Chapter 9 EARNERS

If New York has a Negro population largely composed of immigrants from other regions, the question naturally arises, From what sections or regions do they come? The State Census of 1905 gives nativity by countries only. Consequently, those born within the United States are not specified by State or territory of birth. That large numbers of the Negro population of New York City come from other sections of the United States, mainly from the South, is beyond doubt.

We get the first impression of this fact from the Federal Census of 1900. For the whole State of New York in 1900, out of a population of 100,000,[46] 44.6 per cent were natives, 24.1 per cent were from Virginia, 19 per cent were from other Southern States, with a remaining 12.3 per cent to be drawn from other parts of the United States and from other countries.

These proportions are different from those for New York City, because immigrants make up a larger part of the City's Negro population. The figures of the State Census of 1905, as well as those from a personal canvass, point in the same direction, and the evidence indicates clearly the probable condition.

The West Indian element in the Negro population of the City was noticed first. The British West Indies furnish 5.8 per cent of these foreign Negro immigrants, while the Danish West Indies, Cuba, and those islands not specified, together make up 3.6 per cent, a total of 9.4 per cent West Indian.[47] Table XIII (p. 59) gives a survey of this part of the population and shows its relation to the native born.

We are unable to get from the figures of Table XIII the sections or States of the United States from which the 89.5 per cent of American-born Negroes came. The few straws of evidence afforded by the personal canvass point to the main sources of the stream. The percentages have significance although the figures are few. The Southern States, from which there are easy means of transportation to New York, naturally furnish the larger part. Virginia supplied 29.6 per cent of the 365 Manhattan residents; South Carolina, 11 per cent; Georgia, 6 per cent, and Maryland, 4.4 per cent. Taking the Southern States by themselves, 67.5 per cent of the 365 wage-earners were born in that section. Besides 5.7 per cent of the 365 came from the British West Indies. The West Indies and the Southern States probably furnished 73.4 per cent or about three-fourths of these wage-earners in the Negro population of New York City. Table XIV (p. 60) shows in full the State and country of birth of the 365 wage-earners.

Table XIII. Nativity by Country of Birth of 9,788 Wage-earners, Manhattan, 1905.

Country of birth. No. No. Per cent

The Bermudas - 28 0.3

British West Indies - 566 5.8

Antiqua 1 - -

Bahama Islands 7 - -

Barbadoes 36 - -

Jamaica 19 - -

St. Croix 46 - -

St. Christopher 20 - -

St. Thomas 8 - -

Trinidad 1 - -

Not specified 428 - -

Danish West Indies - 62 0.6

Cuba - 14 0.1

West Indies (not specified) - 285 2.9

Canada - 16 0.2

United States - 8,757 89.5

Miscellaneous[A] - 36 0.4

Unknown - 24 0.2

Total - 9,788 100.

[A] The miscellaneous includes the following: Australia 3, England 7, East Indies 1, France 1, Germany 1, Hayti 1, India 2, Ireland 1, Mexico 2, Monrovia, Africa 1, Porto Rico 9, Sandwich Islands 1, Santo Domingo 2, South America 4.

Foreign and native immigrants predominate in the Negro population of the City. With such a stream of immigrants the question arises about their marriage and family relationships. Are they largely single people, or are there large numbers of married, widowed, or divorced persons among them? The discussion next centers upon this point.

Table XIV. Nativity by State or Country of Birth of 365 Wage Earners, Manhattan, 1909.

Country. No. Per cent No. Per cent

Bermuda - - 4 1.1

British West Indies - - 21 5.7

Antiqua 3 - - -

Barbadoes 8 - - -

Grenada 1 - - -

Jamaica 1 - - -

Nassau 1 - - -

St. Croix 3 - - -

St. Kitts 1 - - -

Trinidad 1 - - -

Island Unknown 2 - - -

United States - - 307 84.2

Georgia 22 6.0 - -

Maryland 16 4.4 - -

New York 40 11.0 - -

North Carolina 35 9.6 - -

South Carolina 40 11.0 - -

Virginia 108 29.6 - -

Other States[A] 46 12.6 - -

Miscellaneous[B] - - 4 1.1

Unknown - - 29 7.9

Total - - 365 100

[A] The other states of the Union are: Alabama 2, Arkansas 2, Delaware 2, District of Columbia 7, Florida 7, Illinois 1, Kentucky 4, Massachusetts 4, Missouri 3, Ohio 2, Pennsylvania 3, Tennessee 2, Texas 2, Michigan 1, New Jersey 1, Rhode Island 1, Porto Rico 2.

[B] Miscellaneous: St. Martin 1, Ontario 1, British Guiana 2.