Progress and Achievements of the Colored People / Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success

by Kelly Miller; Joseph R. Gay

YOUR CHILDREN MAY BECOME DISTINGUISHED

You or your children may be the fortunate ones to be offered an opportunity to become distinguished for bravery and generalship, for the way has been prepared and those now striving to uphold peace will have successors. Remember this point, that the longer the test and the greater the perseverance, the more and the higher facilities will be given you to reach the leadership.

It must be plain from the mere birdseye view that has been given that many leaders will be needed in the near future. Indeed, some of our present leaders as they grow older will lay down their armor, and others must be ready to take it up and wear it.

The filling of the ranks is almost imperceptible because it is so gradual, but it goes on continually, and the time to prepare for stepping into a vacancy is now. There is always a leader, and the coming men, it is plain, are those who make themselves ready, and prepare for immediate and future emergencies.

Have no fear that there will be no place for the lowly boy in the humble home; the lad with his school books plodding his way to the elementary school; the youth at college, or the newly made graduate. The wheels of life are not going to stop, they are ever turning, and there is a vast upward tendency which comes with every succeeding generation, the last an improvement upon its predecessor, and the next one a still greater improvement. So will go the world until the last whisper of time shall beat against the gates of eternity.

THE TURNING POINT
The Progress of the Colored American; His Chance in the Business World

There are three points upon which every colored citizen may base his chances for success in the business world:

First—From their inability to engage in any business whatever a generation and a half ago, the Colored race now numbers about five hundred thousand members engaged in trade, transportation, manufacturing and mechanical pursuits.

Second—The Colored race having increased from about four millions of people a generation and a half ago, to nearly ten millions of people in 1913, the commercial field has vastly widened for exploitation.

Third—Under the now accepted doctrine announced by Rev. Charles H. Parkhurst of New York City, the field is still farther enlarged and bids fair to become unlimited.

The exact bearing of this increase in the population upon business chances lies in the increased consumption, greater demand and advanced civilization—that is a greater variety of objects are necessary to comfort or pleasure. This makes more customers, and all things being equal, perhaps they should be a trifle better, it is quite on the cards to believe that the Colored American will get his increased share of the trade of his fellow Colored Americans. If he does not, then he is probably in fault through inferior goods, poor service and lack of prompt delivery. The business is in his hands at any rate and the opportunity is at his call.

The first proposition is to the effect that business chances are now at high tide, where a few years ago there were no chances of any sort. We are speaking of the subject of business chances exclusively, but may venture to add such employments as miners, masons, dress makers, pavers, iron and steel workers, stationary engineers, engine stokers, etc. In these latter occupations there are more than one hundred thousand Colored Americans employed, a gain of over 85 per cent in ten years, or rather since 1890. The other trades have fallen off somewhat owing to the introduction of machinery.

To limit this question to commercial pursuits, it may be well to state that economic progress has reached a high water mark among Colored Americans. There are one hundred twenty-five and more Colored business men’s local Leagues in about every State in the Union, with eleven State Colored men’s business leagues in the Southern States.

These leagues are composed of bankers, merchants, and dealers generally in goods, wares and merchandise—dry goods and groceries, hardware, etc., and are all at the top notch.