Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1914-06-26
AFR0,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
lors, who cater to the finest trade;
about forty dyeing and cleaning estab-
lishments and dozens Of barber shops,
undertaking establishments, copfec.
tionsry 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 shove in business efforts, will do
moro 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 If
half the energy, pride, ambition.
thought and money used in promoting
Indignation meetings were directed
into channels that would lead to the
erection Of a manufacturing plant, the
organization Of a 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 100000 pairs of shoes
each year. for which they pay not less
than $4,000, 900, 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 $50,000.000 for hats Including
Easter season.. yet not more than
$4,000 OF this amount finds its way
to colored hat dealers, haberdashers
and millinery shops combined. At Sc
per capita Americas colored popula.
ton pays 100000 each year for
suits of clothes, but statistics will re-
veal the fact that the combined bust
ness of Negroes in the clothes bust
ness does not amount to $250,000 a
year. What is true Of shoes, hats,
suits and clothes in this relation is
true of everything that colored people
wear and use. IT .%
Is not there something radically
wrong? Surely it is timely and good
to call the attention Of materially
weak race to such existing conditions,
that It may be stimulated to build and
strengthen such a sadly neglected
phase Of Its racial life.
The National Negro Business league,
Of which DR.. Booker T. Washington is
president, is rendering an invaluable
service to the country in that it is
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,
undertakers, 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 its
establishment.
The long-cherished plans Of the COL
orded Deople of New York to have 8