A Report Concerning the Colored Women of the South

This volume offers a vivid snapshot of life for African‑American women across five Southern states at the close of the nineteenth century. Drawing on a two‑week tour in the autumn of 1895, the author records visits to schools, farms, factories and homes, speaking with teachers, clergy, doctors, artisans and families. The narrative captures both the achievements of newly founded educational institutions and the everyday struggles that still shape women’s prospects.

Readers will encounter firsthand impressions of youthful graduates praised for their intelligence, modesty and determination, alongside candid reflections on the lingering hardships inherited from slavery. The report highlights a strong desire for learning among the wider community and the sacrifices parents make for their children’s future. By presenting these observations without dramatizing outcomes, the work invites listeners to consider the complex mix of progress and lingering inequities that defined the era.