Richmond planet., 1907-09-07
HOW THE WORKING NEGRO
LIVES.

Above this low stratum OF crimi-
nal or semi-criminai Negroes is a
middle class. comprising the great
body OF the race fthe workers.
TheyA are crowded into straegling
settlements like Darktown and Jack
son Row, a few owning their homts
but the majority renting precarious-
ly earning good wages. harmless for
the most part but oQtn falling into
petty crime. Poverty here however
lacks the tragic note that Go strikes
I'm the crowded sections Northern
cities. The temperament of the
Negro is irrepressibly cheerful. ne
overhows fro mhis small home and
sings and laughs in his streets. NO
matter how ragged or forlorn he
may be good humor sits upon his
countenance. and Ris .0ualor is not
unpicturcsque A banjo, mullet
supper from time TO time. an excit-
ing revival. give him real joys.
Nest Of the families OF this middle
class. some Of whom are deserted
wives with children. have their
white folks" for whom they do
washing, cooking. gardening or ota-
er service, and all have church con-
nections. so that they have a real
place in the social fabric and GER
tain code OF self-respect
/ tried 20 see All I could OF this
phase OF life. I visited many OF the
poorer Negro homes and / was often
received in squalid rooms with a
dignity OF politeness which would
have done credit to "A society woman.
For the Negro, naturally. is sort
neN
up the many visits 7 made In a sin
gle conclusion. should say, I think
that ! was chiefly impressed bv the
tragic punishment meted out to ig-
norance and weakness by our com
pick society. / would find a home
OF one or two rooms meanly furn-
ished, but having in one corner n
glittering cottage organ, or on the
mantel shelf a glorifed gilt clock;
crayOn portraits, ineXpressiblv crude
and ugly, but framed gorgeously, are
not uncommoD-tne first uncertain.
primitive (not unpitifuD reachings
out after some of the graces Of
broader life.
Many OF these things are bought
from agents and the prices paid are
eXtortionate. Often a Negro family
viii pay monthly for a year or so
on some SNOWY clock or chrome or
music-box. or decorated mirror-pay
ing the value of it a dozen times
over, only 10 have 1t seized when
through sickness. or lack of foresight
they fail TO meet a single note. IN
stallment houses prey upon them
pawn brokers suck their blood. and
they are infinitely the victims of pa
tent medicines. IL Is rare. indeed.
that ! entered a Negro cabin, even
the poorest, without seeing one or
more bottles of some abominable
cure-all. The amount yearly expend
ed by Negroes for patent medicines.
which are glaringly advertised in ali
Southern newspapers. must be enor-
mous--millions OF dollars. I had an
interesting side light on conditions
one day while walking in one of the
most fashionable residence districts
of Atlanta. / saw magnificent
gray stone residence standing some
what back from the street. said to
my companion, who was a resident
OF the city:
That's a fine homer"
'Yes, stop a minute" he said, 'T
want to tell you about that. The
anti-kink man lives there"
"Anti-kink?" / asked in surprise.
"Yes; the man VINO occupies that
house Is one of the wealthiest men
here. He made his money by sell
ing to Negroes a preparation L
smooth the kinks out of their wool.
They're simply crazy on that sub
ject."
Does IL work."
"You haven't -een any straight
Continued on Eighth Page.)