Perhaps no phases of home demonstration work are more valuable among negroes than sanitation and health, which were exemplified by more than 10,000 negro homes. In 2,361 homes the doors and windows were screened and in 3,781 homes other methods of insect control and extermination were followed. In most Southern States, negro agents have definite plans with blue prints for the construction of sanitary closets. These plans were followed in 1,890 homes. A total of 9,734 women and 10,351 girls were enrolled in home-health and sanitation demonstrations. The agents gave more than 5,000 demonstrations by way of instruction along this line. The club members and the home demonstrators took much interest in home nursing, first aid, care of teeth, care of skin, good posture, prevention of colds, and similar health activities which the agents were emphasizing.
The statistics on house furnishings by negro women and girls compare favorably with their activities along other lines. (Fig. [12].) During 1924, 7,688 women and 8,656 girls were enrolled to make or buy and install certain house furnishings suggested by the agents. More than 3,000 individuals conducted demonstrations in treating woodwork, walls, and floors. As a result of demonstrations carried on in house furnishings, 4,938 improvements were made in bedrooms, 1,744 in living rooms, 2,190 in dining rooms, and 1,717 in other rooms of the house.
During the year 4,962 demonstrations in home management were conducted by women and girls, most of them pertaining to the kitchen and its equipment. Negro women and girls in their demonstration activities rearranged 2,226 kitchens according to plans outlined by negro extension agents, installed 326 fireless cookers, 312 kitchen sinks, 1,198 kitchen cabinets, and thousands of other articles of equipment and convenience in the kitchen. In equipping the home laundry 277 hand washing machines and 26 power washing machines were obtained. The women and girls also bought 623 electric and gasoline irons and 70 power vacuum cleaners. The record shows that 4,008 club members and demonstrators followed improved laundry practices for the first time.
AGENTS’ ACTIVITIES
In the conduct of demonstration work with negroes the agents made visits to 28,410 farms and 26,515 homes. It required 86,824 farm visits and 49,334 home visits to get the results heretofore reported. It therefore seems that each demonstration farm required an average of three visits and each demonstration home an average of about two visits. If the demonstrations are large and successful enough, the agents will be justified in increasing their visits and also in further magnifying them with field meetings and tours where the demonstrations will be greatly emphasized and the good influences extended.
Fig. 12.—Negro home demonstration agent demonstrating the making of rugs for the home. During 1924, 7,688 women and 8,656 girls were enrolled to make or buy and install certain house furnishings suggested by the agents.
It may be noted further that the agents spent 37,418 days in the field and 15,435 days in the office. The negro agents reported 46,100 method and result demonstration meetings with a total attendance of 820,366. This was in addition to 1,863 special meetings for demonstrators and leaders, 358 short courses, and 107 camps for special training. Altogether, more than a million people attended the special and regular meetings for the promotion of extension work among negroes. To these impressive totals the number of fairs and exhibits should be added. Negroes made exhibits at 815 different community, county, and State fairs, which were seen and studied by thousands of people. Lantern slides and motion pictures were shown at more than 500 meetings.
OUTLOOK
The extension work for negroes and by negroes has been built up practically in the last 10 years. It is a wonderful development in such a short time. It took about the same length of time to build a similar organization for white people. When it is remembered that negro work has been established in a period of transition, turmoil, and readjustment, the significance is all the more remarkable. It is a fine tribute to the good work of the negro agents that, when the period of retrenchment came soon after the World War, their force and their appropriations were the only ones which were not reduced. With this solid foundation, with this inspiring record, and with this successful history the near future holds out much hope for even more rapid development. There is no field of education in this country now where greater good can be accomplished by earnest, devoted agents working along the right lines.