ABSTRACT
Thirty years ago I wrote for inclusion in The New Negro a short chapter entitled “Durham: Capital of the Black Middle Class.” In that chapter I undertook to show how a small group of Negroes, practicing the philosophy of thrift, had built up businesses which indicated the emergence of the spirit of modern business enterprise. Moreover, I undertook to describe the patterns of behavior and general outlook on life of this new class among Negroes, which I regarded as representative of a new element that was appearing in the evolution of Negro life in the United States. The many changes which have occurred in the economic and social structure of American society since that chapter was written have brought about a transformation of Negro life. One of the most important aspects of this transformation has been the emergence of a sizeable middle class which has acquired a dominant position in the Negro community. It is my purpose in this paper to discuss the development of the new Negro middle class and its present status. But before entering upon the main emphasis of this paper I must say something of the character of the Negro middle class which I described thirty years ago.
