The Colorado statesman., 1913-06-07
AFRO-AMER|CAN CULL|NCS

The history of womanhood in Amer
lea would be incomplete without note
being taken of the heroic struggle OF
the colored women born in this coun-
try, who, from the time of their lib
GRAFTON from slavery, have been exert
ing every effort to overcome in their
race the effects of a bondage extend
ing over unnumbered centuries, writes
Frederic ]. Haskin. The Afro-Amer-
lean woman demonstrates more than
do most others the tender, maternal
instinct of the primeval woman, who
would labor and suffer and bear strong
sons whose vigor might add to the
greatness of the world.
The development of this great ma
ton necessitated the freedom of the
one-time slave. Unequipped with the
training and education needed for the
new duties and responsibilities free
dom brought to them, the colored
women from the beginning keenly felt
the responsibility of preparing her
family for the new life dawning upon
them.
No greater task ever came to the
women of any nation, and the loyalty
with which they are fulfilling it must
appeal to any one who will consider
for a moment some of their achieve
ments in the face of great obstacles.
The colored woman recognizes the
value of education far more than the
colored man, as is evidenced by the
much larger number of colored women
than men now found in the higher
schools. 1t was only the exceptional
colored woman, a generation or two
ago, who, by the aid of some kindly
disposed friends, and usually by un-
told sacrifice and exertion on her own
part was able to secure an education
which demonstrated her fitness for
something more than the menial
drudgery which had been considered
the lot of the women of her race. Hav-
ing achieved an advantage for herself,
she did not selfishly enjoy it, but, in
almost every instance, devoted her
added advantage to help others of her
race
Like the white woman, the progress
sive colored woman realized the value
of organization. When. the great Fed
Grafton of Women's clubs was organ
lied several of the clubs, composed of
educated colored women, were credu-
lous enough to believe that the motto
Unity in Diversity" was broad enough
to include the enlightened women of
their race who were working toward
the general uplift of humanity. The
refusal of the general federation to
admit Mrs. Ruffin, as a delegate from
the New Era club of Boston, answered
this assumption. Stung by this rebuff,
the colored women realized that for
the present they must receive aid
from organizations composed entirely
of their own race.
The National Association of Colored
Women in the United States now fills
a greater place in the development of
the colored women of the country
than does the general federation for
the white women. Its bonds are closer
and more sympathetic because of the
discouragements its members so fire.
quently receive. This organization,
which has grown from a comparative
ly small body, organized in Washing
ton in 1896, now represents more than
100000 colored women in its member
ship. 1t has state federations in most
of the states and is strongest in the
south. The association recognizes the
fact that whether cultured or not, the
colored woman receives practically the
same treatment from the white public.
The women who have culture there
fore really help themselves in helping
those who have not, and the spirit Of