The Economic Viability of Black America PT II
Posted: Thu Aug 16, 2007 6:19 pm
Now as was stated before, the United States of America is a land of opportunity, both financial and otherwise. However, blacks have not always been extended these great opportunities and indeed have had to fight throughout their history in this country in order to gain equal say and equal footing with members of the majority. This was because the majority's belief was that members of other racial groups were inferior and did not deserve to be where the majority was, nor did they deserve to become anything more. They were thusly oppressed.
One need only look at the early twentieth centuries for evidence of this. Frank A. Fetter, a noted economist stated in 1915 that, “Few thoughtful persons now hold the view that race can be improved, biologically, rapidly if at all, or by the process of education of individuals.” Also, Irving Fisher, another economist remarked, “Among communities and people noted for lack of foresight and for negligence with respect to the future are, China, India, Java, the Negro communities of southern states, the peasant communities of Russia and the North and South American Indians.”1 Whether a fair statement or not, this was indicative of the mindset of many early twentieth century economists. They believed that poverty was inherently related to race. Booker T. Washington, an influential black scholar and educator disagreed with such beliefs when he offered, “The Negro is behind the white man because he has not had the same chances, and not from any inherent difference in his nature or desires.” Essentially, black economic growth is in its infancy, where as whites have had centuries upon centuries of growth and overall economic power. So, from his statement one could conclude that it is not reasonable to think that blacks as a whole could be the economic equal of whites as a whole at this point in time. His statement also implies that blacks had long since gotten the short end of the stick which began with slavery, at which time, it was against the law for slaves to be educated. It certainly wasn’t lawful for them to earn any money for their labor, thus there was little economic benefit for the slave. Although, the future was not necessarily so grim economically speaking. Booker T. Washington does make mention of certain benefits the Negro gained through slavery. By this, he was referring to the fact that, black slaves were masters of several trades. They were carpenters, blacksmiths, farmers, cooks, and so on. Essentially, the white owners not endeavoring to spend money on white laborers, placed all the onus on these skills with the black man. However, none of these learned skills included how to run a business. This is something the black man would have to learn on his own and after slavery had been abolished.
Once emancipated, former slaves began to set financial goals for themselves. They capitalized on a deep-seated desire to excel and move above, beyond, and past the bonds of servitude. Ex-slaves sought education and work. They purchased land and built homes and entire communities, such as Rosewood, FL cementing a firm socioeconomic prosperity amongst the members of these communities. It was said that the money in these townships would circulate within the community up to ten years before exiting. Historical documents show that a very impressive business class evolved wherever there were free blacks. 1Black institutions of higher learning, such as the Tuskegee Institute were set up and funded and soon the country would see a proliferation of black colleges and vocational institutions. Economic programs by people like Booker T. Washington were set up for “the advancement of Black America”. But, white hatred, and opression felled many of these communities and programs prompting them to fade away and become relegated to the annals of history.
As the period of post slavery waned and these freedmen settled into new areas and old, they were relegated to certain portions of the city and kept segregated from white. Most blacks stayed within these sub-communities, or ghettos, and did not overstep the unofficial boundaries surrounding them. Since these areas and neighborhoods were within predominantly white towns and cities, blacks were forced to depend on whites to provide them with the bare necessities and indeed some whites took advantage of this and exploited blacks in many ways. This can certainly be pointed to as a possible reason for the economic deficiencies that plagued and do plague the black race. But, it most definitely is not the only reason.
One need only look at the early twentieth centuries for evidence of this. Frank A. Fetter, a noted economist stated in 1915 that, “Few thoughtful persons now hold the view that race can be improved, biologically, rapidly if at all, or by the process of education of individuals.” Also, Irving Fisher, another economist remarked, “Among communities and people noted for lack of foresight and for negligence with respect to the future are, China, India, Java, the Negro communities of southern states, the peasant communities of Russia and the North and South American Indians.”1 Whether a fair statement or not, this was indicative of the mindset of many early twentieth century economists. They believed that poverty was inherently related to race. Booker T. Washington, an influential black scholar and educator disagreed with such beliefs when he offered, “The Negro is behind the white man because he has not had the same chances, and not from any inherent difference in his nature or desires.” Essentially, black economic growth is in its infancy, where as whites have had centuries upon centuries of growth and overall economic power. So, from his statement one could conclude that it is not reasonable to think that blacks as a whole could be the economic equal of whites as a whole at this point in time. His statement also implies that blacks had long since gotten the short end of the stick which began with slavery, at which time, it was against the law for slaves to be educated. It certainly wasn’t lawful for them to earn any money for their labor, thus there was little economic benefit for the slave. Although, the future was not necessarily so grim economically speaking. Booker T. Washington does make mention of certain benefits the Negro gained through slavery. By this, he was referring to the fact that, black slaves were masters of several trades. They were carpenters, blacksmiths, farmers, cooks, and so on. Essentially, the white owners not endeavoring to spend money on white laborers, placed all the onus on these skills with the black man. However, none of these learned skills included how to run a business. This is something the black man would have to learn on his own and after slavery had been abolished.
Once emancipated, former slaves began to set financial goals for themselves. They capitalized on a deep-seated desire to excel and move above, beyond, and past the bonds of servitude. Ex-slaves sought education and work. They purchased land and built homes and entire communities, such as Rosewood, FL cementing a firm socioeconomic prosperity amongst the members of these communities. It was said that the money in these townships would circulate within the community up to ten years before exiting. Historical documents show that a very impressive business class evolved wherever there were free blacks. 1Black institutions of higher learning, such as the Tuskegee Institute were set up and funded and soon the country would see a proliferation of black colleges and vocational institutions. Economic programs by people like Booker T. Washington were set up for “the advancement of Black America”. But, white hatred, and opression felled many of these communities and programs prompting them to fade away and become relegated to the annals of history.
As the period of post slavery waned and these freedmen settled into new areas and old, they were relegated to certain portions of the city and kept segregated from white. Most blacks stayed within these sub-communities, or ghettos, and did not overstep the unofficial boundaries surrounding them. Since these areas and neighborhoods were within predominantly white towns and cities, blacks were forced to depend on whites to provide them with the bare necessities and indeed some whites took advantage of this and exploited blacks in many ways. This can certainly be pointed to as a possible reason for the economic deficiencies that plagued and do plague the black race. But, it most definitely is not the only reason.