[61]. “The only truly Anglo-Saxon communities in the world to-day are in rural England and the Southern States.” Dr. E. A. Alderman: “The Growing South,” p. 5. It may perhaps not be quite irrelevant to note that I was struck by the immense preponderance of fair hair and complexion among the women of the South. I would almost go so far as to say that, with the exception of women who had obviously a negro strain in their blood, I did not see a single brunette in the course of my wanderings. As regards Louisiana, this no doubt only means that I had not time or opportunity for adequate observation. But in the case of the other States, I am inclined to think there must be good grounds for the strong impression left on my mind.
[62]. Jean Finot: “Race Prejudice,” London, 1806, p. xv.
[63]. There is some conflict of evidence as to whether many persons of negro blood “cross the line” or “go over to white”—that is to say conceal and renounce the negro strain in their ancestry. Mr. Kelly Miller states that, as a result of white persecution, “hundreds of the composite progeny are daily crossing the colour-line and carrying as much of the despised blood as an albicant skin can conceal without betrayal.” (“Race Adjustment,” p. 49.) “Hundreds daily” is probably an exaggeration; but it would appear that such cases are not infrequent; and it is significant that negroes generally, instead of resenting this disloyalty to their blood, enter into “a sort of conspiracy of silence to protect the negro who crosses the line.” “Such cases,” says Mr. Stannard Baker, “even awaken glee among them, as though the negro thus, in some way, was getting even with the dominant white man.”
[64]. “One day, while walking in one of the most fashionable residence districts of Atlanta, I saw a magnificent gray stone residence standing somewhat back from the street. I said to my companion, who was a resident of the city:
“‘That’s a fine home.’
“‘Yes; stop a minute,’ he said. ‘I want to tell you about that. The anti-kink man lives there.’
“‘Anti-kink?’ I asked in surprise.
“‘Yes; the man who occupies that house is one of the wealthiest men here. He made his money by selling to negroes a preparation to smooth the kinks out of their wool. They’re simply crazy on that subject.’
“‘Does it work?’
“‘You haven’t seen any straight-haired negroes, have you?’ he asked.”—Ray Stannard Baker.