Iowa state bystander. [volume] (Des Moines, Iowa) 1894-1916, 1912-07-26
NEGRO WOMEN OF ATLANTA
ORGANIZE FOR the UPLIfT
AMO PROTECTION OF the
RACE.

RACE.
Atlanta.--The negro women OF At
lanta, realizing that something must
be done. and that quickly, have united
with the Prison Mission Settlement
Workers for the uplift and protection
Of their young people from crimes that
lead to prison; slso to devise ways to
help the police to protect their women
and girls who are In domestic service
from the murder fiends. The kind
words, encouragement and genuine in.
terest in this movement by the white
people in this movement by the white
people of Atlanta has given renewed
strength to the workers.
The negro women of our city have
faith. They believe that all the wom'
en- acting Is one will influence their
young people to be good and true, and
also put to flight for all time the
slayersi Of their women. Cocaine 10
another hend more dangerous, but not
so quick. as 1t Is said to require about
Ave years for its victims to overtake
death. One authority says: This
new vice, the cocaine vice, the most
serious that has to be dealt with. has
proved to be a creator OF criminals
and unusual forms Of violence" Yet
neither our national nor state gov
eminent restricts the importation OF
this soul-destroying drug.
Through Rev. H. H. Proctor, pastor
of the Fifst Congregational church,
the negro women Of this city have IN
that church place to meet at all
times to discuss and plan ways to
better their condition. As a result
of these meetings during the fall OF
1911 we are doing foundation work,
which is the keynote to all our en-
deavors. We have class in domestic
science under an experienced instruc-
tor. All women and girls who are
unable to pay for lessons will be
taught free, provided they are fitting
themselves to make living. Any one
that knows anything about domestic
science can understand how valuable
this training makes person. not only
in the kitchen, but in the sick room
and among the children.
A woman thoroughly trained In do
nestle science is treasure IN her
own home or in the home Of others.
Children's classes in sewing, mending
and darning are conducted every
afternoon from 3 to o'clock These
classes are taught by the women OF
the city who desire to give an hour OF
service once a week to God and hui
manity. These little people are taught
to mend and darn their own clothing.
This work Is not a task, but very
much like kindergarten Of older
children. In this way all mending
and darning is taken from the
mothers hands, which is quite an item
in a home where there are children,
and the mother works for others
every day In the week. Glasses OF
! small boys are taught street etiquette.
electric car department and good be-
havior In general. The parents Of all
these children work for white families
in this city.
The only way to know people Is
to go among them. not once. but often.
Many of our good women live in al
legs and other sections Of the city
not SO good. Some of these women are
beautiful laundresses, others are
cooks and housemaids. These women
are rearing their children as we'll as
they can. Their children attend our
public schools, also Sabbath school.
AS these women work for the white
families of Atlanta, they must live
near the heart of the city and the
alley is the only place for these wom-
en- to live, who would live in more
respectable locality If they could.
Here one will find true philanthropy.
They will divide the last bite Of bread
and give their clothing to those among
them in need.
All thoughtful negroes and those
who keep up with current events ap-
preciate the south's burden. The great
work she is doing and is still plan
ming and organizing to better condi-
lions among white people. Payne In.
stitute, at Augusta, for the education
of preachers and teachers for the ne
gro; the splendid public schools for
our children, giving employment to
thousands of our young women as
teachers. are one Of our greatest aids
to race building.
| However, there are conditions ex-
listing in this city which are Of vital
Importance to both races. We are
working to help the women, but our
progress is handicapped by the unsan.
itary conditions In large number of
their homes. Many negro families
live in small houses close together,
having a common yard. To get into
these homes, whose yards are a net,
work of clothes lines filled with
snowy-white clothes, one has to stop,
twist and dodge until door is found.
On entering you will sometimes find
three women washing clothes in one
room OF two-room house, the little
children standing around, for 1t Is
too wet aud cold for them to play out
doors. Three tubs Of water and wet
clothes in a small two-room house.
When one takes into consideration
that some of these women earn more
than IS a week by washing some idea
can be gained as to the quantity of
water used and the number Of wet
garments In one little home.
Why should the world be amazed
at the ravages Of tuberculosis among