The Enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 192?-1930, 1928-01-06
Continued from Page One J

of the country. This is a helpful
and hopeful sign. Personal acquain-
lance and concern make possible a
combination of ideas and purse, an
increase of general business and more
places of employment for our bows
and girls-a very necessary concern
at all times.
In many sections of the country
there has been noticeable increase
in wholesale merchandising ventures,
especially in farm products in the
South. This same combination of
capital and effort will yield increased
profits in other lines, North as well
as South. Colored America, though
often referred to as minority group,
must more and more recognize the
! fact that white America is today,
more than ever, accepting us as COM
peting group, and they are directing
their wisdom, forces, and money in
the channels of real competition.
Some of it is friendly, some insidious.
The Political Field
Politically, in a national sense, Col
ored America has made absolutely no
progress during 1927. We have
"held cur own" but that holding is
so infinitesimal, in comparison with
the whole, that in national politics
we are little more than q half Joke.
The President has continued to take
quiet, conservative concern; Con-
gress has been quite indifferent, and
the United States Supreme Court,
judging by recent decisions, has fall,
len in line with the tendency of the
times, as in the days of bred Scott.
Colored America will never again
get within sounding distance of ma
tiolat political prestige until there is
4 national political upheaval, and
men of the Race are elected to the
House. of. Representatives and the
United States Senate. This time will
and must Come, From states like
Mississippi, SoutTG arolina, and Loui-
'iana, as well as Georgia and North
Carolina, where the racial population
almost equals and in some Instances
exceeds the white, there should be
members in Congress, and one Sem
ator. That is likewise true in dis
tricts north, where the racial popula--
tons are large, there should be cleo
tons to Congress.
There have been local political in
creases, as in the Councils of Cleve-
land and New York; and there have
been some appointments locally, as
in Chicago and Kansas City. 1t is to
be noted some of these are Democrat
ic or Independent. There is a grow
ing tendency to divide votes.
Religion
Colored America increases in So
phistication and skepticism, religious
ly, although strongly religious by ma
ture. White religious theories and
practices, as against the teachings of
the Man of Galilee are so at variance,
that thousands among us never enter
a church door, and their soothing at
what they term "the white mans re-
ligion" being shudder to the devout.
But the great masses are with the |
Christian faith, and the church. They
cling, in prayer and hope, for saliva |
ton In America and an Eternal Home
beyond. They give of their meager |
earnings for great church buildings. |
If they would give with equal zeal to-
ward economic advancement the race
would be much farther along. There
has been considerable church build |
ing, buying, and remodeling in all sec |
tions of the country and by all de-
nominations.
Music
In Music we continue to go for
ward. Roland Hayes has set mark.
and Paul Robson is following in
voice. Florence Cole Talbert and
Lillian .Evanti, both recognized for
their art in Europe, have been adj
mired in America, but are yet to be
managed in the manner of
Hayes success. These successes, and
others in the making, if not so we'll
known, have given new encourage
ment to the field of music in voice.
fundamentally there continues in
terest in the development of popular
orchestras. These are employed by |
whites and blacks alike. The best |
for the Negro in music is yet to come.
BY continuous study and persever-
ance, there promises to be a much !,
larger day in the realm of music,
vocal and instrumental.
Drama and the Movies
There has been nothing more than
the average progress in the field of
drama during 1927. No new stars of
unusual magnitude have been discov-
cred. The passing of Florence Mills,
who won place in the hearts of the
people on two continents, marks a
distinct loss in the theatrical profess
sion. New York has had its season
of racial shows with more or less
public interest but there has been
to happen to make "the world
talk"
In the movies there has been an in
crease of racial representation in GER
tain pictures calling for such back
ground. 1t is believed that producers,
who are more and more coming to the
determination of the realistic, feel
that they can find within our group
sufficient types of the highest stand
ard to represent the various needs
l.eretoore performed by whites made
up in sundry tints. This makes a con-
stantly increased economic oppor-
tunity in the movie world.
f Sports
II is refreshing to know that Col
ored America continues to take