54 Negro Migration 



now exist pass away with the generations which are close 

 to slavery. There can hardly be a doubt that the inter- 

 racial struggle will be intensified in some respects, especially 

 in the cities where industrial competition springs up. In 

 fact, in some city occupations the Negro is already begin- 

 ning to feel the pressure of competition. To quote again 

 from Booker Washington's speeches : "In some schools the 

 Negro has been so busy studying Latin and Greek that the 

 Greeks and Italians have come over to America and taken 

 their jobs as waiters and bootblacks." 



The changes which took place in the past twelve years 

 in the pressing establishments of Athens, Ga., illustrate the 

 manner in which white competition operates. Less than 

 twelve years ago all of the pressing shops of the town were 

 operated by Negroes, who sometimes hired assistants. White 

 capital, however, introduced better irons, more responsibil- 

 ity, and delivery wagons, and now there is only one pressing 

 establishment owned by a Negro, and it receives most of 

 its revenue through tailoring done by its owner. There are 

 five or six large pressing establishments owned and super- 

 vised by white men, the actual labor being done by Negroes. 

 Thus they have been driven downward in the same line of 

 work from owners to hired helpers. A similar change has 

 taken place in the barber shops. One can readily see 

 by looking at the shops that it was not prejudice against 

 the Negro in these lines which drove him from the field. 

 It was inability to compete successfully. 



The chief question which confronts people who plan fu- 

 ture programs for the Negro is: Will competition in the 

 future drive the Negro downward in all lines, as it has in 

 these business enterprises and in some trades in the city? 

 This question will be one of nation wide importance when- 

 ever the reaction from war conditions causes a contrac- 

 tion in industry in some of the centers which have received 

 many Negro migrants. As far as the rural Negro is con- 



