Evening star., 1896-07-07
National Federation of Afro-Ameri-
can Women's First Convention.
IT WILL ASSEMBLE here JULY 20
How the Movement Originated and
Some of Those interested.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS.

gress Of Afro-Americans, and which sub
sequently was officially invited by the
mayor Of Nashville, the president Of the
card of trade and the leading men of that
city. to attend the ceremonies of the recent
centennial. will assemble in Washington.
as heretofore stated in The Star. July 70,
end continue in session for three days as
The first annual convention of the Ma
tional Federation of Afro-American Wo-
men," The meetings will be held in the
Nineteenth Street Baptist Church. Of which
Rev. DR.. Walter H. Brooks is pastor.
The National Federation was organized
in Boston July 81, 1895, and since that
time the officers there chosen have at great
expense of time and resource, put forth
earnest efforts in the matter of arousins
the representative coiored women through
out the Union to the necessity of organ
izinS for ettecting needed reforms in all
things touching their home and national
life.
Results Accomplished.
According to the usual method Of COM
putting results, said one of the leaders to
Star reporter, I'VE have little 10 show,
and 1t would argue cause unimportant
IN the extreme if more could have been
accomplished in short a time particu-
larly when the newness of such movements
ana the sloWness or our people, generally
Speaking, to act upon cooperative lines,
is taken INTO consideration.
III, however, We could estimate the value
ot me National Federation a source Of
"hcieSome Inspiration, not only to many
lang ulShltg clubs but our struggling wo-
heh Wherever situated or approximate the
possible good flowing from its suggestive
lnliuence, , viewed from public ana racial
STANDPOINT; then. indeed, would we have
just and abundant cause for great rejoic-
ing.
Many clubs have been organized and
the Federation greatly Strengthened The
poor mothers out on the plantations of the
lar south have been reached and they will
SPEAK IN no uncertain tones at our coming
convention.
In the eyes of the public we have suc-
ceeded in establishing the fact that our
women are thoroughly alive to the grea t
posslDllties OF powerful body of Afro
american women in influencing public sen
tlmeflt and leglSia ton in favor Of the race
at large, and having accomplished this
much at great odds, We have appealed to
| our women where, er situated to come TO
our aid, and by their sympathy and COOP
Grafton assist in making the ayyproac hing
convention an educative influence on ali
| the people.
washington was selected as the place OF
meeting in order to give our women an OBJ
portunIty of attending the Christian En-
deaVor metCng thereby taking advantage
OF the cur rates In every way compa tip,e
| with dignity and consistency We have
stlIven TO unity the affairs of our women
| the public in this our crucial year to sue
ceed in this as well as other grave aues-
lions OF the hour. and we have urged our
women to strengthen the efforts made by
| the officers by raliying enthusiastically and
attending the convention, for, as we be-
Eeve, the battle for womanhood is the bat T.
| tie for the race"
The Ladies' Auxiliary.
The Ladies' Auxiliary of Washington.
| Mrs. B. X. Bruce, chairman, and Mrs Jesse
Lawson, secretary, is taking great interest
IN the convention, and is doing much to
make the visit of the delegates, as they
! hope, pleasant one, and Mrs. Lawson is
chairman of a large committee on hospi-
| tality, while she has been and is tireless in
her efforts to do ali that can be done to-
| ward assuring a hearty and enthusiastic
| reception to the women who will be here
| from all parts of the Union.
| 1t Is considered remarkable by those who
have taken leading interest in the up
building of the National Federation that in
| enc year it should have grown to twice its
| original size. and that it should awaken in
terest In and receive responses from the
women of the race all over the country
and is believed to speak well not only for
| the future Of organized work among color
| ed people. but also for the energy, intel
| Egence and seif-sacrifice of the officers.
The convention promises to be remark
able one, not only for the characters of the
| women who will assemble and be represent
| ed, but also for the scope Of the work which
| has been planned.
Some Topics to be Discussed.
The need Of Christian homes for wayward
and erring girls will be an issue. The sep
| arate car law will be generally discussed
| and measure. 1t Is hoped, adopted for hav-
| ing 1t expunged from the statute books of
the states in which the system operates.
| THE decision of the Supreme Court of
| the United States on the separate car law
Genes as a disappointment" said one of
| those who expects to take prominent part
| in the debates of the convention to a Star
| reporter; but hardly as surprise to mil
| lions of loyal American citizens.
| TT cannot be denied that sentiment
| against the negro and his rights is growing
| rapidly. AS the black man acquires none y
| and education new barriers are raised
| against him; sometimes old obstacles, which
| pity for helplessness and ignorance caused
| to be removed, are being rebuilt, and it is
| only to a few enlightened minds that the
cause of the negro has any interest at all.
| I'm time the problem must work itself out
| and in the meantime The negro has got 10
make himself felt. There is no wisdom
| virtue policy or manhood in bearing every
| thing put upon one. Appeals for justice by
| voice or pen go very little ways at present;
| practically no attention whatever is paid
| to them and the time has come when they
| must be backed by aggressive action and a
| physical as well as mental resistance to
| every abfogat1On OF MANHOOD rights.
| "If laws are unjust they must be con-
| tinually broken until they are killed or
| altered. The thing to do is to force the
| recognition of manhood by any and all
| means"
No Differences With Other OrganIxa-
| tions.
| It is stated that many people labor un-
der the mistaken idea that thereare differ
| ences between the National Federation of
| Afro-Americsn Women and other organi-
zations. and this is denied by those best in
| formed:
Until the movement" said one Of these,
| "lnaugurated by the women Of Boston
| which resulted in the formation Of the Ma
| tional Federation was pioneered to sue
| cess, the colored woman as a factor in
club life, except locally. was unknown.
| Not so now, and the National Fedora tton
| feels justifiably encouraged. At the com
ing convention efforts will be made to ac-
| complish tangible results by bringing to-
| gether the women who have founded
| homes, orphanages and hospitals, that our
coming women may gather inspirat tion and
| the public be educated as to the actual
| work our women are striving against odds
| to do.
| Origin of the Movement.
The National Federation is the outgrowth
of a movement started by Mrs. Booker T.
| Washington a few years ago in the town
| 0f TuSkepee Ala I'm which the fnstftu