12 things the Negro must do for himself(1)

I received this rather inspiring, but somewhat demeaning message
in my inbox this morning. Could you research and see if there is any truth
to the authenticity of the author.

Thought you might find this interesting.

Written by a black woman in the 1900's

12 Things The Negro Must Do For Himself
by Nannie Helen Burroughs
(Circa Early 1900's)


1. The Negro Must Learn To Put First Things First. The First Things Are:
Education; Development of Character Traits; A Trade and Home Ownership.

The Negro puts too much of his earning in clothes, in food, in
show and in having what he calls 'a good time.' The Dr. Kelly Miller
said, 'Th e Negro buys what he WANTS and begs for what he needs.'


2. The Negro Must Stop Expecting God and White Folk To Do For Him What He Can Do For Himself.

It is the 'Divine Plan' that the strong shall help the weak, but
even God does not do for man what man can do for himself. The Negro will
have to do exactly what Jesus told the man (in John 5:8) to do -- Carry his
own load -- 'Take up your bed and walk.'

3. The Negro Must Keep Himself, His Children And His Home Clean And Make
The Surroundings In Which He Lives Comfortable and Attractive.

He must learn to 'run his community up' -- not down. We can
segregate by law, we integrate only by living. Civilization is not a
matter of race, it is a matter of standards. Believe it or not -- some day,
some race is going to outdo the Anglo-Saxon, completely. It can be the
Negro race, if the Negro gets sense enough. Civilization goes up and down
that way.

4. The Negro Must Learn To Dress More Appropriately For Work And For
Leisure.

Knowing what to wear -- how to wear it -- when to wear it and where
to wear it, are earmarks of common sense, culture and also an index to
character.

5. The Negro Must Make His Religion An Everyday Practice And Not Just A
Sunday-Go-To-Meeting Emotional Affair.

6. The Negro Must Highly Resolve To Wipe Out Mass Ignorance.

The leaders of the race must teach and inspi re the masses to
become eager and determined to improve mentally, morally and spiritually,
and to meet the basic requirements of good citizenship.

We should initiate an intensive literacy campaign in America, as
well as in Africa. Ignorance -- satisfied ignorance -- is a
millstone about the neck of the race. It is democracy's greatest burden.

Social integration is a relationship attained as a result of the
cultivation of kindred social ideals, interests and standards.

It is a blending process that requires time, understanding and
kindred purposes to achieve. Likes alone and not laws can do it.