Activities Among Negroes
In High Court
VIOLET N. ANDERSON of Chicago, first colored woman ever admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court.
Violet. N. Anderson, of Chicago, Ill., is the first colored woman attorney to be admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court, having been granted that privilege recently. She began at the age of 16 years to win her way in the world. She acquired an education and became an expert stenographer, entering a law office where she did all the correspondence for the privilege of using a desk. Her strict attention to business won many clients and later she became stenographer for many prominent attorneys of all races practicing before the courts of Illinois. This work brought her in touch with a great many women lawyers who advised her to study law. She studied at night and graduated from the Chicago Old North High school, the Chicago Athenaeum and the Chicago Law school.
It was after she had been admitted to the bar that she experienced the greatest difficulties. There were so many attorneys who were opposed to women entering the profession. She was the first of her race, therefore had to blaze a trail. Her struggles in this respect are most interesting. But she finally won out, and not only practiced in the lower courts but for three years before the Illinois State Supreme Court. She has had cases before the United States district court and also the United States Supreme Court.
When she was appointed assistant prosecuting attorney for the city of Chicago, where she served for one year, she said: "The woman attorney must make good in the court room, for there is always an obviously skeptical attitude on the part of the judges and men lawyers towards the woman attorney. She must hold her own, or she is simply a joke."
Attorney Anderson is very modest when it comes to speaking about the recent honor of being admitted to practice before the United States Supreme Court. She writes "It was only the assertion of a right incident to my profession. But because it is an indication of racial and sex advancement, I am proud of it, and not as a personal achievement. There are many places in the business world where a colored girl of intelligence and ability may fit in. But she must qualify. Except in a few cases, where the barriers of prejudice are insurmountable, I have found that she faces no difficulties."
During her many years practicing attorney she has seen the need of some attention being given by the race to "the problem girl." So impressed was she with the idea that a few years ago she interested some club women of the race in Chicago to organize an association to be known as "The Friendly or Associated Big Sisters' League of Chicago." They appointed her their corresponding secretary. The league needed a building for the home. The committee obtained a house, but it cost $8000. Attorney Anderson suggested they give a novelty ball. She was appointed chairman and general manager with the result that the Bill Board and Vaudeville Ball, which was given in the Eighth Regiment Armory, cleared $4000. Attorney Anderson is also the legal adviser for the National Association of Colored Women, which will meet in Oakland this summer.
Robert Blair, colored, of Detroit, Michigan, has designed an aircraft gun equipped with an electric search light finder. The war department is keenly interested in his design, according to the Philadelphia Tribune.
The following news item from Chicago is of interest to music lovers: "Through the Educational. Music Bureau of this city, Hermes Zimmerman, negro composer, has succeeded in obtaining national distribution for his march song. 'America First and Forever.' This inspiring number has made such a hit with the school supervisors of Chicago and Evanston that it has been translated into eight languages for use in the public schools by non-English speaking citizens. "It will be sung in public night schools where immigrants are receiving free instructions in the fundamentals of Americanism. Musical critics declare 'America First and Forever' is one of the best national march songs of recent years. Young Zimmerman also composed "The Chief Corner Stone a Song of Ethiopia,' 'I Want to Be Ready,' and a sermonett song."
This paper also has the following interesting news concerning the defense fund drive recently conducted by the N. A. A. C .P. "Philadelphia" which led all other branches in contributions raised by the association, has added $354.82, bringing the total for the branch up to $3465.24. The check was brought from Philadelphia to the national office of the N. A. A. C. P. in New York City by Isadore Martin, president of the Philadelphia branch.
"The standing of other branches which have contributed $1000 or more is as follows: Philadelphia, $3465.23; Boston, $2351.51; District of Columbia, $2340.04; Chicago, $1810; Cleveland, $1100; Los Angeles, $1026; Richmond, VA $1050.67; New York City, $4055.26 (Women's Committee through mass meetings)."
The Society of Independent Artists of New York City recently held an exhibit at the Waldorf Astoria, at which time O. Richard Reid, a colored artist, exhibited some of the portrait paintings. Among his collections was a portrait of Fanny Hurst, the novelist, and Lester A. Walton of the New York World. This young artist, from only 28 years old, comes Jacksonville, Florida. He was ambitious to study art abroad. He worked his way through the Pennsylvania Art school by serving as a porter and hotel waiter. He has painted the portraits of such well known personages as Paderewski.
