The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1931-01-01

The American Negro has pro-
gressed to the point where he is rec
ognized as an integral part of the
nation with all the duties end respon-
sibilities of other groups in the pop
ulation. The Negro is no longer en-
outcast, MS cause is no longer one
for eccentrics, he is being recognized
as an integral part. an important
section, of the nation.
Today over one-fifth of the Ne
groes in America live above the old
Mason and Dixon line and one-third
live in cities or towns. Thus the
Negro is distributed throughout the
nation, and is no longer exclusively
q resident of the rural South.
Accumulated Wealth, 2 Billion
While the World war and the
northward migration called forth
these changes, the race itself was
making progress. 1t is now estab-
lished in ownership of farms and in
both skilled and unskilled occupa-
tions. Negroes are owning small
businesses and are found in charge
of q few large enterprises. There
are Negro millionaires. In two gen.
erations Negroes have become liter
ate, in many instances well-educated.
self-supporting, increasingly respect
ed and self-respecting.
a recent government survey re-
ports that the accumulated wealth CT
Negroes in America amounts to two
billion dollars $4,000, 900, 0O0), that
100000 Negroes own their own
homes, $4,000 own farms and TO-
600 own or operate business enter
prises; that there are ~ Negro banks
with a capitalization of S6,250,000
doing an annual business of over
500, 100000; that there are $4,000
Negro teachers, over 1000 of them
giving instruction in institutions of
higher learning.
While The mass has been strug-
Cling upward small number of Col
ored people have achieved distinction
judged by any standard. DR.. E. f..
Just is not great Nero biologist,
he is q great biologist. Professor
Carver. of Tuskegee, the peanut and
sweet potato wizard, begins to take
his place with the eccentric geniuses
in science. Singers and painters and
Negro artists generally are becoming
the vogue.
Education Improving
No phase of American education
has gone forward more rapidly dur
ing the past decade and half than
Of Negro schools and colleges. This
is partly due to the fact that there
were such inadequate provisions at
the beginning of this Eeriod, but the
rapid progress is significant sign
of the times whatever the previous
condition.
There are four great Negro uni
versity centers of today: Washing
ton, with Howard university under
the leadership OF Negro president,
Mordecai w. Johnson; Nashville,
where Meharry Medical college is
building an entire new hospital and
laboratory plant Immediately adjoin-
ing a revived and reorganized Fisk
university; Atlanta, where a group
OF colleges of distinguished history
are forming confederation under
the historic title of Atlanta uniyer-
sity, including the strong undergrad
uate colleges of Morehousc and Spell
man, and New Orleans where denom-
national colleges and q hospital are
merging their resources.
In no phase Of life is the interde-
pendonce of the races more clearly
seen than in health. Disease knows
no color line. Germs do not obey
Jim Crow laws. Tuberculosis, pneu-
monia, malaria and typhoid spread
quickly from one group to another.
Modern public health has made US
realize how vitality a part of our
common national life the Negro is.