the Negro monopo-
lized and the names of many Negroes
when spoken of in these connections
were the synonyms of business integ-
rety and efficiency, but in all the North
there is scarcely one creditable busi-
ness owned and operated by Negro Of
that date or his descendants. The
caterers, BARRIERS, hackmen, draymen,
janitors, carpenters, bricklayers. etc,
who once enjoyed the confidence and
patronage of the Anglo-Saxons have
been relegated to the rear and their
places are now being filled by the
sturdy sons and daughters from other
climes.
From monopoly of several occupa-
tions and at least one or mere repre-
sentatives in all the industrial pursuits,
the Negro has continued to lose ground
until today. just fifty years ago, the
Negro in any skilled occupation is the
exception and more Of novelty than
the proverbial hens teeths.
DR.. Booker T. Washington in his
Future nf the American Negro, in a
plea for industrial education says, "No
one can fully appreciate what ! am
saying who has not walked the streets
of northern city, day aften day seek
ing employment, only to find every
door closed against him on account of
his color, except menial service. (" On
the other hand he says, Whatever
other sins the South may be called on
to bear when it comes to business,
pure and simple, it in the South that
the Negro is given q mans chance in
the commercial world: Another emil
nent writer, Rev. De Berry Of Spring
field, Mass, say that So per cent OF the
colored labor Of that city .are confined
to servile employment, by pure race
prejudice. which has closed the door OF
industrial opportunity against them,
and what is true of Springfield. Mass,
is true to greater degree or lesser
extent Of every city north of the Mason
and Dixon line.
We could quote Kelly Miller, DR.. Du-
Bois, H. T. Healing, Dr.. Francis
Grimke and host Of other writer's and
thinkers of note. but the preponderance
of evidence, all points to the fact that
the opportunity the Negro once enjoy
ed for exercising his skill and ability
along industrial lines for gain has pass
ed away and even in the cycle Of my
own memory and yours Mr.. President,
and have no doubt each and all OF
YOU can recall the time when the Neg
no Jared better and was more justly
delt with then he is today.
Has the Negro put his God-given
talent to the best advantage? II SO
why has it not produced other talents?
I believe that he has not, for Mr..
Wanamaker in his address before the
Business League in 1905 says that
philadelphia once had number OF
Negro business men, in whom the city
took pride, but many Of them passed
away. AS an old business man ! am
speaking of the fact, they lost their
business, because the Swiss, Germans
and other American white men did the
same business better than they did it.
The color had not the least thing to do
with it. +"
Mrs. Fannie Barrier Williams Of
Chicago says, "It is quite safe to say
in the last fifteen years the colored
people have lost every occupation that
was regarded as their own, as; barber
ing, bootblacking, cooking, hotel and
restaurant waiting. janitors, elevator
service and calciming and why white
men wanted these places and were
strong enough to displace the unorgan-
lied, thrughtless and easy going occu-
pants of them.
The loss was not 80 much due to color
or prejudice as to ability of these
foreigners to increase the Importance
of the places sought and captured. The
Sweeds have captured the janitor bust
ness by organizing and training men
for this work, in such way as to in
crease the efficiency and reliability OF
service, White men have made more
of the barber business than did the
Negro, and by organization have driver
every Negro barber from the business
district. The shoe polisher has sup
planted the Negro bootblack and does
business in fnly appointed parlors with
mahogony finish and electric lights.
Thus menial occupation has become
well organized business, genteel anc
with capital and system behind 1t.
AS to servants the white girls prefer
to pass by the clerkships which coloreo
girls cannot get, and enter schools OF
domestic science to prepare them fol
trained domestic service and fill places
scorned by Negro girls, though open te
them. \.
We need hardly seek for further
cumulative evidence on fact now ad
mitted that in the northern section q