"That he has learned the banking and insurance business, has developed them, and is now conducting these branches of business with signal success constitutes one of the best possible answers to the statements by anti-race men, and proves the wisdom of the National Negro Business League." --(Ralph Tyler, in a 1914 commentary in the Washington Bee, praising blacks for mastering the insurance and banking businesses.)

Chiefly due to malicious rumors regarding the economic solvency of our institutions, our road is never an easy one. Suspicion alone could precipitate a financial panic.

Time and again, our financiers deploy preemptive strikes and avert potential disasters. In 1913, an Oklahoma newspaper explains exactly how they did it...

"Meetings were held in every Negro church in the city and the Negro ministers preached on the subject of the bank. They appealed to race pride and cool judgment.... They pointed out that to get panicky and draw out deposits meant to break the bank...."

Guess what? It worked!

By the way, take a look at this editorial in the 1916 edition of the "Journal and Guide:" ...The saving something regularly each week out of one's earnings no matter how small or how pressing the obligations.... become sellers instead of buyers, become producers and manufacturers instead of consumers only. A race that cannot buy and sell will always play the second fiddle to the race that does buy and sell. But we cannot get money until we acquire the habit of saving.

The gospel of saving and investment is tattooed daily on the pages of black newspapers, everywhere!

The black press promotes and applauds virtually every new enterprise we begin. They inspire blacks to celebrate the wave of new businesses in our communities. As such, the majority of us are fiercely committed to the ideals of frugality, commerce, and investment.

The New Negro is the optimistic Negro. He believes in himself and, therefore, the others of his race. He believes in Negro business and gives it his full support. He believes in Negro institutions and lends his cooperation in building them up. He believes in his future. --(Memphis Triangle Newspaper, June 1, 1927.)

Finally, with respect to our mind-boggling progress and achievements, an Anglo scribe writes: "The increase in wealth, the rise of institutions for public welfare, and the spirit of cooperation have not been confined to one race. The progress of whites has been accompanied by corresponding progress among the Negroes." --(William K. Boyd, in a 1927 study of Durham, North Carolina.)

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