Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-02
SATURDAY FEBRUARY 2, 1918
1.-THE NEGRO MIGRANT IN
PITTSBURGH"

Ll1E In
PIIvTSBURGH."
DR.. Abraham Epstcin's dissertation
on the condition Of colored people in
Pittsburgh grows in interest He is
certainly generously fair in dealing
with our people and his description
of existing conditions bristles with
facts. No one has appeared to deny
them. lie says:
!
Tho Negro migration is neither an
isolated nor a temporary phenOme-
non. but the logical result Of O. long
series OF linked causes beginning with
the landing Of the first slave ship
and extending to the present day.
The slavery which was ended by
the Emancipation Proclamation and
the Fourteenth Amendment Of the
National Constitution has been sue
ceedcd by less sinister but still signi
f!cant social and economic problems,
which are full Of subtle menace for
the welfare of America.
lie follows this warming with The
following comment upon the intelli-
gent citizen Of color:
The Intelligent Negro has long be-
licvcd that his only escape from the
measure Of suppression which still
exists is to so to the North and he has
seized the opportunity whenever 1t
was presented to him. The present
unprecedented influx Of black work
crs from the South is merely tho re-
suit of sudden expansion Of oppor-.
tunity due to a wardepleted labor
market in the North. The causes for
his migration are basically inherent
in the social and economic system
which has kept him down for these
long years in the South. The Negro
is beginning to appreciate his own
value and duties. and is proceeding
to the North where he knows he can
at least enjoy measure Of justice.
This naturally means a tremendous
problem for the North. The race CUES
ton is no longer confined to the
states below the Mason and Dixon
Line. but becomes the concern of the
whole nation. 1t may be presumed
that the European immigration after
thH war Will not be as great as 1t
was before 1t.
THIS is true and is plain state
mcnt that the improvement of the
black mans financial condition was
not the fundamental cause of his mi
grafton but was an additional induce
ment for him to seek northern cline
This leads us to enquire, What is the
race question? Is 1t not rather the
question as to whether or not the
white man North and the white man
South will recognize his own laws
and accord to tho colored citizen the
the rights and privileges Of any other
citizen? When they do this will not
the race question" disappear?
He continued:
The Negro is taking the place of
the foreign worker, and he is certain
to become an increasingly important
factor in our national political and
industrial life. He is already an i'm
portant political factor in some mum
cipalities, he is soon to be basic
factor in our industries. The
Negro who has lived in the North
has taken advantage of the industrial
opportunities which were open to
MIN, and is continuing to do so more
and more.
And again:
Our .olicy Of laisseZ-faire adopted
towards the European immigrant can
no longer be contained. This war has
taught us some great lessons, and
probably the greatest of all Is the
Lesson of the necessity for a redefi-
milton Of social terms, and q recon-
s'deratlon Of human values. 1t has
made us realize that If we want the
nation to stand united in times Of
stress our policy must be consistent
at all times. Democracy we have
learned In this struggle, no longer
means leach for himself, and She
devil take the hind.most." If 1t means
anything at all, it is that we are
members one Of another" and that
an injury to one Is an injury to and
the concern Of ali. Our old policy has
SHOWN us that the dovil has taken too
many, and we have come to say,
Halt This must no longer contin-
NC. We must see that all the elements
which go to make up our body-politic
arc adjusted and placed in their
proper relation. Our traditional atti-
tude. this struggle has taught us, Is
too costly and we cannot afford longer
to continue 1t. We know now that 1t
is not sufficient that a few may have
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