[*Mrs. Jewell*] CONSTITUTION I. Name. This organization shall be called "The International Council of Women of the Darker Races of the World." II. Object. The dissemination of knowledge of peoples of color the world over in order that there may be a larger appreciation of their history and accomplishments, and so that they themselves may have a greater degree of respect for their own accomplishments and a greater pride in themselves. III. Membership. (a) Membership in the Council shall not exceed one hundred (100). It shall be composed of women residing in countries where people of the darker races live. (b) Only women who have done a definite and outstanding piece of work shall be entitled to membership. (c) Presentation of names for membership must be made by a member of the Council to the Executive Committee thirty days prior to a meeting, the same to be referred to the Council. IV. Officers. The Officers shall be a president, two vice presidents from the United States of America, and one vice president from each country having membership in the Council, a recording secretary, a treasurer, and a chairman of the Executive Committee. Term of office shall be for four years and may be re-elected. V. Dues. There shall be an entrance fee of twenty-five ($25.00) dollars for the first year. Each succeeding year there shall be an annual fee of twenty dollars ($20.00) to be paid on or before June 30th. VI. Committees. (a) There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the president, chairman of the Executive Committee, with three other members of the Council. This Committee shall have power to decide time and place of annual meetings, receive all names for membership, determine questions that must be decided in the Interim. This committee shall meet at the call of the chairman of the Executive Committee with the approval of the president. CONSTITUTION I NAME This organization shall be called "The International Council of women of the Darker Races of the World". II. OBJECT. The dissemination of knowledge of peoples of color of the world over in order that there may be larger appreciation of their history and accomplishments and that they themselves may have greater degree of respect for their own accomplishments and a greater pride in themselves. III. MEMBERSHIP (a) Membership in this council shall not exceed one hundred (100). It shall be composed of women residing in countries occupied by the darker races. b) Only women who have done a definite and outstanding piece of work shall be entitled to membership. c) Presentation of names for membership must be made by a member of council to the Executive Committee thirty days prior to a meeting. The same to be referred to the Council for election by ballot. Five dissenting votes shall exclude from membership. IV. OFFICERS The officers of this organization shall be: a President, two Vice-Presidents for the United States, and a Vice-President from each country having membership in the council; a Recording Secretary, a Corresponding Secretary and Publicity Director; a Treasurer, and Chairman of the Finance Committee. The term of office shall be for four years and the officers may be re-elected. V. DUES There shall be an entrance fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and each year thereafter annual dues of twenty- dollars ($20.00) which shall be paid on or before June 30th. VI. COMMITTEES (a) There shall be an Executive Committee composed of the President, the Chairman of the Executive Committee together with three other members who shall be elected by the council. This committee shall have the power to decide the time and place of the annual meeting, receive all names for membership, determine questions that must be decided in the interim, etc. The committee shall meet at the call of the Chairman with the approval of the President. (b) There shall be a committee on International Relations composed of Chairman and six members, whose duty it shall be to keep the organization informed on all questions relating to the status of foreign countries in matters affecting one another. (c) There shall be a committee on Social Conditions whose duty it shall be to cover all matters pertaining to social and economic conditions. This committee shall be composed to a Chairman and six additional members. (d) There shall be a committee on Education. This committee shall be composed of a Chairman and six additional members, whose duty it shall be to cover all research work in education, to see the placing of literature of the darker races in the schools of the various countries, to secure longer terms in neglected districts, and in every way to stimulate the study of conditions among darker peoples of the world. VII. MEETINGS The meeting of the Council shall be held annually. VIII. This constitution may be amended at any annual meeting by a two-thirds vote of the members present; notice of the same having been given at a preceding annual meeting. Washington, D.C. At the closing of the meeting today of the Inter-national Council of the Women of the Darker Races of the World, which has been in session since Sunday at the National Training School of which Miss Nannie H. Burroughs is President, the following officers were elected: Mrs. Booker T. Washington, Tuskegee Institute, President Mrs. Addie Hunton Floyd, Brooklyn, N. Y. 1st Vice-President Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, Washington, D. C. 2nd Vice-President Miss Elisabeth C. Carter, New Bedford, Massachusetts, Recording Secretary Mrs. H. L. McCrorey, Charlotte, N. C., Corresponding and Publicity Secretary Mrs. W. E. Jonerberger, Ft. Smith, Arkansas, Treasurer The following members of the Executive Committee were elected: Miss Fannie H. Burroughs, Washington, D. C. Chairman Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune, Daytona Florida Mrs. J. C. Napier, Nashville, Tennessee [*Mrs. Maggie ?????????*] The following heads of Sections were appointed by the President: Mrs. G. Edward Dickerson, Philadelphia, Penn. International Relations Mrs. John Hope, Atlanta, Georgia Social and Economic Conditions Mrs. W. T. B. William, Tuskegee Institute Education The chief work of the Council during the past year was the careful investigation of the conditions of the women and children of Haiti. The following resolution was adopted: Whereas we are organized for mutual international cooperation and sympathetic understanding in every forward movement among women and children of the darker races of the world, for the dissemination of knowledge of peoples of color the world over that there may be a larger appreciation of their history and accomplishments and further that they may have a greater degree of respect for their own achievements and a greater pride in themselves, and whereas we, your committee, regard this as the great need of peoples of color the world over, we recommend: 1. That the course of study submitted by the Section on Education be given -2- the widest possible publicity, and that all agencies be urged to cooperate in the dissemination of the knowledge of the history and literature of the darker races of the world. 2. That this organization publish the result of our study of the condition of women and children of Haiti and that we cooperate in every way with Mrs. Holly, our Vice-President for Haiti in her program in that country. 3. That we heartily commend the efforts of Mrs. Casely Hayford, our Vice- President for Africa, to found a school for girls and we urge the members of the Council to make a special study of conditions of women and girls in all parts of Africa. 4. That we express to the French government our commendation of the democratic stand taken in its recent decision concerning race discrimination. 5. That we support the work of the international section in gathering information concerning the laws and relations of countries in which women of the darker races live. 6. That we function with the Section on Social Conditions in its effort to obtain knowledge through the social and economic study of women and children, and to cooperate in alleviating conditions. 7. That this council invite the cooperation of all authorised agencies in securing knowledge of the achievements of the women of the darker races of the world and in giving publicity to the same. 8. That we deplore the death of our Chief Executive, Warren G. Harding, that sympathy be extended to his bereaved wife in her deep bereavement. We pray: That the duties encumbered upon President Calvin Coolidge will be discharged in the spirit of justice and fair play to all the people. 9. That thanks and appreciation be extended to our hostess, Miss Mamie H. Burroughs, President of the National Training School and to her co-workers for entertainment during the entire session. -1- INTERNATIONAL COUNCIL OF WOMEN OF THE DARKER RACES OF THE WORLD For many years it has been a dream of the writer to see a small group of women banded together for a definite purpose--to study the conditions of all women of the darker races and to work out plans by which we might all be benfitted educationally, socially and politically. Finally, at Richmond, Virginia, In August of this year, eighteen or twenty women talked the matter over. We decided there was need of such a council as the name suggest and we sent immediately into an organization. Many of the number are women leading in all national questions of the day--there was also a women from South Africa--Mrs. Mary B. Talbert, the most recent honorary president of our National Association of Colored women's Clubs, president of The Douglass Home Memorial Assocation, the only women wearing the Spingairn Medal and now conducting a nation wide crusade against lynching; Mrs. Nettle Langston Napier, a leading national character and custodian of the Douglass Home Memorial Fund; Mrs. Mary McCleod Bethune, vice-president at large of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and president of the South Eastern Federation of women; and other women of equal importance in our country's national activities as you will see by some of the following officers elected. A sufficient number of officers were elected to begin operations at once. Mrs. Mary Church Terrell, honorary president of our National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, and for many years an honored member of the School Board in the District of Columbia, is 1st vice-president; Mrs. Addie W. Hunton of New York City, one of the leading women in the national work of the Young Women's Christian Association work, and now connected as an important officer in the Anti-Lynching Movement, is 2nd vice-president; Miss Elizabeth Carter of New Bedford, Massachusetts, an honorary president of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs and a woman of wide experience as a national social worker, is recording secretary; Mrs. Mary S. Josenberger of Fort Smith, Arkansas, an important member of the National -2- Association of Colored Women's Clubs is treasurer; Mrs. Charlotte Hawkins Brown, a National officer of the Young Women's Christian Association at one time, as well as our National Association of Colored Women's Clubs, is corresponding secretary; and Miss Nannie Burroughs of Washington, D. C., and finally of the United States of America, is our Executive Chairman. Several important committees were appointed and immediately set to work to put the organization on a permanent basis. Miss Elizabeth Carter was made chairman of the Committee on Constitutions. Mrs. John Hope of Atlanta, Georgia, director of all neighborhood work for the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs is chairman of our Social Committee. Mrs. Addie W. Dickerson, of Philadelphia, was made Chairman of our Committee on Foreign Relations and Mrs. Emily Williams of Hampton, Virginia, was made the Chairman of the Committee on Education with Mrs. Mary B. Talbert, Mrs. Nettie Langston Napier, associate members. Our committees are to follow for our work will be done largely through committees. One vice-president for Africa, Mrs. Casely Hayford, a woman educated in Jersey, spending three years at music at Stuttgart and now a school teacher in Freetown, Sierra Leone, has already been appointed and each foreign country to be represented in our International Council will be honored with its own vice-president. One of the first things now being attempted is the study of the history and present conditions of the women of the darker races the world over, first, for self culture and development; second, for encouragement and discretion of the study of others, to develop race pride, to acquaint other races and therefore interest them in the solution of the problems of all the races of the world. A course of study planned by Mrs. Addie Dickerson of Philadelphia of Philadelphia, Miss Nannie Burroughs and Mrs. Mary Church Terrell is already in operation in certain communities. An interesting group, though small, of American colored women are now studying the condition of women throughout Africa through the writings of Mr. Plaatje, a most interesting native journalist. Another group is studying the women -3- of India. A group of 135 women have planned a course of study for themselves for the year involving the study of the American Negro woman in her relations to the other darker races of the world and so will all other women be taken up as time will permit. Our Committee on Education has planned a course of study for clubs, schools and leaders in general. The principals of schools, elementary, high, and the colleges are all being urged to place in their curricula well organized courses of study of these people along with the history of other races. For one to appreciate himself, he must know himself and certainly for another to appreciate him, there must be definite knowledge of his attainments and aspirations. Pride in one's self comes through racial consciousness. Already Porto Rican women have begun to interchange ideas with us, and there is correspondence between women in Liberia, in South Africa, in the Philippine Islands, in Haiti, as well as in Brazil and other countries. To come nearer home, it is surprising to find out how few of our children even know of our own great leaders. A prominent colored man, not long ago, made the following statement. "I went to all of the schools in one of our largest cities and found not a single child who had ever heard of Mr. Frederick Douglass"--shame on the colored teacher! One of own group, writing to me today, writes as follows: "I visited a large public school a few days ago and asked the children if any of them knew of Mr. Frederick Douglass. Only one hand went up, and that very shyly, as if to say, 'It seems to me I have heard of him.'" Men like Douglass, Langston, Bruce and Revels; women like Sojourner Truth, Frances Ellen Harper and Harriet Tubman, to say noth of more recent characters of prominence, should be as well known by our youth as men and women of any other race, even if their names do not occur quite so often in print. If we, as teachers, do not think to do this, who will do it? Our Committee on Political affairs will direct the study of women in this direction and will disseminate information especially in countries -4- and sections of our own country where women have the privilege of suffrage. Suffrage has come more quickly in many countries, and in many sections of our own, than even the most sanguine hoped for. it will finally come to all women, in all sections, of all countries. What women want to do is to be ready for it. Our Social Committee will study conditions socially, industrially, educationally, and do uplift work in general, neighborhood work in city and country. Our slogan is "Better Homes, Better Schools; Better Churches and a Better Country." Finally, we are a band of women, though small, working with every other group of women to bring about the thing for which we all stand--- justice and fair play for every woman in every land. * * * Constitution I Name. This organization shall be called "The International Council of Women of the Darker Races of the World." II Object. The dissemination of knowledge of peoples of color the world over in order that there may be a larger appreciation of their history and accomplishments and so that they themselves may have a greater degree of respect for their own accomplishments and a greater pride in themselves. III Membership. (a) Membership in this council shall not exceed one hundred (100). It shall be composed of women representing countries occupied by the darker races. The women of the U.S., shall be entitled to two-thirds of the membership of the council. (b) Only women who have done a definite and outstanding piece of work for their group shall be entitled to membership. (c) Presentation of names for membership must be made by a member of the council to the Executive Committee thirty days prior to a meeting. Five black balls shall exclude from membership. IV Officers. T This organization shall be governed by a president, two vice-presidents for the U.S., and a vice-president from each country having membership in the council, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, a treasurer, and an executive committee. Term of office shall be for four years and may be re-elected. V Dues. There shall be an entrance fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and in addition an annual fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) which may be paid in two payments, June 30 and December 31. VI Committees. (a) There shall be an executive committee composed of the officers, the chairman of the standing committee together with three other members of the council. This committee shall have the power to decide place of annual meeting, pass on all names for membership, determine questions that must be decided in the interim, etc. [*Shall we meet in Chicago*] Constitution I Name. This organization shall be called "The International Council of Women of the Darker Races of the World." II Object. The dissemination of knowledge of peoples of color the world over in order that there may be a larger appreciation of their history and accomplishments and so that they themselves may have a greater degree of respect for their own accomplishments and a greater pride in themselves. III Membership. (a) Membership in this council shall not exceed one hundred (100). It shall be composed of women representing countries occupied by the darker races. The women of the U.S., shall be entitled to two-thirds of the membership of the council. (b) Only women who have done a definite and outstanding piece of work for their group shall be entitled to membership. (c) Presentation of names for membership must be made by a member of the council to the Executive Committee thirty days prior to a meeting. Five black balls shall exclude from membership. IV Officers. This organization shall be governed by a president, two vice-presidents for the U.S., and a vice-president from each country having membership in the council, a corresponding secretary, a recording secretary, a treasurer, and an executive committee. Term of office shall be for four years and may be re-elected. V Dues. There shall be an entrance fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) and in addition an annual fee of twenty-five dollars ($25.00) which may be paid in two payments, June 30 and December 31. VI Committees. (a) There shall be an executive committee composed of the officers, the chairman of the standing committee together with three other members of the council. This committee shall have the power to decide place of annual meeting, pass on all names for membership, determine questions that must be decided in the interim, etc. Mary Church Terrell AN OUTLINE FOR A STUDY PROGRAM ON RACE RELATIONS Before attempting to carry out any definite interracial projects, or prior to any efforts to further good will between antagonistic racial groups, it may be well to study the problem historically and to analyze present conditions for basic economic causes, trends and social implications. Why is there race prejudice? How is it manifested? What are the changes necessary to its elimination? The following outline is devoted exclusively Negro-white question in America. Other racial conflicts exist here, but the significance of the Negro numerically and for degree of oppression justifies an exclusive study of this phase of America's race question. I. Defining the problem of Negro-white relationships in the United States. A. Economic basis of race prejudice. 1. Conflicts between black and white engendered by institution of slavery. Antagonisms furthered between white and black workers through mutual exploitation by the slave owners. Ethical justifications of slave system by slave owners through denial of equality to slave. References: The Black Worker - Spero and Harris, Ch. I Black America - Scott Nearing, pages 13-21 Dominant Forces in Race Relations - Thomas Dabney (Essay in Calverton Anthonoly of Negro Literature) 2. Feudalism substituted on the southern plantations with the introduction of the tenant and share cropper system. Oppression and terrorism against the Negro often worse because now he is not a slave (property) but a free worker who can be ruthlessly exploited without loss to the landholder. References: Black America, pages 23-58 and 219-222 Brown America, Edwin R. Embree, pages 138-146 3. Migration from the land. The Negro's fight to win his way into industry. Conflict between black and white workers continues because of persistence of conditions fostering it: competition over the job; short sighted policies of Negro and Labor leaders who failed to see the necessity of bringing the masses together; deliberate fostering of this antagonism by industrialists who in this way weakened the power of labor; utilization of the Negro as strikebreakers. References: The Black Worker, Chap. II - Chap VII Racial Factors in American Industry - Herman Feldman, Chap. II Black America, pages 71-106 -2- 4. The present status of the Negro. To measure the progress of the Negro it is necessary to divide the racial unit into class groups. a. Rise of the professional and petty capitalist class, profiting by increased racial consciousness forced on whole group through race prejudice. A small upper class supported by the black masses. References: Negro Year Book, Divisions XII and XVII The Negro and the New Economic Life - Abram Harris (La Bourgeoisie Noire - E. Franklin Frazier (Two essays from Calverton Anthology of Negro Literature - Modern Library) Brown America, pages 155-172 b. Tenant farmers and industrial workers still at bottom rung of economic ladder and subject to all the oppression of the working class plus super-oppression because of race. References: Negro Year Book, Division XIII Racial Factors in American History, pages 34-37 The American Negro, pages 13-17 The Cotton Kingdom: 1931, New Republic, Dec. 16, 1931 B. Social factors developing from economic background 1. The creation of the "Group mind" - a definite attitude pattern toward the Negro. a. Pseudo-scientific theories attempt to give validity to the thesis of Negro's inherent inferiority. There is arising a small group of scientific observers who have overturned much of the earlier fallacious theories. References: Racial Factors in American Industry, pages 61-67 Anthropology and Modern Life - Franz Boaz b. The unconscious influence of segregation on the "group mind" confusion of caste with race. Conditions facilitating the riveting down of a system of segregation on the Negro: his ready physical identity: education and cultural lag of Negro because of slavery; concentration of Negroes which causes the white south to fear his gaining power and makes for easier segregation; necessity for keeping white and black workers antagonistic in fight between capital and labor. References: The Black Worker, Ch. VIII Brown America, pages 197-209 2. The crystallization of the "group mind" - the transmission of race prejudice - America's heritage - 3 - a. Since emancipation the general trend toward bi-racialism. Disfranchisement and legal segregation of the Negro in the South. Tightening of discriminatory practices as Negroes migrate to different sections of the North. Net result: segregation in housing, education, social institutions, business and art. This dualism strengthens prejudices and keeps them alive. References: Negro Year Book, Division V Black America, Part II b. Propaganda as important means of stimulating racial biases. Newspaper, drama, book, radio, studies and surveys and textbooks tend to portray the Negro as "different". Reference: Negro Year Book - pages 16-17 3. The group mind finds expression through so-called instinctive individual reactions - popular fallacy that race prejudice is inherent in the individual and natural result. a. Color prejudice blurs class differentiations. Popular notion of Negro as primitive. No real discrimination between inherent and acquired characteristics of Negro. Sweeping generalizations about Negro life. Desire to perpetuate traits found in peasant life among different peoples. Sense of superiority in general attitude toward Negro life. References: Brown America, pages 22-24 and 233-252 Racial Factors in American Industry, pages 75-77 b. The effect of racial taboos upon the individual. Social equality and its concomitant or result, intermarriage, accepted unquestioningly as evils. The last barrier to surmount, and also a barrier which colors all discussions of race and the red herring which can arouse an emotional response on almost any issue. Economic base entirely lost sight of. Myths About Race, W.O. Brown, Opportunity, Dec. 1931 Racial Factors in American Industry, pages 73-75 Negro Year Book, Division VIII Anthology and Modern Life - Franz Boas 4. How the established mores affect the Negro. a. Lack of economic opportunity. Negro in America the most exploited group. Peonage in agriculture, the inferior and poorly paid jobs in industry, air-tight exclusion from higher positions. Black America - Part II Negro Year Book, Division XIII - 4 - b. Unequal educational opportunities. Complete segregation in South and unequal distribution of school appropriations and dependency on philanthropic support. Although much is heard of the advance in Negro education in the South, impossibility of operating on a dual system to bring education of the Negro, or white, in the South up to northern standards. Tendency to segregated schools in North through segregated residential districts and exclusion of Negroes from other schools of the town. Restriction as to courses and exclusion from participation in social outlets of mixed schools. References: Brown America, pages 125-133 Negro in American Civilization, Chs. 17-18 c. Deprivation of civil rights in law and in practice. In the South Negro without legal protection or ballot. Lynch terror and wholesale oppression practiced to keep him down. In North civil rights most frequently paper rights. References: Black Justice Negro in American Civilization, Ch. 24 d. Social ostracism and discrimination. The Negro on the periphery of American life. Discrimination complete except in instances where the bars are let down as a class privilege. References: Negro Year Book: Division V Black America: Part II e. Denial, discrimination and oppression wielding Negroes into a homogeneous whole desirous of those rights and privileges due them as American citizens. At the same time the group not homogeneous in the solutions put forward to free themselves, reflecting here class rather than race interests. Reference: Black America: Part III II. Meeting the problem of race prejudice. A. Accepting the present economic and social set-up many reforms and programs attempted. 1. Philanthropy and the Negro - the way of paternalism a. The missionary program for Negro education immediately after emancipation. As accommodation to the segregation policy of the South. Present trend toward greater southern influence and control in Negro education in the South - implications of this. References: The Black Worker - page 15 and 34-35 Negro Year Book - page 211-213 - 5 - b. The foundations steadily gaining influence in Negro life. Generous grants to Negro colleges, awards and scholarships have placed the determination of policies largely in their control. Underwriting of social projects for Negroes. General trend toward biracialism. References: Negro Year Book, pages 213-231 Report of Julius Rosenwald Fund The Black Worker, pages 463-467 c. The Interracial Movement divorced from definite projects and devoted to furthering good will since the World War. A middle class movement relying on a policy of reconciliation and non-aggressiveness. No consideration of basic causes. References: Negro in American Civilization, pages 364-373 The Black Worker, chap XXI Negro Year Book- Div. I 2. The Negro's attempts to solve his own problems. a. The policy of accommodation and individual thrift and achievement set forth by Booker T. Washington and carried forward under the leadership of Robert R. Moton of Tuskegee Institute dominant in south. In the North in its attempts to conciliate the Negro worker to the white employer the Urban League plays somewhat the same role. b. Reference: the Black Worker, pages 48-51 and Ch. XXI b. Under the leadership of W. E. B. DuBois and the NAACP the fight for the civil and political rights. Dominant influence in the North. Trend toward the reconciliation of Washington and DuBois (granting of Spingarn medal this year to Dr. Moton). Emphasis on opportunism in politics along race lines. References: Negro Year Book, pages 28-31 The Black Worker, ch. XXI c. Biracialism furthered by extremely race conscious groups who advocate segregation, social and economic, here in the United States or in Africa. Garveyism one expression. National Negro Business League another. Belief that separate economic independence can be attained and will then command proper respect for Negro. References: Negro Year Book, Division XII Brown America, Pages 155-164 The Negro and the New Economic Life - Abram Harris. - 6 - 3. Organized labor and the Negro. The Labor Movement finally evolving in the American Federation of Labor never including the Negro unequivocally and completely. History of the movement. The present position on the Negro question. Little affect in bringing white and black workers closer together. References: The Black Worker, Chap. V. Negro and Trade Unions - Iraa DeA. Reid Negro Year Book, pages 148-151 and 158-159 B. The new social order and the Negro. 1. Awakening consciousness among Negroes to the significance of economics as a basis for race prejudice. The Negro press.* Expression among the youth. Growing class consciousness of Negro workers. Stimulus of Russia's handling of its varied race problems. 2. The radical position on the race question. That race prejudice is a product of capitalism and cannot be eliminated under it. Advocacy of union of white and black workers in complete equality to bring about the change from capitalism to socialism. *Reds and blacks are not welcome at the White House during the administration of the "Great Engineer", who least week finished the third year of his first term. (From an editorial in the AFROAMERICAN, March 19.) Negro Year Book-pages 151-157 The American Negro - J.S. Allen (International Pamphlet, 799 Broadway, New York) National Minorities in the Soviet Union - Transcribed and reviewed by contributors participating in the By The People project at crowd.loc.gov.