12 rules to success
Old fashioned. Not relevant. Stupid. These are
some of the adjectives that might be applied to the 12 rules of conduct espoused by Nannie Helen Burroughs (1879-1961) way
back when, but think again. Today as thousands of our young men and women leave college and begin their search for jobs, it
might not be a bad idea to take a second look at these rules which have carpeted the road to success for many young adults.
Miss Burroughs, who came to Washington, D.C. at an early age and graduated with high honors from the old M Street High
School, wanted to become a domestic science teacher. She was turned down by the D.C. public school system despite her qualifications,
and later established the National Training School for Women and Girls in 1909; a private school still in existence today
under the name Nannie Helen Burroughs School, 601-50th St., N.E. Washington, D.C. Her rules might bring a smirk to your face
but on second thought, just imagine what would happen if just one fourth of our Black youth, and their parents, would take
some of them seriously. For better or for worse here are the 12 rules which can be found with detailed explanations in a pamphlet
published by the school.
Subject: 12 Things Nannie Helen Burroughs Said the Negro
Must Do....
By Nannie Helen Burroughs (Circa Early 1900's)
1. The Negro
must learn to put first things first. The first things are: education, development of character traits, a trade and
home ownership.
2. The Negro must stop expecting God and White folk to do for him
what he can do for himself.
3. The Negro must keep himself, his children and his home
clean and make the surroundings in which he lives comfortable and attractive.
4. The
Negro must learn to dress more appropriately for work and for leisure.
5. The Negro must make
his religion an everyday practice and not just a Sunday-go-to-meeting emotional affair.
6. The
Negro must highly resolve to wipe out mass ignorance.
7. The Negro must stop charging his failures
up to his "color" and to White people's attitude.
8. The Negro must overcome his bad job habits.
9. The Negro must improve his conduct in public places.
10. The Negro must
learn how to operate business for people -- not for Negro people, only.
11. The average so-called
educated Negro will have to come down out of the air. He is too inflated over nothing. He needs an experience similar
to the one that Ezekiel had --(Ezekiel 3:14-19). And he must do what Ezekiel did
12. The Negro
must stop forgetting his friends.
Reading these rules can explain why some African
Americans have made it and others have fallen by the wayside. One cannot have it both ways. Worthy of note are the students
seen on Morgan State University’s campus these past couple of weeks in their business suits who appeared to be heading
for job interviews. They have been taught that in today’s world the rule is to “dress for success” and look
and act like professionals.
Also worthy of note are the young students going out for interviews for summer internships.
Employees are reporting that more are coming looking like they have been prepared for their interviews with a keen desire
to get the job. But, they say, there are far too many gum chewing, loud mouthed teens out here that seemed to feel someone
owes them something.
