The Ruin of the Old Regime 51 



The single exception is found in share tenancy between 

 1890 and 1900. During this period, cash tenancy increased 

 at such a tremendous rate that share tenancy lost a little 

 ground relatively. 



In addit ion to provid ing g reat er opportun ity as an owner 

 and tenant, the breakdown of the plantation sys tem has in- 

 fluenced Ne gro life in another fundamental aspect. It has 

 br ought competition with white men. White farm la bor is 

 on the increase in Georgia, hnt in the coun ties in which 

 Negroes constitute the majority, Negro farm lahorprq are 

 almosf^exc lusively employed . Under the ante-bellum sys- 

 tem this was true of the whole State. As long, therefore, 

 as the Negro remained in the Black Belt, and the gang labor 

 prevailed, he was the laborer and the white man the "boss" 

 in all cases. The rise of white and Negro tenancy has, how- 

 ever, thrown the Negro into competition with the white men 

 for farms. 



The figures as to increase in tenancy cited above include 

 both the white and the colored tenants. 



Since the whole labor force immediately after the Civil 

 War was composed of Negroes, it is but natural that they 

 should have participated to the greatest extent in this rise of 

 tenancy. Of late, however, the increase in white tenants 

 has been more rapid. Today it is not unusual even in the 

 heart of the Black Belt to find a settlement of small white 

 owners or tenants. Many mountaineers have moved down 

 and availed themselves of this opportunity to cultivate the 

 more fertile lands. The extent to which the colored man has 

 held his place on the farm and entered the owner and tenant 

 classes is indicated by the following chapter. 



