The man who is a consumer only is of little use in this world. He is out
of balance with energies and activities in the business or professional
world.
The earth, the soil, is valuable only because it PRODUCES something that
did not exist before. It creates in its way. The more it creates or
produces, the more its value. When it produces nothing it is called a
desert and is avoided for all useful purposes.
It is the same way with men; they must produce, make something, and the
more things they make or produce, the higher their value, the greater
their wage earning capacity, or income producing power.
Let the Colored American get into a business of his own; begin in a
small way, but make something for others to buy or use.
To become a producer he must enter the manufacturing and commercial
fields. He must grow up with his business of producing.
In this way he will establish an enterprise for his sons and daughters,
and he will be able to sit in comfort beneath his own vine and fig tree.
Present “Opportunity” lies in taking advantage of present conditions,
always remembering that as we progress we open up other and better
opportunities that may be temporarily closed to us.
To get the means to do this, we must educate and work. The race has made
wonderful progress in the field, the workshop, and in the professions,
but it must reach out into commercial life, for the wherewith to carry
out higher ideals.
We must cultivate the commercial instinct if we would master our own
destinies.
We are all what we make of ourselves, and can not accuse another of
spoiling the work.