Greenwood, Mississippi - April 22, 1917

Sir: I noticed in the Defender about receiving some information from you about positions up there or rather work and I am very anxious to know what the chances are for business men. I am very anxious to leave the South on account of my children but mu husband doesn't seem to think that he can succeed there in business, he is a merchant and also knows the barber trade what are the chances for either? Some of our folks down here have the idea that this Northern movement means nothing to any body but those who go out and labor by the day. I am willing to work myself to get a start. Tell me what we could really do. I will do most any- thing to get our family out of Bam. Please let this be confidential.

Emmett J. Scott, “Letters of Negro Migrants of 1916-1918.” The Journal of Negro History 4, no. 3 (July 1919), 311–312.