New-York tribune., 1904-08-06
THE COLORED GIRL HERE.
Race Prejudice Bars Her from
Mann Lucrative ccupations.

..-oro-s5 women who are trying 70 support them
selves n any line above laundry work and coroes-
II, service suffer cruelty from the prejudice against
-be.r color said MS " W Ovington at the
closing session Of the School Of Philanthropy yes
teriav morning. An Irish girl told me recently
rhat coored glrI lad just been dismissed from the
iressmaking establishment fl which she was en-
rfrved simply because Of her color She was good
ssamstress and the madam wanted her 10 re-
main out the white girls refused 10 work with
rer Ny informant. I was pleased TO ind, did not
share this feeling The colored girl was quiet and
ri-e she said and they did not have 20 know her
soaaIy just because they worked with her.
Another girl learned a trade at the Alliance
Employment Bureau. and secured work which she
did IN her home But when she went for It she
was obliged 10 wait in a with the white
workers, and they insisted on her dismissal
"On account Of this prejudice. the enployments
which Offer means Of support 10 the greatest
number q white women are closed TO those of
The coIored race. They cannot be saleswoulen,
steroS-aphers. lelegrap pliers. accountants or fac
tory workers. because in the great majority Of
these positions they would be obliged 10 work side
by side with whites Accordingly a great many
yolored girls spend the years before marriage al
home helping their mothers rhis is not so desirable
as il might appear because the girl loses the dis
epline that fe outside the home would give Others
20 into domestic service, which is also undesirable
IN spite Of It's apparent advantages Factory life in
which the girl is thrown with other girls and with
moral training.
"In spite o. these difficulties. however. few col
cre1 women have achieved considerable success
There are a large number OF colored dressmakers
doing q fashionable business. There are eight
tolorec srenographers in New-E 0rk and one jour
nast. There are s;Xty-three actresses forry-eignr
musicians. htty-rwo teachers and 3o5 nurses and
midV.ves The majority Of colored women are
employed as laundresses and domestic servants
e1t The REole number supporting themselves IN
EeV-york is l070s."
The lo- os the colord man Is also hard one ac-
c-r1-1g Mss Ovington.
The average colored man" she said cannot
earn enough 10 support his family, because he IS
oo-1ne- by race prejudice 10 the lowest and most
ln-en-1=rative enplovmerts. A. the same tine
he has 70 pay ou- 20 per cent more for rent
tHan white man would have 10 expend This Is
was We have 50 many co-ored Iaundresses doing
the work in their homes
Even as Z waiter and domestic servant the
t-5.eo man Is 10 longer n much demand The
= -5 S-' - iore.gn waters has crowded him out
p, -Is- e-sss hotels. and The fashion for Eng
----st-. Establishments. Why aid you dismiss your
el-YFe1 coacEnaUr p said one wealthy woman -
s ie -e8 'o2Fe6 Cd men s7s are res 50 6e
g. -.-5fr-r -. - m 80 lte1 cotoIeo servant
c- r,~---i - - = lew " ohe mas no chance. Fred
1a:e one. and Il is even more so now thar it
i Is however. tue among the coIored peopla "a
.s re VINES thAt mere Is room at the top.
ed raea have cance but not among ne ifo fos
l-'t no e-aount oI aoillty VIII insure success.
Or slneer or electrician. While there are penty
~ -octor,. lawyers and c.ergymen"
'H Ihs Connection Miss fvlngtol made an inter
r1,-s --Ealarisou between the percentage of white
gao ec.1iea men engaged IN the different profes-
sos or thc white professional class in New
4erF 3 per cent are lawyers, = per cent ply
s.-tE-- i cent electricians, s cent actors
Pr cent architects . per cent authors per cent
-. ttt-- AR officials. per cent artists per cent
s--cl-ir or art. per cent clergyueu ! per cent
Journal is and per cent dentists. or the colore.
l-o!"e~alal class = per cent actors and 81
--T r.- ulLsicians or teachers of music ma kim
. pr cent of the whole number. Clergyman con-
stiut- j. per Of the professional class physi-
csns ltr cent denJisIs "a per cent teachers Is
p cent and architects, civil engineers etc. ouly
per cent
As solution of the cooTed problem. as 1t re-
.strs o. self-sUpport. Miss OvlnEton said that en-
loycr should stand by their colored employees and
Aesss" To dismiss them the cry OF race prejudice
laere are really lew people who entertain this
-sans race preilLlGc. she said and II employers
Reused listen 10 Il friction would soon 0isau-
Tea. cCiored nurse. who is At the head Of a day
-1fsery. told that she had even had white
--fSes iO- be- assistants and that the latter had
a-aae no further objection 10 the situation when
aeg found tEar she had The full sympathy and con-
+.tlls o- LeT employees
Miss OvHgton holds a fellowship from Greenwich
i@se fCr The investigation ol th-S problem, and Is
f-at -1s- beginning her studies