The Colorado statesman., 1912-12-14
AFRO-AMER|CAN CUL[|NCS

The negro in business has been
making unusual progress. In 1911
the American negro. engaged in farm
ing. merchandising, real estate, manu-
featuring. numbering, insurance, print
ing and publishing. engineering and
banking, contributed over 100000. 900
to the wealth Of the nation. 1t has
been aptly said that the race Gre
ates admirably; 1t gets left In the dis
tribution." The problem of the ne
gro in business is this: How to make
the raw material produced by him not
the end of his effort, but the basis OF
his individual activity. Through per-
sistence, initiative and cooperation.
thousands Of negro men and women
in all parts of the United States have
developed small business ventures
into substantial business enterprises.
They have saved and invested money
carefully they have put into their
everyday business life the wise sug-
gestion given them by DR.. Washing
ton and other men who are vitally in
terested in the races welfare. Today
the outlook for the negro in business
is not only bright. but actually inspir-
ing. Negro men and women are
quietly getting a firm hold on the es-
sentials of success in business-the
buying of homes, the extension of
business, the opening of factories, the
establishment of banks and the bet
ter appreciation of commercial pur-
suits. DR.. Washington has emphasized
the Importance of the 100000 ne
groes in America becoming the own
ers and users o ftheir share of the
270,000,000 acres of unused and unoc-
cupied land in the south and west. He
declares that If white men can estab-
lish and operate saw mills, coal mines,
brick yards, lime kilns, and other en-
terprises so as to secure wealth and
happiness, he can see no reason why
the negro should not engage in similar
work and reap some of the benefits
which come to those who own, devel-
op. manufacture, and trade in the nat
ural resources of the country. He
declares that in at least 25 places in
the south and west negroes may build
towns and cities similar to Mound
Bayou in Mississippi and Boley in Ok
lahoma. To carry on this construc-
tive work negro men and women from
the colleges and universities are need
ed. To increase the business strength
and influence of negroes, men must
organize. locally, in the state. and in
the nation. By the side of the teach
er and the minister, there must stand
in helpful relation the Independent
farmer the real estate owner, the
manufacturer, the merchant and the
banker
There are places in the south today.
according to DR.. Washington, for 5000
additional negro dry goods stores.
5000 grocery stores, $500 drug
stores, 1000 shoe stores, 1850 mil
linery stores, and 1000 negro banks.
Development and activity in allthese
lines" according to DR.. Washington.
does not mean that we are to be
commercialized as race-to be mere
ly breadwinners, hewers of wood.
and drawers of water 1t means that
we shall be producers of bread, own
ers of bread, manufacturers of bread.
dealers in bread. and that we shall
gather wealth from the bread busi-
ness, which can be turned into the
highest and best things of life. We
are to be owners and users of wood in
a way that will bring to us happiness,
usefulness and prosperity"