Page:American Journal of Sociology Volume 6.djvu/680

666 especially in the way of creating a pure and pleasant home life. Their mothers' clubs are powerful influences for good. We were told of how the heart of one woman in the black belt was saddened by seeing so many ignorant, dirty mothers gossiping on the streets, while home and children were neglected. She determined to form a mothers' club. She sent out invitations and issued notices, asking the mothers to meet her at a certain time and place. Not a single woman came. Still she was not discouraged. A short time afterward, taking a friend with her, she went to a little schoolhouse in the neighborhood. Then she sent her friend out into the street, with orders to tell every group of negro women that she passed that there was a woman in that schoolhouse who had something to say to them. Out of curiosity they came. A mothers' club was organized that day with a membership of forty. It has since increased to four hundred. The women who attend the meetings of this club are taught how to care for their children, to keep their houses in order, to do laundry work. Cooking schools have been established in connection with the club. The necessity for separate sleeping-rooms is insisted upon, or, where these are not possible, at least separate beds. In short, these women are being taught how to live as decently as it is possible to live on the means at their disposal.

Instruction is also given in gardening. This is especially needed in the black belt. For it is customary to raise but one crop, and the negro too often finds that the whole of this crop goes to his landlord. Frequently he does not even reserve the seed for next year's sowing. He must then provide for his own necessities, and he has no money with which to do it. The mothers in this club are being taught that it is desirable to set apart a small portion of the land which their husbands are cultivating as a home garden where they can raise vegetables for family use. Where it is allowed, the suggestion is made that they also keep pigs. This, alas! is not always allowed. The planters sometimes wish to force the negro tenants to buy their pork at the plantation stores.

This is one woman's work. It is true that she is a leader in