The Twin City star. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1910-19??, 1914-12-30
By RALPH w. TYLER.


Jacksonville, Fla.-In many ways
this city more clearly emphasizes the
progress that Is being made by the
race in the south under the most try
! ing handicaps than any other city.
First, it Is blessed with a white poptls
Tlation that is not so overly charge
with race prejudice as is found fIl
many parts Of the south. Second}y;
among its $4,000 colored populations NJ
has f1ne representation of men and
women who have the determine ton 70
succeed. The laws Of Florida do not
deny the race the right of suffrage'
and freedom from restrictions in thiA
respect to some extent ameliorates con-
ditions r-. tast,N IA
However, in spite ofithts fact it mus
be admitted that too many Of the racs
in this city and state are Indifferent r.
the matter Of exercising the fright &
vote. Proportionately, there are just @
many whites in this state who do nd
vote. This indifference, whether amouS
whites or blacks, Is bound tosserve a
IA handicap to the best possible prog
I ress, educa ationally, as well a mats.
~rraffy me 5:.UJ0U coiored people III
Jacksonville own $1,0OO.OOO in real es-
tate; they have invested in business
100000 and have on deposit in the
several banks $25O,OOO. These posses
sions. with approximately $25O.OOO in
personal property. stocks and bonds.
bring the total wealth Of the cOlored
people of Jacksonville up to $1.900,OOO
Here. as in other parts Of the south.
! find to regretable extent higher and
better education subordinated to a de-
sire to amaSs wealth. the belief pre-
vailing that material possessions
lands and cash in bank-will eventual
ly prove panacea for race discrimina-
ton and segregation. The A. Nj. e
normal school is doing splendid work.
and the enthusiasm manifested by pu-
pills and teachers from the president
down Is most encouraging for the hope
that the race in Florida will yet awake
to the belief that If the highest and
best educati ton is desirable for the chill
dren of other races it ought to be de-
sirable for those Of our race.
The M. e. school. inapprOpriately
called a college, is presided over by
white minister, who, judging from the
unkempt condition of the building on
the day l visited it and the apparent
lack of enthusiasm on the part of the
pupils. is content to draw his salary
alone The work Of this school, the at
tendance and the interest manifested
reflect no credit On the NJ. e. church
and contributes but little to the al
vancement Of the race There are 40
colored teachers in Jacksonville, in
cluding the public and endowed schools.
There is total of fourteen schools
open for the education and guidance of
colored youth six days in the week.
but there are sixty churches to con.
serve the spiritual welfare Of the race
open only one day in the week. Jack
sonville, like many other cities, has
too many churches and ministers to
support Some Of these churches are
presided over by able ministers, who
are doing a. grand race work. notably
the A. M. e. church and the Institu-
tional church. Some are simply exist
ing for the benefit Of poorly equipped
pastors.
Due in a large measure to the re.
sourcefulness and organizing ability of
Benjamin ]. Davis, Atlanta. Ga, pos
sesses the largest and finest Odd Eel
lows temple in the country. Jackson
vile possesses the largest and finest
Masonic temple in the country, a $1O5.
600 building. This city has two of the
best Informed insurance men to be
found in the south in the persons of
A. L. Lewis and A. Price. who have
made a splendid success The largest
sea food merchant in the country is 10,
Gated here. about ten members Of our
race being employed by the concern
Mr.. Charles Anderson. the proprietor.
Is also one Of the most consistent race
men | have ever met. He Is founder
md head Of the only banking institu.
ton in this city conducted by our peo,
pie.
This is the home Of j. Il. Blodgett.