Work of the Colored Law and Order League, Baltimore, Md.

In the aftermath of the Atlanta riot, a group of Baltimore’s most active Black professionals confront a troubling landscape of saloons and vice that crowd the neighborhoods surrounding their schools and churches. The book paints a vivid picture of a city where flourishing institutions—churches, schools, community centers—stand side by side with dive bars that seem to enjoy unofficial protection, creating a breeding ground for the very troubles that sparked unrest elsewhere.

Motivated by these conditions, a handful of trusted leaders—including doctors, educators, clergy and an attorney—gather in Rev. John Hurst’s home and launch a coordinated effort to clean up their community. Their newly formed Colored Law and Order League maps the problem, rallies civic voices, and sets out a plan to protect youth and restore order, offering a compelling glimpse into early 20th‑century Black self‑advocacy and grassroots organizing.