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Letter to Editor
January 12, 1901
The Colored American
Washington, District Of Columbia
What is this article about?
A letter from Chicago responding to an article on Negro business patronage, arguing that colored business owners must advertise effectively without emphasizing race and separate business from social interactions to succeed.
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OCR Quality
98%
Excellent
Full Text
A Voice From the West,
Chicago, Ill., Jan. 2, 1901.
The Colored American- I note an article in your paper for Dec. 25th entitled "The Negro's Sincerity," in which you state that Negroes will not patronize each other when in business.
Now I know this is true to a great extent, and I also know that the Negro in business is at fault in a great many instances.
The trouble with the colored business men is that they have not learned the value of printer's ink, particularly when used on business cards. I know one colored man in this city who has run a boardinghouse for over three years and I have been in his society at least once a month, ever since he opened his boardinghouse and I will truthfully say that it was only about one month ago that I found out that he was running a boardinghouse.
A colored man must advertise his business and advertise it well, not as a Negro business but as a business run by a man, a citizen and a gentleman.
Yours, etc.,
A Race Man.
P.S.: And above all things colored people must learn to separate their business affairs from their social affairs. Never try to associate with a man who does not want your society for familiarity breeds contempt.
Chicago, Ill., Jan. 2, 1901.
The Colored American- I note an article in your paper for Dec. 25th entitled "The Negro's Sincerity," in which you state that Negroes will not patronize each other when in business.
Now I know this is true to a great extent, and I also know that the Negro in business is at fault in a great many instances.
The trouble with the colored business men is that they have not learned the value of printer's ink, particularly when used on business cards. I know one colored man in this city who has run a boardinghouse for over three years and I have been in his society at least once a month, ever since he opened his boardinghouse and I will truthfully say that it was only about one month ago that I found out that he was running a boardinghouse.
A colored man must advertise his business and advertise it well, not as a Negro business but as a business run by a man, a citizen and a gentleman.
Yours, etc.,
A Race Man.
P.S.: And above all things colored people must learn to separate their business affairs from their social affairs. Never try to associate with a man who does not want your society for familiarity breeds contempt.
What sub-type of article is it?
Persuasive
Informative
Social Critique
What themes does it cover?
Commerce Trade
Social Issues
What keywords are associated?
Negro Business
Advertising
Racial Patronage
Printer's Ink
Business Separation
What entities or persons were involved?
A Race Man.
The Colored American
Letter to Editor Details
Author
A Race Man.
Recipient
The Colored American
Main Argument
colored business men must advertise their businesses effectively, without emphasizing race, and separate business from social affairs to encourage patronage and success.
Notable Details
References Article 'The Negro's Sincerity' From Dec. 25th
Example Of Unadvertised Boardinghouse In Chicago
Quote: 'Familiarity Breeds Contempt'