Evidences of Progress Among Colored People

"Evidences of Progress Among Colored People" by G. F. Richings is a historical document created between the late 1800s and early 1900s that records the progress of African Americans following their freedom. The book seeks to disprove negative beliefs regarding the skills and achievements of colored people by providing real-life examples and uplifting narratives from their lives. The book starts with an introduction and preface, where Richings states his goal to offer a fair and thorough look at the accomplishments of African Americans. He talks about the false ideas that the colored community faces because of poverty and jobless rates, especially in the South, and stresses how important education and personal growth are. Using specific schools, churches, and successful people as models, Richings showcases the significant progress made within the African American community, providing examples of new educational projects and in-depth stories of important people in different jobs to motivate those who would come after them.