Page:Boys Life of Booker T. Washington.djvu/125

Rh getting before all the people a proper estimate of the real accomplishments of the negro.

One of the most important phases of his leadership of the negro was in the organization of the National Negro Business League. It was one of Washington's strongest beliefs that the negro must prove himself able to exist and prosper in business matters. The race—individually and collectively—must demonstrate its ability to take care of itself in all phases of industrial life. Another of his important principles was that the negro should emphasize his opportunities rather than his drawbacks. As he went about the country, he noted the wonderful progress made by the negro in all lines of business. He felt that it would be a great inspiration to those who had achieved success or leadership to know each other, and a still greater encouragement to all the people if they knew the real progress being made. Acting upon these ideas, he called a meeting of representatives of a large number of businesses to be held in Boston, in August, 1900. Here was organized the National Negro Business League. Washington was made president and continued to hold this office until his death in 1915.

The organization brought together from year to year all the representative negro business men of the country. They made reports of their progress and planned for future advancement. The league has been a wonderful factor in the development of