Chicago's Black Traffic in White Girls

The work offers a stark, on‑the‑ground portrait of Chicago’s early twentieth‑century sex trade, drawn from the long‑term observations of a physician who served the city’s rescue mission and a pastor involved in reform work. Using interviews, police reports, and personal visits to the neighborhoods where exploitation flourished, the authors compile a detailed picture of how brothels, saloons, and local officials partnered in a lucrative network that preyed on vulnerable young women.

The pamphlet presents dozens of statistics—counts of houses of ill fame, the estimated number of women forced into prostitution, and the daily earnings that enriched the dealers. It also includes excerpts from official investigations and vivid anecdotes that illustrate the human cost behind the figures. By laying bare the mechanisms of recruitment, transportation, and profit, the authors aim to mobilize citizens, legislators, and charitable groups to confront the hidden industry. Their urgent plea for transparency and reform makes the text a compelling historical record of a battle that still resonates today.