Rebecca Stiles Taylor, et. al. to Woodrow Wilson
Title
Rebecca Stiles Taylor, et. al. to Woodrow Wilson
Creator
Taylor, Rebecca Stiles
Identifier
LO53118
Date
1918 May 31
Description
Regarding the lynching of Mary Turner in Valdosta, Ga.
Source
National Archives and Records Administration 230/06/41 file #158260 box #1276 NARA ID #55
Publisher
Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library
Subject
African-Americans--segregation
Language
English
Text
TELEGRAM.
(WU)
1 S. FD. 256 6 extra 12:25 p.m.
Savannah, Ga., May 31, 1918.
THE PRESIDENT, (Personal),
Washington, D.C.
Whereas, the Negro womanhood of Georgia has been shocked by the lynching of Mary Turner at Valdosta, Sunday, May 19, 1918, for an alleged unwise remark in reference to the lynching of her husband, and
Whereas, we the negro women of the state are aroused by this unwarranted lawlessness and are discouraged and crushed by a spirit of humiliation and dread, and
Whereas, we deplore the migratory movement of the negro from the South, yet we cannot counsel them to remain in the light of these conditions under which we live; and
Whereas, our labor is in these cotton and corn fields and rice swamps and in this frightful hour of the great world war, our sons and husbands are giving their lives in defense of the country we all love so dearly; and
Whereas, in every forward movement in our national life the negro has come to the front and shared in the advance and crimsoned every field of strife from Boston to "No Man's Land" for the principles held sacred by every true American; and
Whereas, we feel that our lives are unsafe as long as this iniquitous institution exists we therefore are asking that you use all the power of your great office to prevent similar occurrences and punish the perpetrators of this foul deed and urge that sure and swift justice be meted out to them.
Done by order of the Toussaint Louverture Branch of Savannah Chapter American Red Cross.
Rebecca Stiles Taylor, Chairman;
Mary E. Belcher, Secretary.
(WU)
1 S. FD. 256 6 extra 12:25 p.m.
Savannah, Ga., May 31, 1918.
THE PRESIDENT, (Personal),
Washington, D.C.
Whereas, the Negro womanhood of Georgia has been shocked by the lynching of Mary Turner at Valdosta, Sunday, May 19, 1918, for an alleged unwise remark in reference to the lynching of her husband, and
Whereas, we the negro women of the state are aroused by this unwarranted lawlessness and are discouraged and crushed by a spirit of humiliation and dread, and
Whereas, we deplore the migratory movement of the negro from the South, yet we cannot counsel them to remain in the light of these conditions under which we live; and
Whereas, our labor is in these cotton and corn fields and rice swamps and in this frightful hour of the great world war, our sons and husbands are giving their lives in defense of the country we all love so dearly; and
Whereas, in every forward movement in our national life the negro has come to the front and shared in the advance and crimsoned every field of strife from Boston to "No Man's Land" for the principles held sacred by every true American; and
Whereas, we feel that our lives are unsafe as long as this iniquitous institution exists we therefore are asking that you use all the power of your great office to prevent similar occurrences and punish the perpetrators of this foul deed and urge that sure and swift justice be meted out to them.
Done by order of the Toussaint Louverture Branch of Savannah Chapter American Red Cross.
Rebecca Stiles Taylor, Chairman;
Mary E. Belcher, Secretary.
Original Format
Telegram
Files
Collection
Citation
Taylor, Rebecca Stiles, “Rebecca Stiles Taylor, et. al. to Woodrow Wilson,” 1918 May 31, LO53118, Race and Segregation Collection, Woodrow Wilson Presidential Library & Museum, Staunton, Virginia.