The American Negro as a Dependent, Defective and Delinquent

Description

If we are to understand the submerged Negro so as to apply remedial measures to his submergency, we must look into the fundamental elements of the Negro character. We must consider not only his present social environment, but his racial history also. We must know his hereditary traits and tendencies as developed in his original habitat and the modifications that have been wrought by transportation. Later we should examine his present physical and social environments and see how naturally his native instincts respond to the stimuli of the new environment. Thus only can we judge as to how far the negro may be expected to adjust himself, and as to what extent the submerged classes of the race may be able to yield to such treatment as may be possible for them in American society.