The broad ax., 1923-12-15
VIRGINIA NEGROES MAKE
PROGRESS

Hampton, Va.-That Negro COM
munities may overcome their indiffer-
ence and, through the pooling Of in
terest, brains and resources toward
common ends, improve their homes.
churches, and schools. hold the young
people in their rural homes, and de-
velop community life, has been clearly
shown in recent study. Three Ne
gro Communities in. Underwater, Vir-
GINA, which has been made by Allen
B. Doggett, Jr., instructor in farm
management and rural sociology in
the Hampton Institute Agricultural
School, and published by Hampton
Institute in its Bulletin series.
The surveys were made in cooper
alton with the Division of Farm Pop
ulation and Rural Life, which is in
charge of Dr. c. J. Galpin, Bureau of
Agricultural Economics, u. S. Depart
ment Of Agriculture. The 46-page
Bulletin contains interesting diagrams
of Little Forks, Nansemond County,
Va, Ebenezer, Southampton County,
Va, and Ruthville, Charles City Coun-
ty. Va, as we'll as photographs which
show what is being done by the col
ored people to secure better schools,
homes and churches. Excerpts from
the Bulletin follow
Little Forks has developed leaders
within itself who have carried the COM
munity to high point. The commu-
nifty has backed its leaders without
suspicion or jealousy. Its two churches
have stood for a reflection of spiritual
teachings in the prevailing high stan
dard of school, home, and farm.
THE consolidation Of the four neigh
borhood schools brings the educational
facilities Of the community into step
with modern educational advance
ments. Special group activities within
the community interest the boys, the
young men, the housewives and girls,
and the heads Of families. Young men
and young women see a future in
Little Forks. They have been given
an opportunity to participate in COM
munity development.
Little Forks has long been living
from its own garden and smokehouse,
and feeding its stock from its own
stack and corn crib. The progress in
school, church, and home has been
backed by corresponding agricultural
development Families have a lot to
lose by leaving Little Forks. Conse-
quently they do not leave"
"Ebenezer is a growing community,
like hundreds Of others in the South
land. It is not just getting along. Its
preacher for ten years taught the Cos
pei of home owning, better farming,
and decent school The awakening
Of Ebenezer shows that one large
caliber man can start. The work done
BY all the patrons in securing the new
school has made one solid group out
Of twenty-six families.
Aside from the social life Of the
lodge little is yet being done as com
munity to satisfy its recreational
needs. The community is progressing
in its agricultural practices. It's atti-
tude is receptive rather than suspicious
toward progressive farm experience.
@The binding Institution of the
RuthviIle community has been the
church for over one hundred years.
The establishment of the county
school in Ruthville Is the result Of a
fixed determination to gain educational
opportunity for the community and
county. The good school has brought
and kept good teachers. Groups in
terested in special work have devel-
oped ability to do things together cas-
lily, to the benefit Of the entire com
munity.
Plenty Of social activities balance
the workaday life in Ruthville. Sources
Of cash money are ii the process Of
changing from wood lot and river to
land and livestock. The community IS
now handling its own affairs with its
own organizations"
Detailed descriptions are given Of
the constructive work which IS being
done through patrons leagues, moth
ers' clubs, boys and girls clubs, farm
boys building and loan associations,
cooperative marketing associations,
lodges and fraternal orders, and far
liners community clubs.