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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (May 16, 1924)
The Monitor A NATIONAL WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, MAY 16, 1924 Whole Number 462 Vol. IX—No. 46 STRONG SENTIMENT FOR APPOINTMENT OF RACE TEACHERI Several Representative Citizens and Taxpayers Most Earnestly Endorse Monitor Editorial SOME OF LETTERS RECEIVED Opinion Prevalent Thai Opportunity Han; Come To Again Have Representation on Teaching Co rps That there is a strong sentiment that the time has come for again hav ing teachers of our race employed ir the public schools is Indicated by tht many letters the Monitor has received endorsing last week’s editorial on this subject. The following letters are samples of the expressions which have come from representative citi zens of both races: Let I s Have Teachers 2911 Lake St., Omaha, Neb. May 15, 1924. Rev. John Albert Williams, Editor of The Monitor. I wish to most heartity endorse that splendid and timely editoral on "Col ored Teachers In Our Public Schools" published in last week’s issue of your paper. It seems unfair, to say the least, that our young women, capable and efficient, holding university degrees and certificates, should be compelled to cross the ocean or go to other states to secure employment as teach ers with the large number of our group residing here, paying taxes and sending' their children to the public schools. It is to be earnestly hoped that we will not let the matter of placing some of our young women in our public schools stop with a mere suggestion. Something tangible should be done. Now is the'time to do it. We absolutely deserve and should have representation on the teaching force of our city. l^t’R get together and get it. Respectfully yours, Cecelia W. Jewell. Commendable and Timely 2411 Erskine St., Omaha, Neb. May 15, 1924. Editor of The Monitor: Commendable and timely was your editorial on Negro teachers In the public schools of Omaha. It Is an actual education in Democracy and a great inspiration for children of all groups and classes, based on. neither race, wealth nor social distinction, to receive together Instruction from teachers rising from these same groups and classes. Let the Negro children of Omaha share in this in spiration by seeing a fair Quota of teachers of their own race and color, not in one school, but in the public schools Of Omaha. Sincerely, Lucille Skaggs Edwards. Not Ad Experiment 2610 No. 30th St., Omaha, Neb. May 13, 1924. Editor Monitor: I have read your editorial, “Let lls Have TVachers,’’ published in last week’s Issue and I heartily agree with you that with well-qualified applicants as those whose applications have been filed, there can be no valid excuse upon the part of the Board of Edu cation for refusal to appoint them. Here it Is not an experiment. For fifteen years our people were repre sented on the teachers’ corps. Miss Lucinda W. Gamble taught for six years, first at the Dodge and then at the Cass school, with entire satisfac tion; and Miss Eulalia Overall for nine years at Mason and Columbia schools with equal success. Both of these teachers had excellent records hnd resigned upon their marriage, M1sr Gamble in 1901 and Miss Overall in 1910. Since the latter’s resignation we have been out; perhaps because as you say, none have applied. Now since we have applicants, who are qualified, let us as taxpayers and voters stand unitedly for their ap pointment. Yours truly, G. B. Robbins. May IB, 1924. To Editor, The Monitor. Your excellent editorial in the las1 issue of The Monitor, concerning th< need of Colored teachers In our public schools, meets with my hearty approv al. The Justice of your stand is un questionable and should receive the unanimous accord of our school board The colored ex-Bervice men of Oma ha are whole heartedly behind you it this movement and offer you any as Distance possible to aid you in ob taining the desired results. Respectfully your*, William W. Peebles, Commander Rooseveli Post, American Legion. -. y, DR. BRUMMITT OK & TALLADEGA, AL. FLOGGED (By William Pickens for the Asso ciated Negro Press.) W. H. Brummitt, of Talladega, Ala I hama, has been a physician there for about twenty years—and had been a student in Talladega college even be fore he went to sty medicine. He is one of the best surgeans and doctors in the South (not one of the "best cullud”). The other night the cowards called him out of his home, pretending that they wanted him to hurry to some sick person. A mob was lying out side for him and he was abducted and flogged. We do not know, at this writing, what pretext the mob offered him for wanting to do him this hurt. But no i pretext whatsoever can ever excuse i such lawless attack. Perhaps Brummitt has been too prosperous. He came there 20 years i ago—with nothing. He now owns a drug store, and other property and has built for himself and his wife, who is a graduate of Talladega col lege, an elegant residence on West Battle street, just beyond the college campus, and adjacent to one of the college farms. He is president of the State Medical Association of Colored Men, Brummitt has always been manly, tactful and princely in his bearing— really faultless in his manners, his dress and his conduct toward others. He stands up straight, and looks i squarely in the ye of all men, white, | black or whatnot, and by that unoffen | sive impress of personality demands respect from all men and women. But doubtless that is just, what is wrong with Brumitt—in the South. Heal self-respect under a brown hide is a crime. If you live! in that sec tion, you must be a “sensible Negro”: that is you must allow some white man who pretends to know “all about I Negroes,” to damn you with jalse praise by saying you are “one Negro who does not think your race as good as white people,” and such other rot —while you sit still, (especially if you are the bead of some local (school) in fear of contradicting this white man, even though you know he is telling a lie on your very soul. Because every Southern white man knows that every Southern black man, who has even brains enough to bei the head of such a school, wants everything that any white man could want in the same situation. And when such a Southern white says: “Here’s one sensible Ne gro who doesn’t want. It,” he knows that he Is really bullying that unwili ng silent Negro and “rubbing It in” on him. Brummitt made no aggressions, and always kept within his rights, but he showed by his conduct and bearing what he thinks of himself and his family. All in all he Is the most suc cessful colored man of the country. They whipped him. Doubtless that Is why—whatever lies they may pre tend to be the reason. We hope the migration will keep , up and thata all of Dr. Brummitt’s pa tients will leave for other sections, so that he may follow them. They want the “Negro to stay in the South,” but not the Brummitt type of Negro. JOHNSON' MADE TRUSTEE OK ATLANTA UNIVERSITY (By The Associated Negro Press) New York, N. Y., May 166.—James Weldon Johnson, secretary of the Na tional Association for the Advance ment of Colored People has been elected a member of the board of trus tees of Atlanta University, to fill the vacancy caused by the resignation of the Rev. Edward F. Sanderson. Mr. Johnson is a graduate of the uni versity. BOMBERS IN NEW ORLEANS -* (By The Associated Negro Press) New Orleans, La., May 16.—Resi dents of the secMon of the city known as “Irish Channel” were thrown into a state of terror Wednesday night when two bombs wre hurled at the \ residences of Negroes in the district. One of them failed to explode. The other aroused the neighborhood. Po lice officers have been unable to lo cate the parties responsible for the attack. Group of University and High School Students, Who Will be Presented by Mrs. Florentine F. Pinkston in the Operetta, “A NAUTICAL KNOT” at the Brandeis Theatre, May 28th. Reading from left to right they are: FIRST ROW—Dwight Dorsey, Say bert Hanger, James Lewis, Joseph Dorsey, John Pegg, Weldon Solo mon, Jesse Hutten, Arthur McCaw. SECOND ROW—Dorcas Jones, Louise Taylor, Thelma Shipman, Dorothy Williams, Mrs. Pinkston, Madeline Shipman, Lucy Mae Allen, Frances Cordon, Ernestine Singleton. THIRD ROW—Elbert Taylor, Jean Dorsey, Gerald Adams, Grace Dor sey, Dillard Crawford, Robbie Tur ner, Lovejoy Crawford, Ruby Evan, Worthington Williams. I,AST ROW — Constance Singleton, Virginia Jackson, Rachel Rice, Dor othy Allen, Elisabeth Allen, Alma Webster. Other members of the cast who were absent when this picture was taken are Grace Adams, Evelyn Bat tles, Inez Battles, Aline Burnett, Melva McCaw, Helen Redd and Wil Ham Taylor. “A Nautical Knot” centers around Julia, the haughty belle of Barnsta poole, a maritime port from which the good ship “Bounding Billow” sails. The village swains all vie for Julia’s hand, but to be scorned by her. On the eve of the sailing of the Bound ing Billow on a year’s’ voyage, Bar nabas Lee, a wandering artist, comes to town and falls in love with Julia who returns his affection. The sailor lads kidnap Barnabas and carry him to sea in the “Bounding Billow”. Julia thinks him fickle and accepts Joe Stout’s proposal through Bill Salt who thinks he ig proposing to Nance, a gentle damsel whom Joe Stout loves, but who is himself too bashful to pop the question. Wandering artists, jol ly sailors and merry maidens are all mixed up in a mistake which issues happily. The music of the operetta is bright and the dialogue vivacious. A STORY OF THE MARTYRS OF 1822 A Story of Ante-Bellum Days, Dealing With Slave Insurrection at Charleston • ___ At other times, in order to familiar ize the blacks, I suppose, with the notion of equality, and to heighten probably at the same time his influ ence over them, he would select a moment when some of them were within earshot, to enter into conver sation with certain white men. whose characters he had studied for his pur pose, and during the shuttlecock and battledore of words which was sure to follow, would deftly let fly some bold remark on the subject of slavery. “He would go so far,” on such oc casions it was said, “That had not his declarations in such situations been clearly proved, they would scarcely have been credited.” Such action was daring almost to rashness, but in it is also apparent the deep method of a clever and calculating mind. The sundry religious classes or congregations with Negro leaders or | local preachers, into which were formed the Negro members of the various churches of Charleston, fur nished Vesey with the first rudiments of an organization, and at the same time with a singularly safe medium for conducting his underground agi tation. It was customary, at that time, for these Negro congregations to meet for purposes of worship en tirely free from the presence of the whites. Such meetings were after ward forbidden to be held except in the presence of at least one repre sentative of the dominant race. But during the three or four years prior to the year 1822, they certainly of fered Denmark Vesey regular, easy and safe opportunities for preaching his gospel of liberty and hate. And we are left in no doubt whatever in regard to the uses to which he put those gatherings of blacks. Like many of his race he possessed the gift of gab, as the silver* in the tongue andi the gold In the full or thick-lipped mouth are oftentimes con temptuously characterized. And like many of his race he was a devoted liy Francis J. Grimke PART IV (By The Associated Negro Press) PLOTTING THE REVOLUTION student of the Bible! to whose Inter pretation he brought like many other Bible students, not confined to the Negro race, a good deal of imagina tion, and not a little of superstition, which with some natures is perhaps but another name for the desires of the heart. Thus equipped, it is no wonder that Vesey, as he poured over the Old Testament Scriptures, found many points of similitude in the his tory of the Jews and that of the slaves in the United States. They were both peculiar peoples. They were both Je hovah’s peculiar people, one In the past, the other in the present. And it seemed to him that as Jehovah bent his ear, and bared his arm once in behalf of the one, so would He do the same for the other. It was all vivid ly real to his thought, I believe, for to his mind thus had said the Lord. He ransacked the Bible for apposite and terrible texts, whose commands in the olden times, to the olden people, were no less imperative upon the now times and the new people. This new people was also commanded to arise and destroy their enemies and the city in which they dwelt, "both man, and woman, young and old.with the edge of the sword.” Believing super stitiously as he did, in the stern and Nemesis-like God of the Old Testa ment, he looked confidently for a day of vengeunce and retribution for the blacks. He felt, I doubt not, some thing peculiarly applicable to his en terprise, and intensely personal to himself in the stern and exultant prophecy of Zechariuh, fierce and san guinary words which were constantly in hiR mouth: “Then shall the Lord go forth, and fight against those na tions, as when he fought in the day of battle.” According to Vesey’s lu rid exegesis “those nations” in the text meant, beyond a peradventure, the cruel masters, and Jehovah was to go forth to fight against them for the poor slaves, and on whichever side fought that day the Almighty God, on that side would assuredly rest victory and deliverance. It will not be denied that Vesey’s plan contemplated the total annihila tion of the white population or Charleston. Nursing for many dark years the bitter wrongs of himself and race had filled him, with out doubt, with a mad spirit of revenge, and had so given him a decided predilection for shedding the blood of his oppressors. But if he intended to kill them to satisfy a desire for vengeance, he in tended to do so also on broader ground. The conspirators, he argued, had no choice in the matter, but were compelled to adopt a policy of exter mination by the necessity of their po sition. The liberty of the blacks was in the balance of fate against the lives of the whites. He could strike that balance in favor of the blacks only by the total destruction of the whites. Therefore, the whites—men, women and children—were1 doomed to death, "What is the use of killing the louse and leaving the nit?” he asked grimly and coarsely on an occasion, when the matter was under consideration. And again he was reported to have, with unrelenting temper, represented to his friends, in secret council, that, “It was for our safety not to spare one white skin alive.” And so it wae unmistakably in his purpose to leave not a single egg lying about Charles ton, when he was done with it, out ol which might possibly be hatched an other future slaveholder and oppres sor of his people. “Thorough” was in truth, the merciless motto of that man. All roads, on the red map of his plot, led to Rome. Every available Instrument which fell in his way, he utilized to deepen and extend his un derground agitation among the hlacks. Wherefore it was that he seized upon the sectional struggle which was go ing on in Congress over the admission of Missouri, and pressed it to do ser vice for his cause. The passionate wish, unconsciously perhaps, colored if it did not create the belief on ms part, that the real cause of that great dehate in Washington, and excitement in the country at large, was a move ment for general emancipation of the slaves. It was said that he went so far in this direction as to put into the heads of the blacks that Congress had actually enacted an emancipation law, and that therefore their contin ued enslavement was illegal. Such preaching must have certainly added fresh fuel to the deep sense of In jury, then burning in the breasts of many of the slaves, and must have operated also to prepare them for the next step which Vesey’s plan of cam paign contemplated, viz. a resort to force to wrest from the whites the freedom which was theirs, not only by the will cl Heaven but as well by the supreme law of the land. (Continued next week) LEADS GIRLS IN ATHLETICS (By The Associated Negro Press) New York, N. Y., May 16.—In 12 months of athletics at the 137th street branch of the New York City Young Women’s Christian Association, the highest number of points was made by Harriett Ida Pickens, 15 years old. She earned the lead with an advan tage of five points, her mark being 440 against 435 for Hazel Brooks. These points are givein for all around athletics, including a swim ming, basket ball, hiking and general gymnasium) work. As a trophy for excellence in the work Miss Pickens was presented with a miniature silver basket ball and the team of which she was a member won the silver loving cup. Remit for your papers. METHODISTS HOLD GREAT MEETIHG IH LOUISVILLE General Conference Freighted With Many Interesting Events and Rapidly Handling Business REPORTS IRRIGATE PROGRESS Conference Recommends Advanced Standards and More Adequate Support for Members and Officials — (Special to The Monitor by Charles Stewart) Louisville, Ky., May 16.—The first week of the General Conference of the African Methodist Episcopal Church was freighted with interest ing events, and at the same time full of business. There are many new delegates, some have never seen a General Conference, yet they hav|e fallen in line in helping to do the work for the church. It is a busi ness organization, and some import ant legislation has been pushed thru, while the rest will get through next week, and the General Conference will close Wednesday or Thursday of next week. Immediately1 following the adoption of the minutes Tuesday, and In turn ing over the gavel to Bishop Levi J. Coppin, Bishop Benjamin Franklin Lee, senior bishop of the church, spoke of his work in the church, he having reached his 84th anniversary, and served the church over half a century. He was elevated to the epis copacy in 1892, devoting his time and energy to the betterment of his church and people. He felt that he had reached the place where he could no longer render the servce which the church needed, therefore, he asked to be superanuated. By unanimous vote his request was granted, and the church through Bish op Coppin, expressed regrets. In re tiring, the Venerable bishop offered some fatherly advice to the young men and others in whose hands the church of today is placed. He brougnt tears to many eyes. He is one of the best trained, best educated men in the episcopate and while he is superanu ated, he will remain the active senior bishop, thereby giving the church the benefit of his long experience. In appreciation of his long service, the church, voted him a purse of one thousand dollars. It is perhaps the first time in the history of the church, that a bishop has been superanuated on his own request. At the time of Bishop Lee’s retire ment, he ’.vas in charge of the work of his church in California. This was followed on Monday prior to the report of the Episcopal Com mittee, by Bishop James Myers Con nor of Little Rock, who referred to his own physical condition, stating that he felt that within a year he would be fully recoveied, therefore asked the General Conference to grant him one vear retirement to recruit. This was voted him immediately. That Prof. John R. Hawkins is one of the strongest men in the A. M. E. Church and heads ‘he laymen, was demonstrated by the ovation which was given to his report made before the General Conference. He had guarded every interest of his church, especially the finance. He showed that he had carefully studied the sys tem in detail, and such was his re port. He pointed out how the church could do more and better work. He had discovered that some provision ' should be made for the General offi cers whose connection with an annual ! Conference came to an end so to speak ■ when he was made general officer. He ■ said: “During this quadrennium we have had two General Officers to become practically incapacitated from ser vice, thereby making it necessary to make special provision for meeting the emergency arising. I refer to the 1 cases of the Secretary of Church Ex 1 tension and the Secretary of Missions. 1 In one case, that of the Church Exten sion, Dr. Watson had served faith fully in that office for twenty-three years. He practically broke down in the office and finally died. In the other case, Dr. Rankin, though sadly incapacitated, still lingers In a suf fering condition. I think General Of ficers should be encouraged to conse crate themselves to the work of their respective departments and kept in these departments on the merits of their work so that there will be some real development of the work com mitted to them. “Having done this, when a General Officer breaks down, under the stress and strain of his office and becomes unable to serve, provision should be made for his retirement on the basis of half of the salary received at the time of such retirement. "And in case of death of a General Officer who has served as such for (Continued on '\ge 2)