THE

COLORED GIRL

BEAUTIFUL

By

E. AZALIA HACKLEY

Author of "A Guide in Voice Culture" and
"Public School Lessons in Voice Culture."

BURTON PUBLISHING COMPANY
PUBLISHERS
KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI

Copyrighted 1916
By E. Azalia Hackley

Dedication.

To colored women in whom I have faith and to colored children whom Ilove, I send this little message.

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Foreword.

This volume has been compiled from talks given to girls in coloredboarding schools. The first talk was given at the Tuskegee Institute atthe request of the Dean of the Girls' Department.

It was an impromptu talk after an hour's notice. Just before the Deanclosed the door to leave me alone with the girls, I repeated myquestion, "What shall I talk about?" The reply was, "Tell them anythingyou think they should know. They will believe an experienced woman likeyou who travels and knows the world and life."

As I looked at the sea of faces, "wanting to know," and as I thought of[10]all they had to learn, the vastness of all of it almost overpowered me."May I sit down, girls? Now, what shall we talk about that isinteresting to every one of you?"

"Would you like to talk about Love—real Love?" "Yes, yes," came theanswer. "Would you like to talk about Beauty—real Beauty?" "Yes! Yes!"they answered and the chairs were pulled forward. For forty minutes wehad a heart to heart talk. The dean and teachers had perhaps told thegirls the same words, but the message seemed to come more directly tothem from one who had daily contact with the great, busy world.

The talks were very informal and personal and as the girls askedquestions the thought came to me to jot down the points, that similartalks might be given to the girls in other schools. Then came therequest, "You come so seldom, can you print the talks?" Much of the[11]talks could not be printed because many of the questions and answerswere personal.

If I had a daughter I would desire that she should know these things andmore, that she might be a beacon light to her home and to the race. As Ihave not been blessed with a daughter, I send these thoughts to thedaughters of other colored women, hoping that among them there is somenew thought worthy of a racial "Amen."

E. AZALIA HACKLEY.

Chicago, Ill., August, 1916.
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CONTENTS