Progress and Achievements of the Colored People / Containing the Story of the Wonderful Advancement of the Colored Americans—the Most Marvelous in the History of Nations—Their Past Accomplishments, Together With Their Present-day Opportunities and a Glimpse Into the Future for Further Developments—the Dawn of a Triumphant Era. A Handbook for Self-improvement Which Leads to Greater Success

In the foregoing pages facts and figures have been given for all of the schools under white hoards, together with the names of the more important schools. It is apparent from these facts that the interest of the more fortunate members of the white race in the education of the Negro has by no means passed. The works of the colored boards, however, while they have not the money and the training such as have been brought to the schools under white boards, is the best proof of race progress. Indeed the establishment of the large number of schools by the colored people is one of the most noteworthy achievements of the race. As is to be expected, practically all of these schools are supported through the various religious denominations. The works of these boards is convincing evidence of the determination of the colored people to help themselves. The liberality with which they contribute to the maintenance of these schools is both wonderful and inspiring. This is especially significant when it is remembered the colored are taxed for educational purposes just as any other people. While authentic statistics are not available to show what proportion of the taxes paid by them are returned in the form of public school facilities, it is quite generally believed that they receive an unequal share. In the face of this condition, their willingness to establish schools for themselves, that they, optimism, resolution and courage. These are among the best signs of race power, and prove the capacity of the colored people to progress, even in the face of opposition. The following table shows the number of schools, teachers, students, amount of income and value of property of the schools under the different colored denominations:

From this table it will be seen that there are 153 institutions supported entirely by colored people; that they have over 17,000 students, 828 teachers, an annual income of $380,933, and property valued nearly $2,500,000. These figures represent conservative compilations by the United States Bureau of Education. Significant as these facts are, however, they do not represent the sum total of the conditions which the Negroes make for the maintenance of schools. They contribute large sums annually to schools under white denominations, and to independent schools.

Colored Baptist Schools.—It is to be expected that the Baptist denomination with its large membership should lead in the support of schools.

Though there are several national organizations of Negro Baptists, none of them seem to own or maintain any educational institution. The schools are owned and directed by State or local organizations or by independent boards of trustees selected from the membership of Baptist churches. The origin of the national and State associations was suggested in the discussion of the white Baptist Boards. The local Baptist associations are composed of churches located in one or more counties.

The following table presents the important facts for these schools by States:

The various associations of Negro Baptists own and maintain 110 schools, of which 31 are rated as “larger or more important” by the Bureau of Education. Some of the 31 schools are classified as “more important” on the basis of quality of work rather than on size of plant.

The total annual income for current expenses is $181,914, of which $99,040, is for the 31 larger schools, and $82,874 for the 79 smaller schools. The value of property is $821,295, of which $539,545 is in the smaller schools. According to these figures, the average income of the larger schools is only about $3,200, and the average income of the smaller schools is about $1,000, and the average value of plant about $3,600.

The total attendance is 11,250 pupils, of whom 10,324 are elementary and 926 secondary. The number of teachers is 474, of whom 159 are male and 315 female. There are only 20 teachers of industrial courses and two teachers of agriculture. The 79 smaller schools have only four industrial teachers.

Livingstone Colored Normal and Industrial Institute, Livingstone, Alabama; Union Springs Normal School, Union Springs, Alabama; Consolidated White River Academy, Brinkley, Arkansas; Immanuel Industrial Institute, Almyra, Arkansas; South East Baptist Industrial Academy, Dermott, Arkansas; National Training School for Women and Girls, Washington, D. C.; Florida Institute, Live Oak, Florida; Cabin Creek High School, Griffin, Georgia; Central City College, Macon, Georgia; Rome High and Industrial School, Rome Georgia; Howe Institute, New Iberia, Louisiana; Israel Academy, Belle Alliance, Louisiana; Mansfield Academy, Mansfield, Louisiana; Baptist Industrial High School; Natchez College, Natchez, Mississippi; Sardis Industrial College, Sardis, Mississippi; Rich Square Academy, Rich Square, North Carolina; Bettis Academy, Trenton, South Carolina; Friendship Normal and Industrial College, Roche Hill, South Carolina; Morris College, Sumter, South Carolina; Seneca Institute, Seneca, South Carolina; Nelson-Mary Academy, Jefferson City, Tennessee; Central Texas College, Waco, Texas; East Texas Academy, Tyler, Texas; Fort Worth Industrial and Mechanical College, Fort Worth, Texas; Guadaloupe College, Seginn, Texas; Houston College, Houston, Texas; Corey Memorial Institute, Portsmouth, Virginia; Pittsylvania Normal, Industrial and College Institute, Gretna, Virginia; Rappahannock Industrial Academy, Ozeana, Virginia; Virginia Theological Seminary and College, Lynchburg, Virginia.

African Methodist Episcopal Church.—Next to the Baptist denomination the African Methodist Episcopal Church has been most active among colored denominations in the establishment of schools for its members.

The following table presents the facts for the A. M. E. schools:

The various conferences of the African Methodist Episcopal Church own and maintain 17 schools, of which 13 are rated in this report as “larger or more important,” by the Bureau of Education. The total income for current expenses is $128,778, and the total value of property is $800,609. On the basis of income four of the larger schools have incomes under $5,000, six between $5,000 and $15,000, and three between $15,000 and $30,000. According to property, three schools have a valuation under $25,000, five between $25,000 and $50,000, three between $50,000 and $100,000, and two between $150,000 and $250,000.

The total attendance is 3,212 pupils, of whom 2,096 are elementary, 1,028 secondary, and 88 collegiate. Three institutions offer college courses. The number of teachers is 187, or whom 98 are men and 89 women.

As an indication of the progress of the colored people, the extent of these educational facilities and the character of the organization are exceedingly satisfactory.

The 13 larger schools of the A. M. E. Church are: Payne University, Selma, Alabama; Shorter College, Argenta, Arkansas; Edward Waters College, Tallahassee, Florida; Morris Brown University, Atlanta, Georgia; Payne Institute, Cuthbert, Georgia; Central Park Normal and Industrial Institute, Savannah, Georgia; Lampton Literary and Industrial College, Alexandria, Louisiana; Campbell College, Jackson, Mississippi; Kittrell College, Kittrell, North Carolina; Allen University, Columbia South Carolina; Turner Normal School, Shelbyville, Tennessee; Paul Quinn College, Waco Texas; Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio.

African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church.—The African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church has been very active and effective in the establishment and management of schools. Much credit is due Dr. S. G. Atkins, the former educational secretary, through whose tact and ability a number of these schools greatly increased in the value of their work. The leading facts are given below:

The conferences of the African Methodist Episcopal Zion Church own and maintain 11 schools, of which nine are rated as “larger or more important.” The total income for current expenses is $37,600, and the value of property is $316,950. Livingstone College in North Carolina represents over half of the total of income and property.

The total attendance is 1,207, of whom 923 are elementary, 267 secondary and 17 college subjects. The teachers are 77 in number, of whom 36 are men and 41 women.

The general standards of educational work have been good. This is especially true of the smaller schools.

Lomax Hannon High School, Greenville, Alabama; Walter Institute, Warren, Arkansas; Atkinson College, Madisonville, Kentucky; Edenton’s Normal and Industrial College, Edenton, North Carolina; Eastern North Carolina Industrial Academy, Newbern, North Carolina; Livingstone College, Salisbury, North Carolina; Lancaster Normal and Industrial College, Lancaster, South Carolina; Clinton College, Rock Hill, South Carolina; Dinwiddie Agricultural and Industrial School, Dinwiddie, Virginia.

Colored Methodist Episcopal Church.—The general board of education of the African Methodist Episcopal Church has only recently been organized. Its functions with regard to the schools are advisory. The secretary is, however, doing much to improve the methods of administration and the standards of educational work. His point of view is well stated in the following quotation from his annual report:

The strongest plea for help is first-class work. Our schools must run on business principles and not on sentiment. We must arrange the classification and standards of our schools so that they will be each what its name indicates—not professing to do what we do not do. A good grammar school is greater than a poor high school; a good academy more desirable than a sorry college; a well-conducted college is preferable to a sham university. We must meet present-day needs and demands if we expect to get money.

A very important fact with regard to this denomination and its schools is the relation to the Methodist Episcopal Church South. The Colored Methodist Episcopal Church was founded through the missionary interest of the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church in the former slave States. Through this interest, the Methodist Episcopal Church maintains Payne College, at Augusta, Ga., and contributes annual sums to several of the African Methodist Episcopal schools. In the cooperation now being developed, the Southern Methodist Episcopal Church has been ably represented by Dr. John M. Moore, the secretary of the mission department, and Dr. Anderson, the secretary of education.

The conferences of the Colored Methodist Episcopal Church own and maintain nine schools, of which six are rated as “larger or more important” and three as “smaller or less important.” The total income for current expenses is $25,991, and the value of property is $328,200. Lane College in Tennessee is the only institution with an income of over $5,000. Three schools have property valuations of over $50,000.

The total attendance is 1,313 pupils, of whom 1,030 are elementary, 267 secondary, and 10 collegiate. The number of teachers is 72, of whom 32 are men and 40 are women.

The nine larger C. M. E. schools are: Miles Memorial College, Birmingham, Alabama; Holsey Academy, Cordele, Georgia; Homer College, Homer, Louisiana; Mississippi Industrial College, Holly Springs, Mississippi; Lane College, Jackson, Tennessee; Texas College, Tyler, Texas.

Miscellaneous denominations.—In addition to the educational institutions of the colored churches mentioned, five other denominations are attempting some educational work. Only one of these maintained more than one school, The Free Will Baptist Church, which maintains Kinston College, Kinston, North Carolina, is the only denomination in the group that supports a school classed as large or important by the Bureau of Education. The following table presents the facts for these schools: