Part 3

It must be admitted, to be strictly just, that without advantages of education or uplifting environment, the races are also equal in ignorance and prejudice. A perusal of any of our great daily newspapers easily demonstrates this as a truth.

TRAINING SCHOOLS FOR WOMEN

There are 36 institutions for the education of Colored women, and in addition, there are 63 Training schools for nurses conducted by Colored Americans.

It has been proved numberless times by actual experience, under the most trying circumstances, that our Colored women make the very tenderest of nurses. In these training schools, are to be found the most important factors in the improvement of the health of our Colored Americans. Indeed, their services are so valuable that they are not limited to their own race.

At the close of the Civil war only five per cent of our Colored Americans could read and write. In the year 1900, the number had increased to 55.5 per cent, and in 1910, the number reached 69.5 per cent. This is an astonishing increase in education, and it proves the reason why our Colored Americans are forging to the front in the arts and sciences, trade, commerce, and the professions. It is stupendous progress when we consider that scarcely two generations were required to bring about this uplift of an entire race. It takes the banner of racial improvement.

It appears that the manufacturing and mechanical pursuits are very attractive to our Colored Americans, the increase during the last ten years being about 40 per cent. If we may make the comparison, it is on record that 62 and ²⁄₁₀ per cent of all our Colored Americans are engaged in profitable occupations, whereas, there are forty-eight and six-tenths of the White Americans so engaged.

TRADE AND MANUFACTURING PURSUITS

The employment of Colored Americans in domestic and personal service is becoming less and less every year, under the influence of education, and is being changed into trade and transportation, mechanical and manufacturing pursuits. This means as plainly as anything, that our Colored Americans have found opportunities, and that they are taking advantage of them. And where there have been opportunities to permit such a transformation, there must be others equally as advantageous and numerous—that is a law of trade and of progress. One business or occupation successfully carried on always begets another.

THE JEW, THE IRISHMAN AND THE ITALIAN

In considering the various occupations, trades, etc., in which our Colored Americans are engaged, the locality must be taken into account. The colored man, like the Jew, the Irishman, and the Italian, meets with more prejudice in one than in another locality, and he must govern his occupation in a great measure by that prejudice, until he is strong enough to overcome it, and intelligent enough to find a way to overcome it.

There are many who hold that the Colored American in the South finds less opposition and prejudice against him in the trades and occupations than in the North. There is less also in the East than in the West, except that in the Middle West, or the northern portion of Mississippi Valley, where there is less prejudice against the employment of Colored Americans outside the large cities where the trades unions prevail and control. Owing to this diminution of prejudice in the Middle West, the number of Colored Americans in that part of the country is increasing, likewise improving.

In the South, it is said, the differences between the two races is not so much prejudice against employment, as a political idea that the Colored Americans are on the way to obliterate the color line.

Notwithstanding this opposition, the Colored American readily finds room for his labor where he would be impeded in the North and West from the opposition of the great labor unions, the great aim of which is material progress and not intellectual.

It is for the Colored American, therefore, to govern his choice of a business, trade, or profession by the locality in which he lives or purposes remaining during his natural life. In that selection, he is afforded advantages to rise to any limit of perfection and thus obtain profit from his talents and capacity.

THE SKILLED WORKMAN

The man who limits himself to become a skilled workman, or a successful tradesman anywhere, must drop his personal grievances, and not attempt to father the evils and troubles of the race upon himself.

Who cares about the downtrodden condition of Ireland? The Irishman who is constantly calling attention to the heel of the oppressor upon his neck, makes a poor workman and remains stationary in the lower level.

The Jew who talks about the sufferings of his race receives but little sympathy because he is referring to ancient history. So it is with the others and so it is with everybody who attempts to take upon his own shoulders the ills and burdens of the whole. In the first place, it is not his business, and in the second place, people around him are fighting their way up, while he is always looking down to see how far he must fall, and he gets dizzy and does fall.

It is an old but true saying applicable to Colored Americans as it is applied to everybody else: “Laugh and the world laughs with you; weep, and you weep alone.”

There is one subject of the greatest importance to Colored Americans, because the opportunities are enormous, but they will be lost in the course of time, and can never be regained.

That subject is the land question; the farm problem.

It is almost like sounding a tocsin to repeat what everybody is saying, every economist urging, and every civic reformer giving as the remedy for overcrowded cities, and a cure for vice and crime: “Back to the farm.”

In the “Wise man’s philosophy,” every Colored American is advised to become a land owner. Get an acre, two acres, ten acres, twenty acres, forty acres, and so on. Why? There are two good reasons why:

1. Every man must have a home of some kind unless he prefers to be a tramp or a beggar with his hand held out for pennies.

2. There is no possible uplift without being a producer of something, and land offers the easiest solution of the production problem.

FORTUNES TO BE MADE

The enormous markets of the country in our great cities, make such a heavy demand upon production, that the commonest vegetables and fruit are brought from great distances at a high cost of transportation. Within reach of every populous center, there is to be found vacant land that could be made productive with very little labor, and the result would be profitable, for the supply must keep up with the demand. But out in the vast territories of the Mississippi Valley, there are fortunes to be made in producing cereals, cotton, tobacco, live stock, butter, poultry, and fruit. There is an unlimited field, and every one who has ventured into it finds a large reward in a good bank account. A man cannot begin and then, when he gets tired, lie down in the furrow and expect nature to pull him out. It never has and it never will as many know to their cost.

It is estimated, that in the Mississippi Valley and its adjoining territory, outside of mountain tops and rivers and lakes, there are in the markets, four hundred million acres of land as fertile as the valley of the river Nile. It is beyond the reach of present railroad transportation and therefore it has been left untilled.

It matters little whether this enormous quantity of land exists or whether it is exaggerated by one-half, it is a fact that millions upon millions of acres of land are left untilled and can be had for small sums of money. There are lands in Texas as an illustration, which can be purchased for from one to four dollars an acre, with forty years to pay for it in. This is not only the case in Texas, but cheap land can be had even in the State of Illinois, or New York. In the great corn belt, the farmers raise corn only, and even buy and bring their butter, eggs and fresh vegetables from Chicago or St. Louis. Whoever heard of such a thriftless condition? It is true, corn pays, but there is such a thing as getting too much of one thing and not enough of another.

Investigation and inquiry shows that if a man should start a small vegetable garden anywhere, on rented land, and supply the corn barons with vegetables, eggs and butter, he would make a good profit and get a large trade.

The idea sought to be conveyed is, that by taking advantage of a demand where there is no supply, there is an opportunity to be seized without arguing about it. It is there.

The advent of the motor track, which runs into localities fifty or a hundred miles distant, carrying from five to ten tons of a load, and trailing as much more, offers an opportunity for several workers to club together and carry their products to market at small expense.

Our agricultural and mechanical colleges are turning their attention in that direction, and preparing to fill the field. But it is a large field and can not be fully occupied in a hundred years to come.

It is worth thinking about when a Colored American is in doubt what opportunity to seize.

The main object in every man’s life, if he has any manhood and intelligence, is to produce something. He may use his hands or he may use his brain, but the result is that something is produced, and whatever is produced possesses some value.

THE FIELD OF OPPORTUNITY

Ten per cent of our population is made up of Colored Americans. This number creates a demand that it would be profitable to supply, but when it is considered that the other ninety per cent, or ninety millions of people are constantly demanding something, and take everything that comes along, there is an everlasting field of opportunity into which every Colored American can fit in some capacity if he makes the slightest effort.

THE COLORED AMERICAN IN THE EMPLOY OF THE UNITED STATES GOVERNMENT The Army, Navy, Government Services, and Legislatures—Opportunities to Colored Americans to Distinguish Themselves—Heroes and Patriots Furnished by the Race—The Advantage of Discipline in the Formation of Character—Avenues to Honor and Renown.

The Federal government is a large and generous employer of men of every nationality where brains and capacity are shown to exist. In fact, there is no country in the world where so many opportunities are offered to its people of every class.

Not only subordinate positions may be sought with perfect confidence of a raise in rank or grade, but the very highest positions are within reach. This pertains to our Colored Americans without distinction.

IN THE ARMY AND NAVY

In the Army and Navy, beginning with the revolutionary war, Colored Americans have taken an active part side by side with their other fellow citizens in removing the foreign shackles from the limbs of the nation.

The War of 1812 also brought out Colored Americans to drive the foreigner from our shores, and in both great wars the fighting ability and courage of Colored Americans have been amply tested, weighed in the balance, so to speak, and not found wanting.

The heroism displayed by thousands of Colored Americans in the great Civil War, not only convinced the world of the sincerity and patriotism of Colored Americans, but impressed the nation as well. The result of this devotion to country and its interests, opened the eyes of the government to an element of strength which it had recognized but had not fostered to any great extent.

It is different now, for the government takes from the ranks of Colored Americans its best and ablest men, satisfied from experience that whatever duties are imposed upon them will be ably and intelligently performed.

FORCE OF CHARACTER

Along this line, the struggle of Colored Americans to acquire by force of character and education, a high station and to fit themselves for any position of honor in the government, has met with success.

Not only in the army and navy, but in the halls of Congress, the Colored American has demonstrated his wisdom, sagacity, and statesmanship.

It is historical that the first martyr in the Boston massacre, a resistance to British tyranny, was the Negro, Crispus Attucks. In the War of Independence so many of the Colored Americans made themselves conspicuous in their fight for national independence, that they were recognized by Congress and the States as national defenders.

At the siege of Savannah, October 9, 1779, it was the Black Legion under Count D’Estaing that covered the retreat and repulsed the charge of the British, saving from annihilation the defeated American and French army.

In the War of 1812, the Colored American was conspicuous for his bravery. One-tenth of the crews of the fighting ships on the Great Lakes were Colored Americans. In the great picture of Perry’s victory on Lake Erie, may be seen a Colored American sailor.

Two battalions of five hundred Colored Americans distinguished themselves under General Jackson at the Battle of New Orleans. In 1814, 2,000 Colored Americans enlisted for the war and were sent to the army at Sackett’s Harbor, where they performed deeds of valor.

RECORDS OF THE WAR DEPARTMENT

During the great Civil War, 178,975 Colored Americans took up arms and fought side by side with the men of the North to maintain the nation. The records of the War Department at Washington show that the Negro troops were engaged in many of the bloodiest battles of the war, distinguished themselves more especially at Port Hudson, Fort Wagner, Milligan’s Bend, and Petersburg.

In the late war with Spain, in 1898, Colored American soldiers took a more conspicuous part than in any other war waged by the United States. In the famous battle of San Juan Hill, the Ninth and Tenth Cavalry and Twenty-fourth Infantry rendered heroic service. Col. Roosevelt delights to tell of the part the Colored Americans took with his Rough Riders. It is even said, that without the aid of the Colored troops, the gallant Colonel would not have gone up the hill.

All this is evidence of physical prowess, patriotism and courage. History has been made, and now the country is ready for the results of a glorious history and as honorable a record as that exhibited by any race on earth. Out of it has come a regular demand of the government to make Colored Americans a part and parcel of its army and navy, and the ranks of many regiments of infantry, cavalry, and artillery are filled with heroes who have won their baptism of fire in the Philippines, and others who are ready and fired with zeal to earn their spurs in some well contested field of battle. They have but to ask, to be received.

Out of this also, has grown a confidence that has made the Colored American a man of energy, fired him with an interest in improvement, and a seeker after education. Out of his noble history has grown a spirit of emulation, that impels him to aspire to high position not only as deserved but because he is fitted to fill it.

With the twenty-five United States Senators and Congressmen who have done good service for the nation at large, and have been faithful to the traditions of their race, the record is augmented.

In the executive branch of the government, Colored Americans are conspicuous for their ability in highly responsible positions.

IN THE GOVERNMENT SERVICE

In the Treasury Department, the Attorney General’s Department, the Auditor of the Navy, Customs Department, Internal Revenue, Land Office, and others, there is no dearth of efficient Colored Americans performing onerous duties and engaged in unraveling intricate governmental details with as much ease and intelligence as if to the manner born.

In the diplomatic and consular service, the Colored American is fast making his way upward, many important posts being now filled by them with honor to the country, and dignity to their positions.

With all these advantages in the way of opportunities, it can not be said that Colored Americans are being crowded to the wall. Where prejudice does hold him back, it is in small localities where there is prejudice against everything, not the making of the prejudiced people themselves. There is a prejudice against the Creator Himself, and to expect all persons to drop prejudice is to expect more than the Almighty can cure.

It is a fact that a blind man must be able to perceive, that the bitter prejudice is becoming less aggravating. The rough edges of personal opposition are being worn down smooth, and in the course of less than another generation, the prejudices against Colored Americans will be almost a horrid dream of the past.

THE DIGNITY OF THE RACE

It is for the Colored American to help smother the remaining shadows of former prejudices by maintaining the dignity of his race, and by education, fitting himself to stand beside any race on the earth. He has done it, is doing it, and the incentives are offered for still doing it.

Remember what Colored Americans are doing; the positions they are filling by their education and energy; none of them are asleep in the furrow but are busy harvesting—doing something. If they do nothing else, they are demonstrating that Colored Americans can do the same things, fill the same positions as the other races, and that they possess an equally balanced intelligence, and have the same brain power as others. They never spend their time quarreling with fate, but overcome fate, and manufacture opportunity and ride upon destiny as upon a fiery steed, curbing it with the whip and the lash of education and intelligence, mingled with energy and persistent determination.

These are the reasons why the Colored American must win if he tries.

THE COLORED AMERICAN IN THE SERVICE OF GOD The Church as a Career for Colored Americans—Influence of Religion a Powerful Incentive to Success—Opportunities to Follow an Honorable Vocation—High Religious Aspirations an Inborn Sentiment of the Race—Men Who Have Been Pioneers in the Field.

The church offers an opportunity to embrace a high and honorable calling, a career that is the noblest in the world.

The spirit of religion is an instinct of the race, and the past decade or two has demonstrated that the spirit has quickened into a most beneficial activity, and is exerting an influence for good that has made itself felt.

Before the race lifted itself up on the wings of freedom, there was good soil to cultivate, and many apostles and evangelists of the Christ prepared the way for the present splendid hierarchy. The latter are preparing the way for their successors in the same manner as their predecessors, but the field is enlarged to enormous dimensions. The laborers in the vineyard are becoming too few to gather the harvest, so it is necessary to prepare leaders of advanced thought to keep pace with the work, and to increase it.

The Colored Americans are the fruitful vineyard, that is constantly increasing and there must be more laborers. The foundation is laid, the way is open, and the young Colored American with a vocation has not far to seek to find an open door.

There is loving memory for Rev. Lemuel Haynes, the revolutionary soldier, who drew the sword for his country and never laid it down until the last foreign enemy had left the country. Then, he turned his sword into the Word of God, and fought the powers of evil as the first Congregational minister in the United States.

In loving memory is held Bishop Daniel A. Payne, the most remarkable preacher among his race that has ever been produced. He was responsible more than anyone else for the Wilberforce Community and University.

For sixty years the celebrated John Jasper, a preacher of highest virtue, piety and sincerity, labored to bring souls to God, becoming a national character.

There were Alexander Crummell, the eminent Colored Episcopal minister and author; Henry Highland Garnett, missionary, army chaplain, and diplomat; Joseph S. Attwell, missionary and rector, till his death, of St. Philip’s church, New York City.

THE FORCE FOR GOOD

All these and many more have gone before and left their influence as a continuing operative force for good.

Let us mention one Colored American woman who is still among us, Amanda Smith, distinguished as an evangelist of the Methodist Episcopal Church. This eminent lady taught herself to read and write by cutting out large letters from newspapers, laying them on the window sill and getting her mother to make them into words.

Her evangelical labors extended to Africa, India, England and Scotland. The remainder of her useful days she is spending in charge of the Amanda Smith Orphans’ Home for Colored children, at Harvey, Illinois, a suburb of Chicago.

Through the influence of the Christian labors of the past and gone apostles, and the apostleship of their enlightened and pious followers and successors, religion has developed amazingly among our Colored Americans.

Of Colored American members of white denominational churches, numbering 5,377, there are 477,792 communicants.

Of Colored American members of Independent Negro denominations numbering 31,393 churches, there are 3,207,305 communicants.

THE CAUSE OF RELIGION

As showing their faith demonstrated by good works, the Colored Americans are supporting 34,689 schools, and contributing 1,750,000 children to the cause of religion and education. They have donated in money more than sixty million dollars to church property.

The shepherds guiding this enormous flock, consist of Bishops of the highest attainments as scholars, teachers, and pious divines.

The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church has seven Bishops with an able executive corps of ten members.

The African Methodist Episcopal Church is under the guidance of fourteen wise shepherd Bishops, with an executive staff of eleven eminently qualified divines.

The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church, has nine Bishops, devoted men all of them, aided by a staff of workers numbering sixteen divines, lawyers, editors, missionaries and financiers.

The Afro-American Presbyterian council consists of three presidents and a secretary. The National Baptist Convention is guided by Rev. E. C. Morris, D. D., President, of Helena, Ark., aided by Rev. W. G. Parks, Vice-President at Large, of Philadelphia, Pa., and eleven secretaries.

The Methodist Episcopal Church has one Colored Bishop, Isaiah B. Scott, D. D., LL.D., Missionary Bishop to Liberia and West Africa, Monrovia, Liberia.

The general offices and officers, however, are in the United States, and consist of eleven clergymen and other distinguished men who attend to missionary work and executive duties generally.

There are numerous Roman Catholic priests among our Colored Americans, some of whom occupy high positions as educators. Rev. Charles Randolph Uncles is a professor in the Epiphany Apostolic College, Walbrook, Baltimore, Maryland. Rev. John H. Dorsey is a teacher and Assistant Principal in the St. Joseph College for Negro Catechists, Montgomery, Alabama. Rev. Joseph Burgess is a professor in the Apostolic College, at Cornwells, Pennsylvania.

YOUNG MEN’S CHRISTIAN ASSOCIATION

The Young Men’s Christian Association among Colored Americans presents an illustration of the growth of the religious spirit in addition to that exhibited by the churches, but of course, affiliated with them to a greater or less degree. From the first student association at the Howard University, organized in 1869, there are now six International Secretaries, 96 associations organized in Colored American educational institutions, with an enrollment of 15,000 male students, and forty-five city associations scattered over 23 States. The Colored women of the United States began organizing Y. W. C. A. work in 1896, and there are now 37 associations affiliated with the national organization, with 12 city associations for Colored women.