Belonging on the Racial Frontier: Black Girlhood in Marian Nettie Freeman’s Diary, 1917–19

At the cusp of the United States’ entry into World War I, Marian Nettie Freeman—a Black girl from Kinsley, Kansas—used her diary to chart belonging along the state’s racial frontier. Known as Mary in her youth, her diary entries from April 1917 to October 1919 vividly capture rural Kansas life, detailing her experiences in amalgamated schools and segregated social circles. Her intimate reflections provide a window into the lived experiences of Black girlhood during a transformative era of war and profound social change.

This paper draws on Mary’s diary to explore how everyday practices and personal assertions of identity challenged entrenched segregation. By including herself in socio-educational lists alongside predominantly white classmates, Mary subtly asserted her rightful place in academic spaces despite rigid social barriers. In contrast, her detailed notes on relationships with family and broader Black community networks reveal a parallel narrative of kinship and solidarity. Her records document high school life—capturing both the visible inclusivity of classroom rosters and the stark reality of exclusion at social events—illuminating the dynamic interplay between formal education and informal social life.

This study examines how the intersections of race, gender, and civic identity were experienced by Black girls during this period. Mary’s reflections contest the prevailing status quo of racial segregation while articulating a subtle claim to full citizenship and equal participation. Her diary functions as both a personal account and a critical historical source, offering fresh insights into how Black girls navigated identity and social stratification in rural Kansas during the early twentieth century. This analysis contributes to broader conversations about the enduring legacies of segregation and the ways in which marginalized youth have reshaped understandings of citizenship and belonging in the United States. Ultimately, Mary’s diary affirms resilience and redefines U.S. citizenship for future generations.