The yard-beautification campaign targeted segregationist justifications directly.

Evidence

In 1916, the report of the WC’s executive board and corresponding secretary listed the following reasons for the “better yards movement”: “First, the health and comfort of the family depends on it. Secondly, the real progress of the race is measured by it. It will remove the excuses given for segregation.” — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent, 1613

Categorization

• XREF: Directly instantiates the earlier ch28 account of respectability as deliberate political strategy to disarm white racism — here the WC names removing segregationist excuses as the express motive. — connects to: Burroughs believed exemplary conduct could disarm white prejudice.; Domestic hygiene was fused with Christian virtue in respectability training. — Evelyn Brooks Higginbotham, Righteous Discontent: The Women’s…, 1664