Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1918-02-02

democracy and freedom while tho
rest are den'Cd economic opportunity
We are also coming to srealizo that
we cannot hold part of our fell
low.mcn down in the gutter without
remaining there ourselves"
DR.. Epstc.nis comment Is of the
highest order and it places him in
tho realms of those economists who
have taken front rank in the worlds
affairs. He prcscribcs tho remedy.
Now lot us find the physician that
can compel the nation to apply it.
He says:
No exact estimate of the number
Of Negroes who have coma North
within the last year is possible. EST
mates vary from three hundred thOus
and to seven hundred thousand. There
are probably about two million Ne
grocs now living in the North, and
1t is of paramount Importance tina.
we look into tho conditions Of these
people who although in our midst,
are yet so little known to us, and
see that they are fitted into their
new environment. Our little study
of the sccial opportunities available
and the conditions existing among
our Negro brethren may therefore be
of great interest and we are glad to
present here some Of the facts which
were disclosed in our survey Of these
people who have recently settled
amongst us in order to- avail them
selves of our hospitality anu indus
trt, VI
cd in the preceding pages the i'm
med Fate opportunities for Negroes In
this city as to housing and wages
II nay therefore not be amlss to dis
cuss the possibilities Of his attain
economic status.
1t seems then that politically both
parties have gone the right way in
dealing with the colored citizen as a
voter.
lie says:
Politically, the Negro in Pittsburgh
is as free as the whites of the same
group. Coming from places where tho
vote is denied him. he is naturally
very glad to receive the privilege in
Pittsburgh. 1t is we'll known fact
that the Negro vote is often n dec!d--
ing factor in the results OF municipal
elections. Although there are Il few
shrewd Negro politicians, and the
Negro vote is frequently cen bloc"
there is never an issue made on
some particular Negro problem. All
candidates seem to assume that there
is no special issue that concerns tho
Negro more than any other group In
the city, and INSCRIPTIONS Negro
politicians. are not in the least per
turbed. They always see to 1t. how
oevcr. that no Negro vote will be
lost, that their occupation tax is paid
and that they are registered. This
was clearly brought out in this years
munic.pa' election. Although the
Negro vote was n great factor in de
Gliding this campaign, not one Of the
candidates made All issue Of the hous
ing and other problems VIII CHI are
confronting the Negroes at present.
1T can therefore be stated that in pol
tiles. while the Negro has boon uti,
lzed by all sorts OF politicians, no
has at least nominally been as free
as his whitc brother in the same Pc.
sition.
God knows DR.. Epstein understands
the situation. If he did not how could
81 he use the following language?
However more and more we are
coming TO realize that political free
dom without industrial opportunities
means but little. Democracy must all
SO mean industrial opportunity, and
social democracy, as we'll as politi-
cal democracy. But the industrial on
portunity which the Negro demands
is not even the same as is demanded
by his more fortunate whitc-sll nned
brother. While his fellow-human be.
ings demandd larger voice in indus
try and business, and Il greater share
oil the product, the Negro is still
mcekly begging for his ina icnable
right to participate in industry, to
help extend and build it up. 1t is the
DENIAL of this right that confronts
the Negro in the North and makes
his problem of paramount signifi-
canoe.
He continues:
The great majority Of the Negro
migrants come North because OF the
better economic and social opportuni
ties here. But even here they are not
permitted to enter industry freely
Tmcy are kept in the ranks Of unskill
ed labor and in the field Of personal
service. Until the present demand
for unskilleu labor arose, tho Negro
es in the North were for the most
part, servants. There were very few
Negroes occupied otherwise than as
porters, chauffeurs, janitors and the
like The Negro at present has enter
ed the productive industries, but he
is kept still on the lowest rung of
the economic ladder.
And again: