Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1962-11-23
Negro Business Aid

haps the most depressed area
in our entire economy, despite
the admirable aims an
nouneed for the Domestic
Service Corps, it would be a
great oversight not to include
in the program plans and
procedure to arouse interest
in. and develop support for,
broadening the economic
range Of the Negro to en-
compass the dominant as
poets of our economy. Too
long has too much of our hui
man resources been wasted
by the restricted economic
range of the Negro. Current
world competition demands
that this mistake be correct
ed by permitting the expan-
sion of the economic scope Of
the Negro beyond mere job
seeking and isolated self
employment. -
The isolation so long prac-
ticed against the Negro has
been so pervasive that ID
normally few white business
men can feel that the Negro
should not be isolated and
90 largely because of this
isolation few Negroes ever
Dire am OF qualifying for
sound, effective participation
in the main economic pro-
ceSses of our society.
In a profit system like ours,
the outstanding instrument
tality of cultural change and
progress stems from the inn
pulse of adventure or risk
taking. In such a culture,
man must take risks to live;
but business adventure is very
seldom certainty. With us
also mans impulse of adven-
ture finds its chief inspira-
tons and outlets through
free, private enterprise. So, it
would seem, the scope Of the
Negroes entreprenuerial ca
pacity is exceedingly import
ant in determining his even
tual economic status in this
country. ..
There now is importunate
need to arouse interest in,
and develop support for, a
program to shore-up and
correct this mistake. The ex-
tent to which the Negro is
able to develop his aptitudes
to help in correcting this mis-
take depends largely upon
the opportunities and en-
couragement he encounters
educationally at home, al
school and in the larger COM
munity. Stignatization which
usually results from the man.
ner in which he is isolated
however, develops in him the
shrinking feeling of non-be-
longing and the attitude Of
being poorly endowed. This
attitude is just the opposite
of the positive, confident
aggressive outlook eSSentia,
to success in our way of life
A Sickly black economy
operating separately within
the overall structure, viii
never permit the Negro to de,
velop understanding of, anC
first-hand experience in, thu
dominent economic processes
of our society. Making thu
small business investment
program meaningful for thi
black economy would be {
large step in this direction
Providing it with a financing
service similar to that pro
vided the home buyer, wherI
it could start or expand it
ventures with a modest out
lay and pay back the balance
from profits over a period o
five to 20 years would be
large incentive for the Negrl
to fit more serviceably int
our society. The help of tn
Domestic Service Corps i
greatly needed here to devel
op such confidence in TIL
economic future of Negr,
business as to permit it to b
successfully dove-tailed int
the overall business struc
ture.
The Secretary of Commerc
and the Director of the Sinai
Business Administrator
should have roles in thi
program in light Of the nee,
described above.
John P. MurchisOn,
for the D. c.
ThoVotaY. nf fNnyVaY11 orNe