Richmond planet., 1917-07-14
PROBLEMS OF THE
NEGRO EXODUS
tFirst prize Grafton, delivered at COM
mcnccmcnt OF Fisk University
Nashville, Tenn, by Henry II. Proc
tor, Jr., Of Atlanta, GaD


J tor, Jr., Of Atlanta, Ga)
! The fact Of the migration Of Negro
! cS in large numbers from the South
, to the North is we'll established
| Whether or not we have the courage
TO declare them publicly, the causes
| of this migration, both social and
| economic are clearly understood. I
| wish briefly to consider in the time
| allotted me not the fact OF this migra
| tion, or any Of its causes. but a few
| Of the problems incident to the adjust
| ment Of large numbers Of southern
Negroes to Northern city life which
must inevitably flow out Of this move
mcnt. These problems relate to the
health, housing and sanitation, civic
! department, and religious life OF the
migrating colorcd workmnn: and
their solution presents opportunities
| OF far reaching social service to two
distinct classes Of our own people TO
| prevent in Il large measure the awal5
cning Of the same hostile sentiment
| in the North and East that our pco
pie are seeking to escape by turning
their faces away from the South.
first place to young Negro men and
women with college training who pos
scSs broad vision, deep insight, initia
tive and perseverance to become in
strumcntal in the organization of
| agencies for the solution Of these
problems, and in the second place to
Negroes already established in nothern
centers who may aid the former by
' the!r maan, iA,fiY>H"~,, p~nfessions.'.
| service and knowledge OF dangers to
| be avoided
! One Of the first problems sure to
confront the Negro in his newly
found northern home will be the
task OF keeping we'll. Unused as he
Is TO the rigors Of Ii northern eli
, mate, the Negro who Is not sufficient
~ informed and cautious will fall an
easy vistim to many diseases Of which
he knows little in the South.
! The Negro who has left the farms
| OF the South. and even the small
| southern towns, will find in the con
| GcSted residence districts and smal-
| id tcncments Of the North a condition
or living entirely new to him, accus-
! toned as he is to the open air of his
rural home in the south. Proper hous
| ing and sanitation will therefore be
| come a real problem to this newly
| transported laborcr in the North. Al
ready we hear reports Of conditions
| III which thirty and forty Negroes are
! living in SiX-rOom apartments in the
J city Of Chicago.
Released from the caste restrictions
| OF the South, the Negro in his new
| northern home can very easily make
himself obnoxious to his new neigh
, hnrs, in taking advantage Of hereto
! icrt farb!udcn pleaslieS anG privilcg
es. a"d soon finl himself subjected
again to the segregation and discrimi
! nation from which he was fleeing in
| the South. The manner, therefore, in
| which the problem of civic department
| Is met viii determine to q large cX-
tent the future status Of all Negroes
in the North.
There are two other real dangers to
be faced. namely that Of harmful
amusements and Of alienation from
| the church and its influence. As soon
as the new arrival in the North Sc
| cures adequate employment, he will
| begin to look about for places in which
| to spend his money, and it Is likely
| that the slums and lower forms OF
| amusement will present to him the
| greatest attraction. Thus the problem
| OF wholesome amusement must also be
| rcckoncd with, and solution found.
Touching the influence of the church
1t has been said that the Negro is
| essentially a religious creature, and
in the South he is bound almost as
| closely to the church as he is to the
| soil. But the northern curch with it's
| congregation and minister may not
| welcome him with warmth and hospital
| lty which characterizes the southern
church, and 1t is very highly probable
that the Negro, new to the North
| VIII drift away from the church and
| us beneficial restraints if some influ
ence is not eXcrtcd to make him feel
| as much at home in the splendid
| church in Ohio as he did in the SIM
! pic one in Louisiana. These then are
| some OF The problems and the uues-
| tlon arises as to how they are to be
| met
A few years ago the first question
| arising would have related to the
financing of such work as might have
| been designed to solve these problems
but philanthropy has decided that any
! well regulated work for the benefit
OF humanity, need not be hindercd by
lack of financial support, so we may
waive that question here
1t seems to me that the following
plan can he followed with advantage
by any earnest and consccraicd work
or in his efforts to solve the problems
] arising from The exodus.
First. there should be the 0rganiZa