The Afro-American advance., 1900-09-01
PREJUDICE AGAINST NEGROES
Discussed by the State Federation
of Colored Women of
Michigan.

nual convention of the State Federation
oi Colored Women. which has been
going on during the past two days III
the Bethel A. NJ f. church. From
every point OF view. IN attendance. IN
enthusiasm and in general results. the
assemblage has achieved All unlocked
for success.
At the closing session at least six
hundred men and women crowded into
the church and filled even the standing
room Ii was a meeting representative
OF the best colored intellect and num-
bered among those present Mrs.
Booker T. Washington, Mrs. Joyce
Jackson, OF Jefferson City, Mo; Mrs,
T. II Lyles, OF St Paul. Mrs Maggie
Porter Cole and Mrs. Molie Church
Terrell. oi Washington, the president OF
the national organization
BY far the most interesting session OF
the convention was that oi yesterday
afternoon The subject oi discussion,
is Race Prejudice Growing Greater
as voiced in a paper on the subject by
Mrs T. II, l-yles. OF ST Paul the presi-
dent OF the National John Brown Mon
ument and Memorial Association.
aroused great deal oi interest. and at
times the intense indignation of the lis
teners at the recital OF the wrongs OF
! their race threatened to overthrow even
the fine parliamentary practice OF the
president Mrs L.yles believes en-
| phatically that race prejudice is on that
| increase, in spite OF the fine record
made by the negro toward improve
ment
1T is only the degraded white
| trash -" said she. who call US muir
derers. like 'Pitchfork Ben Tillman.
who ought himself to be hanged like a
common murderer. Those who say the
negro is domTnecring are trying to take
away the last right lett to them, that OF
| franchise This persecution will drive
| the eolored man backward.
The great drawback to the negro S
! rise she attributed to the lack OF a
| leader of their own race.
In the general L discussion oi the sub
| ject Miss Moffat. out OF many year S
| experience as a teacher IN the south,
! gave as a reason for the increase OF
| prejudice the TACT that III many cases
the blacks are not only the equals, but
| the superiors. OF the white men by
whom they are surrounded.
Ladies" said Mrs. Booker I. Wash
! ington. Il am a southern woman way
through | was born in Mississippi
| raised in Tennessee and live in Ala
bama. and | do not believe caste is on
the increase" This affirmation she then
| proceeded to strengthen by showing
that it is the increased thoughtiulness
Of the negro himself, the lonRinRs after
better education and the growth OF re-
| finement. which cause him to notice
those things. which she affirmed existed
| far more generally ten years ago thar
! they do now. Mrs Washington drew q
| strong contrast between the times
when the erection Of a negro schoo
| in the south was the signal for its de
| struction and the present times. wher
| even in the most backward portions o
| that country the best white families aC
in the education OF their less fortunate
| neiRhbors. Mrs. Washington. who
neither in speech nor appearance, i'm
| presses one as being OF colored blood
but who might be taken rather for I
| Spanish woman, stood alone IN hei
| opinion.
In many ways the most importan
| work ot the afternoon was the address
| ing OF a memorial to President McKin
| ley asking him to use his efforts towarC
the securing OF a donation from con
| gress OF $1,000 for the widow of tn,
murdered Postmaster Baker. Of LAX,
City; and also the passing OF a Law
whereby state convicted Of mob Law
shall be expelled from the union. This
in the opinion Of the convention, would
| solve the negro problem.
At the business meeting in the morn.
| ing the following officers were elected
for the year President, Mrs Lucy
Thurman, OF Jackson; vice president
Mrs NJ F. Mccoy. OF Detroit; record.
| ing secretary. Mrs Carrie f. Baylis
| Ann Arbor; corresponding secretary
/ Mrs c. S Smith. Detroit; treasurer
Mrs Della Barrier; state organizer
Mrs NJ r. Tatae A constitution was
also adopted and the name Michigan
State Federation of Colored Women
made permanent.