There is a class of colored people who make a business of keeping the troubles, the wrongs, and the hardships of the Negro race before the public. Having learned that they are able to make a living out of their troubles, they have grown into the settled habit of advertising their wrongs-partly because they want sympathy and partly because it pays. Some of these people do not want the Negro to lose his grievances, because they do not want to lose their jobs.

Summary

This quote suggests that there exists a group of individuals from the African American community who profit from continually highlighting the struggles, injustices, and difficulties faced by their race. It asserts that these individuals have discovered that publicizing their grievances enables them to earn a living. They have become accustomed to promoting their hardships, driven by a desire for sympathy and personal gain. Additionally, the quote implies that some of these individuals may not genuinely want to see African Americans overcome their grievances as it would result in them losing their jobs that rely on addressing such issues.

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