Although such communities had many Negro-owned businesses
thriving on a Negro trade, these businesses were still dependent
on the economy at large. Therefore, they were not at all free from
the racial discrimination in the nation. Their clientele was
largely employed in white-owned businesses. Many Negroes were
laid off,and Negro-owned businesses immediately felt the pinch.
Although Negro businesses had grown significantly during
the 1920s, most were small establishments and, in the age of
mass production and mass marketing, always had to struggle hard
in order to compete. In 1929, the Colored Merchants Association
was established in New York City, and it attempted to buy goods
for independent stores on a cooperative wholesale basis. This
aided them in competing with chain stores. The Association also
urged blacks to patronize stores owned by Afro-Americans.
Nevertheless, the Association only survived for two years. The
Afro-American community felt the Depression sooner and harder
than did the rest of the country.
By 1932, the government believed that 38 percent of the
Afro-American community was incapable of self-support and in need
of government relief.
Pages:
303
304
305
306
307
308
309
310
311
312
313
314
315
316
317
318
319
320
321
322
323
324
325
326
327