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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 11, 1927)
0 K ! t • s the Monitor ss <D fi . s =7 —, ,- * , ^ . ■ -■ . , . , $2.00 a Year—S Cent, a Cop;-_OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FEBRUARY 11, 1927 Vol. XII—No. 33 Whole Number 603 Trend in Race Relations Puring the Year of 1926 Review Shows That Much Has Been Done in the Direction of Racial Co-operation la the South By Robert B. Eleaser Educational Director, Commission on Interracial Co-operation Atlanta, Ga.—Human progress, like a river, never proceeds at an even pace. Here it races through the rapids, there it sleeps quietly in some still pool, yonder in confusion it •eddies and swirls. A short range -view often leaves one in doubt whether forward or backward. The long look is necessary if one would know whether the current is going and how fast. Present-day trends in American race relations are like that. The ob servers may see in them every de gree of progress or of reaction, de pending entirely upon the point at which they are viewed. But looking at them objectively over even so short a space as one year, one must admit, I think, that the stream. is moving, moving in general in the right direction, and moving rapidly in comparison with the historic slow ness of great social changes. Social Welfare Agencies Probably the most encouraging de velopment during the past year has been the increasing integration of the interests of Negroes with the social welfare agencies of communi ties and states. The State Welfare Board of North Carolina and Geor gia have established distinct depart ments of Negro welfare. In Alabama, Louisiana, and Tennessee the state welfare and interracial organizations meet in joint and annual sessions, while in the other states close and co-operative relations are maintained between the two groups. Closely related to the above has been the inculsion of Negro welfare agencies in community chest budgets, which has now been accomplished in a large number of cities. These agen cies are generously provided for in chest budgets, and the colored peo ple of the community are enlisted in systematic support of the chests. This means that at last the Negro is, recognized as an essential part of the community, both as liabilities and as assets, and entitled to the same pub lic consideration as any other group. From the standpoint of immediate results and also as promise of per manence this development is of the utmost importance. School Improvement Notable progress has been in the improvements of Negro school faci lities. Atlanta, for example, having just expended $1,250,000 on new Ne gro schools, has promised to the col ored people fair participation in a new school bond issue of $5,000,000. In Louisville provision has been made for two new junior high schools, a graded school, and the enlargement of several others, while preparations are under way to open a department for Negroes in the University of Louisville. Raleigh, N. C., is expend ing several hundred thousand dollars in improving its schools for Negroes. Memphis has just completed a new high school at a cost of $350,000, es tablished a new junior high, and made extensive additions to others. Scores of Negro school enterprises have been promoted elsewhere in Tennessee, involving an outlay of $300,000. The new Craig school, at New Orleans, has just been com pleted at a cost of $250,000. Newspapers Assist The newspapers have become powerful influences for better race relations. Flaming front page stories of Negro crime largely responsible in the past for more than one race riot, are now tabooed by every respect able paper in the South. Such stories are either “played down’’ to incon spicuous proportions or left out alto gether. Concurrently, another change no less notable has taken place, namely, the featuring of construc tive Negro news. Stories of achieve ment in education, business, litera ture and art, storieB of heroism and human interest, of inte^acia!”co operation and welfare work; every day news events, athletics, etc., stor ies which promote race pride and am bition on the one hand and interra cial understanding and appreciation on the other—these are of constant occurence in hundreds of papers. The new attitude of the press is reflected also in the editorial col umns which almost without exception, voice the demand for interracial good will, justice, and opportunity. More than any other class in the South the editors have been outspoken and unanimous in their condemnation of lynching and the demand that it be suppressed. Undoubtedly this had much to do with the rapid decline of lynchings in recent years. College Groups Active Another significant development has been the growth of interracial in terest among college groups. Scores of curriculum courses in race rela tions, voluntary discussion groups, interracial student forums, the inter racial message carried by” colored speakers into many white institutions and the featuring of race relations in every summer student conference— these and other means are favorably affecting the attitudes of multitudes of students every year. Religious Bodies Study There is a growing interest also on the part of religious bodies, many of which are working out and passing down to their organized millions pro grams of interracial study and acti vity. In one denomination alone more, than '200,000 women are studying race relations at regular intervals and thousands of them are beginning to do something about it. This sort of thing is steadily leavening the lump with good will and Christian charity. But what of the eddies and back washes? Of these there have been two menacing proportions—one in the South, the other in the North and Middle West. In the Southern States the only serious thing has been the upward turn in the lynching figures —sixteen in 1925, and twenty-odd in 1926. After several years of steady decline from a forty-year average of 10.‘t a year to minimum less than one sixth as great, it is very depressing to have the figures begin to climb again. However, the increase has not yet been enough or general enough to indicate a permanent trend. No lynchings occurred in North Caro lina, Alabama, Louisiana, or Okla homa, and but one each in Georgia (which had a forty-year average of eleven a year) Arkansas, (former average seven a year)., Kentucky, Tennessee, and Virginia. In the one case in Georgia nine members of the mob have been convicted and sen tenced to long prison terms, the lead er for life. Even in Florida, which heads the lynching roll this year, a public conscience has been aroused and mobilized that promises to make things different in days to come. Disquieting Trend Perhaps on the whole the most disquieting interracial trend of the year has manifested instelf in the North and Middle West. There the incoming tides of Negro migration have developed serious situations which still await solution. Bombing and mob attacks on Negro property in Chicago, Detroit and other cen ters; the emergence of the separate school question in Cleveland and Dayton; efforts to restrict Negro res idential areas in city after city; street clashes in New York, Brook lyn, Beverly, N. J.,—these are un happy manifestations of a spirit the North did not realize it possessed. Perhaps they are the result of tem porary maladjustment and will speedily pass as conditions become more Bettled. On the other hand as migration continues the conflict may become more general and acute. The possibilities are serious enough to arouse deep concern on the part of both groups, and to stir their leaders to calm joint consideration of the situation and to co-operative ef fort to meet it. s' MAGNIFICENT SPECTACLE TO BE PRESENTED BY SIXTY CHILDREN After five months’ training under the best musical, dra matic and dancing teachers, sixty children, ranging in age from four to eighteen years, will present the magnificent oper etta, “The Snow Queen,” next Thursday night, in the beautiful and spacious auditorium of Technical High school, under the direction and management of Mrs. Florentine F. Pinkston. It will be unquestionably one of the most beautiful and magni ficent entertainments ever staged by local talent, white or col ored, in Omaha. It will be a revelation of the wonderful talent of the Negro children of the city and Tech auditorium should be packed. The prices have been placed low so as to insure a large attendance. Below are the pictures of the children who will present “The Snow Queen,” impersonating snowflakes, butterflies, flowers, fairies, witches, peasants and other inter esting characters: - - - l Reading from left to right, front row, sitting: Otelia Gordon, Hazel Chandler, Ethel Davis, Wilaa Chew. Second row: Olive Willis, Helen Sherwood, Brightie Gustin, Charlotte Hicks, Dorothy Bell, Leila Pryor, Doris Riggs, Mary Heddy Wiggins. Back row: Mary Willis, Marjorie Edwards, Catherine Williams, Vonceil Anderson, Mary Ellen Dickinson, Algernon Pryor. Reading from loft to right. First row, seated: Henry Garcia, Theodore Dickinson, John Phillips, James Leei Frank Perkins. Second row, standing: Leonard Britt, Herbert McCaw, David Ferguson, Lawrence Burnett, Woodrow Macklin, Francisco Desdunes. Third row: Ray Gustin, William Peebles, Fred Dixon ("Kay**), Gartha Pegg, James Crumbley, Alger Adams. Back row: Charles Dickerson, Mrs. Pinkston, Millard Singleton. Reading from left to right. First row, seated: Christine Dixon, Lucille Patterson, Mary Ellen Dickerson, Helen Stevenson, r.drose Willis, May Gustin. Second row: Helen Singletou, Margaret Dickerson, Olive Jackson, Sylvia Adams, Bernice Phannix, Gertrude McCaw, Vera Chandler. Third row: Marjorie Bolden, Ollie Mattson, Ellen Richardson, Lavina Scott, Helen Jenkins, Cleo Sayles, Eula Henderson, Catherine Williams, Willa Hayes. Back row: Sarah Brown, Mercedes Ferguson, Mrs. Pinkston, May Crumbley, Celestine Smith, Margaret Bell. ATTRACTION EXTRAORDINARY AT POPULAR NEW LAKE MOVIE The Original Nite Owh, Holland Harrold’a Famous 7-Piece Or chestra, Secured by BUI Bergman for Week’s Engagement Maurice Micklin, proprietor of the beautiful and popular new Lake theatre, and Bill Bergman, his wide awake and hustling manager, are sparing no expense in giving the pa trons of the Lake not only the best pictures but the highest and best class of entertainment it is possible to secure. They are always on the alert to anticipate their patrons’ wishes and to provide what they want. In keeping with this progres sive policy “The Original Nite Owls,’’ the famous 7-piece orchestra, has been secured for a weeks engage ment, beginnig Sunday, and playing for all pictures. Among the pic tures to be featured next week are “Skin Deep,” “Raggdy Rose,” "The Broadway Boob,” "Abraham Lin coln” and “Dante’s Inferno.” “The Nite Owls” will give a rare musical treat at aU shows, and by the way, while "The Nite Owls” are holding down the job, H. Overstreet, in charge of the orchestra and stage presentation at the New Lake, leaves Monday for Kansas City to visit his brother and incidentally to look up some of the latest attractions for the Lake Theatre. No wonder the Lake is growing so popular and at tracting such big crowds. EUREKA ART CLUB The Eureka Art club met Wednes day afternoon at the home of Mrs. Allen Jones, 2427 Ohio street, with a large attendance of members and visitors. The following program was rendered: “America” by all pres ent; “A Paper on the Life of Fred erick Douglass,” by Mrs. Ada Wood son; Duett, Mrs. A. M. Harrold and Mrs. Bessie Kirby; Poem by Mrs. Gertrude Shackleford; A paper on “The Federated Clubs” was read by Mrs. Lenora Gray. Closing remarks were made by the president of the club, Mrs. Jackson. After the pro gram and business meeting were dis pensed with, a very elaborate lunch eon was served by the Hostesses, Mrs. Allen Jones and Mrs. Carrie Webster. The club will have it next meeting Wednesday afternoon, Feb ruary 16, with Mrs. L. S. Davis, 2680 Grant street. JUDGE DENOUNCES SOUTH CAROLINA LYNCHING “Deliberate, Wilful, Cowardly Mur der,” Charge* Judge J. Henry Johnson. Investigation Renewed. Aiken, S. C.—Charged by Judge J. Henry Johnson with the necessity of bringing to justice members of the band who took Bertha, Demon and Clarence Lowman, Aiken colored Americans, from the county jail and shot them to death last October, the January grand jury was organized here with the lynching case on its calendar. A regular and special term of the jury sitting last fall con sidered the matter, but could reach no conclusion, and asked to be ex cused. Judge Johnson denounced the lynching as “deliberate, wilful, cow ardly murder,” and told the jurors “God help Aiken county and South Carolina if you fail to do something.” RACE TO PETITION GOVERNMENT ON 14th Grievances to Be Officially Present ed to President, House and Sen ate on Douglass Day by Three Delegations of Race Conference of United Colored Committee Boston, Mass., Febr. 7—Through communications received at the na tional headquarters of the National Equal Rights league from Secretary J. W. Johnson of the N. A. A. C. P., President Wm. H. Jernagin, D. D., of the National Race Congress and president Mary McCloud Bethune of the National Association of Colored Women’s Clubs the league announces that these four national civil rights bodies are co-operating in the na tional observance of the birth anni versaries of Lincoln and Douglass at the national capitol through the na tional mass race conference Febru ary 12, 13 and 14, called by the league for the United Colored Amer ican Committee. This is said to be the first national observance of Lincoln and Douglass days by Afro-Americans. The Con ference will frame petitions setting forth the just grievances and pro scriptions suffered by the race de serving redress and present them to the president and to both houses of Congress, on Monday, the 14th, Douglass day. The conference, open to all com ers, and to which all four organiza tions invite all race members and del egates from all race bodies and churches, opens at noon on Saturday the 12th, Lincoln day, in the 12th Street Y. M. C. A. when the three delegations will be selected to draft the three petitions. The Lincoln meeting will be at night. On Sunday there will be a pilgrim age to the Douglass homestead and exercises under the women’s clubs. Monday morning the delegations will report their draft of petitions to the conference for adoption in the Metropolitan Baptist Church on R street N. W., and proceed to the White House and Congress. A sig natured petition for pardon of the rest of the Houston martyrs will also be presented to the president. Rep resentative Tinkham and Senator Gillett, both of Massachusetts, will in troduce the petitions into the House and Senate respectively. The con ference will close with national ex ercises for Douglass in this church at night. CHURCH OF ST. PHILIP THE DEACON The services next Sunday, which is Septuagesima, the services at the Church of St. Philip the Deacon will be holy communion at 7:30 a. m.; matins at 8:30; Church school at 10; sung eucharist with sermon at 11 a. m., followed by confirmation in struction at the close of the service; evensong and sermon at 8 o’clock. Confirmation classes for children are held at 4 p. m. Fridays and for adults, 8 p. m. Fridays and 12:45 Sundays. “The Snow Queen’’ an operetta by sixty children, under direction of Mrs. Florentine F. Pinkston at Tech Auditorium, February 17.—Adv. NEGROES FORM LARGE CLUR FOR NIGHT CLASSES Will Teach Grammar and High School Subjects at Cultural Center With Volunteer Instructors The Armour Educational club com posed of Negro employes at the Armour Packing plant has been or ganized to enroll all colored em ployes in night classes conducted at the Negro cultural center, 2915 E street. Classes in grammar and high school subjects will be conducted on Monday and Wednesday nights. Woodworking classes for young men and sewing and cooking classes for young women are also being organized. The school will be conducted un der the same plan as the one re cently established at West Side school. Volunteer teachers will be furnished by the Social Settlement. On a committee of employes to promote educational work in the Armour plant are: Tom Scott, chairman; Robert Jackson, secre tary; Milton Hunter, Shirley Yance, W. C. Millard and N. Allglass. HOMES WANTED FOR WORTHY BOYS Father Flanagan is trying to find a home for four homeless orphan boys who wish high school educations and the chance of life given to more fortunate children. These boys rep resent four nationalities. Alvin Goodwin, 17, is a Negro lad; Ralph Lender, 16, is a Japanese; Frank Ban, 14, is a Slavanian, and Matthew ALVIN GOODWIN Who will give him a home and a chance? Grgurich, 14, is a Croatian. This is an illustration of the true catholici ty of Father Flanagan’s Home for boys. These four wards of Father Flan agan’s home at Overlook farm eleven miles from Omaha on the West Dodge Road, have all finished the grades, which is as high as they can go at the Home, and are eligible for high school, which they wish to en ter. This is why Father Flanagan is seeking homes for them where they may have this privilege. Father Flanagan says, “I hope the good people of Omaha and surround ing country will find places in their homes for these four boys. They are all talented lads, every one play ing in our Home band. They are all good boys worthy of being in the finest homes. They are all de serving of the opportunity for a high school education.” Alvin Goodwin has a nlncn grade education. He has been at the Home four years. He plays the cor net and saxophone and is a very efficient and hard worker. He has been in charge at various times of the ice boxes and the boys’ dining room. He has also acted as cook when the regular cook was ill and has worked in the dairy department, stenographic department and filing room. He is 6 feet, 5 inches tall, and weighs 120 pounds. Among the many good homes belonging to. our own people in our city where there are no children and where the people are amply able to take care of ■ child there ought to be found a home for Alvin Good win, a boy of excellent character and of great promise.