Over one hundred years ago, African Americans looked forward to the new twentieth century with mixed feelings of pride and discouragement. It was at this uncertain time that this interesting collection of articles by leading African American citizens was published to address what was then commonly known as 'the Negro problem'. Looking back at this synopsis of African American affairs one can get a good sense of both the progress made and the problems yet to be overcome, some of which have still not been fully addressed. Issued in the centennial year of its original publication, this new edition of a valuable classic is complemented by an informative foreword by Bernard R. Boxill, professor of philosophy at the University of North Carolina, Chapel Hill.