The Booker T. Washington Papers, Vol.10, page 380, Aug. 1910, U. of Illinois Press

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The BOOKER T. WASHINGTON Papers He began by paying a visit to Whitechapel yesterday morning. Accompanied by Dr. Park, an American authority on the coloured races, and Mr. J. Harris, secretary of the Anti-Slavery and Aborigines Protection Society, he motored to Petticoat-lane, and walked through that famous, if somewhat noisy and malodorous thoroughfare, afterwards making a tour of other streets. There, it is interesting to note, he was much impressed with the cheapness of the meat and vegetables on sale—much cheaper, he said, than A· . In merlca. Of the present condition and future of his own race he spoke hopefully. ''All the worst things,'' he said, ''are recorded, but hardly any of the best things. If there is a lynching all the world knows about it next day, but if the coloured people build a college, establish a bank, or a store, or erect houses for themselves, nothing is known about it except in the community. Forty-five years ago, when the race was freed, ~ per cent. could read and write, and it was then illegal to educate the negro. Today ~7 per cent. can read and write, and many have, of course, attained a good education. ''As to material progress, take two of the States where the taxable property is separated according to race Georgia and Virginia. Last year the coloured people in Virginia owned s2,000 acres of taxable land, and in Georgia 40,000 to ~o,ooo. The statistics also showed that the coloured people owned over 300,000 farms and more than 400,000 homes. WEALTH OF THE BLACK RACE ''Basing the rate of increase of taxable property upon the accurate records of these two States, I think it is safe to say that the property of that class owned by the race is increasing about ~z,ooo,ooo dots. a year, so that, at a very conservative estimate, the taxable property of the negro race is placed at about 600,000,000 dole.'' But it is not only in material matters that the coloured people are making progress. ''In the Southern States of America,'' said Mr. Washington, ''the negro has a better chance than in almost any country in the world for his labour. That leads one step further. There is in the South practically no prejudice between the two races. In politics there 38o