union members, and with this committee of six has brought
about a conference of accredited delegates from thirty-three
unions in New York City. This is the first all-union conference
held on adjusting the Negro workers' problem. As a result,
a permanent organization has been formed called the Trade
Union Committee for Organizing Negro Workers. Headquarters have been established and a program is well under way
which includes:—organizing special industries, manned largely
by Negro men and women; working to bring about changes
in the constitutions of trade unions which make it impossible
or difficult for Negroes to join; educating both black and white
workers in union principles through conferences and speeches;
making necessary adjustments among union members of the
two races and taking part in righting any grievances of Negro
union members.
In trade cookery, the Negro woman's talent and past experience is recognized. Her problem here is to find employers who will let her work her way to managerial positions, in tearooms, candy shops and institutions. One such employer became convinced that the managing cook, a young colored graduate of Pratt Institute, could build up a business that had been failing. He offered her a partnership. As in the cases of a number of such women, her barrier was lack of capital. No matter how highly trained, nor how much speed and business acumen has been acquired, the Negro's credit is held in doubt. An exception in this matter of capital will serve to. prove the rule. Thirty years ago, a young Negro girl began learning all branches of the fur trade. She is now in business for herself, employing three women of her race and one Jewish She has made fur experts of still another half-dozen colored girls. Such instances as these justify the prediction that the foothold which is being gained in the trade world will, year by year, become more secure.
Because of the limited fields for this group, many of the unsuccessful drift into the fourth social grade—the domestic and casual workers. These drifters increase the difficulties of the Negro women suited to housework. New standards of household management are forming and the problem of the man.
