The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1928-01-06
Annual Survey Negro Americans

and the old fashioned spirit of family
ties, through better home furnishings,
is another one of the marked i'm
provements of the year. Better homes
make better home life and better
home life makes better citizens. 1t is
almost amazing, in any section of
America one visits, to observe the
fine taste and high quality of home
furnishings secured and enjoyed by
Colored America.
Real Estate and Business Building
A careful survey of general values
in sections of American cities where
Negroes live shows an increase in the
value of properties, in general, rath-
er than a decrease, as is sometimes
argued. This is due to two things
in particular. First, the constant ap-
pealing to pride and improvement
thru newspapers and organizations;
second to the building, by both white
and colored capital, in our centers of
population. Some of these invest
ments already run into millions, and
contemplated investments for 1928,
in various parts of America, run into
additional millions. These investments
not only increase the value of nearby
properties, but make loans and gen.
eral financing, by all, very much cas-
Ter. The South continues to be the
easier place to make loans for build
ing purposes. 1t is the exception, ra-
Their than the rule, that Colored AM
erica is able to finance project on
the same and equal basis as whites.
We are compelled, far too frequent
ly, to pay high premium, often am
bunting to unmistakable usury. And
sometimes the mailed fist of financ-
ial pressure is within the race as well
as without, and sometimes it is in col
fusion with whites.
There are increasing numbers OF
building and loan organizations, and
the banks and investment companies
are growing in number and power.
Farms and Farming
Travelling in many sections of the
South, one is impressed with the con-
tinucd Improvement of farms owned
by Colored America. These farms
cannot be observed in their improve
ment without a keen realization of
the ideals and hopes of Booker I.
Washington. True, there are "still
some few remaining" of the old
types, but there is noticeable i'm
,provement of scientific and advanced
methods in farming. The house and
bafnsSS are better, the implements
modern, and theyyield larger Then
land grant colleges in various states
are doing. much in improving con-
ditions, and. they are aided very
materially by Mate and federal gov
eminent alike. THE Federal Gov
eminent takes a. sympathetic inter-
est in all Improvements.
The spring floods throughout the
Mississippi Valley, bringing destruc-
ton to thousands, will long be re-
membered. The racial commission
under the Red Cross and government
influences with DR.. r. X. Motion,
chairman, filled and is filling Yet
a, most Important place in the re
adjustment. vi
Stock Taking Conference \
Because of the unusualness of the |
venture, the recent Stock Taking 4
Conference, held in Durham, N. CT
merits specific mention. There have
been other gatherings, national and
otherwise, for the presumed purpose
of getting together and getting bet
ter understanding, but there has Ifey-
err before been a gathering on the |
plane of the Durham Conference, |
with results for the future so prom
Using. The Conference was in the !
right place, for Durhamites have I
proved to the world that they know
stock values. Those present journey |
ed from their respective homes |
with singleness of purpose, that of |
finding out where we are "at", in the |
general scheme of American pro
gress. There was frankness, and theer
were revelations, some encouraging
and others not so encouraging.
the next year will prove
the lofty purpose and, high value of
the Durham gathering. Such an in
ventory of facts and figures are
bound to have reaction favorable to
keener realization and larger growth
of a permanent kind. In lieu of
united opportunity to meet in the
committee rooms of the nations cap
itol in Washington, or in the archives
of Wall Street, New York, it becomes
highly essential for Colored America,
on the loftiest and most statesman-
like plane, to establish a place and
plan amid environments of beauty
and even luxury, to take measure,
take stock, and take advantage of all
pending opportunities and make way
for opportunities that are not now
Colored America must go
forward with credit, honor, and I'M
success.
Our Women
In the land of progress, Colored
Women of America, in organization
and economic attainment, are setting
a marvellous pace. In fact, they are,
to the square inca, making faster
Roadway than men. Probably the
best organized civic group in AM
erica is the National Association of
Colored Women. From city, state
and up to the national body, the
women are organized for service, and
they are demonstrating in big way,
under the leadership of Mrs. Mary
Mcleod Bethune. The two foremost
business institutions of the group in
America, Poro, owned by Mrs. Ma
lone. and the Madam Walkar Cooo