The Birmingham age-herald., 1909-11-21
WHAT THE NEGRO IS
 DOING FOR HIMSELF

To the Editor of the Age-Herald:
 have been urged by influential friends to write series of articles on What the Negro is Doing for Himself" and of- fer it to the readers of your great paper. The object to be sought is to furnish some information to leading white men of the South on this vital question and encourage to greater diligence men and women of my own race, who arc doing something for themselves. I pledge my self to tho readers of your journal to state facts and not fancy or feelings.
 have been in public life as . preacher and teacher more than thirty years. I have kept myself in touch with leading men of both races of the south. am an Alabamian by birth and rearing and havo lived in Mobile since 1877. was born a slave and am proud of the history of my race in this country sincerely believe that some of the best friends of the neg TO are among the frst-class white people of tho South.
 The vital question that concerns both races Is 'sWhat is the Negro Doing for Hlmself7' What Is he doing along the lines of self-improvement. home building, education. good citizenship? What Is he doing for his own social and moral ele- vation? In short, is the negro growing and becoming an integral part of the growth of our great country? Is tho negro learning the lessons of self-reliance self-support and self-respeot?
 Tn this series of contributions to your great exponent of public sentiment. shall take it for granted that you are in sympathy with tho great mass of my people who are struggling along the lines indicated above.
 The Macon County FaIr.
 Last week, I visited the Macon County fair for colored farmers held in the linn its of South Greenwood a settlement of colored people about three miles west of the enterprising litt1e town of Tus- kegee, Alabama, and about two miles from Tuskegee Institute. At this fair tho farmers of Macon County exhibited sam ples of their products consisting of corn, cotton, hay. oats rice, potatoes. sugar cane. hams, syrup, honey, peanuts pumpkins, watermelons, beets, cabbages, oollards, onions, turnips, beans. pepper. rape. peavine hay, fodder, poultry, hogs. sheen. goats, cows, calves, colts, thorough bred horses mules, milk in bottles, but ter, canned berries, canned peas canned peaches, pressed pears, etc., etc.
 In the culinary division were seen can dy. 1ellteS, DreaQ, cOcOduut pieSs potdtO pies. tea cakes, chocolate cakes, white cakes, pound cakes, cooked chicken, etc.
 In the floral division were beautiful de- -signs made from rare cut flowers. In the department of handicraft was a remark able display of drawn work, embroidery work, machine work, hand sewing, rag dolls. sofa pillows, aprons. hats, sun bon nets, baby hats, pincushions, lace, hand stitching, drawing work, embroidery in linen, and embroidery in silk floss. Hand baskets, axe handles. hinges, singletrees, door mats were also in evidence. These things were displayed in competition, carefully inspected by competent judges and received awards of blue, red or white ribbon indicating first. second or third prizes.
 In the afternoon of the last day, Sat urday. the manager awarded prizes to the competitors in cash sanstnp from ten cents to five dollars. Honorable mention was made of tho exhibits which received no prizes. One farmer. J, l. McMuiien of Notasulga, had on exhibition . bale of cotton for which he was efkersd Nk the bale weighing over Do0 pounds.
 Among the individual sxhibits, ArA