INCREASING OPPORTUNITIES.
(From Amsterdam News.)
When the present European War was begun we gave it as our opinion that with the exodus of the foreign reservist and the cessation of immigration economic opportunities would be on the increase for the colored American. The results have vindicated our predictions. But has the colored man seized the opportunities presented? Is he taking the best advantage of the present situation?
Three times since the outbreak of the European War we have advised our young men and women to learn Spanish. Today the metropolitan dailies are filled with advertisements calling for Spanish speaking and enterprising young people. In many cases the need is so pressing for the expansion in South America of this country’s commerce that were a colored man to answer one of these advertisements there is hardly one chance in nine that he would meet with a rebuff. Little over a year ago the situation would have been exactly the reverse. But necessity and the Almighty Dollar work some awful changes. Prejudice usually disappears when it affects the moneyed interests. Colored men and women are holding down positions today that only eighteen months ago were tightly closed against them. And, what’s more, they can continue to hold those jobs even after the war, if their services are up to the required notch of efficiency. With many hundreds of them being used at present to fill places of the departed reservists still the advertising goes more emphatically on for more, yet more. Is the supply equal to the demand?
And the demand is even more urgent for Spanish speaking men and women to travel to the South American countries as the trade representatives of the big American firms. Will our people accept this opportunity, too? Or, now with opportunity thundering at their doors, will they ignore Ambition’s call to higher things?
Three times before we have advised them to learn Spanish. For a fourth time we reiterate the advice: Young man, young woman, learn Spanish! For behind that easily mastered language is the beckoning hand of increasing opportunities. Prepare yourself, and do your best on any job you accept. So when you leave it, another COLORED MAN OR WOMAN may be employed.
BUSINESS SENSE.
(Chicago Defender.)