Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1959-02-27
MINNESOTA NEGRO HAS MADE
TREMENDOUS PROGRESS m STATE

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cheaP bers and erdo wells who found that Minneapolis
pll Duluth police hard them and that
judges IN The lower courts apt 70 IN deciding charge
against them subconseosy take consideration the difficult
times Negroes had had up until that time obtain education
jobs md build those substantial values that discourage em
uaity and make for good useful citizens
This element which bad pretty free reign from 1918 until
1887 ying the wabidng Negroes Of Twin Cities especial
| ~ Minneapolis baek-eye with rest Of the community.
Always in definite minority these unfortunate marginal
people lived of crime and its eoneomttaus got far
publicity than the majority Of awabdng Negroes who worked
aganE odds for lasting place in the Industrial social
economic life Of the state.
Il in the perod after World War that the Negro
made Uroads in the Us Postofa IN both cities The postal
worker represented for period the highest paid worker in the
Negro community and usually the standard Of living enjoyed
by the Negro postal worker and bis family above the
average enjoyed by the Negro family.
Du1uR all Of the time from 1853 until 1900 aud then
1898 steady growth Of Negro enreprenenrs who
small businesses such aundrcs restaurants barber shops
shoe shining paors drug stores cleaning and pressing
tabsha and grocery stores and meat markets
There many failures due lack Of capital and experience
or both but survived for years
Ony few Negro professionally doctors lawyers dentists
settled the Those who did settle and tended 10 their
knitting received patronage from the white population which
in Mnnwoa notably color blind when in search Of profess
iouI services.
Every Negro physician who has praetced in Minnesota for
auy length usually many white patients waiting
Minnesota white people represented in the courts by eouse Of
Negro ancestry.
Minnesota was still backward about giving Negroes job
opportunities late 1879 There Negroes employed
Ia % Of the 100 JOB categores
For example there Negroes in either building or
street construction field which did open up them until
the construction boom during the defense period aud immediate
Ity following World War IT. The mills 81 Minneapolis the
manufacturing plants 10 - Paul simply did not employ Negro
IS They offered ranging from the story that whites
a ..E... 4
the Negro population often they exhibited
The crime bHd the presence Of large numbers Of Negro
deairables The why they could employ the law
abiding majority Of the Negro population OF this
uusound and unfair 10 the reliable Negro worker and citizen
Since employment the basis prosperity for family
we'll city and Countryside job situation always
important When this newpaper began publication in 1884 II
immediately began campaign long before such things
FEPc for the opening decent job opportunities for Negroes
campaign that has ceased and has been rewarded with
tremendous and a strong hened community
The big brcak IN 1871 with the building aud operation
huge small plant New Brighton operated by
Charles Horn stauneh friend Of the Negro whose Iowa fore
fathers helped tbe Underground Railroad which sped Negro
slaves TO freedom in Cand0
This plant with the cooperation Of this Newspaper and the
Urban League ueguted Negroes At all employment levels and
thereby tapped the first labor supply and
the time stabilized Negro community, After New
Brighton and Twin Cities Ordinance employment other
plants which had heretofore refused give Negro workers
break Tue Hood available continued uul today
when ordinary white collar Jobs formerly closed Ne
gu begging because there supply Of Negro applicants
The New brighton experience served eataiyst and
such organizations hc Urban League aided and ahetted W
volunteer groups like the JOINT Committee Tor Employment
Opportunity found both employers and white workers receptive
ia eoured workers
From the more humble restricted Jobs Of the early state
open The Negro Mnnesoan this group hold
jobs supervisors sales persons carpenters social
workers. correspondence clerks telephone operators plaorers
taxi drivers bus drivers truck drivers advertising
managers grocery clerks journalists cashiers school aeehers
cement workers brick layers printers linotype operators shoe
rcpamen concrete nhrs reccptonists forcmen policemen
scnographers typist librarians power machine operators
foremen wede electricians chemists laboratory techncan
caterers maohnsts uphoktercrs sheet metal workers
reiarc senogaphcrs craftsmen pracal registered
file clerks architects shipping clerks truck Dispatcher
University instructors, tool and dye makers pharmaes
athletic coaches high school many other casca
tons
Most q the elaSeatous listed before developed "a
the past ~ years Years ago and there could be found
lone Negro holding job outside the usual field
open Negroes bat such the exception rather th
the rulc
Tho cracking " the restrictive employment situation
tho beginning II The remarkable progress the Minnesota Neer
community has been making IA Che past rs years
Property ownership among Negroes shows heavy increase
Much Of forced ownership desirable begsuss
te continued bar Negro tenancy IN good property
Minnesota Negroes however their earliest days kawr
have the desire acquire piece % land and house h