Letter From Anne Grey to Jane Edna Hunter

Dear Ms. Jane Edna Hunter,

My name is Anne Grey. I just finished reading an incredible article about your work with The Phillis Wheatley Association in the Chicago Defender and I must say that I am impressed that a fellow Negro woman has taken up the causes of young Negro girls in our cities. I must admit that I am a resident of New York City and proud of it. However, I also do my part for the race by remaining aware of current events in the Negro world, supporting local organizations, and promoting the causes of the race every chance that I can.

As someone who has just taken in a young girl that is new to the city myself, I understand the importance of the work that you are doing for our girls. It is important that a wiser and more experienced generation of Negro women that are dedicated to the betterment of the race look after these women. Even though I love my city and intend on being a resident of New York City until my last day on earth, I am also aware that the city can be a dangerous and overwhelming place for southern transplants. It is our job as advocated for the betterment of the race to support these young girls because no one understands their condition better than us.

Still, however, Ms. Hunter, I must say that I am troubled by one aspect of your association. From the article, I understood that both Negroes and whites staff your organization. While I am very impressed with your efforts, it is my personal opinion as a fellow woman who is concerned with the progress of the race that Negro women take absolute control over the organizations that are created to help our girls. I am concerned that your white associates may not understand the conditions of these southern transplants to the same degree as local Negro women. With an all Negro staff, our girls will receive proper guidance about how to survive in a world where their stride toward progress is impacted by their race and womanhood.

Ms. Hunter, I do not intend to overstep my boundaries. However, I do hope that you will take my concerns into consideration. Once again, I thank you and appreciate your work. I wish you the best of luck.

Sincerely,

Ms. Anne Grey

Questions:

1) Within this weeks readings, we get a sense of the importance of migration and movement in the history of black women in the U.S. In Quicksand, Helga Crane traveled to several locations (including her time in Denmark) in an effort to find a place where she could enjoy life as someone who faced race, class, and gender oppression. As such, what role has intersectionality played in shaping African American women’s movement across the country and the globe?

2) In addition, within Hazel Carby’s article, she demonstrates the ways in which movement to Chicago and finding employment outside of the domestic sector created a level of independence and agency for a group of women who faced race, class, and gender oppression. Did movement or subversive behavior lead to empowerment for the women in Nella Larsen’s works or did acts of agency simply yield disappointment for them?