The Portable Nineteenth-Century African American Women Writers

by Various

  It is said that the science of medicine has been regarded as ranking among the most intricate and delicate pursuits man could follow. Not long ago, woman began to feel that the science of medicine was not too intricate, not too delicate for her to follow, and so set herself to work to gain admission to some of the schools of medicine, that she, too, might become equipped with the necessary medical training, that would enable her to relieve the wants of suffering humanity. Nowhere was greater opposition to be found than in the profession and in the community.

  It was doubted as to whether she was physically able to endure the hardships necessarily implied in an active practice. Slowly the portals of medicine opened to her, and earnestly she pursued her study. Afro-American women, best fitted by nature and education, have, like their white sisters, labored, although in the presence of more opposition, and met with success in the science of medicine. Those of mark are: Dr. Consuello Clark, Cincinnati; Dr. Caroline Anderson, Philadelphia; Dr. Hall Tanner and Dr. Susan McKinney. Dr. Susan McKinney leads the van in opening a sphere of usefulness. Dr. Susan McKinney, nee Smith, was born in Brooklyn, her father being the late Sylvanus Smith. The Brooklyn Daily Eagle, in mentioning and giving accounts of some able and noted colored people in Brooklyn, gave this interesting account of Dr. Susan McKinney:

  “Dr. McKinney is a striking instance of force of character, conquering extraordinary, almost obdurate obstacles, and achieving success in the midst of difficulties that would dismay a giant. She not only had to overcome the prejudice against female practitioners, but those against her race. Her spirit was equal to the task, however, and at this moment her reputation is such that any woman, irrespective of color, might be proud of it. Dr. McKinney was a student in the Woman’s Medical College, New York, under Dr. Clement Lozier, a professional woman of liberal ideas, a strong battler against the prejudice of caste, who first advocated the admission of colored women into the college. Shortly after Dr. McKinney’s graduation she commenced to practice, an uphill course. Patients were slow in coming; her own race apparently mistrusted the skill of a colored medical woman. While she belongs to a class, that of Homeopathy, at that time discountenanced by the masses, she persevered and is now well established.”

  In former years she had sustained herself as a teacher in a public school, this city, out of the earnings of which position she defrayed her college expenses. That experience nerved her to struggle desperately for a standing in the medical profession at a juncture when to be courageous appeared foolish, so hopeless seemed the future. Dr. McKinney is one of the doctors on the medical staff of the Woman’s Dispensary, on Classon Avenue, a member of the King’s County and the New York Staff and City Society of Homeopathy, and a member of the Alumni Society. She has lectured on subjects bearing on her profession in several cities. One of the faculty of the college from which she graduated took the pains to look her up and engage her to attend a female member of his family, giving as his reason for so doing that she was, he thought, the brightest member of the class from which she was graduated. This was a high authority, and, therefore, complimentary to Dr. Susan McKinney.

  The race points with pride to Edmonia Lewis, the greatest of her race in the art of sculpture. Her latent genius was stirred at the sight of a statue of Benjamin Franklin, in Boston. “I, too, can make a stone man,” she said. She expressed her desire in this direction to William Lloyd Garrison, “that great Apostle of Human Liberty,” and begged his advice. William Lloyd Garrison encouraged her and gave her a letter to the greatest sculptor of Boston, who, after reading the note, gave her a model of a human foot and some clay, and said, “Go home and make that; if there is anything in you it will come out.” Delighted, she went, and worked out a copy. As soon as it was finished she returned to the sculptor. He was not pleased with it and broke it up, telling her to try again. She was not discouraged, for she was determined to achieve success in this art. Again she tried and obtained victory. “She has won a position as an artist, a studio in Rome, and a place in the admiration of lovers of art on two continents.” Her studio in Rome is an object of interest to all European travelers. The most prominent of her works are, “Hagar in the Wilderness,” a group of “Madonna with the Infant Christ and two adoring Angels,” “Forever Free,” “Hiawatha’s Wooing,” a bust of Longfellow the poet, a bust of John Brown, and a medallion portrait of Wendell Phillips. There are other Afro-American women of mark, brief accounts of whose lives I would be pleased to give, but the limited space will not permit.

  We young women of the race have a great work to do. We have noble and brilliant examples of women, who, under all trying circumstances, have labored earnestly for the elevation of their race, their sex. Let us strive, with the advantages of a higher education, to carry out the aim of our noble predecessors—the success of the futurity of the race.

  52

  LUCY WILMOT SMITH

  (1861–1890)

  Lucy Wilmot Smith’s essay “Women as Journalists: Portraits and Sketches of a Few of the Women Journalists of the Race,” published in the Freeman on February 23, 1889, exemplifies the urge to canonize African American women writers at the end of the nineteenth century. Smith, like so many of the journalists in this anthology, was from the South, born in Lexington, Kentucky, in 1861. She was a teacher from the time she was sixteen years old. Her columns and sketches appeared in the American Baptist, Journalism, Our Women and Children, and the Baptist Journal.

  Smith emphasizes her contemporaries’ professionalism and hopes and that the work of these women should be seen as particularly extraordinary because of the obstacles faced throughout their careers.

  “Women as Journalists: Portraits and Sketches of a Few of the Women Journalists of the Race” (1889)

  SOURCE: Lucy Wilmot Smith, “Women as Journalists: Portraits and Sketches of a Few of the Women Journalists of the Race,” Freeman (February 23, 1889).

  The Negro woman’s history is marvelously strange and pathetic. Unlike that of other races, her mental, moral, and physical status has not found a place in the archives of public libraries. From the womb of the future must come that poet or author to glorify her womanhood by idealizing the various phases of her character, by digging from the past examples of faithfulness and sympathy, endurance and self-sacrifice and displaying the achievements which were brightened by friction. Born and bred under both the hindrance of slavery and the limitations of her sex, the mothers of the race have kept pace with the fathers. They stand at the head of the cultured, educated families whose daughters clasp arms with the sons. The educated Negro woman occupies vantage found over the Caucasian woman of America, in that the former has had to contest with her brother every inch of the ground for recognition, the Negro man, having had his sister by his side on plantations and in rice swamps, keeps her there, now that he moves in other spheres. As she wins laurels he accords her the royal crown. This is especially true in journalism. Doors are opened before we knock, and as well equipped young women emerged from the class-room the brotherhood of the race, men whose energies have been repressed and distorted by the interposition of circumstances, give them opportunities to prove themselves; and right well are they doing this by voice and pen. On matters pertaining to women and the race, there is no better author among our female writers than

  Mrs. N. F. Mossell [Gertrude Bustill Mossell]

  Her style is clear, compact and convincing. Seven years teaching in Camden, N.J. and Philadelphia, her present home, and the solid reading matter, viz: The Bible, “Paradise Lost,” The Atlantic Monthly and The Public Ledger, which was her daily food while under her father’s roof, gave her a deep insight into a human nature, and the clear mode of expression which makes her articles so valuable to the press. Her career as a writer began many years ago, when Bishop Tanner—then editor of The Christian Recorder—was attracted by an essay on “Influence” which he requested for publication. Short stories followed, and from then to the present, she has been engaged cons
tantly on race journals. “The Woman’s Department” of the New York Freeman was edited by her with much tact and The Philadelphia Echo is always more readable when containing something from her pen. For three years she has been employed on the Philadelphia Times, The Independent, and Philadelphia Press Republican, following the particular lines of race literature and the “Woman’s Question.” Mrs. Mossell’s experience in journalism is that editors are among the most patient of men, that the rejection of an article by no means proves that it is a failure, that sex is no bar to any line of literary work, that by speaking for themselves women can give the truth about themselves and thereby inspire the confidence of the people. Besides newspaper work her home life is a busy one, assisting her husband, a prominent physician of Philadelphia, whose own literary life has been an incentive to her. Spare moments are given to the completion of a book, on a race question, which will soon be launched on the current thought and society.

  Mrs. Lucretia Newman Coleman

  is a writer of rare ability. Discriminating and scholarly, she possesses to a high degree the poetic temperament and has acquired great facility in verse. Her last poem, “Lucille of Montana,” ran through several numbers of the magazine Our Women and Children, and is full of ardor, eloquence and noble thought. Mrs. Coleman has contributed special scientific articles to the A.M.E. [African, Methodist Episcopal] Review and other journals, which were rich in minute comparisons, philosophic terms and scientific principles. She is a writer more for scholars than for the people. A novel entitled “Poor Ben,” which is the epitome of the life of a prominent A.M.E. Bishop, is pronounced an excellent production. Mrs. Coleman is an accomplished woman and well prepared for a literary life. She was born in Dresden, Ontario, went with her missionary father to the West Indies where he labored a number of years, thence to Cincinnati, Oh., where he was pastor of a church, and after his death she went with her mother to Appleton, Wisconsin, to take advantage of the educational facilities. After graduating from the scientific course of Lawrence University she devoted her time to literary pursuits, and now ranks with the most painstaking writers.

  Miss Ida B. Wells (Iola)

  has been called the “Princess of the Press,” and she has well earned the title. No writer, the male fraternity not excepted, has been more extensively quoted; none have struck harder blows at the wrongs and weakness of the race. T. T. Fortune (probably the “Prince” of the Negro press) wrote after meeting her at the Democratic Conference at Indianapolis: “She has become famous as one of the few of our women who handle a goose-quill with diamond point as easily as any man in the newspaper work. If Iola was a man, she would be a humming independent in politics. She has plenty of nerve and is as sharp as a steel trap.”

  Miss Wells’ readers are equally divided between the sexes. She reaches the men by dealing with the political aspect of the race question, and the women, she meets around the fireside. She is an inspiration to the young writers and her success has lent an impetus to their ambition. When the National Press Convention, of which she was Assistant Secretary, met in Louisville, she read a splendidly written paper on “Women in Journalism or How I Would Edit.” By the way, it is her ambition to edit a paper. She believes that there is no agency so potent as the press in reaching and elevating a people. Her contributions are distributed among the leading race journals. She made her debut with the Living Way, Memphis, Tenn., and has since written for the New York Age, Detroit Plaindealer, Indianapolis World, Gate City Press, Mo. Little Rock Sun, American Baptist, Ky. Memphis Watchman, Chattanooga Justice, Christian Index, and Fisk University Herald, Tenn., Our Women and Children Magazine, Ky., and the Memphis papers, weeklies and dailies. Miss Wells has attained much success as teacher in the public schools of the last named place.

  Mrs. W. E. Mathews (Victoria Earle)

  Ten years ago “Victoria Earle” began taking advantage of opportunities offered for acting as “sub” for reporters employed by many of the great dailies. She has reported for the New York Times, Herald, Mail and Express, Sunday Mercury, The Earth, The Photographic World, and is now New York correspondent to the National Leader, D.C., The Detroit Plaindealer, and the Southern Christian Recorder. Under various nom de plume she has written for the Boston Advocate, Washington Bee, Richmond Planet, Catholic Tribune, Cleveland Gazette, New York Age, New York Globe, and the New York Enterprise, besides editing three special departments. Reportorial work is her forte, yet her success in story writing has been great. She contributes to the story department of Waverly Magazine, The New York Weekly and Family Story Paper. “Victoria Earle” has written much; her dialect tidbits for the Associated Press are much in demand. She has ready several stories which will appear in one volume, and is also preparing a series of historical text books which will aim to develop a race pride in our youth. She is member of the Women’s National Press Association and no writer of the race is kept busier.

  Miss Mary V. Cook (Grace Ermine)

  Whatever honors have come to Miss Cook are the results of persevering industry. She has edited the Woman’s Department of the American Baptist, Ky. and the Educational Department of Our Women and Children in such a manner as to attract much attention to them. Her writings are lucid and logical and of such a character as will stand the test of time. Aside from journalistic work her life is a busy one. She has appeared on the platform of several national gatherings and her papers for research, elegance of diction, and sound reasoning were superior. She holds the professorship of Latin in the State University, her Alma Mater, yet however great her mental ability, it is overmatched by her character. Her life is the crystalization of womanly qualities. She moves her associates by a mighty power of sympathy which permeated her writings. She is a good newsgatherer and is much quoted, is a native of Bowling Green, Ky., where her mother, a generous hearted woman who sympathizes with her aspirations, still lives. Miss Cook is interested in all questions which affect the race.

  Lillial Akbeeta Kewus (Bert Islew)

  Those who know much about the newspapers of the race, know something of Bert Islew’s Budget of Gossip in the spicy “They say Column” of The Boston Advocate. Bright, witty, sparkling, one would not think Bert Islew’s career antedated only three years and that she was barely twenty when she caught the public ear. The early atmosphere she breathed may have developed a public spiritedness. Was born in the home of Hon. Lewis Hayden, that good man whose name is closely associated with the Crispus Attuck monument. When but thirteen years old and in the graduating class of the Bowdin Grammar school she entered a prize essay contest and carried off the third prize, although the other contestants were older High School pupils and graduates. This fired her ambition, and soon after graduation she wrote a novel entitled “Idalene Van Therese,” which, for lack of means, is unpublished. Then came her successful career with The [People’s] Advocate. In addition to her newspaper work, she has for several years been the private stenographer and secretary to the widely known Max Eliot, of the Boston Herald. This position calls for proficiency, and Bert Islew’s record for taking down copy verbatim is among the highest in New England. Then, too, her position in the Herald office calls for special articles and reportorial work, which she does creditably. She is recognized in all circles for her ability, and works side by side with editors and reporters without an iota of distinction being made.

  Mrs. Amelia F. Johnson

  In the mild countenance of Mrs. Amelia Johnson can be read the love and tenderness for children which was demonstrated last year by the publication of the Ivy, an eight-page journal devoted especially to the interests of our youth. It was a good paper filled with original stories and poems and information concerning the doings of the race. Mrs. Johnson is keen, imaginative, and critical, story writing is her forte. It is a part of her nature to weave her thoughts into pleasing imagery. Even when a child she would follow the scratches on her desk with a pencil and tell wonderful stories of them to her seatmate. She has written many of them at different times an
d is now engaged in writing a story book to be used in Sunday-school libraries. Many short stories from her pen find snug resting places in corners of weeklies. There is a vein of wit and humor in her sayings—a pith and transparency which makes her articles extremely readable. Of all the writers before the public, none of them possess in a higher degree the elements of a skillful critic. She has contributed to the Baptist Messenger, Md., The American Baptist, Ky., and Our Women and Children Magazine. Mrs. Johnson was educated in Canada—taking a thorough French course—and has taught both French and English branches in Baltimore, her present home.

  Miss Mary E. Britton (Meb)

  To the ready pen of Miss Mary E. Britton (Meb) is due many of the reformatory measures which have given the race equal facilities on railroads in Kentucky. The energy and resolute vim of her character is traced in her writings, especially when advocating woman’s suffrage and the same moral standard for both sexes. She has studied language from the standard English and American authors and her diction is remarkably chaste. Miss Britton was editor of the “Women’s Column” of the Lexington Herald, contributes special articles to the Courant—the Kentucky educational journal—the Cleveland Gazette, the American Catholic Tribune, the Indianapolis World and Our Women and Children Magazine. Her own ambition to excel prompts her to inspire others and nearly all her articles have this savor and was exhibited in those written for The Ivy, the children’s paper. The local papers of Lexington, Ky., her home, and the Cincinnati Commercial have published and commented on her articles.