The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1915-10-16
AFRO-AMERCAN CULL|NCS

The Hampton institute press service
offers some interesting information
concerning Titustown, a prosperous
Negro community, which lies on the
southern side of Hampton Roads, mid
way between Ocean View and Nor
folk.
At Titustown it is possible for a col
ored man to build an attractive and
comfortable detached house, on a lot
35 by ITO feet, for $500. For $500
he can build and own a house of seven
rooms. He is favored also in having
a vacant lot left between his house
and that of his neighbor. Every fam
lily has it's full quota of air space. The
children are not compelled to play in
the streets and roadways.
Titustown streets are straight, well
graded, and bordered with trees,
shrubs, and plants. To the people the
rural free delivery brings the news of
the outside world. II is said, on good
authority, too, that every Negro in
Titustown gets and reads a daily pa
per. Some Negroes buy and read two
daily papers. ITO millions of black
folks, even now" says the institutes
report, this would seem ultra modern.
To some it may seem strange and
even dangerous that Negroes should
be so up and coming, but the truth is
that in proportion as Negroes get
knowledge based on experience and
have their wants increased, they set.
tie down to habits of thrift and indus
try. This is what has happened to the
Negroes of Titustown. They have en-.
joyed rare opportunities. They have
had plenty of work to do-work on
the rich trucking lands, in the United
States navy yard at Portsmouth, on
the great coal piers at Sewell's and
Lamber's point, and on the estates OF
wealthy Norfolk business and profess
sional men. They have also received
good wages.
The church at Titustown-the Mt.
Pleasant Baptist church-is a fine
structure. II was recently built at a
cost of $12, 1000 and has a membership
of 1900 persons. For long, long dis
tances colored people come to attend
this church and discuss problems oil
lively civic interest.
In Titustown the church is strone
and very attractive, but the school is
also strong and fully as substantial, il
less outwardly attractive. The county
school board spent 5000 on the Titus
town school, which is a brick, four
room building so constructed that an
other story may easily be added. Some
$50 children are enrolled and the aver
age attendance is very satisfactory
The children in Titustown school have
good teachers and a term of sever
months. They are clean, happy ant
alert. They are physically well set up
and show the good results of careful
home training. The Titustown moth
ers find it possible to remain at HON,
and care for their children instead o
eking out a meager living over TIL
washtub. The school equipment il
good and is being steadily improved
The county manual training teacher
has been able to make, with the as
sistance of the boys, some useful arti
cles of school furniture. The schoo
playground of three-quarters of al
acre is kept clear of weeds and trash
A plot of two acres has been reserved
for a public park. 1t is important tina
in any scheme for community building
some provision should be made TO
r~ecreational activities. One of the cry
ing needs of Negro country life il
healthful recreation"