The source of this uncorrected OCR text may be viewed in the DjVu format at: 
http://fax.libs.uga.edu/E185x5xA881p/aup18 
or 
http://purl.galileo.usg.edu/ugafax/E185x5xA881p/aup18
 

The Atlanta University Publications, No. 18 
MORALS AND MANNERS 

AMONG 

NEGRO AMERICANS 

A Social Study made by Atlanta l)ni= 
versity, under the patronage of the 
Trustees of the John F. Slater Fund 

Price, 75 Cents 

The Atlanta University Press 

ATLANTA, OA. 
1914 

 OH THOU, who didst with pitfall and with gin 
Beset the Road I was to wander in, 
Thou wilt not with Predestin'd^Evil round 

Enmesh, and then impute my Fall, to Sin! 

—Omar Khayyam, 

The Atlanta University Publications, No. 18 

MORALS AND MANNERS 

AMONG 

NEGRO AMERICANS 

Report of a Social Study made by Atlanta Uni 
versity under the patronage of the Trustees of the 
John F. Slater Fund; with the Proceedings of 
the 1 8lh Annual Conference for the Study of the 
Negro Problems, held at Atlanta University, on 
Monday, May 26th, 1913 

Edited hy 

W. E. BurgharJt DuBois, Ph.D. 

DireClor of Publicity and Research, National Association for 
the Advancement of Colored People 

and 

Augustus Granville Dill, A.M. 
Some lime Associate Professor of Sociology in Atlanta University 

The Atlanta University Press 

ATLANTA, GA. 

1914 

 A T any rate, we must depend for 
** the peace and progress of the 
world upon the formation of a 
horizontal upper layer of cultured 
persons among all the more civi- 
ized peoples—a cross-section, as it 
were, of the nations, whose convic 
tions and sentiments shall supply 
the moral force on which interna 
tional arbitration courts and similar 
agencies will have to depend. 

—Felix Adler 

COPYRIGHT. 1915 BY ATLANTA UNIVERSITY 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Contents 

Page 

PROGRAM OF THE EIGHTEENTH ANNUAL CONFERENCE , 
PREFACE ........... ........'.... 

RESOLUTIONS ................... 

BIBLIOGRAPHY .................... 

4 

5 

7 

9 

1. SCOPE OF THE INQUIRY .................. 11 

2. THE GENERAL PROBLEM ................. 13 

3. THE AMERICAN ENVIRONMENT .............. 16 

4. GOOD MANNERS ..................... 16 

5. SOUND MORALS ..................... 26 

6. CLEANLINESS ..,..,.,..,,.......... 50 

7. PERSONAL HONESTY ................... 58 

8. HOME LIFE ........................ 67 

9. REARING OF CHILDREN .................. 82 

10. AMUSEMENTS FOR YOUNG PEOPLE ............ 90 

11. CARING FOR OLD PEOPLE ................. 97 

12. THE CHURCH ....................... 103 

13. PRESENT CONDITIONS COMPARED WITH PAST ....... 119 

14. CONCLUSION ....................... 135 

INDEX .......................... 137 

 The Eighteenth Annual Conference 

"Morality and Religion among Negro Americans" 
PROGRAM 

First Session, 10:00 a. m. 

President Ware presiding. 

Subject: "Social Service and the School." 

"Methods of the Present Investigation." Mr. A. G. Dill, of Atlanta 

University. 

Address: Prof. L. H. Williams, of Macon, Ga. 

Address: Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, of New York City. 
Second Session 11:30 a. m. 

Subject: "Health and Service." (Separate meetings for men and wo 
men.) 

Address to men: Dr. Loring B. Palmer, of Atlanta, Ga. 

Address to women: Mrs, Dinah Watts Pace, of Covington, Ga. 
Third Session, 3:00 p. m. 

The Fifteenth Annual Mothers' Meeting. (In charge of Gate City Free 
Kindergarten Association.) Mrs. I. E. Wynn presiding. 

Subject: "Social Service and the Child." 

1. Kindergarten songs, games and exercises by one hundred and fifty 
children of the five free kindergartens. 
East Cain Street—Mrs. Ola Perry Cooke. 
Bradley Street—Miss Willie Kelly. 
White's Alley-Mrs. Idella F. Hardin. 
Presbyterian Mission—Miss Rosa Martin. 
Leonard Street Orphanage—Miss Sadie Anderson. 

2. Symposium: Social Work among Children. 

Mrs. Ruth Greenwood Carey, Atlanta, Ga. 
Mrs. Dinah Watts Pace, Covington, Ga. 
Miss Lucy C. Laney, Augusta, Ga. 
Miss Amy Chadwick, Atlanta, Ga. 
Mrs. John Hope, Atlanta, Ga. 

Fourth Session, 8:00 p. m. 

President Ware presiding. 

Subject: "Social Service and the Negro American." 

Address: Miss Lucy C. Laney, of Augusta, Ga. 

Music. 

Address: Dr. W. E. B. DuBois, of New York City. 

Discussion. 

Preface 

There is only one sure basis of social reform and that is 
Truth—a careful, detailed knowledge of the essential facts of 
each social problem. Without this there is no logical starting 
place for reform and uplift. Social difficulties may be clear 
and we may inveigh against them, but the causes proximate 
and remote are seldom clear to the casual observer and usually 
are quite hidden from the man who suffers from, or is sensi 
tive to, the results of the snarl. 

To no set of problems are these truths more applicable 
than to the so-called Negro problems. 

One of the most fundamental of these problems is that of 
the manners of the Negro race. On this question the most 
diverse and contradictory opinions are confidently exprest, 
leaving the real inquirer for truth in great bewilderment. 

There is without a doubt a deep-seated feeling in the 
minds of many that the Negro problem is primarily a matter 
of morals and manners and that the real basis of color pre 
judice in America is the fact that the Negroes as a race are 
rude and thotless in manners and altogether quite hopeless 
in sexual morals, in regard for property rights and in rever 
ence for truth. 

Tbis accusation, which has been repeated for decades, is 
the more easily made because manners and morals lend them 
selves but seldom to exact measurement. Consequently, 
general impressions, limited observations and wild gossip 
supply the usual data; and these make it extremely difficult 
to weigh the evidence and to answer the charge. 

This study is an attempt to collect opinion on the general 
subject of morals and manners among Negro Americans from 
those who ought to know. It is by no means complete or 
definitive, but it is to some degree enlightening. 

The first attempt to study the moral status of the Negro 
was made in 1903, the results of the study appearing as No. 8 
of the Atlanta University Publications, bearing as its title 
"The Negro Church". The present study goes over a part 
of this ground after an interval of ten years. 

 6 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

The study is, therefore, a further carrying out of the plan 
of social study of the Negro American, by means of an an 
nual series of decennially recurring subjects covering, so far 
as is practicable, every phase of human life. This plan 
originated at Atlanta University in 1896. The object of 
these studies is primarily scientific—a careful research for 
truth; conducted as thoroly, broadly and honestly as the 
material resources and mental equipment at command will 
sallow. It must be remembered that mathematical accuracy 
in these studies is impossible; the sources of information are 
of varying degrees of accuracy and the pictures are wofully 
incomplete. There is necessarily much repetition in the suc 
cessive studies, and some contradiction of previous reports by 
later ones as new material comes to hand. All we claim is 
that the work is as thoro as circumstances permit and that 
with all its obvious limitations it is well worth the doing. 
Our object is not simply to serve science. We wish not only 
to make the truth clear but to present it in such shape as will 
encourage and help social reform. In this work we have 
reseived unusual encouragment from the scientific world, 
and the publisht results of these studies are used in America, 
Europe, Asia and Africa. Very few books on the Negro 
problem, or any phase of it, have been publisht in the last 
decade which have not acknowledged their indebtedness to 

our work. 

We believe that this pioneer work in a wide and important 

social field deserves adequate support. The Trustees of the 

John F. Slater Fund have given us generous aid in the last 

six years, which aid has been supplemented by the general 

funds of the University. These latter funds are limited, 

however, and needed in many other directions. What we 

earnestly ask is an endowment for this research work. A 

fund yielding $5,000 a year might under proper supervision 

yield incalculable good and help the nation and the modern 

world tg a righteous solution of its problems of racial contact- 

Resolutions 

The following resolutions are the expression of the mem 
bers, delegates and attendants upon the sessions of the eigh 
teenth annual Conference: 

The eighteenth Atlanta Conference has reviewed the 
moral and religious condition of the American Negroes and 
its changes during the last decade. It finds a decided 
strengthening of the home life, a betterment in the habits of 
courtesy, cleanliness and thrift and a wider conformity to the 
rules of modern morality. The Conference finds two great 
hindrances still in the path of advance: the persistence of 
older habits due to slavery and poverty and racial prejudice. 
It is not to be expected that a people whose original morality 
had been wholly destroyed by slavery and but partially re 
placed should not show in a single generation of freedom 
many marks of the past in sexual irregularity, waste, ir 
responsibility and criminal tendencies. The Conference finds 
that much has been done in the last decade to improve these 
habits; and that much more could be done if racial prejudice 
did not operate to leave colored women unprotected in law 
and custom, to invade colored residence districts with vice 
and bad sanitary conditions and to degrade and make inef 
ficient the Negro public school system. We regard it as the 
burning shame of the decade that of three and a half millions 
of colored children of school age two millions were not even 
enrolled in school last year. 

The Conference is glad to note in the Negro church some 
signs of awakening to new duties and larger responsibilities. 
New institutional work of social uplift is appearing here and 
there under trained men. The majority of Negro churches 
remain however financial institutions catering to a doubtful 
round of semi-social activities. The Negro church must, if 
it survives, adopt a new attitude towards rational amusement 
and sound moral habits. 

 8 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

The Conference is pleased to call the attention of the 
country to the fact that much of the real work of social up 
lift and moral awakening is being carried on by Negro wo 
men in their clubs and institutions. No group of women in 
the world have amid studied insult and race discrimination 
made so brave a fight for social betterment or accomplisht 
so much of actual, tangible good. 

The hope of the future in moral uplift lies in thoro com 
mon school training for Negro children, respect and protec 
tion for Negro women, widened industrial opportunity for 
Negro men and systematic effort to lessen race prejudice. 
(Signed) 

W. E. B. DuBois, New York, N. Y. 

L. H. Williams, Macon, Ga. 
A. G. Dill, Atlanta, Ga. 

• A Select Bibliography 

Arranged alphabetically by authors 

American Academy of Political and Social Science: 

The Negro's Progress in Fifty Years. Philadelphia, 1913. 244 pp. 

Atlanta University Publications: 

No. 9. Notes on Negro Crime, particularly in Georgia. 1904. 68 pp. 
No. 12. Economic Co-operation among Negro Americans. 1907. 

184 pp. 

No. 13. The Negro American Family. 1908. 152 pp. 
No. 14. Efforts for Social Betterment among Negro Americans. 

1909. 136 pp. 

No. 15. The College-bred Negro American. 1910. 104 pp. 
No. 16. The Common School and the Negro American. 1911. 140 pp. 
No. 17. The Negro American Artisan. 1912. 144 pp. 
Autobiography of an Ex-Colored Man. Anonymous. Boston, 1912. 207 pp. 
Baker, Ray Stannard. Following the Color-Line. New York, 1908. 

314 pp. 

Barnes, Albert. The Church and Slavery (with Appendix). Philadel 
phia, 1857. 204 pp. 

Blyden, Edward Wilmot. Christianity, Islam and the Negro Race. In 
troduced by Samuel Lewis, London, 1887 (4) VII (1) 423 pp. 
Boas, Franz. Commencement Address at Atlanta University, May, 

1906. Atlanta University Leaflet, No. 19. 15 pp. 
The Mind of Primitive Man. New York, 1911. 294 pp. 
Brawley, B. G. A Short History of the American Negro. New York, 

1913. 242 pp. 

Crawford, Daniel. Thinking Black. New York, 1913. 16,485, 17 pp. 
Crisis, The. Organ of the National Association for the Advancement of 

Colored People. New York, 1910, et seq. 
Crummell, Alexander. A Defense of the Negro Race in America, etc. 

Washington, 1883. 36 pp. 
Douglass, H. Paul. Christian Reconstruction in the South. Boston, 

1909. 407 pp. 

Du Bois, W. E. B. The Philadelphia Negro. Philadelphia, 1896. 520 pp. 
The Quest of the Silver Fleece. Chicago, 1911. 434 pp. 
Souls of Black Folk. Chicago, 1903. 264 (1) pp. 
Dunbar, Paul Lawrence. The Sport of the Gods. New York, 1901. 
Ferris, William H. The African Abroad. 2 Vols. New Haven, 1913. 
Hare, Maud Cuney. Norris Wright Cuney. New York, 1913. 230 pp. 

 10 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 
Hartshorn, W. N. An Era of Progress and Promise. Boston, 1910. 

576 pp. 
Haynes, George Edmund. The Negro at Work in New York City. New 

York, 1912. 158 pp. 
Johnston, Sir Harry. Negro in the New World. New York, 1910. 

499 pp. 
Krehbiel, H. E., Editor. Afro-American Folksongs. New York and 

London, 1914. 176 pp. 
Laidlaw, Walter, Editor. The Federation of Churches and Christian 

Workers in New York City, N. Y. 

Sociological Canvasses 1896, First, 112 pp. Second, 116 pp. 
Miller, Kelly. Race Adjustment. New York and Washington, 1908. 

316 pp.' 
Negro Young People's Christian and Educational Congress. The United 

Negro. Atlanta, 1902. 600 pp. 
Ovington, M. W. Half-a-Man. New York, 1911. 236 pp. 

Hazel. New York, 1913. 162 pp. 

Spiller, G., Editor. Inter-Racial Problems. London, July, 1911. 485 pp. 
Stewart, William and T. G. Gouldtown. Philadelphia, 1913. 237 pp. 
United States Census. Vol. on Churches, 1904. 

Thirteenth Census, 1910. 
Washington, B. T. and Du Bois, W. E. B. The Negro in the South. 

Philadelphia, 1907. 222 pp. 
Williams, George W. History of the Negro Race in America from 1619 

to 1880. New York, 1883. 2 Vols. 
Wright, R. R., Jr. The Negro in Pennsylvania. Philadelphia, 1912. 

250pp. 

Morals and Manners among; Negro 
Americans 

Section 1. Scope of the Inquiry 

The results of the eighth annual social study of the Negro 
American were publisht as "The Negro Church". The 
largest volume yet issued by the Conference, it was an his 
torical and institutional inquiry into the moral and religious 
condition of Negro Americans. The historical and institu 
tional phase of the subject does not as yet call for further 
investigation. On the other hand, one section of the report, 
the moral status of Negroes, is a large field for inquiry. The 
problem before the social investigator is this: How can such 
an inquiry be made scientifically? The chief sources which 
suggest themselves for such an inquiry are birth statistics, 
crime statistics, and statistics of religious bodies. All of 
these we have endeavored to find, but there are compara 
tively few available. Birth statistics are not kept in the 
localities where the masses of Negroes live, save in the Dis 
trict of Columbia. Crime statistics are too general and too 
much mingled with extra-moral causes and motives to be 
trustworthy. In this connection we have used the report 
issued in 1904 by the Department of the Census. The statis 
tics of religious bodies from the same source have seemed 
sufficient for our purposes, since the later figures reported by 
the churches are liable to exaggeration. 

The reports of the Department of the Census served as a 
basis for the following studies made by the members of the 
class in Sociology in Atlanta University: 

Negro Americans in the United States. 

The Negro American Farmer. 

Marital Conditions among Negro Americans. 

Religious Bodies among Negro Americans. 

Using the following questionnaire, the class also made an 
intensive study of: 

 12 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

The Negro Church in Atlanta, Georgia. 

1. City—Atlanta. State—Georgia 

2. Name and denomination of church. 

3. Location. 

4. Name of pastor. 
Address of pastor. 
Where educated. 

5. Membership. Number under twenty years of age. 

6. What is the proportion between male and female members? 

7. Value of church property. 

8. Total expenditures of church last year. 
Amount expended for missions. 
Amount expended for education. 
Amount expended for buildings and repairs. 
Amount expended for charitable work. 

9. What is the church doing along the following lines: 
Caring for old people. 
Encouraging young people. 
Holding to young men. 
Other social service. 

10. Where does the church encounter its greatest difficulty? 

Investigator ............ 

In addition to the above sources, the only, and in some 
respects the best, available material for the use of this inves 
tigation seemed to be the opinions of trustworthy persons in 
various parts of the United States who ought to know of the 
morals and manners of Negro Americans. Such a study was 
attempted in the use of the following questionnaire sent to 
interested persons thruout the United States: 

1. City ........ State ...... 

2. What is the condition of colored people whom you know in regard 
to the following? 

(1) Good manners. 

(2) Sound morals. 

(3) Habits of cleanliness. 

(4) Personal Honesty. 

(5) Home life. 

(6) Rearing of children. 

(7) Wholesome amusement for young people. 

(8) Caring for old people. 

3. What is the church doing along these lines? 

Scope of the Inquiry 

13 

4. How do present conditions in these respects compare with con 
ditions ten (or twenty) years ago? 

Name ................ 

Street Address ........... 

The questionnaire was sent to four thousand people resid 
ing in all parts of the country and engaged in all walks of 
life. Ten per cent of those questioned made replies to this 
questionnaire, the answers coming from thirty states and 
from persons classed under the following groups: 

Preachers: 

Bishops (2) 

Presiding Elders (5) 

Ministers (125) 
Teachers: 

Presidents of Colleges (1) 

Principals of Public Schools ) ,^\ 

Principals of Private Schools > 

Teachers in Public Schools ) ,^y. 

Teachers in Private Schools ) 
Social Workers: 

Y. M. C. A. Secretaries (7) 

Nurses (2) 
Artisans: 

Contractors and Builders (5) 

Bricklayers (3) 

Tailors (3) 
Painters (4) 
Blacksmiths (4) 
Dressmakers (4) 
Cigar Manufacturers (1) 
Harness Makers (1) 
Stationary Engineers (1) 
Professionals: 

Physicians (40) 
Dentists (14) 
Lawyers (7) 
Unclassified (40) 

Section 2. The General Problem 

When we consider the ten million American Negroes from 
the standpoint of their daily conduct and personal morality, 
what sort of folk are they? How far have they assimilated 

 1 4 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

and presumably how far are they able to assimilate modern 
culture of the average kind? 

Two elements would, to most minds, enter into the final 
answer to these questions: The general racial morality of 
the Negro and the social environment of the American Negro. 
The general racial morality of any great group is exceedingly 
difficult to determine, if indeed there is any such thing. The 
Negro race, like all great races, is, even in Africa, widely 
divergent in type, largely mixt with other races, and the 
result of widely differing influences of climate and contact. 
To speak of a single racial morality under such conditions is 
not to speak intelligently. We can, however, quote with 
advantage the judgment of competent and careful observers 
as to particular tribes and nations. A few such judgments 
are subjoined: 

It is therefore by no means difficult to account for the deep impres 
sion made by the Niam-niam on the fantastic imagination of the Soudan 
Arabs. I have seen the wild Bishareen and other Bedouins of the Nubian 
Deserts; I have gazed with admiration upon the stately war-dress of the 
Abyssinians; I have been riveted with surprise at the supple forms of 
the mounted Baggara: but nowhere, in any part of Africa, have I ever 
come across a people that in every attitude and every motion exhibited 
so thoro a mastery over all the circumstances of war or of the chase 
as these Niam-niam. Other nations in comparison seemed to me to fall 
short in the perfect ease—I might almost say, in the dramatic grace— 
that characterized their every movement.1 

The numerous skulls now in the Anatomical Museum in Berlin are 
simply the remains of their repasts which I purchased one after another 
for bits of copper, and go far to prove that the cannibalism of the Mon- 
buttoo is unsurpassed by any nation in the world. But with it all, the 
Monbuttoo are a noble race of men; men who display a certain national 
pride, and are endowed with an intellect and judgment such as few 
natives of the African wilderness can boast; men to whom one may put 
a reasonable question, and who will return a reasonable answer. The 
Nubians can never say enough in praise of their faithfulness in friendly 
intercourse and of the order and stability of their national life. Accord 
ing to the Nubians, too, the Monbuttoo were their superiors in the arts 
of war, and I often heard the resident soldiers contending with their 
companions and saying, "Well, perhaps you are not afraid of the Mon- 

JSchweinfurth: Heart of Africa. Vol. 2. p. 12. 

The General Problem 

15 

buttoo, but I confess that I am; and I can tell you they are something 
to be afraid of". 1 

Ratzel says:2 

Agreeably to the natural relation the mother stands first among the 
chief influences affecting the children. From the Zulus to the Waganda, 
we find the mother the most influential counsellor at the court of fero 
cious sovereigns like Chaka or Mtesa; sometimes sisters take her place. 
Thus even with chiefs who possess wives by hundreds the bonds of blood 
are the strongest. The father is less closely bound up with the family. 
He is indeed the head, and is recognized as such; it is said too that the 
Negro is in general a lover of children and therefore a good father. But 
even here he often rules more by force than by love. Among the institu 
tions recalling Roman law which Hubbe-Schleiden, an expert on that 
subject, found among the Mpongwes, he mentions their domestic or 
family life: "We find among them the patria potestas equally compre 
hensive and equally strict, if not carried into such abstraction. Wives, 
children, servants, are all in the power of the pater-familias or oga. He 
alone is quite free; a degree of independence to which a woman among 
the Mpongwes can never attain". Yet that woman, tho often 
heavily burdened, is in herself in no small esteem among the Negroes is 
clear from the numerous Negro queens, from the medicine-women, from 
the participation in public meetings permitted to women by many Negro 
peoples. 

Sweinfurth says:8 

Parental affection is developt among the Dyoor much more decidedly 
than among the other tribes. A bond between mother and child which 
lasts for life is the measure of affection shown among the Dyoor. 

Parents (among the Dinkas) do not desert their children, nor are 
brothers faithless to brothers, but are ever prompt to render whatever 
aid is possible. Family affection is at a high ebb among them". 

Miss Kingsley says:4 

The House is a collection of individuals; I should hesitate to call it a 
developt family. I cannot say it is a collection of human beings, 
because the very dogs and canoes and so on that belong to it are a part 
of it in the eye of the law, and capable therefore alike of embroiling it 
and advancing its interests. These Houses are bound together into 
groups by the Long ju-ju proper to the so-called secret society, common 
to the groups of houses. The House is presided over by what is called 
in white parlance, a king, and beneath him there are four classes of 

1 Ibid, p. 94-95. 

2 Ratzel: History of Mankind. 

3 Sweinfurth: Heart of Africa. 

4 Kingsley: West African Studies, 2d ed., p. 366 

 16 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Good Manners 

17 

human beings in regular rank, that is to say influence in council: firstly, 
the free relations of the king, if he be a free man himself, which is fre 
quently not the case; if he be a slave, the free people of the family he 
is trustee for; secondly, the free small people who have placed them 
selves under the protection of the House, rendering it in return for the 
assistance and protection it affords them service on demand; the third 
and fourth classes are true slave classes, the higher one in rank being 
that called the Winnaboes or Trade boys, the lower the pull-away boys 
and plantation hands. The best point in it, as a system, is that it gives 
to the poorest boy who paddles an oil-canoe a chance of becoming a king. 

Section 3. The American Environment 

The environment of the American Negro has not been in 
the past and is not today conducive to the development of 
the highest morality. There is upon him still the heritage 
of two hundred and fifty years of the slave regime. Slavery 
fosters certain virtues like humility and obedience, but these 
flourish at the terrible cost of lack of self-respect, shiftless- 
ness, tale bearing, theft, slovenliness and sexual looseness. 
Ignorance and poverty have been the greatest and most 
influential facts for the freedmen, and to these must be. added 
the disadvantage of a strong caste system. The average 
Negro child must be educated in poor schools, if indeed in 
any school at all; he must grow up in an atmosphere where 
he can scarcely escape humiliation, contempt and personal 
insult; his chances for work are narrowly restricted; as a 
man he lives in a world limited by law and custom in such 
ways that he is liable to violent punishment for acts involv- 
. ing no moral turpitude or to excessive punishment for pecca 
dillos. His general outlook on life is apt to be distorted by 
such surroundings and his tendency, if he is thotful, is 
to become surly in temper, or pessimistic or hypocritical. If 
he is careless he becomes more so and tends to shiftlessness 
and irresponsibility. The history and environment of the 
American Negro have brot their marked results. 

Section 4. Good Manners 

We subjoin one hundred and twenty-three answers from 
twenty-nine states as to the manners and general courtesy 
of Negro Americans. 

Alabama 

The educated class of our people shows a certain degree of culture 
and refinement; but the masses do not. The latter need especially to be 
careful about their manners and general deportment in public places. 

The manners of the colored people whom I know are fair. They are 
about as good as can be expected in the .present state of intelligence. 
They often are rude, but mean well. 

The manners of the majority of our people are very good and they 
are making improvement, of which we are very proud. 

There are two distinct classes of colored people in Birmingham: (1) 
the mining class, —a very poor and ignorant set of miners; (2) the better 
class,—the people who own homes and are engaged in the professions and 
paying occupations. The manners of class (1) are sometimes rowdy in 
public places. The manners of class (2) are practically irreproachable. 
As a whole their manners are not up to the standard, but this is due 
very largely to the lack of proper training. In cases where they have 
had the proper training they are as a rule very good. 

The general manners of the colored people in the district where I 

preside is 75 per cent better now than what it was five years ago. It 

is the Tuscaloosa district and covers about 50 square miles of territory. 

A few not unusually good—fair; a smaller number, good; a number 

by far greater than aggregate of other two classes, bad. 

The majority of colored people of this vicinity have very good man 
ners. They are very kind and courteous to each other and to strangers. 
They work to the advantage of each other. 
Fairly good, can be a great deal better. 
For uneducated people their manners are harmless enough. 
All sorts of manners, from the best to the worst. The best educated 
have the best manners as a rule. On the whole they are better man 
nered than their white friends. 

In the presence of whites timid, then obsequious; for the most part 
selfish with regard to themselves. Lack of ease due to restricted 
contact. 

In most cases where the proper influences have been brot to bear 
and most especially where a thoro school training has been given the 
individual, my people exhibit remarkably good manners. 

As a rule I find them very polite, but the rougher element, such as 
we find hanging around pool rooms and barber shops, is not so polite. 

The happy, cheerful, care-free disposition of the Negro makes him 
at times seem loud and ill-mannered but this must be charged as often 
to his peculiarities as to persistent bad manners. One has only to note 
the courtesy and consideration shown to women in public places to 
become convinced that there is improvement in both the lettered and 
unlettered Negroes. 

 18 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Good manners are inborn instincts in Negroes everywhere, especially 
in the South. 

There are a number with very good manners but they are sadly in 
the minority. It seems not because they do not know good manners but 
rather that they prefer to be rude. 

Arkansas 

I cannot say that our young people are as careful as they might be, 
certainly not as much so as I would like. 

Among the more enlightened and cultured the number of those who 
exhibit'good manners is large. But there is a large class of careless, 
rude and coarse-mannered people yet untoucht by the influences of 
culture. 

The manners are not what they should be. 

Fair. There is room for a great deal of improvement. 

California 

Very much improved. 

Connecticut 

As time goes on they are improving along this line. Education and 
the refinement associated with it are doing their work well. 

Among the lower element there is a real lack of good manners but 
among those of training, that is of ordinary training, there is a fine 
sense of fitness of things and conduct. 

Good. 

Delaware 

District of Columbia 

Generally good. 

This varies with the social grade and opportunities for contact with 
cultured people. Judged by the American standard they are governed 
by fear of disapproval rather than by habits of regard for the presence 
and feeling of the other man, and are better mannered than a class of 
whites of a better economic condition. They imitate the bizarre and 
unusual rather than the spirit of social intercourse. They inquire for 
your health not because they appreciate the value of it but to be please- 
able. They remove their hats and bow to position and authority rather 
than to indicate conscious courtesy. 

Not at all such as was to be expected, considering that manners 
should improve with the acquisition of knowledge. The lack of good 
manners among us supplies a cursed prejudice with a specious excuse 
for "Jim-Crowing" the race, and makes of the "Jim-Crow" a hell. 

Excellent with a large majority of the people but very reprehensible 
with a great portion of the lower class. 

Good Manners 

Florida 

19 

Sixty per cent of them very poor. Perhaps have been instructed 
but not introduced into practice. Especially is this true of the young 
men. 

We have gentlemanly and lady-like manners among the boys and 
girls that have attended our good schools. But there is much rudeness 
and even coarseness among the young ones who have not enjoyed, or 
rather have not availed themselves of, school privilege. 

Compare favorably with the other race. 

I think they are improving as they become more and more educated. 
Good speakers and leaders help our people very much. They are all 
eager to learn and improve their condition. 

The people in general have very good manners as far as they really 
know, while there is room for improvement. 

We have many that are fair, yet there are many who seem to know 
or care very little about good deportment. 

With few exceptions manners very poor. Polite enough, but man 
ners poor except very small minority. Young men as a rule have no 
respect for their girls but seek their down fall. They keep company 
with the lewd and best at one and the same time. They are boisterous 
and loud, they are given to clog dancing and the reel. They feel that 
they are privileged in every home on equal terms and will bloat if they 
are restrained from their street manners. • 

About as they are elsewhere. A shade better than average Ameri 
can who has a reputation for bad manners. 

Georgia 

The better class of people have very good manners and are still 
improving. 

While the condition is not as general as desirable, yet there is 
progress toward good manners. 

Good in many instances; majority exceeding poor. The tendency 
among the young (after going thru the 4th, 5th and 6th grades in 
city schools) is to live in the streets and their manners and street 
behavior are very, very bad. We might as well face the music, for here 
I think you have toucht a key that will make a very harsh note. Some 
of these young people come from the homes of parents that have good 
homes and fair surroundings and fair education, too. 

In general the manners of the Negro are good when alone, but when 
in crowds he usually becomes boisterous, rough and impolite. 

Great improvement. There have been wonderful changes during the 
last decade. The improvement is greatest among the young women. 

I have an extensive acquaintance with all classes of colored people 

 20 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

in the city of Atlanta. I think their general manners compare favor 
ably with those of any people among whom I have lived. 

There is much room for improvement along the line of good manners 
among the colored people, especially towards one another. Yet there 
are marks of improvement. Our young men and women do not seem to 
use as good manners towards one another as the older people. 

The colored people of my acquaintance have about as good manners, 
if not a little better, than any other people of equal education and 
refinement. 

Thoro manners are scarce among the colored people here. The 
percentage of forct manners, that is manners from a selfish standpoint, 
is somewhat greater. There is much need of improvement and the 
schools here are giving the subject more attention. 

The colored people whom I know, as a rule, have very good man 
ners. They are polite and respectful. Of course, there is a class who 
are not so polite and respectful, but the majority of the people have 
very good manners. 

Illinois 

It seems to me that we are losing our good manners in cities. 
Parents take too little time to train their children. The older folks are 
selfish and to a very large degree don't regard the feelings of people 
they don't know. There seems to be an effort to break away from the 
old ways. 

I am inclined to think that the large city Negro suffers by com 
parison with the Negroes of the smaller populated cities and towns and 
the rural district. As to manners I am not sure the race is any improved 
by its education over the first generation removed from slavery. 

Indiana 

Fair. It must be admitted while the manners of our populace is 
fairly good there is room for vast improvement. Our bumptious Negro 
is ever present. 

Kansas 

Are lacking on account of false standard of morals. Much is being 
done to, build a foundation for good manners. 

Kentucky 

Good when not molested. 

I find much improvement, a steady growing better along this line. 
Good when restricted by fitting rules and regulations provided they are 
properly executed; otherwise uncouth. 

The manners of many of our young people, particularly women from 
the ages of twenty-four to thirty-seven years of age are not just what 

Good Manners 

21 

they should be in regards to politeness. They seem to forget what appre 
ciation of small favors means. "Thank you" is obsolete. 

Need more culture. 

Markt improvement during the last ten years, in public, especially. 
The schools in these parts have succeeded in supplying the training often 
neglected in the home. The results both apparent and pleasing. 

Not so good. They need more training in that line. Young people 
have not got the manners they should have. They should be trained in 
the churches and in the schools. Good manners will help us at any time 
and any place. 

Louisiana 

The great mass of Negroes possesses excellent manners, but you 
would be surprised to know that a goodly number of those who attend 
and finish school assume an air of importance and fail to look up to their 
superiors. 

They are very generous in every stage of life so far as I have seen 
in business with quite a deal of them. 

Manners are comparatively good. I have always found them so, 
individually. In crowds they are noisy but, as a rule, good natured. 

Majority seem very polite. 

Manners among our young boys and girls who are attending school 
and college are not what they should be. Truthfully, there is room for 
improvement. 

Sorry to admit but the average is poor here. 

Maryland 

They are improved wonderfully. 

I find among people with whom I work no great lack of manners. 
As a rule they are kind, polite and respectful. 

This phase of development of the Negro here is very good. How 
ever, something must be done to touch the boys and girls along this line 
or we may have to soon change our statement. 

Minnesota 

The manners of the race here are good and compare favorably with 
those of the dominant race. 

Mississippi 

They are growing much better thruout this community, as our 
people educate themselves. 

Negroes here are very well behaved. I find them too ready to resent 
minor insults from one another while they calmly suffer any indignity or 
insult from whites,—possibly due to lack of protection before the law. 

 22 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Missouri 

Manners are good. Boisterousness and rowdyism are exceptional in 
public conveyances or in halls and on the streets. 

I should think it might be called a result practiced by those who are 
educated to know and trained to practice the rules of good morals. Our 
people are gradually emerging from ignorance, thus the counteracting 
forces of good manners are gradually lessening. 

St. Joseph, a city of possibly eighty thousand, has not more than 
four or five thousand Negroes. These are scattered over the city and 
there is no one street where the rough element congregates in large 
numbers. I would say the people are well mannered as a whole. Few 
are seen on the streets. They are admitted to public parks and receive 
courteous treatment. 

Show markt improvement yet uncertain as to what constitutes 
same. Standard rising. 

New Jersey 

Among the older people fair to good. Among the youths rather 
below fair. 

On par with the average American. 

New York 

Fairly good in this section of the state. Of course, the colored peo 
ple here mostly, as to the number of them, came direct from the South 
here. They compare favorably with any others of any other race here. 

Considerable carelessness, thotlessness as to manners but notice 
able improvement constantly seen. Little viciousness, teachable with 
the jolly spirit so overflowing that it is difficult to get them to be 
seriously thotful. Spirit of reverence greatly lacking among the young 
people. 

Generally good. Somewhat conceited. 

The majority of the colored people whom I know have very good 
manners, especially toward strangers. 

There are between 700 and 800 colored persons in the city of Troy 
sharply divided into two classes: The one made up almost wholly of 
members and adherents of the (colored) Presbyterian and A. M. E. Zion 
and of the various white churches. The other, non-church goers. About 
300 of the former and 400 of the latter. Class A, good; class B, poor. 

North Carolina 

Are generally good among the colored people. Are very much 
improved. Their deportment is much better now than in the past. 

A few have good manners but the greater number are rough and 
uncouth. This has been neglected in the homes by the parent. Polite- 

Good Manners 

23 

I 

I 

I 

ness and refinement are lacking in the most of our young people. 
Respect for the aged and those in authority is not adhered to as it should 
be. We find one here and there with refinement, showing it in their 
daily deportment and life. 

Improving. They have not reacht the stage of the most cultured as 
a mass but quite a number are refined. The masses need to be improved 
in this respect. 

Our town is divided into two very distinct elements, viz., the factory 
and non-factory elements. The former is exceedingly good; while the 
latter would not get as high an averge their manners could not be con 
sidered bad. 

Ohio 

I would say that they are far in advance of many other races of 
people. In our city the condition is not one that gives us fear only on a 
few streets where the saloons are located. 

The colored people here use good manners with one exception and 
that is a tendency toward boisterousness. I mean by this loud talking 
and laughing which seems to be a trait of character not yet overcome 
by culture. 

Oklahoma 

The truth and nothing but the truth:—There are a few who possess 
this grace. Every day I see the Bible is more and more true. We are 
truly living in the last days according to II Timothy, 3:1-17. Read St. 
Matthew, 7:13-14. "Few there be that find it". 

There is, I think, a steady improvement. There seems to be a 
decrease in boisterous conduct. 

They have improved 50 per cent over five years ago and I can can 
didly say that the condition of my people along the above line is very 
hopeful. "• 

The manners of the Negroes of this community are not far below 
standard. Their street manners and conventional etiquette are fairly 
commendable. 

Pennsylvania 

I am living in the North for the first time. I am a Virginian by 
birth. The colored people of the North have not the good manners of 
the colored people of the South. Of course, there are exceptions to this 
rule. 

The manners of the middle class are what one would expect from 
such a class. The lower strata are vulgar and loud and sometimes 
annoying. 

Not very good except that quite a number imitate in a superficial 
manner the manners of the upstart white people. 

 24 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

The more cultured classes behave themselves like others in like situ 
ation and so with the less cultured. 

I find the great majority with good manners. 

Viewing the colored people of today from but two classes, viz., the 
upper and the lower, or the professional or laboring classes, I find myself 
inclined to believe that with the different social and intellectual advan 
tages at their respective doors, the laboring class exhibits a greater and 
a more pleasing degree of conventional good manners than the profes 
sional class, whose exhibition savors of a veneer. 

Rhode Island 

Boisterous manners from the class very recently from rural parts of 
the South. Among the best class the manners are typically New Eng- 
landers: formal, cold and precise. 

South Carolina 

A majority of young people are rude. 

As a whole the colored people in this section of the country are very 
polite, charitable, sympathetic. 

My impression respecting the matter of good manners among our 
people is that they are about the same as among other people of similar 
intellectual and social standing. While there are, of course, markt 
instances of the woeful lack of what are usually called good manners— 
and these make so profound an impression upon us that we are likely to 
note and remember them—there are many, a very great many, who are 
of polish and culture in these particulars; and those having a reasonable 
degree of these graces are in my opinion in the large majority. 

Among some very good. Among a large number of others bad, 
especially on the part of our men toward our women. 

They behave as well as the whites who have had equal advantages; 

and I think better. 

Tennessee 

Clarksville is a small town of about ten thousand inhabitants, over 
half of them being colored. In manners and culture our people excel 
most places of its size. Our public entertainments are frequently visited 
by some of our best white citizens who always commend them. 

As a rule children get but little teaching or drill as to good manners 
in the home. The school teachers in the schools do most of the teaching 
along this line. While there is but little uncouthness there is on the 
other hand not much real politeness. 

Texas 

While the manners of our people here are not as good as desired 
there is a constant tendency toward improvement in this respect and it 
is hoped that conditions of this character will soon be second to none. 

The old people are exceedingly polite. The Negro who has had 

Good Manners 

25 

school advantages is polite. The unchurcht and uneducated Negro is 
rough and ugly in manners. 

Texas is still in that period known as the condition of the wild and 
woolly West. People are not as polite here as in the East. I am a Vir 
ginian by birth and have lived all my life in the East. I do not think the 
folks here measure up to the folks in the East in manners, still there are 
some here who are up to the standard of any race. 

The colored people have great respect for the white people but they 
are greatly wanting in manners for their own people. 

The older colored people are ostensibly more defferential in matters 
of salutation, etc. There seems to be a general lack of good manners 
now a days among all classes of the younger generation both white and 
colored, but the colored people of the South are inclined to have good 
manners. 

On the streets, in the churches and at other public places, fairly good. 

When sober the conduct of the average Negro is kind, thotful, 
restrained and considerate. When under the influence of strong drink 
or excitement he is noisy, boisterous and sometimes dangerous. The 
decent people are always decent. 

Among educated Negroes good; varying from fair to bad among the 
less fortunate. 

Par above that of the average southern Negro due to the fact that 
this city is an educational center for whites and the schools furnish work 
for between 300 and 500 young men and women. Thru such sources 
they gain much uncommon knowledge. 

Always kindly disposed, growing. It has always been so with the 
older members of the race. The charge that the younger elements of 
the race are gross, insulting, uncouth, is false. He is actually demon 
strating to the world his great susceptibility to good manners and prac 
ticing them. 

I live in an exceptional town. The colored people are very kindly dis 
posed toward each other. They are trying to raise their children to 
honor and respect everybody; but the newcomer is so very much different 
in his life and manners until we hate to see the new class come among us. 

Virginia 

Some of them excellent. Many very deficient. 

My impression is that on all of these subjects improvement can be 
seen in proportion to the amount of education and proper home training. 
Of course, much depends on environment. 

Some have excellent manners, all that anyone might desire. Others 
that I know are sadly lacking in this particular. In some instances the 
lack of good manners is due to home training. In other cases it is not 
due to home training. 

Adults have become more formal and affected and young people are 
less respectful than formerly. 

 26 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

West Virginia • 

A large percent are still very much too loud in public places, but the 
Negro as a whole is improving in his manners. 

Generally speaking the Negroes of Clarksburg have good manners. 
Among the transient element we sometimes meet with the coarse, inso 
lent Negro. 

They are up to the average. The younger people seem to be more 
careless in other things than in good manners. 

The condition of our people in regards to manners is excellent. They 
surpass the Anglo-Saxon in many respects. 

Section 5. Sound Morals 

Morals are matters of vaguer speculation and more vari 
able judgment than manners. There are few figures by 
which sexual morals can be judged. The record of illegiti 
mate births in Washington, D. C., is as follows: 

Washington, D. C. 

Year 

1879 ............ 

1880 ... ............ 

1881 ... ............. 

1883 . ......... 

1884 . ......... 

1885 . ......... 

1886 . ......... 

1887 . ......... 

1888. .......... 

1890 . . ............ 

1892 . .......... 

1893 . .....,,... 

1895 . ......... 

1897 . .......... 
1898 . ............. 
1899 ... . . ......... 

1900 ........ .... . . 

1902 .... ....... 

1903 . ...... 

1904 ..... ......... 

1905. ................ 

1907 .............. . . 

1909. ................ 

1910 ................ 

1912 

Total Negro 
Births Reported 

1,793 

1,592 

1,482 

1,584 

1,761 

1,804 

1,891 

1 963 

O fwl-l 

1,942 

1,842 

1,875 
2,043 
1,737 

1,867 
1,735 

1,817 

2,224 

2 275 

2,199 

2,322 
2,205 

O QQ9 

2,260 

9 970 

Percentage of 
Illegitimate 
Births Reported 

18.1 

19.7 

21.1 

22.9 

22.3 

26.2 

26.4 

27.1 

26.7 

25.9 
25.1 

25.5 

24.7 

24.6 

22.1 

21.4 
20 9 

21 9 

91 R 

Negro 
Population 

48 404 

* 

59,596 

75,572 

86,702 

94,446 

Sound Morals 

27 

One hundred thirty-two answers from twenty-six states 
giving general impressions as to moral conditions among 
Negroes are printed here: 

Alabama 

Medium. 

They have not got real good morals. ' 

The majority have good morals. 

Both classes should awake to a deeper sense of true morality. We 
should commend the right as right and condemn the wrong as wrong. 
Too much illegitimacy still exists. 

The standard of morality practiced is not what it ought to be. Fla 
grant and open immorality is not tolerated. The standard is high but 
few live up to it. 

The people in this city have made and are making rapid improve 
ment along the line of sound morals. I note a wonderful improvement 
during the last fifteen years. 

Their morals are very bad in places. 

Depending on circumstances among them. Poverty, low wages and 
home conditions have all to do with them. 

Condition as to this feature poor, especially females. Larger element 
of "grass widows" here than any place I have lived. Cause, most 
usually, infidelity. Adultery common. Larger number of bastards born 
since 1870 I think than any other town in the state-proportionately. 
Miscegenation has been the order of the day—changing however for 
better. Most products of this mating among females are some of our 
worst characters. Been low white trash and Negro, mostly mulattoes, 
concerned. 

All sorts of morals from the best to the worst. The best educated 
have the best morals as a rule. On the whole their morals are better 
than those of their white friends. 

It is a well known and lamentable fact that the code of laws sub 
scribed to by a large percentage of our people has not brot as good 
results as we might have wisht. But on the whole this was largely 
consequential. The Negroes' morals status is about as good as the con 
ditions and possibilities will admit. 

I think we are improving in morals. The same crowd that hangs 
around bar rooms, pool rooms and barber shops furnishes our darkest 
side as to morals. Girls who work out and come home after dark are 
subjected to too much temptation for lack of the proper protection along 
this line. 

The general feeling is that the Negroes have not grown as rapidly in 
sound morals as in economic lines. My feeling is that this is not true. 
One, you can see and tabulate the data; the other is ethical and cannot 
be so readily recorded, but I believe it is as real nevertheless. 

 28 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Very poor. The old Spanish treaty insured exemption from slavery 
to the Creoles in this section of the state, opened an avenue for white 
men to make inroads upon the morals of Negro women who were anxious 
for their children's future. The effects still last. 

I am sorry to say that I find colored people very lax in their morals 
but not more so than the other races. 

Arkansas 

Those I know personally and those with whom I most often come in 
contact are of good morals. 

Among the more enlightened and cultured the number of those who 
exhibit sound morals is large. But there is a large class of careless, 
rude and coarse mannered people yet untoucht by the influences of cul 
ture. Far too many seem to be without proper sense of right and wrong 
both as to honesty and chastity. 

I find many with sound morals, but about the city the masses are 
very weak. 

I find that the moral condition of the people, generally speaking, is at 
a very low ebb. There are so many children born and reared in the slums 
who know nothing else but that kind of life. Some have never heard 
the Gospel of Jesus Christ. 

So far as the better class is concerned it is O. K., but not as a 
whole; understand this part. 

California 

Our people are acquiring good morals in social and religious organi 
zations. 

Connecticut 

I think in this there is an improvement. 

For the most part here there is a rather low standard of morals due 
to the fact that a large percent of the colored population is constantly 
coming and going. 

District of Columbia 

More honest thru fear and ignorance than morality. Less restrained 
in sex contact than desired. Not sufficiently capable of sustained reaction 
to idea of "I ought". Average higher than ten years ago. 

The partaker and sharer of the general deterioration of morals so 
alarmingly characteristic of our day. "Evil communications corrupt 
good morals" but comparatively in my opinion, strange to say, the 
Negro has yielded less to the tendency sweeping downward. He is more 
conservative. 

Good in a very heavy majority. Still there is need for improvement. 

Florida 

The morals are good and sound except one family and we had them 
leave the settlement. 

Sound Morals 

29 

It is lamentable that there is not more emphasis placed on sound 
morals. The people are not classified in this particular. Character does 
not count, if one has money and can dress well and put on a good exterior. 
There are only a few exceptions in this particular city. 

The majority is weak. There are very few that have that un- 
blemisht morality. Since our state has collected a mass of floating 
element from all other states to do public labor in Florida and in this 
mass it has brot a large number of immoral characters. 

Quite an improvement over the past ten years among the people 1 
have moved and been laboring with. Sound morals count for everything 
and they look upon it as such. 

The morals of our young people are very much corrupted. Their 
highest ambition seems to be this rag-time dancing which in my estima 
tion is very degrading. 

About as good as their neighbors, especially in sex morality. The 
Negro (thru ignorance of course) washes his dirty linen in public and 
hangs it on the front yard fence. Their white neighbors more or less vice 
versa. 

Sound morals are much in the minority and it should be taught that 
good morals go far in summing up a race. Of course, here, the white man 
in our section is trying to place a colored liquor bar on every corner. 

Georgia 

Very sound. You can depend upon them in business. 

It is very burdensome for the few who possess them to bear the 
blame of the masses who lack them. It is alarming that our educators 
have shown weakness in some cases. 

As good as that of the community in general. 

To this question many claim that there is a going back but I do not. 
I think that, when a fair examination is given them, under conditions, 
etc., the Negro is holding his own. I am fifty-three years old and have 
been teaching twenty-three years and twenty years in the ministry and 
I can speak for this part of the state. 

The morals of the older of the race are very good. Those of the 
younger set are very bad. To my personal knowledge we have many 
young girls from twelve to eighteen who are morally wrong and yet they 
have good moral parents and good homes. The under class (from whom 
these children take lessons in public schools), they number the sands. 
They are to be found in every city I have traveled, North, South, and 
East and West, (the West not so much as the other sections and none so 
prolific as the Southern cities). I find them in the country also. Poor 
public schools are the cause in my opinion. 

The Negro is making progress toward sound morals but is at present 
far from the desired goal. 

 30 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Much better than formerly. A high sense of moral purity is domi 
nant and apparent. 

Their morals are improving and the future is bright. 

Quite a deal of improvement may be made and yet I do not regard 
the condition as one not readily susceptible to the proper kind of training 

and help. 

There is much room for improvement along the line of sound morals 
among the colored people, especially towards one another. Yet there is 
markt improvement. Our young men and women do not seem to have 
as good morals towards one another as the older people. 

In this respect our people have greatly advanced. 

I would say the same about sound morals that I said in inquiry one 
about thoro manners. I believe, however, that there is an earnest 
effort in this community to improve substantially along moral lines. The 
percentage of morals is much lower than it ought to be, so it seems. 

Judging my race by its best element, I consider the moral standard 
of the race a good one. In our schools the children are taught morality 
by action as well as word. We have organizations connected with the 
various churches that tend to raise the moral standard of our people and 
better them in every way. 

Their morals are something better than a few years back. They are 
beginning to manifest shame for wrong-doing. 

Illinois 

The crowded conditions, fashions, pleasures, resorts, etc., seem to be 
making hard against our sound morals. Temptations are carrying us 
away. The high cost of living and small opportunities for earning money 
have a great deal to do with lowering our standard. 

Bad; town wide open to vices led by white citizens and imitated by 

black. 

Poor, but as compared to the white people of this community and of 

whom I know, they are good. 

Not worse than other races but much room for improvement in this 
branch. Thirst for gold and luxuries seems to affect sound morals. 

I do not think the Negro is wholly to blame. The whole country 
seems to suffer from the hypnotism of debauchery. The Negro is not 
more to be charged than the white race that invented the debased system. 

Kansas 

Misconception of morals is generally found. Strong men and women 
have been kept in the back-ground. While it is a slow process, the con 
dition is changing. 

Kentucky 

Is very good and really growing better each and every day. 

I think they are progressing along these lines. 

Sound Morals 

31 

While the morals of our people are not as sound as we should like to 
have them, not by any means, yet, I am frank to confess that there 
seems to be progress and improvement and upon the whole our people 
are doing about like other folks with similar environments. 

Much improvement is needed, yet the standard has been perceptibly 
raised. 

There is a small but growing number who show sound morals. Too 
many have questionable morals or bad associations. 

Each generation more solid. 

Not prepared to speak authentically, yet considering the general 
moral laxity of both races in their search for pleasure and desire for fine 
clothes, there is a reasonable proportion of colored homes who uphold 
purity and foster morality. 

Bad in some places. Leading men are doing bad along this line. 

Young people should be taught that they will kill the race by not 
having sound morals. It should be imprest upon them to be sound in 
morals. 

Making rapid progress, but far from "A" No. 1. 

Louisiana 

Considering the poverty of our people, their craze for fine dress, the 
low wages paid, their recent deliverance from slavery, etc., we have 
among us a goodly number of young people whose morals are as sound as 
those of any people. 

Would say that when we classify, there are marked improvements, 
but when we consider the masses, of course, there is a deficiency; yet, 
generally speaking, there are evidences of progress. 

I think the majority are immoral but I am glad to say that I have 
noted a change for the better in the last few years. Where there has 
not been actual improvement, they have grown less careless. 

In my personal estimation, they are worse than cannibals, altho they 
are only imitating their white brothers. 

Maryland 

The question of morals is rather a grave one due mostly to the fact 
that girls are not taught to be strong of volition in order to resist the 
snares set for them. I think much can be done along this line, too, by 
teaching colored women and girls their rights and privileges when insult 
ed by white men. My attention has been called often to cases where 
white men have insulted colored women and the women feeling the sting 
refrained from calling public attention when they should have gone as 
far as the law would protect them in the case. 

Minnesota 

The moral status of the race is good, tho there is much room for im 
provement. 

 32 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Mississippi 

The morals of the people of Indianola and community are decidedly 
better than in former years. Marriages among those of higher moral 
training and the building of homes with purer surroundings are consider 
ably on the increase. 

Of course, there are a great many Negroes of my acquaintance 
whose moral character is without reproach. I know too many colored 
people however, not a majority, whose morals will not stand close inspec 
tion. 

Some of our women and men stand for absolute purity. I regret to 
say, as a whole, Negro men have not and do not accord our women that 
respect and attention so much in evidence in Southern white men. Again 
a Negro woman, self-respecting and good looking, is too often the target 
of attack for white men and when Negro women fall, they seem to be 
cheaper and fall lower and are more common than white women. 

Missouri 

Sound integrity is somewhat lacking; the spirit of getting by on ap 
pearances and covering up ends and short-comings pervades much of our 
atmosphere. Conceptions of sexual morality are low with a class of our 
people. 

In all essentials poor. 

The schools and churches are popular here. All of the teachers and 
most of the people are church going people. The ministers are above the 
average and the teachers are of sound morals generally. I can't say so 
much for the younger set; seems to be a reign of loose morals. I believe 
children are trusted too much alone. The wants of the parents have in- 
creast; the mothers leave home to work; charity no longer begins at 
home. The mothers give their time to churches and clubs. 

There is also some improvement here, tho not so "sound". I feel 
justified in saying that in proportion to the intelligence, morals are good. 
Some are pulling upward—many are pulling downward. 

New Jersey 

Among the masses, there are low moral standards, consequently 
loose living. There is a better element, fewer in number, who have 
sounder morals. 

Ne\v York 

The law governing immorality is quite rigidly enforced for such a 
large summer resort like Niagara Palls. The Negro has his weak spots 
here morally, but on the whole his comparison with the other races who 
live here, is not odious. 

About with the average as noted generally in other places—in most 
places. Fidelity to the marriage vow, with probably but few exceptions. 

Depends entirely upon training, grade for grade. 

Sound Morals 

33 

North Carolina 

The majority are very much improved for the last ten years and they 
are doing much better on this line. 

Some improvements among the masses. 

The standards are not high in this community—about an average. 
The leaders are at times immoral and illiterate, prejudiced and super 
stitious. There are no lines of demarkation of morality drawn plainly 
here and it will be some time before this will be a strong healthy place 
with good sound morals. But we can see a slight improvement here and 
there and a desire for a purer and a higher life. Reformation is taking 
place here and there and we hope for a better time and believe it will 
come in the near future. 

Very poor but is kept within the race. 

The moral condition seems above the average of the race; conditions 
have greatly improved in the last ten years. 

I think the moral tendency is better than in previous years. 

Ohio 

Far from perfect but need have no immediate concern as long as our 
organizations for good are at work. 

It is below the average of the white race. The sexual instinct seems 
not to be governed by high respect for female chastity. 

Oklahoma 

This is hard to report; and yet we must admit the steady thumping 
they are getting is having its effect. 

Their morals have kept pace with their manners and I feel much 
encouraged at the rapid advance of my people. 

Am sorry that I cannot say as much for the morals in a general way 
as may be said for their manners. The ministry in these parts is far 
from clean. In fact, it has been so vile that the reaction among the 
people has been far from healthy. Our people have not been trained to 
a proper conception of the worth of feminine virtue and the rigid fidelity 
in domestic relations. 

Much improved over conditions ten years ago. When properly 
trained, our people seem to be more steadfast. Much improvement 
needs to be made yet. 

Pennsylvania 

The morals of this city are fairly good but, sadly imperiled by flat 
and tenement housing. The localities in which many of the colored people 
have to live are not conducive to the best morals. 

The superficial are prone to imitate the degenerate society of the 
whites in evenings of debauchery. 

The moral aspect is not just what it might be considering the educa- 

 34 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

tional and social advantages to which they have access. 

The morals are undergoing quite a change due to the influx of people 
from the South. That is, it is a common thing for the better class as 
well as the lower, to" be mistresses of white men. This is a serious 

matter here. 

My observations and dealings especially in connection with Jews, 

Italians and middle class of white Americans, convince me that there is 

no essential difference between them and Negroes of the same class. 

About four-fifths of the number that I have had dealings with, I 

have found morally sound. 

Prom all points of vantage the morals of the people deserve favor 
able comment, despite adverse criticism from many sources. Morality 
from the civilized viewpoint receives less insulting thrusts from the 
Negro than from the Caucasian, for the simple reasons that: First—the 
former adopts principles somewhat foreign to those of his ancestral 
teachings. Second—he is forct to adopt idealistic theories which are 
inconsistently practict by their creator, the latter. Hence, the ques 
tionable exemplary effect on the imitator. Ethnologists have satisfied 
us that the primitive peoples, and those slightly more fortunate, enjoy a 
more serene phase of "Sound Morals" than do the so-called highly 

civilized. 

Rhode Island 

Reformed municipal government has driven to the wall open houses 
of shame. Divorces on the ground of adultery or desertion are rare. 
There are few instances of illicit relations openly practiced. On a 
whole, there is room for improvement. 

South Carolina 

Not very good but some improvement noticed in recent years, and as 
they grow intelligent their morals improve. 

In morals, I believe we are making fair headway in an upward ten 
dency. The thousands of good and pious people are likely to be over- 
lookt in considering the large number of the vicious and the criminal 
who are members of the race. One very bad man will very frequently 
attract more attention than a thousand good people. 

Morals are good among those who have been trained, but a large 
number who have had little or no training of home or school are very low 
in morals. 

Tennessee 

I think the moral conditions of our people might be improved upon. 
However, they are quite as good as are found elsewhere and much better 
than are found in some places. 

Sorry to say that sound morals are at a low ebb. There are some 
who are moral in the strictest sense of the word but the majority are 

Sound Morals 

35 

very slack. Here, as every where else, a great many rank in society as 
moral people who are not. I am answering your questions to the letter. 

I know a large number of Negroes whom I believe to be thoroly 
sound in morals, but not a large per cent. Many seem to be moral along 
certain lines but not so on others. 

Much the same as above but the baneful influence of immoral men 
of prominence among the colored people is alarming. 

Texas 

Unsound as to high morals. Have almost lost respect for truth. 

Few if any people can boast of entirely sound morals. To be sure, 
our people here must make great advances before reaching anything like 
perfection in the moral standard. 

There are many Negroes who are pure in character; who live in a 
pure atmosphere; they are true and honest. There are many who are 
immoral. 

The moral question is lookt into and unless they stand for what they 
pretend, they are set aside and set to themselves. 

Morals in the masses are not so good. The failure to enforce the 
laws has caused many to go astray. Here in our city colored women 
are allowed to remain in the red-light district for the exclusive use of 
white men. Many of the leading people are divorct. Improper causes 
are at the bottom of the trouble. Many of our women will get fine 
clothes at any cost and by any means. I consider their morals below par. 

From my study and observation, I am prepared to pronounce the 
morals of the colored people sound. The refinements of vice render vice 
really insidious. Vice among the Negroes, where it appears, is very 
coarse and brutal and therefore repulsive. Only the brutalizing labor 
ing and housing conditions are responsible for the lack of sound morals 
among certain classes. Religion in its peculiar aspects has inculcated a 
fear of evil into the average Negro's mind; beside this the virgin moral 
nature of the colored people has not yet been infected by the pernicious 
virus of refined and perverted instinct and habit. 

Not common. Even the ministers are some of them not above 
reproach. Divorces are very common. 

Seventy-five per cent of the colored people, I believe, might be 
clast as morally sound. 

Conduct mixt; good morals in all classes; bad morals in all. 

The moral conduct of the Negroes of this city is highly complimented 
by the whites. 

Much sounder in their life than formerly. The race is becoming less 
spotted. Virtue and uprightness greater elements in its life. It is less 
wavering; stability and firmness greater watchwords. 

The morals among our people could be better. As a poverty-stricken 

 36 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

race, a great many of our people are led away and their morals become 
unsound like other races. I note that the morals of our people are 
about as good as those of other races. 

I am afraid to speak along that line. Great improvement can be 
made along that special line. I sometimes fear we are retrograding, 
while I know we are improving but not fast enough for me. 

Virginia 

Improving, but still standards are low even in many from whom 
better things would be expected. Some are excellent. 

They have sound morals in proportion to their education and 

environment. 

Lack exalted ideals of morality. For some reason the lower classes 

speak lightly of the morals of the more favored. 

For the most part, according to the educational advantages the 
people have had, there ought to be a higher moral standard. The 
women and girls are not as chaste as they ought to be. 

The standard is not as good as we would like it to be altho some are 

all right. 

I don't think the advance in morals has been commensurate with 

that in other respects. 

The moral standing of the people is very low. 

West Virginia 

Above the average of a mining settlement. 

I fear that the people feel that they have done well by their children 
when they are properly sheltered, fed and clothed. My impression is 
that but little time is spent in moral instruction. It seems that this is 
one of Clarksburg's greatest weaknesses. 

On par with those of other races around them. Above the average 
you will find in any industrial section composed of a changing population. 

The morals of the young people, I am sorry to say, do not favorably 
compare with the older generation. 

Morality seems to be at a stand-still, or at its critical stage with the 
scales waiting to tip for better or for worse. 

How far has the moral condition of Negroes shown itself 

in crime? 

This is, despite general opinion, a question difficult to 
answer. Previous to 1904 our data were gathered at the 
time of the decennial census and were estimated on a 
counting of all persons in prison on a particular day. These 
figures for Negroes were: 

Sound Morals 

37 

1880 ....... . . 

Nurnber of 
Prisoners 

8,056 

16,748 
24,277 

Ratio per Million 
of Negro Population 

1621 

2480 
3250 

In 1904 the number of prisoners enumerated did not 
include those unsentenct and awaiting trial. Subtracting 
those from 1890 and estimating the Negro population for 
1904 we have the following data: 

1890 .......... 

1904 .......... 

Number of 
Prisoners 

19.808 

26,087 

Ratio per Million 
of Negro Population 

2783 

Taking the proportion of prisoners by color, we have the 
• following percentages: 

1890. ......... 

1904. ......... 

White 

67.4 

Negro 

80.4 

32.6 

In other words, according to the method of enumerating 
prisoners on a certain day every ten years, the Negro Ameri 
can forming one-eighth of the population seemed responsible 
for nearly one-third of the crime; and his criminal tendencies 
increast rapidly from 1870 to 1880, enormously from 1880 to 
1890, and perceptibly from 1890 to 1904. 

It was pointed out, however, in 1890 that this method of 
estimating crime was misleading and erroneous. Such a 
method furnisht no basis for estimating the increase or 
decrease of crime; and without doubt it exaggerated Negro 
crime. For example: If in communities A and B five men a 
year are arrested but B punishes her men by twice as long 
terms as A, by the method of enumeration of prison popula 
tion on a certain day community B appears on a given day 
with twice as many criminals as community A, when as a 
matter of fact there is no difference in the number of crimes 

 38 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

ocmmitted. The better method is to count the number of 
prisoners committed within a certain time period. Dr. R. B. 
Falkner estimated that if such a method had been used the 
Negro would be found responsible for nineteen per cent of the 
crime in 1890 instead of thirty per cent. 

The report of 1904 counted not only the prison population 
but also the commitments. It is striking and reassuring to 
black men to find that instead of being responsible for thirty- 
three per cent of American crime, the report shows them 
responsible for only fifteen and eight-tenths per cent. 

Prisoners Committed in 1904 

Sound Morals 

39 

Or in other words one-eighth of the population furnisht 
one sixth of the crime,—a condition not unfavorable to the 
Negro, considering his past history. 

Why is it that Negroes formed so much smaller a propor 
tion of the commitments than of the prison population? This 
is because of their longer sentences. In 1890 the average 
white prisoner had a sentence of three and one-half years, 
the average Negro of nearly five years. So, too, one-third 
of the white prisoners were in for less than a year; while 
only one-fifth of the Negroes were thus favored. The figures 
for 1904 show that this condition still continued. First note 
the curious discrepancy in numbers: 

Color 

White ... . . 
Negro . . 

Prisoners Enumerated 
June, 1804 

55,111 

26,087 

Prisoners Committed 
1904 

125,093 
23,698 

Then the reason: 

Sentences 

Total 
Number 

640 

808 

116,129 

Number 
Negroes 

843 

408 

7,363 

Percent of 
Negroes 

53.5 

50.5 

6.3 

I 

Or again in the North Atlantic States only one-tenth of 
one per cent of all sentences were for life, while in Mississippi, 
where nearly all convicts were Negroes, six per cent were for 
life; in the North Central States forty-two per cent sentences 
were for less than a month; but in Georgia only one per cent 
were for so short a time. Why is it that Negroes were so 
severely punisht? The editors of the census bulletin, while 
admitting the possibility of ' 'A somewhat greater severity in 
dealing with colored criminals than white" were disposed to 
think that a part of the cause is that the Negro is guilty of 
the more aggravated forms of crime. 

They divided all prisoners committed in 1904 into major 
and minor offenders and found that Negroes contributed 
thirty-one per cent of the graver and thirteen per cent of 
the minor offenses. 

Two difficulties present themselves in this argument: 

1. Length of sentence to some extent determines the 
classification into graver and minor offenses. 

2. Negroes are indicted often for the graver of two pos 
sible offenses: To strike a white woman is for a white man 
"Assault"; for a Negro it may be "Attempted Rape". 

The classification Isads to apparently inexplicable re 
sults: If, for instance, we take the prisoners committed in 
1904, we find that of all offenses the following proportion are 
major offenses: 

 -u 

o 

Percentage of "Major" Offenders among all Offenders 

Southern Negroes ............. 45.3% •••••••••••••••••••••i 

The South ................. 41.3% ua*mm*mmmmtmm*mmmmmmm 

Southern native whites, native parents . . . 38.6% ••••••••••••RHHMMMHMHIM 

Southern native whites ........... 38.0% •••••••••••••••••••••i 

Southern foreigners ........... 38.0% •••••••••••••••••••••• 

Negroes, United States .......... 36.0% MHBHMHMMMMMMMMHMH 

Northern Negroes ............. 25.0% ••••••••••••••••••••• 

Native whites, native parents, United States, 19.0% •••••••••••••••• 

Native whites, United States ....... 17.0% 

Northern native whites, native parents . . . 15.1% 
Northern native whites . ......... 

The North ................. 14.c 

Foreigners, United States ......... 12.0% 

Northern foreigners ............ 10.5% 

8 

§ 

CL 

rt 

§ 

<w 

m 
w 

1 
o' 

§ 

CO 

C § ^3 g" 5" 

i a" i-rl ^ 

o, . 5 ^ I 

Sl^SS? 

>•* o fa rt- O ft 
| I ^% 

lif!! 

& ^ H, 

03' 03 ^ ^ a 

^|o| § | 

ft c^^ g &3 
0 ^ 

l^r 

3 < 

s S3 %:: 2;^ 

ft ft) " ft M^ rt- 

95 rr ^ SL E 5^ 

—. 2- ^ ^- ** O 

S,S ? ? £ s 

r 

CL 

0 

g. 

to" 

 42 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

stealing are more seriously in excess, but this excess is hardly 
more than would be expected from the heritage of slavery, 
the custom of partial payment in kind and very low wages 
contrasted with rapidly expanding wants. The cases of 
rape, altho absolutely few in number, are relatively large, 
but here the influence of racial prejudice is large: Any insult 
or suspected insult to white women by a Negro in the South 
ijs liable to be denominated and punisht as attempted rape. 
How much real guilt therefore lies back of the figures can 
pnly be conjectured. The really dangerous excess of Negro 
crime would appear to be in assault and homicide, fighting 
and killing. Here again interpretation is difficult: How much 
of these are aggressions on whites, repelling of white aggres 
sions on Negroes, and brawling among Negroes themselves? 
Undoubtedly the majority of cases belong to the last cate 
gory, but a very large and growing number come under the 
pther heads and must be set down to the debit of the race 

problem. 

, Any Negro tried for perjury, assault, robbery, rape, homi 
cide, arson, burglary, larceny or fraud is going to get a 
severer penalty in the South than a white man similarly 
charged. This the white community judges to be necessary 
and its decisions are carried out by police forces, police 
magistrates and juries drawn from the white classes whose 
racial prejudices are strongest. The higher judges tend 
toward greater independence but even they must stand in 
fear of the white electorate, whose power is exercised at 

short intervals. 

. -Next to this stands the fact that in the South road-build 
ing, mining, brickm,aking, lumbering and to some extent 
agriculture depend largely on convict labor. The demand 
for such labor is strong and increasing. The political power 
of the lessees is great and the income to the city and state is 
tempting. The glaring brutalities of the older lease system 
are disappearing but the fact still remains that the state is 
supplying a demand for degraded labor and especially for 
life and long term laborers and that almost irresistibly the 

Sound Morals 

43 

police forces and sheriffs are pusht to find black criminals 
in suitable quantities. 

If this is so, many ask, how can crime in the North be 
explained? Northern Negro crime is different in character 
and cause. It arises from: 

(a) A sudden change from country to city life. 

(b) Segregation in slums. 

(c) Difficulty of obtaining employment. 

The proof of (a) is seen among the whites: Massachu 
setts and Iowa are of similar grade of culture, yet Massachu 
setts, a state of towns and cities, has 846 annual commitments 
per 100,000 of population while Iowa, a state of farms, has 
402. Thus prejudice and economic demand account for much 
of the excess of Negro crime. But they do not account for 
all of it. Another factor as shown by the census is: Ignorance. 
Of native white criminals ninety-three per cent could read 
and write; of foreigners seventy-eight per cent; of Negroes 
only sixty-two per cent. This minimum of education it is 
the duty of the state to furnish; and since this is not done, 
the Negro, more than any other criminal element has the 
legitimate but costly excuse of sheer ignorance. Another 
factor is: Neglect of the young. The South sent to prison in 
1904 sixteen hundred children of both races under twenty 
years of age, nine hundred and fifty of whom were under 
fifteen years of age. Yet, North and South Carolina, Ala 
bama, Mississippi, Texas, and Oklahoma made no provision 
whatsoever for juvenile delinquents among Negroes; and 
Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Tennessee and West Virginia 
had each one small institution with from thirteen to fifty- 
four inmates. Probably a thousand delinquent Negro chil 
dren in the South to-day are being trained in prisons by com 
panionship with the worst grown criminals. And this thing 
has been going on for years. 

This is the more serious because Negro crime is peculiarly 
the crime of the young. The following table is explicit: 

 44 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 
Ages by Percentages 

Sound Morals 

45 

Under 20 years of age . . . 

Native Whites 

10 
35 

55 

Negroes 

19 

52 

The cause of this youthful crime is: 

(1) The difficulty of adjusting the young to a caste system. 

(2) The poor home training. 

(3) The demand for strong young convict labor. 
Other causes of crime not shown in these figures are: 

(1) Poverty. 

(2) Discouragement arising from lawless treatment and 
withdrawal of civil and political rights. 

(3) Lack of self-respect under a caste system. 
What now is the remedy for Negro crime? 

1. Justice in southern courts; Negroes on the police force 
and in the jury box. 

2. Abolition of the economic demand for criminals in the 

South. 

3. Better housing and free chance to work in the North. 

4. National aid to Negro education. 

5. Better wages. 

6. Full civil and political rights for Negroes, on the same 
basis as they are granted to whites. 

There is a theory held by many persons and often openly 
exprest, that Negroes are especially guilty of crimes against 
white women. The facts do not bear this out. In the West 
Indies, with an overwhelming preponderance of Negroes in the 
population, such crimes are practically unknown. In the Unit 
ed States lynching has long been excused by many as the only 
cure for these crimes. But of 2855 lynch law murders done, 
between 1885 and 1913, the accusation of assault on women 
was made in only 706 or 24.4 per cent, less than a fourth, of 
these cases. It is moreover fair to assume that in these 706 

alleged cases the proportion of guilty persons was small. 

It must be remembered that in a condition of inflamed 
racial hatred, where sexual intercourse between colored men 
and white women is regarded as a crime in many sections 
under any circumstances and where fear and suspicion are in 
the air, the general accusation of rape may include much 
that is not criminal at all. Personal insult of all degrees, 
wrongful suspicion, lying and disguise, accident, self defense, 
circumstantial evidence, burglary in a woman's room, ex 
aggeration, illicit relations and sheer mental suggestion may 
all go to swell the charge of rape. A few actual newspaper 
clippings are given below as illustrations: 

Insult: 

Estherwood, La., Oct. 8.—Two men with 
the aid of a blacksnake whip gave a strange 
Negro a sound thrashing at Mr. Breaux's 
thrashing outfit, where all were working, 
for making remarks about some white 
girls. He was ordered to leave at once. 
Galveston, Tea;., News. 

Ed Wren, a young white man of Ensley, 
is dead and Aaron Duncan, a 16-year-old 
Negro boy, is in the county jail charged 
with his murder, as a result of the young 
man resenting an alleged insult offered a 
young lady whom he was escorting at the 
fair last night. 

While details are lacking and stories re 
garding the cause of the murder differ 
greatly, it seems from all accounts that 
the Negro brushed against the lady and 
Wren tuined to resent it. After a word 
or two was passed the Negro drew a knife 
and made a slash at Wren, cutting him in 
the neck, severing the jugular vein. 

Birmingham, Ala., Age-Herald. 

Hope, Ark., Oct. 17.—Charley Lewis, a 
Negro, died near here this afternoon from 
the effects of wounds received this morn 
ing while his capture was being made. 

Ml 

 46 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Lewis went to the home of Mr. Lewellan, 
a prosperous white farmer, who resides a 
few miles south of Hope, this morning, and 
used very insulting and abusive language 
to Mrs. Lewellan, who was alone at home, 
threatening to kill her. She secured a gun 
and fired several shots at him, all of which 
went wide of their mark, and he escaped. 
He then went to the home of Will Byrom, 
a white farmer, and, securing an ax, tried 
to kill him, again making his escape. Con 
stable Steve Berry, of this place, was no 
tified, and with a number of armed citizens 
started for the scene of the trouble. In 
the meantime a posse of armed citizens 
had been formed and the Negro's capture 
effected before Constable Berry reached 
them, but his capture was not made until 
his body was riddled with bullets. 

Memphis, Tenn., Commercial-Appeal. 

Suspicion: 

Clinton Glover, a young Negro of St. 
George, charged with attempted rape, was 
convicted last Tuesday and sentenced to 
on be hanged on the 10th inst. There was 
no direct testimony to convict this man. 
He was only seen in the street opposite 
the house where the assault was attepmted 
at about 3 o'clock, whereas the attempt 
was made about 10 o'clock that evening. 
The lady is reported to have said that she 
did not know the man, did not know 
whether he was white or colored. She 
only felt the touch of some hand. 

Charleston, S. C., Southern Reporter. 

Lying: 

Cumberland, Md., Oct. 22.—After she 
had stabbed her sweetheart, Clarence But 
ton, because he teased her about another 
girl, Mrs. Walter Williams set her um 
brella up over his head to keep the rain off 
him, and knelt beside him and talked to 

Sound Morals 

him lovingly during the few minutes that 
he lived. ***** He talked to her 
affectionately and begged her to get rid of 
the knife and say he had been attacked by 
a Negro who had insulted her. 

"For God's sake get rid of that knife!" 
he said as he died. 

New York World. 

, v • • 
• Washington, Pa., Wednesday.—Publicly 

Repudiating the stpry told by Miss Beatricq 
Burr of an attack by; Negro highwaymen 
near her home November 15, in which the 
automobile she was driving was damaged, 
the young girl's father today announced 
that he would pay damages to W. H. 
Adams, of Phijadelphia, whose buggy he 
says was smashed by his daughter's ma 
chine. 

New York Herald. 

Entering a Room: 

Irwinton, Ga., October 10.—Because he 
entered the room of Miss Effice Chappell, 
the daughter of a planter, last Sunday 
night, after she had retired, and ap 
proached her bed, Andrew Chapman, a 
Negro, to-day was hanged from a tree near 
here by a mob and his body riddled with 
bullets. 

Miss Chappell awoke, as the Negro ap 
proached her bed, and screamed. Her 
cries aroused the family, and the Negro 
fled. 

Cincinnati, O., Enquirer. 

Revenge: 

Caruthersv'lle, Mo., Oct. 11.-Shortly 
after midnight last night a mob broke into 
the city jail and dragged therefrom two Ne 
groes, carrying them to the baseball park, 
on the edge of the Mississippi river, north 
of town, and from there sounds of lashing 
and screams of the blacks were heard. An 

47 

 48 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

hour or so later flames were seen bursting 
from an ancient frame building, which has 
for several years been used as a Negro 
boarding house, and which has long been 
the rendezvous of many tough characters 
of the race. It is evident the building was 
saturated with oil, and before the fire com 
pany could respond the old landmark was 
a glowing bed of coals. 

Early yesterday evening a Negro known 
as High Pockets followed two young lady 
clerks of the supply store, Miss Josie Faulk 
and Miss Bessie Gee, to their homes. It 
was growing dark and the Negro hid in the 
shrubbery of the J. H. McParland place, 
near the home of the girls. The girls 
called the attention of J. W. McClanahan 
to the threatening actions of the Negro, 
and the police were telephoned for. The 
Negro was found where he had hidden, and 
was placed in the city jail. In some way 
the suspicious action of the Negro became 
known, but to the public there appeared no 
evidence of the gathering of a mob. 
* * * * 

There has been smouldering excitement 
in this city since last week when Lee Flem 
ing and Albert Dugger were slashed nearly 
to death by a knife in the hands of a bad 
Negro. This Negro was arrested and car 
ried to Kennett, the county seat of Dunk- 
lin county. Excitement ran high and a 
mob captured a train and made the Ken 
nett jailer a midnight call, but Kennett 
was wired and the Negro taken from jail 
and hidden. 

Memphis, Tenn., Commercial-Appeal. 

Illicit Intercourse: 

These headlines tell their story. 

NEGROES IN A 

BOLD OUTRAGE 

Sound Morals 

BREAK INTO WOMAN'S HOME AND 
ASSAULT AND ROB HER 

SUSPECT IS CAPTURED IN THE 
CANADIAN SCO 

ATTACK UPON LITTLE GIRL IS 

UNSUCCESSFUL 

One of Two Thieves Remained in House 

for Two Hours After Assault and 

Robbery Had Been Com= 

mitted—Other Flees 

Savdt Ste. Marie Evening News 
Tuesday, Oct. 24,1911 

SENSATIONAL STORY 

Might Have Led to Lynching in 
Many Communities 

A MOUNTAIN OF A MOLE HILL 

"Social Call" Stamped as "Most Das 
tardly Crime Ever Committed 
in This Community" 

Soo Times, Oct. 28, 1911 
Imagination: 

Several days ago a very sensational story 
of an assault on two little girls at Rocky 
Mount was told in the papers, and the 
man •who was suspected was arrested, end 
he was identified by the girls, one of them 
11 years old and the other 10. Nothing 
has been said of the matter lately, it was 
left like the sensational stories in the 
paper, right where it was the most sensa 
tional. The mob was after the Negro and 
it was uncertain whether the sheriff could 
protect him or not. 

49 

 I .. -A .» . ^_. T-.-.^»'- 

"1 

r mi 

"llll 

50 Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

The sheriff was suspicious of the story 
when it was told by the children but the 
mob believed it and thought that they 
were doing their duty by their families 
and the race in trying to lynch the Negro. 

It is understood that the children had 
been hearing and reading sensational stories 
throughout the country which have been 
very frequent in the papers recently and 
they thought that they would getup a sensa 
tion on their own account, so they made 
up the tale and only the fact that the 
sheriff was a level headed man saved that 
section of the country an outbreak of law 
lessness. 

The sheriff got the story from the child 
ren after some persuasion. 

Florence, (S. C.) Times. 

Section 6. Cleanliness 

The dirt and squalor of the slaves was often spoken of, 
altho there was much difference between house servants and 
field hands in this respect. One hundred nineteen selected 
answers from twenty-six states indicate general improve 
ment. 

Alabama 

Our people have made great progress in this particular. We are 
realizing that cleanliness of person, home and general surroundings is es 
sential .to good health. 

Habits of cleanliness are far above the average. The homes and sur 
roundings and general appearance are clean, generally speaking. 

As a rule our people do not use all the soap and water that they 
should but some very earnest efforts are being made to get them to form 
habits of cleanliness. 

Many of the wives and mothers do the washing for most of the city 
in a most acceptable way. ' As compared with the Jews and Italian in 
the city they are decidedly superior in the matter of cleanliness. 

The majority of our people present themselves to the public in a very 
decent manner. 

As a whole they don't come up to the mark; but the better trained 
people here are very careful along this line. 

Cleanliness 

51 

Improving. 

They are growing better every day along this line of cleanliness. 
The ministers and teachers are doing more along this line than ever be 
fore in the history of this state. 

Fair proportion have habits of cleanliness. That class, however, is 
not in number large enough to appreciably affect health status of the race 
generally. 

The most of the people of the vicinity wear good clothes and they go 
neat and tidy. Also they are very neat in their homes. 

Habits of cleanliness are very much improved over what they were 
five years past. People want to know and daily apply them more and 
more. Pleasingly remarkable. Can easily be denominated. 

Habits of cleanliness have their bearing on morals; and if living con 
ditions were better for colored people most assuredly their morals would 
be better. On the whole where conditions are favorable the habits of 
cleanliness are all that could be expected of them. We cannot make 
brick without straw even in this field. 

There is a wonderful improvement among them as to cleanliness. 
They are more cleanly both as to their homes and person. 

Arkansas 

Not as good as it should be. Much improvement is needed among 
the uneducated flass. 

For the most part habits of neatness in home and business obtain. 

The percentage of those who observe a fair degree of personal and 
home cleanliness is encouragingly large. 

Our people are learning this rapidly and are building sanitary homes 
and keeping them in sanitary condition. There are few exceptions. 

They are fairly clean because the city is demanding that everything 
be kept in a sanitary condition. There are some homes yet that could 
do better along that line. 

They have made wonderful progress along sanitary lines. 
California 

The people here take a pride in adopting modern sanitary practice. 
District of Columbia 

Tho, perhaps, if not contradictory, then somewhat paradoxical, yet 
it is a fact that the Negro has improved appreciably in habits of cleanli 
ness while in morals and manners he has not. 

Growth of self pride seems to go hand in hand with increase in clean 
liness in small particulars. High standard here. Public assemblies dis 
play tastefully drest, clean people in numbers as large as 5000 at one 
time. Alley, drinking population below the standards of any whites in 
the city in filth. Bodies, clothes, houses, neighborhoods and relations all 
indicate shiftlessness which demands continued training to induce the 

 52 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Cleanliness 

53 

feeling of cleanliness. Our dictum to graduates is: "Wherever you go, 
clean up first, teach afterwards". 

Florida 

As clean as their neighbors will encourage them to be. Not as dirty 
as they seem. 

In housekeeping and cleanliness there is a wonderful change. You 
seldom see many real dirty colored people. You see the most dirt among 
the very ignorant colored people. 

The sanitary conditions of our people are poor on the public works 
and around some of the little towns; while in some of our cities they are 
pretty good. 

There is little to complain of in this respect. I presume physical 
cleanliness is meant by your question. 

Georgia 

Habits of cleanliness are growing better on all lines. 

The more enlightened our people are, the cleaner they are inclined to 
be. Contact with the best class of white people has improved my race. 
In most parts fairly good, but much improvement can be made. 

There has been a markt change in the last ten years toward general 
habits of cleanliness. They are as a rule clean. They delight to clean up 
and parade the streets. They are clean on the outside, clothing fairly 
good tho cheap. I have nothing to say on the subject of cleanliness. 
They are doing well along that line. 

Not what it should be. As to the masses they are not so clean but 
about one third of them are clean. 

That the Negro is making progress along the lines of cleanliness is 
evident to the most casual observer. He is tidy in dress, especially on 
Sundays, and neat in his home. 

Great improvement both in homes and personal habits. Less snuff 
and tobacco is used among the women but no decrease among the men. 

The majority that I come in contact with seem to be clean with their 
person and in their appearance. 

They are not as clean as they could be under the circumstances be 
cause they have not been taught the importance of it. I think, however, 
conditions are better than when I came here eight years ago. 

Advance in this particular is very encouraging. The homes of the 
people from kitchen up are up to the average in this community to that 
of his white brother. You will find the screens very much in use and the 
people are fond of the baths. Much work to do yet, however. 

The people, as a rule, are very clean. A great number of the col 
ored citizens of Dublin own their homes which are well kept. Dublin 
should be proud of the cleanliness of her colored people. 

The more intelligent people are aiding the City Board of Health in 

I 

f enforcing the laws of cleanliness. 

In this section, the country people are more tidy than those in town, 
| but all are improving in this respect. 

Illinois 

Bath tubs and shower baths are 'becoming very fashionable. Most 
I all try to be clean and appear well. Large numbers of hair dressing and 
| manicure parlors are establisht among them. 

As a whole, the race is superior in personal cleanliness and dress. I 
| find many unsanitary homes tho. 

Indiana 

Exceedingly good. No city of its size in the country can present as 
well drest clean looking people. A stranger notices this and soon gets 
the habit. 

Kansas 

In the mining towns of Kansas, Missouri and Oklahoma poor. Bet 
ter conditions prevail in Kansas City, Kansas and Missouri. 

Kentucky 

Are good with the majority of Negroes and this is growing better 
among the young race. 

Outwardly good; but the laws of health and rules for cleanliness are 
not strictly obeyed by far. 

We have a cleaner and healthier community than we had five years 
ago. 

Great and daily improvement along this line. It is a rare thing to 
see a dirty child in a school of this city. Our people have begun to real 
ize the true worth of the bathtub. Not fine clothes but clean clothes 
and clean bodies has begun to be the slogan of the humblest homes. 

Still greater progress. No race in this section, under similar condi 
tions, ranks higher. 

Louisiana 

Our people are arranging their homes so as to include bath rooms 
and are equipping them with the necessary paraphernalia to serve water 
and keep themselves clean. They are learning quite rapidly to be clean. 

Ordinary. Some excellent. 

Most of them have clean habits. This is due in a large measure to 
being servants and the campaign against tuberculosis. 

There is a markt improvement along this line among the better 
classes. The poorer classes could do much better. 

Exceptional cases are good but the average is poor. 

Maryland 

I find that their habits of cleanliness are not wofully lacking tho 
they could improve. 

 linn v 

54 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

The Negroes here have made considerable development along this 
line. They have very good homes, etc., yet we have the alley to con 
tend with. The Colored Doctors' Medical Association is helping along 
this line. 

Minnesota 

Habits of personal cleanliness are splendid and taken as a whole I 
think they excel those of their fellow citizens. 

Mississippi 

Much improved. 

Evidences of cleanliness can be seen in most .of the homes. 

Good. There are a few Negroes who still cling to the weekly bath 
but as a rule the sporty and the honest striving Negroes look after their 
bodies and clothes beyond their means in certain cases. 

A little better. We have some that are all O. K. but they are in the 
minority. 

Missouri 

The people are divided into classes with respect to cleanliness. The 
movement is toward better homes and greater cleanliness. The schools, 
with their bathing facilities, strengthen this movement. 

Decidedly on the increase for the better. 

Habits of cleanliness are necessary to fit a young man or woman for 
good society. This is generally being aspired for by young Afro-Ameri 
cans. 

There has been great improvement along this line. There have been 
so many lectures during the past ten years. The public school teachers 
are required by the Board to attend such lectures. Our people are clast 
as intelligent people. The children from the second grade up visit regu 
larly the Public Library. A reading people cannot but improve along 
this line. 

Ninety per cent of all the families here are exceptionally clean with 
their persons and their homes. Out of about thirty families only three or 
four are indecent as to clean linen. 

New York 

Their showing in this direction is commendable. 

Much carelessness among many but very good among many others. 
Progress so general that it can be constantly noted along this line. Gen 
eral personal appearance favorable. Generally well developt physically 
and healthy. 

Comeliness the rule with few exceptions. 

Among the improved, excellent. Worse than twenty-five years ago 
among the laboring people in the cities. 

Good; far above the average of the same class of whites with whom 

Cleanliness 

55 

I come in contact. 

These people are surprisingly clean, especially in keeping their homes. 
Many colored people take pride in the cleanliness of their homes and not 
of their bodies. 

North Carolina 

Very good. Improvement on this line and striving to do better all 
of the time to make themselves a nation. 

Not as great among the people as we should like it to be. Bodily 
cleanliness is adhered to at times, but lacking greatly. Some put on 
clean clothing, bathing weekly, generally Saturday nights for Sunday, 
while others don't put on clean clothing at all unless compelled to do so. 
Sanitation and general cleaning up around the house is lacking much in 
deed. Some have neat and clean homes while others have not. This can 
be improved on much in this community. Practical sanitation is much 
needed and there are some who regard this as a very important matter 
and practice it in their lives. 

Good for a rural section. It is said that the people here dress neater 
and look cleaner than you find them anywhere else similarly situated. 

Very much improved. I speak from personal knowledge. I am in a 
position to come in contact with almost every family here. 

Ohio 

Some among the poorer classes, perhaps because of poor accommo 
dations for living, are not as clean as one would wish; hut as a general 
thing I find homes exceedingly clean. 

I think here while there is much room for improvement we are on a 
par with any nationality who have to labor in the same occupations as 
ourselves. The whites S3metime raise the question but as far as I can 
see. and I have lookt closely, it is about all prejudice. 

Oklahoma 

There are quite a few who are clean and tidy in their persons and 
homes and a great multitude who are not. 

Just fairly clean, generally our homes are not furnisht with bath 
tubs. We are not provided with public baths and the daily sponge off is 
none too familiar with the rank and file of our citizens. Still, most of 
them put on a veneer of cleanliness when they go to church and other 
gatherings. They are gradually improving in the conditions of their 
homes. 

Naturally reasonably clean and according to their means, I believe, 
surpass the other races here, i. e. white and Indian. 

Pennsylvania 

The colored people here are generally neat when they appear in pub 
lic but their home surroundings are not always clean. 

We are rising. 

 Illllll 

56 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

On the whole very clean. I would say that the average about eigh 
ty per cent. 

My observation is that there is no difference between the Negro and 
other races of the same class. 

This depends upon the class and the environment. If the class is 
low and the environment bad, you must expect dirt and filth. This is 
not peculiar to the Negro but to any race with similar conditions. The 
best classes and the middle classes are as clean as anybody. 

Some very clean while others are to the opposite. 

In this measure, the American Negro compares favorable with Ne 
groes in England, Canada, West Africa and the West Indies from the 
point of class and education. Thru long years of social relationship, the 
example with the more fortunate members of the human race, the Cau 
casian, he has imbibed and exhibits traits of innate tendencies toward a 
love for what is clean. Hence, my comparison as the result of personal 
experience in the above-mentioned countries. I defy contradiction, that, 
taking it class for class, the colored people in America are in no way be 
hind the whites in habits of cleanliness. 

Rhode Island 

Fair, but the old fashioned houses make personal cleanliness difficult. 
Most of them maintain pleasant surroundings. The best is exception- 
tionally good. 

South Carolina 

They are good in their habits of cleanliness; homes are nicely kept 
with some exceptions of course, and the women in town and country dress 
nicely and fashionably. One used to be able to tell just when a country 
girl struck town by her seven primary colors but not so now. The R. F. 
D. carries the style to the country as well as to the town. 

The increast instruction given in the schools regarding hygiene and 
sanitation, and the attention given in the pulpit, press and on lecture 
platform to "Gospel of Cleanliness" and to matters involving the ques 
tion of good health, and the removal of the belief that it is "Saintly to 
be sickly and sinful to be healthy and strong," are having good results 
among the rank and file of our people. 

For the last ten or fifteen years, I have found this to be a growing 
habit among our people both in town and cities and the country places. 

Good where the facilities are favorable. We have many communi 
ties where the houses are almost packt upon each other with almost no 
front or back yards. Cleanliness is not to be found in such places. 

Tennessee 

The sanitary conditions of our people are good. We have an infirm 
ary owned and controlled by Dr. R. T. Burt which is a credit to the race. 
Proud to say the colored people are ahead of the white people in that 

Cleanliness 

57 

respect, there being not an infirmary for the white people in the city. Dr. 
Burt is called by all one of the finest surgeons in the country. 

This is the most rapid advance that I have noticed in the race. 
They are as clean as their occupations and means allow. 
People here practice personal cleanliness and also take pride in car 
ing for their homes, most of which they own. They have habits of 
beautifying their homes and churches. - 

Progress. More pride and attention are being manifested and pro 
gress made. 

I know many who are personally clean and whose houses are kept 
in a beautiful fashion. Many who would like to be neat housekeepers 
are out at service and do not have the time or strength. 

Texas 

Are not what they ought to be. There can be no excuse for filth. 
As to cleanliness, conditions are fair in this city among our people 
There seems to be improvement in this respect. The city enforces some 
regulations as to cleanliness also. 

Of course, here the Negroes are divided again into two classes. Both 
as to their personal appearance and home life some are scrupulously 
clean, others are not. 

Clean-up days have been instituted among the colored people and there* 
are few yards that are not overgrown with beautiful flowers and fern. 
They vie with each other in their yards of beautiful flowers. Their 
homes are beautiful thruout. 

About seven-eighths of the colored people here seem to try to keep 
very clean around them. There are some who are not concerned. 
They are generally coming to this great virtue. 
The colored people take pride in cleanliness. 

Uncleanliness is forst upon them by their occupations and lack of tha 
means of keeping clean. They are really clean as far as their knowledge 
of cleanliness and their means allow them to be. The Negro is not apt 
to appear as tidy as he is, when seen in his working clothes, but when 
the nature of his work is considered he is as clean as he can be. He has 
much to learn in this line for the modern idea of cleanliness is in advance 
of that of colored people generally; but the most uncleanly and unsani 
tary conditions are forst upon them. 

The Public School system of our State has done and is doing a good 
work among the young; and race pride has taken root and produced a 
great people whose habits lead to cleanliness and virtue. 

Considering their homes and advantages, they are exceedingly good. 
Greatly improved both as to person, dress and homes. 
The white Civic League takes much interest in the general cleanli 
ness, hence, thru the Negro Civic League, many lectures and suggestions 

 58 

Moral and Manners among Negro Americans 

are given by the leading whites. 

The masses are putting more stress upon cleanliness. They are 
understanding that prolongation of life is guaranteed more to a clean 
body than to a filthy body. 

Virginia 

Taking conditions of our city under consideration, the best class of 
our people are very clean. 

Generally, people here are cleanly both in their homes and on their 
person. 

In this particular with many it is all that could be desired. I am 
acquainted with a few who are not so particular as they might be. 

I should say good. The habits of the older heads of cleanliness 
appear to have been good. 

Good and still improving. 

Medium, due to the fact that the city has no sewerage. 
West Virginia 

They are gradually growing more cleanly. They are growing quite 
rapidly in their adherence to sanitary laws. 

There is, to my knowledge, one section where Negroes of careless 
habits live contrary to all habits of cleanliness; but in the main they 
are clean. 

Not the best. Due to segregation, high rents, obliged to live in 
unsanitary districts and several families live in one house to enable them 
to pay their rent. 

In most cases good. There are those as are found in every commu 
nity who are filthy. 

A great deal of training needs to be done along this line. Yet the 
outlook is hopeful. 

Section 7. Personal Honesty 

Slavery, meant compulsory poverty and the lack of incen 
tive to thrift. The result was the encouragement of petty 
thievery. Among the house servants this took the form of 
taking food and clothes. Gradually this grew to be a tacitly 
recognized custom. After emancipation the ' 'wages" promist 
house servants were arranged with the mutual understanding 
more or less clearly made that cold food and old clothes 
together with small quantities of other perquisites would 
periodically disappear. In this way the distinction between 
meum and teum, grew slowly and vaguely among the freed- 
men and caused much harsh and unmerited criticism, among 

Personal Honesty 

59 

[ outsiders trained to the modern commercial code. 

Our correspondents were therefore askt about habits of 
personal honesty among Negro Americans. We select one 
hundred twenty-two answers from twenty-six states and 

I print them here. 

Alabama 

Very good. 

Below par. 

Some are honest and some are not. 

We can see the remarkable results of this virtue in the fact that 
I many Negroes hold honorable positions not only on the farm but even in 
' the government service. The court records are also more favorable. 

The colored people are much more honest now than some years back. 

I They are becoming much more reliable in the matter of paying their 
debts. 

As a rule they will do to depend upon. 

Not reliable at all. 

They are not honest as a rule. We have some honest people here 
I but the dishonest outnumber the honest by far. 

All of the best families are real honest and a few of the other class. 

I am sorry to say but I do not think that honesty stands as firm and 
| prominent as it should. 

As to their personal honesty I am inclined to the opinion that not 

(more than seventy per cent of them are real honest in their general 
dealings. My opinion comes from personal contact and general obser 
vation. 

Rated equal in comparison to other race, I say good. Conclusion 

(from observation of cases in police court. Cases calendared are as a 
rule disorderly conduct or something more or less trivial. 

Poor among all classes but improving wonderfully. 

There is room for improvement along this line but the disposition to 
be dishonest has decreast wonderfully in the past ten years. Poor pay 
is partly responsible for a good bit of the dishonesty. 

Very little. The Negro here is divided and it is impossible to look 
for personal honesty where each one of any race feels that his success 
depends upon the destruction of all else besides and that he has a right 
to a part of whatever the other fellow has, his own improvidence not 
withstanding. 

Arkansas 

One rarely hears of dishonesty. 

 60 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

Those with whom I have had dealings are ninety per cent honest. 

I don't suppose this city is any worse than the general run of cities. 
I think I can safely say that the larger per cent is honest. 

The younger ones seem to have a higher sense of honesty than the 
older ones. 

California 

I think our police court records show us to be above the average in 
this respect and I can speak favorably of the race from this point of 

view. 

Occupations circumscribed, wages small, cost of living high, stand 
ard of personal honesty low. 

District of Columbia 

Severe conditions of competition engender small peculations and ly 
ing; but standard of dependableness higher than ever before. 

Florida 

Good. I know whereof I speak. 

They are not honest to themselves. Therefore cannot be to their 
fellowmen. 

Good. So much so that even in a town as Dunnelton where I've 
taught some people never lock their doors. It is a rare thing to hear of 
any one being arrested for stealing in this section. 

Generally speaking the average person is not as bold -with his dis 
honest habits as was the case ten or twelve years ago, while we have 
some exceptions both ways. 

No. Here again the tendency is quick and easy money with the least 
effort. 

I can say we don't have very many cases in court for stealing. 

Georgia 

Decidedly honest considering their way of getting means. 

Towards the white man is gradually improving but towards one 
another not much of a change. 

Merchants say that in general they are more trustworthy than the 
whites, especially the women. 

There is no doubt a general betterment, not as large as desirable, 
yet enough to mark progress. 

The Negro is generally honest. As he accumulates he becomes more 
trustworthy and dependable. 

Great development. The improvement is more noticeable among the 
women. 

As a general thing we find that the colored people are very honest 
and have made a great improvement along this line in the last few years. 
On an average I believe they are ahead of the other races along this line. 

They are not as honest and trust-worthy as they might be. A great 

Personal Honesty 

61 

deal of this is due to the leadership of many of those who have had bet 
ter advantages than the masses trying to take advantage of the weak 
er and less fortunate to build up their own wealth. 

A conscientious regard for keeping his word seems to be much be 
low normal in this community. Promises made are not lookt upon with 
as much seriousness as in some other settlements I have observed. 

There are many colored men here who can go security on bank notes 
who are not in real possession of property. Their honesty has gained 
for them a pretty good standing. 

This is a thing that our people seem slow to learn; but I am very 
glad to say that they are showing a great deal of improvement along the 
line of personal honesty. 

Illinois 

A large number of "confidence men" have developt. They often 
have women confederates, but generally, with these two exceptions, they 
are honest. The waiters and porters and real estate agents make up the 
principal groups of "shrewd dealers". 

Good toward the white but only fair toward each other. 

Indiana 

Judging from my practice I should say ninety per cent are honest; 
my accounts will bear out this statement. 

Good. On a whole the people are hard-working, honest people. 
Much given to extravagance of dress and entertaining. This has a ten 
dency to impair them financially. 

Kansas 

There is a growing tendency to individual pride and personal honesty. 
Kentucky 

I think they desire to be honest but cannot always act in accordance 
due to low wages, etc. 

The people here are trust-worthy. 

I find them about as honest, speaking of the masses, as other people. 

Good. A large number carry snug bank accounts. 

Has increast wonderfully. 

For the past ten years I have taught in the public schools and have 
left my purse with sums as high as ten dollars in it lying on my desk and 
have left it unguarded often, yet never has it been toucht. The rogue 
in the room is a thing of the past generally. The colored servant is gen 
erally trusted by the employers. 

As a general rule it is bad, more so among the young people. Some 
thing must be done to show our people that they should be honest in 
dealing with mankind. Some of them for a dollar will do almost any 
thing or tell you any kind of a story to get a dollar. This must be stopt 

 62 

Morals and Manners among Negro American 

before we can be a good race and reliable. 

Louisiana 

Evidences of personal honesty are manifested in business relations 
one with the other, viz, —the faithful carrying out of contracts, agree 
ments, etc. 

I don't consider our people actually dishonest but their love to ape 
the white man in his more expensive living, dress, etc., compels the little 
money they make to give out and then that is the cause of the trouble. 
He means well but after getting into debt as a result of these things he 
finds he cannot get out. This is found more so among the so-called bet 
ter class. They do but little stealing. 

The masses are not educated in square dealing. 
Minnesota 

There is much personal dishonesty among us here and I often feel 
that this is the Negro's greatest weakness in the far North. It certain 
ly closes the door of opportunity to him in many places where he might 
otherwise enter. He is lamentably wanting in reliability. 

Mississippi 

Yes, I feel safe in saying that the coming young citizens have more 
regard for their word and honesty is more evident among Negroes gener 
ally. 

Personal honesty is prevalent among the colored people whom I know. 
Dishonesty is certainly an exception to the rule. 

Good. In only a few cases have the servants around white homes 
or at the places of work violated any trust imposed. Whites have taken 
advantage of the Negro's honesty and his abnormal wants. They sell 
him cheap furniture at high prices on time and lend him money at exor 
bitant rates of interest and many are kept in real need due to poor 
management. 

The majority are lacking in it. There are some notable exceptions. 

Missouri 

Vast improvement within the last ten years. 

Personal honesty is a trait in the Negro lad that is growing, due pro 
bably to penalty for violated law inflicted by a prejudiced race and as a 
poison kills a poison thus tha would-be suppression becomes an incentive 
and a blessing. 

Since the general trend of our people is onward and upward religi 
ously and intellectually, I believe that habits of personal honesty are un 
consciously being formal ani strengthened. They are trusted so com 
pletely by the opposite race that when one deceives they are shockt. 
While they claim all Negroes steal, yet, if they have ten servants, nine 
white and one Negro, the Negro is the trusty. 

Personal Honesty 

63 

I 

They are fairly honest but apparently the law is extreme with most 
of them. Within ten years only one Negro has been arrested and con 
victed for dishonesty. 

New Jersey 

Very good. 

Promises not too reliable. Too little value put on their word. You 
will note that ninety-five per cent is recently from the South and over 
fifty per cent is from the worst instead of thebest element of our southern 
folks. 

New York 

In this he is the equal of any here. The chief of police informed me 
the arrests made each month were one or two out of a population of 500 
and this was for drinking, none for stealing. 

The people, tho poor, work hard, spend freely—too freely, but as a 
rule are honest. Not inclined to idleness and idle only, as a rule, when, 
they cannot find employment. 

Much improved. 

Their honesty is unsurpast by any race of people. This information 
conies to me, aside from personal knowledge, from credit houses with 
which colored people have dealt. 

Good in both classes. Few arrests for larceny either grand or petit, 
but many for drunkenness and disorderly conduct,—that is proportionate- 

iy- 

North Carolina 

Extra good compared with whites. 

Many do not regard their word or promise as anything to be kept. 
Do not like to come up to their obligations. I find many who do not like 
to pay honest debts, especially to one another. 

Along this line the improvement has been rapid. We can say truly 
that the people are generally honest and reliable. Perhaps the cashier 
of the Merchants' and Farmers' Bank of this place, who is a white man, 
can give you a better answer to this question. 

They are learning to be honest. In proportion to the numbers and 
opportunities for training, quality, I mean, they are as honest as others. 

Ohio 

Excellent in places of trust and seldom betrays that trust. 

I think, the percentage of petit thievery is too great. I think, too, 
that this is due to the fact that many Negroes think that the white race 
took all from them in slavery and that they are justified to get what 
they can from them now even by theft. Then too, the white race offers 
very little inducement to inspire the Negro to look upward. 

Oklahoma 

Am almost afraid to say. The wave of graft and money madness 

 ,!' I I, 

linlhi 

II."'!' 

64 

Morals and Manners among Negro Americans 

has also struck one section and I could not conscientiously say that there 
is any increase in that respect. 

The per cent of our people who possess personal honesty is lower than 
it should be. They are not as truthful as they should be. 
Very good. 

Just fair. The majority are not reliable in their negotiations and 
their business promises do not amount to much. We are backward in 
this respect. 

A good number of our people are as safe as a bank. The masses 
are not honest. Much improvement needs to be made for our welfare. 
Women are more honest than men. 

Pennsylvania 

Of course most of the people with whom I come in contact are honest 
but the grafting of the city must have infected our people also. 
.. My observations and dealings especially in connection with Jews, 
Italians and the middle class of white Americans, convince me that there 
is no essential difference between them and Negroes of