The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919Various
History
The Journal of Negro History, Volume 4, 1919
Various
African Americans -- Periodicals
Examining particularly into the condition of the colored men in
that State, it was disclosed by the testimony of whites and
blacks, Republicans and Democrats, that the causes of discontent
among those people could not have arisen from any deprivation of
their political rights or any hardship in their condition. A
minute examination into their situation shows that the average
rate of wages, according to the age and strength of the hand for
field labor, was from eight to fifteen dollars per month,
including board and house to live in, garden and truck patches,
around the house, fire-wood, and certain other privileges, all
rent free.
These, added to the extra labor which could be earned by hands
during the season of gathering turpentine and resin, or of
picking cotton made the general average of compensation for labor
in that State quite equal to if not better than in any Northern
State to which these people were going, to say nothing of the
climate of North Carolina, which was infinitely better adapted to
them.
The closest scrutiny could detect no outrage or violence
inflicted upon their political rights in North Carolina for many
years past. They all testified that they voted freely; that their
votes were counted fairly; that no improper influence whatsoever
was exerted over them; and many were acquiring real estate, and
were enjoying the same privileges of education for their
children, precisely, that the whites were enjoying.
Public-domain text, read in full here on John Shaqi.
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