The Nashville globe. [volume] (Nashville, Tenn.) 1906-193?, 1912-03-29
Nashville offers Opportunity.

Nashville Offers Opportunity.
AS the wheels of progress turn and
events are brought to pass it becomes
evident to the casual observer that
opportunities are opening up in Nash
vile constantly, wherein the Ne
groes Of this city can prove their
loyalty and appreciation of race en-.
deavor and enterprise. The question
that is uppermost in the minds OF
every young Negro man who decides
TO enter the business fed is: will
my own people support me?" The
Globe always answers: yes" For
when the people are rererred to it is
not meant that only the educated
and well-to-do are included, but
every man and every woman in the
community comes under that head;
and in the affairs Of the world every
man is expected to do his full duty.
More is required Of some than others,
especially so is this true of Negroes.
Those who have had opportunities to
acquire little knowledge Of the
world are expected to take a deeper
interest in their fellow-men than
can be expected Of the man who has
not taken advantage of the oppor-
tunity 10 gain knowledge. or who has
not had chance to.
1t is commendable to say that the
Negroes Of Nashville are showing new
signs of progressiveness every day.
They are attempting to do something;
it is regretable that so often the COM
plant is heard that those people
whom we style as our leaders and in
telligent men and women are the last
to support anyone who endeavors
to do business. But the rank
and mle are always loyal. They
have been so in the past, they are
so in the present, and nobody doubts
but that they will be so in the future.
Negro men who have succeeded in
business will tell you that they can
depend on the rank and file, but that
when it comes to the intelligent class
they are skeptical. This is hard to
understand, but there are many wit
nesses that it is true. There seems
to be a mania on the part of the edu-
Gated Negro men and women to doubt
one another. Every fellow who has
had educational opportunities will
tell you that he is as good as any
body else and really feels that he
knows as much as the average edu-
Gated man, but after he sizes up his
brother-maybe his classmate who
finished college with him-he sympa-
thetically concludes that his class
mate is not just exactly as good a
doctor or as competent a mechanic as
the son of Mr.. John Thompson, Ger.
tain old white gentleman whom he
has known all of his days and whom
his father knew. This is one of the
great handicaps that Negroes must
overcome.
Many opportunities are presenting
themselves to the Negroes of Nash.
vile to make great strides in the
march of progress, and the success
that will be attained depends largely
upon the ability of our intelligent
men and women's confidence in their
fellowmen When they can realize that
if they had the grey matter in their
head to grasp the things that
were taught them in school, and
to put that knowledge into ex-
ecution, it is probable also that
some other member of that class
had like ability When Nashvilles
intelligent Negroes reach that con-
clusiOn, a better day will at once
dawn upon this city and the many
opportunities that are now shoulder
ing will blaze into a flaming reality.
Taft is working the steam roller