Brooker T. Washington quote analysis help...?

Question

"Twenty years ago every large and paying baber shop over the country was in the hands of black men; today in all the large cities you cannot find a single large or first-class barber shop operated by colored [black] men. The black man had a monopoly of that industry, but had gone on from day to day in the same old monotnous [boring] way without improving anything about the industry. As a result, the white man taken it up..."

In Washington's first sentence, he states that black barber shops have disapeared in the twenty years between 1875 and 1895. Do you think this is a fact or an opinion? Please give one reason to support your answer.

What (if any) reasons would a black barber shop might have had truoble staying in business in the 1890s?

thank you ever so much! :)

Answer 1

It's an opinion because I mean.. another person may have thought nothing of this happening. He definitely makes it one also when he claims it was monotonous.. Does he even know from experience? Clearly an opinion not fact.

And uhh think about your time line. Black people were still amidst the whole segregation thing, so of course business was tough.

Answer 2

Check out the history of the 1890 land grant colleges (Morril Act) and how people were leaving the trade industry for a pursuit of college degrees (because the opportunity had finally availed itself).

A lot more, historically and politically, was occuring at that time as well. You'll be enlightened by researching and finding your  answers.