Metropolis weekly gazette. (Metropolis, Ill.) 1???-19??, 1914-07-10
AFRO-AMER|CAN CULL|NCS

The heroic efforts being made by the
comparatively few colored Washing
tonians cannot be ignored, writes Mi
chael Jones in communication to the
Star of that city. In the city of Wash
ington, among many other enterprises
owned, operated and controlled by col
ored people. are 600 grocery stores
large and small; more than twenty
drug stores; two dozen first-class tai
Tors, who cater to the finest trade
about forty dyeing and cleaning estab
lishments and dozens of barber shops
undertaking establishments. confec
tionery shops, etc. Washington col
ored people own and control one shoe
store. one thriving banking institution
and several scientifically conducted In
surance companies.
The continuation of just such steps
as have been taken by the few referred
to above in business efforts, will dc
more to solve the race problem than
all the indignation meetings that can
be held between now and the day Of
Judgment.
| am thoroughly convinced that Il
half the energy, pride, ambition
thought and money used in promoting
indignation meetings we're directed
into channels that would lead TO the
erection of manufacturing plant. the
organization of corporation or the
establishment of some other worthy
enterprise, Americas most mistreated
citizens would be better able to get
that for which they strive and should
rightly have.
The ten millions OF Negroes in Amer
lea buy about 10000. 900 pairs of shoes
each year. for which they pay not less
than s40.0oo,oo0 but they operate
scarcely dozen small retail shoe
stores. and there is not in existence
one large shoe factory owned. operated
and controlled by negroes Every year
colored people in America spend more
than $50, 000,0o0 for hats CincludIne
Easter season., yet not more than
$4,000 of this amount finds its way
to colored hat dealers. haberdashers
and millinery shops combined. At 81
per capita Americas colored popula
ton pays s60.000.000 each year for
suits of clothes. but statistics VIII re
veal the fact that the combined bust
ness of Negroes In the clothes bust
ness does not amount 10 $3.50, 600 a
year. What is true OF shoes. hats
suits and clothes In this relation II
true OF everything that colored people
wear and use.
Is not there something radically
wrong7 Surely IL is timely and good
to call the attention OF a materially
weak race TO such existing conditions
that II may be stimulated to build and
strengthen such n sadly neglected
phase OF its racia. life.
The National Negro Business league
OF which DR.. Booker T. Washington Il
president. is rendering an invaluable
service to the country in that II ID
helping the Negro to find himself and
succeed as a business man Hundreds
OF negro builders. contractors. real es
tate brokers. managers OF insurance
companies. bankers. manufacturers
undertakors. druggists. general mer
chandise dealers. bakers. florists. etc,
find their way to the annual meetings
of the league. There they go for mu-
tual help. conference and inspiration
They assemble to learn and teach 9th
ers how TO succeed In establishing and
maintaining business enterprises.
The state free employment bureau
In Worcester. Mass. has filled LII
positions, representing 80 kinds of EN-
ployment, In the six months since il
establishment
The long-cherished plans of the col
orded people OF New York to have a
theater OF their own are about to
be put In operation The Bijou the.
alter. Broadway and Thirty ninth
street. for years one of the famous
playhouses of the city. will be re.
opened as theater for coiored PEG.
pie.
The scheme is under the direction
of Jerome Rosenberg. who win be one
Of the whffe persoue connected with