Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1921-02-19


conditions under which Negroes in
America and particularly III New
York live and work and have their
being. From The start he found, rs
was sure he would find, the most ell
couraging indications OF almost cor.
tain success once he unfoldcd his plan
md got it before his people. He did
not have to be told that he was in the
most populous and the richest NcT"u
G y in the world; that face had years
ago convinced him that only in New
York could he launch his ship Of a
Negro state and arouse sufficient
whirlwind of material support to fill
its sails. He did not have to stroll
more than two blocks from his quar-
tiers to find himself in the worlds cen
trc of Negro aristocracy and plutocra-
cy 135th Street and Lenox Avenue. But
prepared 9 he was to find himself in
the Negro land OF milk and honey, he
was surprised at the affluence and MOD
ernized state of affairs in which New
York's black population lives.
FiftGen years ago a certain landlord
owning tenement houses In 135th st.
had what is not musual--a misunder
standing with certain Of his tenants.
1t appears he sought to increase tho
rent. at which actual and prospective
tenants vigorously dcmurred. At n
warm point in the controversy the
landlord lost his temper and swore
that unless the flats were filled at n
certain date at the new rate he had
laid down he would forthwith open
his buildings to Negroes Ills threat
tailed ITO move the cnraged tenants. so,
tue to his word, he advertised the
flats for Negroes. That was the be
ginning Of the great Negro city of
Harlem which today numbers about
100000 colorcd folk.
For proof that the Negro in Ameri.
ca has prospcrcd far beyond the high
est hopes Of earlier. bcncfnctors and
philanthropiSts one need only study
this most interesting community which
though greater in population and
wealth than similar ncighborhoods i'm
other American cities. is typical of
the state Of positive afflucncc that
the American Negro has achieved
within the decade. Negro holdings in
Harlem today exceed 500, 900 900 with
in the territory bounded by 13Oth
street. Eight Avenue, 15Gth street
ana tho Harlem river. Numberlcss
Ncgrdes own thnir own dwellings, or
apartments, representing in the aggre
gate many millions Of dollars. There
are four known millionaires, ten half
millionnires, and more than a score
worth more than 100000. The say
ings banks" holdings in the district
are put at $30,000000 and two of
those banks are owned by Negroes.
There arc several realty firms COM
priseh of and operated by Negroes
. doing total yearly business that
runs into millions. There are thirty
churches and so missions. One particu-
lar church, ST. Philips Protestant EpiS
copal in 134th ST., stands rs chal
lenge to many churches OF the whit
eS for enterprise. fog, with n build
ing costing 100000 and wealthy
membership Of 1000 this corporate
congregation has gone into the real
estate business and has holdings said
to be worth 100000 There lis Il Y.
NJ. c. A. building in the heart Of tho
section that represents an invest
ment Of $4,000 and Il Y. w. G. 4. Of
ABOUT an equal value. There were
four successful newspapers until II
short time ago when n fifth appeared
There are numbcrlcSs thentres, mar
kcts, garages, and other places of
business operated solely by Negroes
and yielding large incomes. A Ne
gress recently died IN Harlem who,
beginning life as a Iaundrcss, hit up
on IL hair preparation that she pat
ented and manufactured and rs Il re
suit became enormously wealthy. She
built magnificent country place on
hot
town house in Harlem, and when she
died, her will disposed OF a large es-
tate including, among other things, a
large and valuable collection Of art
treasures. Up on the streets Of Ne
gro Harlem one will find ut all times
an ever changing PARADE Of
well TODD we'll dressed business
like substantial Negroes going
about their daily affairs in the
best OF clothing, while the curbs are
lined with and the streets trnversed
by automobiles owned and operated
by the colored "oe;dtnts. a recent
estimate put the .,,.:ul.opiic licenses
issued to New York Negroes for 1920
at 5000. Into this city, too, there
nave come in recent years between
fifteen and twenty thousand Negroes
nom fore'%" "n"nt"ine particularly
the West Indies, all Of them necessar-
lily fairly we'll off to negotiate the
change lin residence. Not so long ago
two Negroes were elected to the New
York City Board of Aldermen. There
are large numbers Of Negroes in tho
police and postalfOrces OF the city.
The Negro city Of Harlem is going
concern.
Garvey found Harlem we'll on the
high road to prosperity when he en-
dered 1T three years ago. Much OF
that phenomenal growth has come
about since the wartime prosperity
Of the Negro set in but wealth and
enlightenment aplenty there was to
greet the future Black Moses. And as
with the Negro Of Harlem, so with
his kinsmen over the country. A
e1anna of fro o,,v co1nct;op Df