Rosa D. Bowser on the Responsibilities of Educated African American Women - 1902
Essay by Rosa D. Bowser 1902
This essay is reprinted from Twentieth Century Negro Literature, edited by D. W. Culp (Dr. Daniel Wallace Culp), published 1902. The biographical sketch of Rosa D. Bowser is presumably written by Culp. Related articles on this site include:
- More African American Women's Essays from Twentieth Century Negro Literature
- African American Women's History
- African American Women: Biographies
What Role Is the Educated Negro Woman to Play in the Uplifting of Her Race?
BY Mrs. Rosa D. Bowser, of Richmond, Virginia.
The writer of the subjoined article is a native of Virginia, and belongs in the front rank of educators of her race in this grand old commonwealth, which may justly boast of the eminence to which its black as well as white citizens attained before and since the war. The first president of the black republic on the West Coast of Africa, Joseph Jenkins Roberts, as well as the foremost Baptist leader, Lott Carey, were Virginians.
Mrs. Rosa D. Bowser was born in Amelia County, and was reared in the city of Richmond. She passed through the grades of the public schools, and completed her school work at the Normal School of that city under the instruction of its founder, Mr. Ralza Morse Manly, of Vermont, a distinguished educator in the North as well as the pioneer educator in Virginia among the Negro race. Mrs. Bowser received special training from Mr. Manly, having been instructed by him in the higher mathematics and Latin. She early developed a taste for drawing, painting and music, and made commendable progress in the fine arts. Mrs. Bowser's work as an educator has not been limited to the school room, in which she has been so efficient for the last twenty-five years, but she has been conspicuous in other and wider fields of usefulness among her people within and without the State.
This is evidenced by the following facts: She founded the Woman's League, which rendered signal service in the Lunenburg trials; she is President of the Richmond Mothers' Club; she is a member of the Executive Board of the Southern Federation of Colored Women; she is Chairman of the Executive Board of the Women's Educational and Missionary Association of Virginia; she is Chairman of the standing Committee of Domestic Economy, for the Hampton Conference; she is President of the Woman's Department of the Negro Reformatory Association of Virginia; and is one of the most conspicuous members of many benevolent organizations in Richmond. She is an eloquent and fascinating orator, bringing to that accomplishment, earnestness of manner, grace of gesture, and a charming personality.
In all ages of the world woman has been the central
figure around which all joys and sorrows, all inspirations, all aspirations, and
all accomplishments have circled. In all conditions of life, in all climes, in
all Christian epochs, in all countries, she holds this position indisputable
among the nations of the earth. For without her there would be no home circles,
without the home circles there would be no races nor nations. Her office, of
divine institution for the perpetuation of the human family, should not be
lightly regarded by any class of people. Woman's primary duty is the systematic
and wise ordering of the household. The infant looks into its mother's face and
there receives its first impressions. These impressions are stamped upon
the mind and heart of the child. The mother notices all the little disorders and
griefs of the child from its birth throughout its life. The conscientious mother
is ever ready to console, advise and sympathize in all grievances and
perplexities which may confront her offspring. Hence there is great need for
proper instruction to wives, mothers, and, in fact, to all women in anticipation
of the responsibilities of a home, and the obligations of motherhood. It has
been well said that the training of children should begin with their
grandparents. The character of the homes of the land, the moral and immoral
bearing of every settlement, town, and city, in a large measure depend upon the
class of women—upon the idiosyncrasies of wives, mothers, and women in general,
who by nature mould the sentiment of every department of human control. That
society is ruled by women cannot be questioned. The age of complete dependence
of women upon the stronger sex, has so far passed as to be foreign to the minds
of the present generation. Not that the gentler sex is averse to the protection
and tender solicitudes of the father, husband and brother, but it is of such
common occurrence that women are thrown upon their own resources in the
maintenance of the home, that they of necessity rather than from choice assume a
degree of independence in various avenues of life.
Christianity is the medium by which woman has been exalted to her legitimate
sphere in the world. The best colleges that a few years past closed their doors
against her, have gradually put the latch strings on the outside. The
coeducation of the sexes and the attendant results have displaced the old idea
of the moral and intellectual inferiority of women. The learned professions are
subject to her choice. She stands beside her brother as a partner, sharing
equally with him in the world's work for humanity. Of one flesh God made all
men. Hence they have the same general tendencies or inclinations, the same likes
and dislikes, the same sympathies and the same indifferences, the same joys and
the same sorrows manifested in a greater or less degree as their sensibilities
have been cultured and developed. The Negro is no exception to this general
rule. The centuries of servitude when he dared not of his own volition pursue
courses for intellectual growth now place the Negro as an adolescent race, yet
one that has made wonderful strides in improving its condition morally,
intellectually and financially. The Negro is grateful for much in past
experiences, which experiences have been rigid disciplinarians, urging
him to think and act for himself. Therefore his hopes and aspirations grow
stronger for more glorious results for the future. Compare the first thirty-six
years of the independence of any civilized race with the progress made by the
Negroes since their emancipation; who can, in a spirit of justice, say that the
Negro has not made a very creditable record wherever the opportunity to show
himself a man has presented itself. The Negro is grateful that there are many
Southern as well as Northern friends in the dominant race who publicly commend
him, and give him due credit for his energy and perseverance in making the best
use of his time and talents. The fact is generally known that whatever success
has been made was achieved through many difficulties. The best class of Negroes
is not discouraged by the ravings and unjust criticisms of certain classes of
people who do not know the Negro, having had little chance of intercourse with
him even in the years prior to and during the Civil War. Yet he is far, very far
from being contented with his present condition. The harvest is great, and many
sheaves are yet to be gathered. He knows that the number whose eyes are opened
to the beauties and utilities of life, and whose souls can discern the grand
possibilities of the future, is a great contrast to the masses of the race that
must yet be induced to appreciate the light of day. More teachers are needed to
point out and supply this light. Who can better perform this duty than the
unselfish, humane, intelligent Negro woman? Who can better feel the touch of
sympathy and get out of self to help by lifting as she climbs? Who can better
see the need than one who is interested in the lowly of her own household? Who
but the educated Negro woman will feel more keenly the stigma of the depravity
of her weak sister who has wearied of the struggle for a higher plane of living?
To whom is the call to this duty more urgent? Will she answer? She must do so.
Her advantages, intellectually and socially, demand that she should take a front
rank in the crusade against ignorance, vice and crime. She is the lighthouse,
giving warning of the hidden shoals and guiding away from the rocks which are
wrecking the lives of many capable young men and women. These young people are
anxious in many cases to be led into paths of purer man and womanhood. They
incline toward leaders. But they will follow only good leaders in whichever
course they take, whether the straight and narrow path of integrity and upright
Christian character, or the broad road which leads to shame, degradation and
death. They must and will follow leaders. But they require of leadership a reflection of their ideals. In other words, they require them to be as
leaders all that they would admonish others to become—models of true,
intelligent, morally pure women and men. Not only must these upright Negro women
take their role as counselors and teachers, but it is highly essential that they
be WITH the element to be uplifted, yet, certainly NOT OF it. It is impossible
to help a fallen or weak sister to rise if the helper, like the Levite, pass by
on the other side, and merely call out, Arise and stand in the beauty of pure
womanhood—rather than like the Samaritan, she goes to her and lifts her to her
feet. The touch of the hand, in proof of a heart full of sympathy, goes a long
way in winning and holding a living, lasting evidence of the regenerating
influence of charity to the recipient. The alarming death rate among the Negro
population is largely due to ignorance of the laws of health, and the proper
care of children. Such people need instruction in their homes, for you will
reach them nowhere else. They will not attend public meetings nor church
services; they feel out of place in them. Hence there is no way to reach such
people other than by going among them. This act will not mar the reputation of a
true leader, one whom they can emulate, and in whom they have confidence. It
rather increases her influence; for they know she is NOT OF them, but WITH them
in their efforts to improve. The magnitude of the work may sometimes cause one
to shrink, when the progress seems slow. But all reforms require deliberation,
endurance, and perseverance. Occasionally we get an encouraging comment which
comes like a calm after storms of criticisms and abuse. Two of the daily papers
of Richmond, Virginia, made very favorable statements in regard to the conduct
of the colored people during the week of the carnival—October 7th-12th, 1901.
For violations of the law there were about two hundred arrests, and not one
colored person of the number. The colored schools came in for a liberal share of
praise for their attendance during said week. All colored groups of schools were
way up in the nineties. Baker School (colored), of six hundred and twenty-seven
pupils, led the city schools, with 98.9 per cent of attendance. We hailed the
announcements with delight, for they strengthened our belief that "Negro
education" may not always be considered "a failure." We are stimulated to more
earnest endeavor when we find persons of great minds and large hearts voicing
such helpful sentiments as expressed by Mr. Joel Chandler Harris, in his article
to the New York Journal, November 3, 1901, on "Negro Education," from which I
quote:
"What is called the Negro problem is simply the invention of men with theories.
"The spectacle spread out before us is not in the nature of a problem.
"It is made up of the actual efforts and movements of a race slowly and
painfully feeling its way toward a higher destiny.
"The conditions and circumstances being without parallel or precedent in the
history of the world, it was inevitable that serious mistakes should be made;
that misunderstandings should arise, that philanthropy should stretch out full
hands in the wrong direction, that partisan politicians should pour out the
vials of wrath.
"But what of it?
"The real progress of the race has not been retarded a moment. Nothing has been
lost. And now, at last, the whole conservative and intelligent element of the
race is placing itself under the leadership of men well qualified to lead it,
and is making a new start.
"If the philanthropists and rich men of the country will hold up the hands of
such Negroes as Booker T. Washington they will be able to forget in a few years
that any serious mistakes have been made.
"More than that, they will be able to view leniently the mistakes that are still
to be made."
And, I add, if the hands of such women as Mrs. Booker T. Washington of Tuskegee,
and Miss Georgie Washington of Mt. Meigs, Alabama, be upheld by friends of the
North, South, East and West, many skeptics would, in a comparatively short time,
forget that they had at any time doubted the ability of the Negro to make for
himself a creditable place in history. Such are the women needed to-day. Women
who teach by doing. Women who can take a basket of soap on the arm, and in a
gentle, winning way present it to homes that need it, while at the same time
extol its merits in a pleasant manner. Women are needed who can teach the lesson
of morality, cleanliness of soul and body, and the hygienic and economic
management of the humble home, by showing them how to perform these acts, and
furnish examples. Women who can arouse their sense of propriety to such a degree
that by frugal habits they may abandon the one-room cabin in which a family of
eight or ten eat, cook, sleep, wash and iron, for the neat two, three, or
four-room well ventilated cottage. The laundry tub may be an excellent
substitute when no better can be provided, but they will be taught to see the
need of a genuine bath tub in every home. They will be taught that honest
labor is no disgrace; that, however much education one may acquire, the
deftness of the hands to execute the mandates of the mind tends rather to
elevate the possessor, and hastens the day of a full developed man or woman with
mind, heart, and hand trained to the best service—thereby dignifying labor.
Above all, the thought must be impressed indelibly upon the hearts and
consciences of the youth that the men can be no better than the women. Men are
what the women make them. If a woman is refined, and exhibits a modest,
dignified bearing, men can not fail to appreciate her demeanor and conduct
themselves accordingly. While, on the other hand, boisterous, uncouth conduct
upon the part of women will encourage boldness toward them, disrespect for them,
and win the contempt of the men of a community for such women. Hence, wherever
uplifting influence is needed, the result of the labor depends upon the
compliant nature of the element, upon which they are working, whose persuasive
power is more efficacious in directing the upward and downward trend of the
masses. The women who can best appreciate this fact have the very grave
responsibility of keeping the lesson constantly before the people—"Lest we
forget, lest we forget." The so-called Negro problem must be solved by the
Negro. The plane to which he must attain is limited by the energy and
persistency of the most competent and sympathetic leaders, in piloting the
followers in such a manner that they may realize that
"Life is real. Life is earnest,
And the grave is not its goal;
Dust thou art, to dust returnest,
Was not spoken of the soul."
This essay is reprinted from Twentieth Century Negro Literature, edited by D. W. Culp (Dr. Daniel Wallace Culp), published 1902. The biographical sketch of Rosa D. Bowser is presumably written by Culp. Related articles on this site include:
