New-York tribune., 1905-08-19
COLORED DOMESTIC HELP.
Negro Girls Face a Problem IN This
Day of Specialization.

Mrs. Fanny Barrier Williams, OF Chicago. q
writer. and the only colored member Of the chit
,ago Woman's Club, is in attendance at the con-
ysnton Of the National League Of Negro Bus:-
psss Men. and takes much interest in the welfare
:. the young women of her race.
oswald Willard IN his address TO the convention
Iaa she 20 Tribune representative. stated that
Il vas impossible to get a good servant In the
gouth One reason for that is that there is a
constant drain OF the best colored girls into the
Ncrsh They find better conditions in domestic
ssrvioe here, better wages, better treatment and
sfasrent atmosphere
I have letters every day Of my life from coIored
rirls OF their mothers IN the South asking as TO
opportunities FOR domestic service in Chicago.
4 have not heard Or seen in Chicago any Of that
u Ehich Miss Frances Kello- talks so much
the lnveiglng of southern colored girls come
North for domestic service into the disreputa-
be houses of New-York. There IS constant
Influx Of colOred girls from The South into Chi
sago almost all Of whom enter domestic service
That is almost the only thing that is open to them
Only Few can get into stores or Offices
But this whole trade Of domestic service is be
ng lifted upon professional basis. Daughters OF
me finest white families take domestic science
courses Domestic service IS being divided
and specialized. so that If the colored girl
soes1t look out she is going 10 be left be
hind as dishWasher. or some other low
grace worker. The teaching OF domestic science in
schools. public. private and philanthropic IS a
matter Of vital Importance 10 colored girls and
through them TO the race. Colored citizens every
where should work 10 have Domestic science taught
n the public schools and friends of the race
both white anc colored should establish schools of
domestic science for colored girls Il is the one
great avenue oDen 10 them. and they must either
keep Up !u u or drop behind
cago which 60 good work for their race - ,Tbev
meet Southern girls AZ the trains and get them
boarding places and look after them until thew
set work. They have established sewing classes
and day nurseries for colored chil6ren TRe- baT-e
helped Trinity Mission in various ways Trinity
oag0 black belt, conducted by p r. Wright z
colored graduate OF Chicago University. who holds
Then our colored womens clubs in Chicago have
scboai ol4fea 10 c9.opsrate with the public
incoTrlgiole our committees visit the parents and
ere prone TO feel that correcion of their cbiidT1
by 2 white teacher Is due 10 race prejudice. when
= colored teachers teaching mixed classes in lie
IGbAc schools Of Chicago without me slightest
so,gs ws a haye :, number Of 9ooEed women who are
- , w. Il 1Ihlspenueht businesses OF their own
among them one OF the latter Mrs Smiley caters
al the time for fashionable functions making her
: Eooo many colored dressmakeTs in Chicago that
woul1n.t dare ask 10 make me a dress They are
busy sIl the time 1or the very wealthy.
Recently the Rev Celia Parker WoolIey has
Etarted new form OF settlement work. II is
called the Frederick Douglass Centre and has pur-
Svs f9ssea hPs s a a. bif the coTHfF Of Ss @ and Wa
q ne aristocracy on ore hand and the black
clements OF both races 10 work for those Of fhe
col3red who need help. II Is surprising TO see
how high q class OF white people has come TO her
debts at the centre and il raaintains an open plat
form Sunday afternoons for the discussion OF all
questions pertaining 10 the race"
Mrs. Williams vas born IN Brockport " Y
sn5 graduated FROM its normal school. For
Tusny years her family the only, coIored one
fr the place. She taught in the schools ef Wash
fnguOn until she married Mr.. Williams a lawyer
For SIX years her signed articles have appeared
3n the Sunday editions Of The Chicago Herald
and she also writes for the periodical press The
Chicago Wonans Club. i took fourteen months
settle Il, but she finally admitted by
nearly unanimous vote.