Wilcox
and the seven adjoining counties is as follows: Wilcox, 11,623; Dallas,
18,292; Lowndes, 13,044; Monroe, 5,615; Butler, 5,924; Marengo, 12,362;
Clark, 6,898; Perry, 10,723; making a total of 85,499. Speaking of
public schools in the sense that educators use the term, the colored
people in this section have none. Of course, there are so-called public
schools here and there, running from three to five months in the year
and paying the teachers from $7.50 to $18 per month; but the teachers
are incompetent, and the schools are usually in the hands of those not
too much interested in the cause of education. Many of these trustees do
not visit the schools once in ten years, and they know absolutely
nothing of the methods of discipline even used by the teachers.

Our trip through this section revealed the following facts: (1) That
while many opportunities were denied our people, they abused many
privileges; (2) that there was a colored population, in this section
visited, of more than 200,000, and a school population of 85,499; (3)
that the people were ignorant and superstitious; (4) that the teachers
and preachers for the most part were of the same condition; (5) that
there were no public or private libraries and reading-rooms to which
they had access; (6) that, strictly speaking, there were no public
schools and only one private one. Now what can be expected of any people
in such a condition? Can the blind lead the blind? They could not in the
days of old, and it is not likely that they can now.

After this trip through the "Black Belt" I was more convinced than ever
before of the great need of an industrial school in the very midst of
these people; a school that would correct the erroneous ideas the people
held of education; a school that would put most stress upon the things
which the people were most likely to have to do with through life; a
school that would endeavor to make education practical rather than
theoretical; a school that would train men and women to be good workers,
good leaders, good husbands, good wives, and finally train them to be
fit citizens of the State, and proper subjects for the kingdom of God.

With this idea the Snow Hill Normal and Industrial Institute was started
ten years ago in an old, dilapidated, one-room log cabin with one
teacher, three students, and no State appropriation, and without any
church or society responsible for one dollar of its expenses. Aside
from this unfortunate s