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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 6, 1925)
% j LIFTING :: :: ^ I ^ IT T? 1VT T 'TT' /°\ T) GROWING « M LIFT TOO I J“1 ly I 11 rv I I 11 :: THANK YOU NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS ) __ g THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor $2.00 a Year—5c a Copy 5. OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, FEBRUARY 6, 1925 Whole Number 500 Vol. X—No. 31 C/> * r~* ^_ ___ _ _ .______ Two Billion Dollars Wealth of American Negro GRAND BOULEVARD POPULAR PATHWAY OF WINDY CITY Progressive Colored Americans Have Advanced Into and Occupied a Once Exclusive Thoroughfare MANY WEALTHY RESIDENTS Palatial Homes Owned by Prominent Rare Citizens, Costly Churches and Other Establishments in the District. (By Associated Negro Press) Chicago, 111., Feb. 5.—Grand Boule vard, Chicago, has become for col ored America the grand pathway of glory—but it does not lead to the grave. For years, State street has been world famous as "the stroll.’ In the good old days when telephones were not as plentiful as door-ways, f the good populace of the “I Will” city * used to gather along State street aft er sundown and meet the folks. There was the old saying: “You can see all the people in town by strolling along State street." That’s not true now. albeit, there are thousands who still perambulate along the famous thor oughfare, which is famous down town in “the I,oop” as a retail store street. State street on the South Side is still the leading business street, but there are thousands of residents who do not go on the street once in a month. New York has the famous Seventh avenue as a stroll for the highbrows, and I/Cnox avenue for the proletariat. Washington has You street, Phila delphia has South street, Boston has Tremont street, Pittsburgh has Wiley avenue, Cleveland has Central avenue, Detroit has Antoine street, Louisville has Walnut street, St. Louis has Mar ket street, Baltimore has Druid Hill avenue, Atlanta has Auburn avenue. Memphis has Beale avenue, Omaha has North Twenty-fourth street, and so on down the long, long line. Chi cagoans say none of these streets compare with the combination of State street, Indiana avenue and Grand Boulevard. Indiana avenue is running State a very close second for businesses. Grand Boulevard is residential and business. It is several miles long, with the new extensions, and colored Amer ica, is taking over, or has practically taken over, the most beautiful part of it. The boulevard is 150 feet wide, brilliantly lighted with the latest elec trical fixtures, parkways on either side, witlj three drives in all, and the residences are mostly mansion like in structure. Churches, Clubs, Business and Homes The famous Olivet Baptist church, which has the largest membership of any church in the world. Rev. Dr. L. K. Williams, president of the National Baptist convention, pastor, is on the boulevard and likewise Greater Bethel A. M. E. church, recently destroyed by fire, but coming back more beauti ful and churehly; the famous Appo mattax club, David Hawley new and aggressive president, the Liberty Life Insurance company in its own build ing. The National University of Music. Miss Pauline James I,ee, founder and president, has recently moved from Michigan boulevard to 4427 Grand boulevard, in a magnificent structure that is an inspiration for the race and the field of music. Miss Lee deserves much praise and Chicago will give it in go6d fashion at the opening the middle of February. The Aaron Malones, of Poro College fame, St. I-fliiis, have recently pur chased on the boulevard, and spend considerable time here, and there are any number of “first families of Chi cago” living on the big stroll, which leads to Grant park north and Wash ington park, south. There are Aider man R. R. Jackson, Dr. George C. Hall, Major John R. Lynch, S. A. T. Watkins, J. J. Lucas, Mrs. Rhoades, of Columbia, S. C., Frank L. Gilles pie, Earl B. Dickerson, Ellis Stewart, Mrs. Jessie Jones, Libert Lezama, Dr. R. A. Williams, Dr. Carl Roberts, Mrs. Hazel Thompson Davis and many others. The Alpha is a new first class ho tel just opened on the boulevard. Jack Johnson, former heavy weight champion of the world, and Gessie Coleman, aviatrix. have chosen the boulevard. In fine weather Grand boulevard Is the real stroll of Chicago, colored America’s best developed citizenry, going to play tennis or golf, or going for a spin through the South Side parks, or for a dip in Lake Michigan, or for a romantic pause beneath the soft shade of some leafy tree, in ROSEN WALD AIDS ANOTHER “Y” Chicago, 111., Feb. 6—(By the Asso ciated Negro Press.)—Julius Rosen wald, chairman of the board of direc | tors of the Sears-Roebuek company, | originator of the Rosenwald school j plan and donor to more than a dozen buildings for colored Y. M. C. A. groups in the country, last week gave $25,000 toward the construction of the $500,000 building in Detroit, which it is proposed to make the finest jn the country. VIOLATION OF CIVIL RIGHTS BILL COSTS CHICAGO HOUSE $2,000 Judgment Is Secured Against Triroll Theatre Company for Excluding Two Colored Patrons Be cause of Color N. A. A. C. P. HELPS WIN CASE (By Associated Negro Press) Chicago, Feb. 5.—Judgment for $2,000 against the Tivoli Theatre com pany of Chicago, has been won by a colored man, Leon W. Headen, in a l case fought with the assistance of the I Chicago branch and the national of | fice of the National Association for the Advancement of Col<y;ed People, to recover for exclusion from the the atre on the ground of color, and for assault and battery committed in ejecting him. Mr. Headen charged that he pur chased tickets for a performance at the theatre and when the tickets were presented, it was endeavored to make him and his companion, Miss Lillian S. Proctor, sit in another part of the house than that to which their tickets entitled them. Upon their refusing to change places, theatre attendants, it is charged, assaulted them, severe ly beating Mr. Headen. To prosecute the case it was neces sary for Miss Proctor to come from New York to Chicago to give her testi mony. The national office of the N. A. A. C. P. sent Miss Proctor to Chi cago to enable her to testify. William H. Haynes, attorney, was in charge of the case, with the advice of Edward H- Morris. In the trial two actions, ong brought under the Civil Rights Law, and the other for assault and battery, were merged. The N. A. A. C. P. was glad to co operate with Mr. Headen and Attor neys Haynes and Morris because this case against the Tivoli theatre, it is felt, will serve notice upon a number ] of theatres in Chicago that they can not discriminate against colored peo 1 pie with impunity. For some time a ! considerable number of theatres in ! that city have denied admission to colored people; have sought to segre gate colored patrons and in other ways deny to them rights assured them under the Civil Rights Act of ! the state of Illinois. It is hoped that the $2,000 verdict gained by Mr. Headen will have a salutary effect in protecting the rights of other colored [ citizens and ending abuses which have been prevalent. TRY TO WALK TO AFRICA — Berne, Switzerland, Feb. 6.—(By the Associated Negro Press.)—Nine Moroccan soldiers who had got tired of the cold of Strassburg and decided to walk south toward Africa until it became warmer were stopped by Swiss farmers recently and police sent for to put the soldiers in jail, i The Moroccans were unable to under I stand the Swiss and the Swiss them. WHITE MAN KILLED; COLORED MAN AQUITTEI) Raleigh, N. C., Feb. 6.—(By the Associated Negro Press.)—Samuel Haskins, truck driver, was acquitted of all blame by a jury in connection with the death of Ernest W. Fetzger, white, on December 18. The evidence showed that Fetzger had been driving at fifty-four miles an hour and that the truck was standing still at the time of the accident, Fetzger running into it. FIVE HONOR PUPILS; FOUR ARK NEGROES New York, Feb. 6.—Of five highest honor graduates of James Ruswell Ix>well School only one was white and she stood fifth. Leaders were Loleta Jackman, Har riett Baltimore, Ilva Boscbultz and Ruby Pickens. Washington or Jackson park, whore was held the World’s Fair. You have not been to Chicago unless you have been along the woy of Grand boule vard. Inspiration >----- d I l BRIEF HISTORIC NARRATION OF THE AFRICAN PEOPLE AHB AFFILIATES The antiquity and far-reaching influence of African civilization. The American Negro’s Origin and how the slave trade was built up and recruited. Other facts historical and bibical Many Negroes today are not aware that their race has had a history. It is not printed in the newspapers, pub lished in books, or taught in schools and colleges. We may know of a few Negroes who have distinguished themselves from slavery. We may have heard of Crispus Attucks, Paul Cuffee, Phyllis Wheatley and Fred erick Douglass. Here is the end of our knowledge. We are taught and made to believe our history began with the landing of the slaves at Jamestown, that the cruel system or slavery has been a blessing in our development rather than a curse; nothing is farther from the truth. Time will come when the truth will be told and our past history will be written and told to our children and their children’s children. Negroes will research, explore, excavate and bring to light to stand in the face of science, truth and investigation to authentically tell the world that we are not a child race (as has been said), but we were rocked in the cru dle of the world’s civilization at its dawn. When the Anglo-Saxon was a savage living in caves in England, and painting himself with blue mud, we were among the earliest races who lifted their faces to the chilly mys tery of the stars. What Is a NegroT What is a Negro? The Anglo Saxon has given us many definitions to suit his purposes and wishes. The original dciinit.cn given is, “Black in coior, with thick lips, coarse features, big feet, flat nose, prognathous jaws and a receding forehead.” This is a typical Negro. There is no such thing as a typical Negro. The Negro race today and for centuries has had no one type or color, but varied from the ebony black to fair yellow and many with beautiful features and expres sions. The Question of Color In Africa today and for centuries we find Negroes varied in color and features, according to the sun, climate and surroundings they live in, from fair yellow, such as the Hottentot, to ebony black. Scientists tell us color is a matter of sun, climate and physi cal surroundings. We may observe a change in our hair and color in sum mer and winter. The darker races live near the equator and the fairest, or Anglo-Saxon, in Northern climates. In Africa, near the equator and in the swamps and morasses, you will find many black tribes. The American Negro Origin The American Negroes came from the black tribes from the west coast * (By Rev. Reverdy C. Ransom, Jr.) ( of Africa. The Negroes who came; here as slaves represent the inferior, weak and deteriorated tribes who were captured by the Ashantee and Dehomey Negro tribes with large standing armies and sold to the Dutch, English and Portuguese for slavery. Very few, if any, of the higher or more developed tribes were enslaved. Scientists have observed that, with the sun 110 degrees, whence we came from in Senegambia and West Coast' Africa, the tribes are inferior to those, of other parts. The same is true of animals; no animals of western Africa have long hair. The lion of this coun try is inferior to the highlands of, Algeria. The sheep’s wool changes into hair. Many dogs have been ob-; served with no hair. Fetishism, su-1 i perstition, spiritism and song entered! our worship and religion there. Tribes on the plateaux in Africa are brown; those in the mountains! reddish in complexion; those higher up yellow, with beautiful features and , aquiline nose. This proves the Negro race there many ages has been varied in color and features and there is no such thing as a typical Negro. Origin of the Negro or Mother Ha metic Race Asia has been said to be the prim itive home of mankind till here of late. Scientific discovery and skele tons lately uneartlied point to Africa and not Asia as being the primitive | home of mankind. The first men werei not white, but red or brown. The Hebrew word “Adam” means red earth or clay-colored. The first men were reddish or brown and lived in i Africa near the equator. As (they wandered north or south thence their | color and features changed. The white man is a later product of civ ilization. I am of the belief that the original Negro was dark red, with close-curled hair. Our civilization developed in the Sudan or Ethiopia, thence to Egypt and Babylon to India. The ancient East India or Hindoo divinities show broad noses and close-curled hair, Ne gro types; we also proceed to Burma and the South Sea Isles on one hand and on the other to the land’s ends of South Africa. We shall attempt to briefly discuss the Negro in a few countries and na tions. The Negro Civilization in Ethiopia, Sudan, or Now Modern Abyssinia Abyssinia, remnant of ancient Eth iopia or Sudan, claims a civilization • and past dating back 11,000 years. Her history and civilization have been preserved through her priests and written and handed down to her priests from generation to generation. No man outside of their priests has been able to obtain or write her past. She claims the oldest lineage or rule of any nation or country to exist and stand, though broken through in tervals. Her present king, Menelik, claims direct descendance of King Solomon and the Queen of Sheba. They claim Judaism, their present re ligion, was introduced to them by the Queen of Sheba from the courts of King Solomon. The Ethiopian eunuch, mentioned in Acts 8:26-38, was from Abyssinia or one Ethiopian kingdom. Tradition tells us that Ethiops, Son of Ham, was the founder of Ethiopia; Christianity was introduced there aft er the conversion of the eunuch by Philip. The Coptic Bible and church, both Old and New Testaments, which date back to our earliest versions and now used in the interpretation of our Bible, came from Ethiopia. Negroes, then can rightfully now claim Abys sinia, a remnant of Ethiopia, not only the oldest surviving Christian nation, but the oldest kingdom on the earth. The Negro Civilization of Egypt Historically speaking, Egypt is the oldest bom of time, the mother of all subsequent civilizations, the longest lived among the nations of the earth, the teacher of art, philosophy and re ligion. Before Rome or Greece or the Anglo-Saxon civilization, is Negro. The ancient name of Egypt is Kimet or Kem, root means black and swat rhy. The Hebrew is Mirajim, the Greek or modem name is Aiguptos, or Egypt. The language and letters, or hieroglyphics are different from that of other races. They are Coptic and Ethiopian in language and character. The ancient Egyptians themselves, Pindar and Herodotus, the ancient his torians, claimed their origin in Punt of Ethiopia. Their religion and gods were Sudanese and from Ethiopia. Prichard, the world’s greatest ethnol ogist, says: “They were like Ne groes.’ The white man has tried in every way to rob us of Egypt because she is the mother of his modem civ ilization. Negro faces and character istics are still left to be seen in Egypt to prove they were Negroes. The Sphinx of Gyeh, the world’s greatest monument and work of art, is the face of a black Negro Pharaoh. There are 7,000 years of known history ot the valley of the Nile during which three great dynasties arose. The first 2,000 years; the second 2,40( GUILTY OF SELLING DOPE Memphis, Tenn., Feb. 6.—(By the Associated Negro Press.)—Dr. A. L. Saunders was found guilty here last week of violating the Harrison Nar cotic Act. Dr. Saunder’s attorneys defended their client on the grounds that the charge against him had been the result of an “entrapment”, a legal term describing the commission of an act, persuaded by someone, when un der ordinary circumstances you would not have done it. WEALTH OF RACE HAS REACHED VERY LARGE PROPORTIONS Monroe N. Work. Compiler of Negro Year Book, Tells of Race Progress in Last Two Years THRIFTLESSNESS DISCREDITED Tusnegee, Feb. 6.—That the Negroes of this country have made tremendous strides in the accumulation of wealth, educational advancement, health and political power is shown by a survey just made public by Dr. Monroe N. Work, compiler of the Negro Year Book. Says this writer: There is the economic progress of groes have entered industry in a large groes have entered industry in large way. The 1920 census reports 332,249 Negroes engaged in skilled and semi skilled work. The wealth of the group at present is around $2,000,000,000, which is one and one-half times more wealth than it had accumulated up to 1912. Millions for Education There is the educational progress of the group. The total amount ex pended in 1912 for all phases of Ne gro education was $13,576,561; the amount expended this year for Negro education is over $40,000,000. The past thirteen years have wit nessed an ever increasing demand in all lines of work for the educated Ne gro. The improvement in education is reflected in the increase in the number of students in elementary, secondary, and higher courses. This improve ment is especially reflected in the in crease in the number completing col lege courses. Up to 1912 about 5,000 Negroes had completed college courses. That is, in the past thirteen years as many Negroes graduated from college as in all the previous years. Health There is the progress, which, in the past thirteen years has been made in health improvement. The Negro now has a declining mortality rate, and an increasing life span. In 1912 the death rate per thousand was 22.9. In 1922, ten years later, the death rate was 15.7 per thousand: a decrease for the period of 31.5 per cent. ROOSEVELT POST WILL PRESENT FAMOUS SINGER Mrs. Charlotte W allace Murray, a Fav orite Contralto Soloist of New York, to Give Recital Here Late This Month Mrs. Charlotte Wallace Murray who is a favorite contralto soloist ini the east is making her first western tour.; The Theodore Roosevelt Post of the American Legion will present Mrs. Murray in recital at St. John's A. M. E. Church Thursday night, February 26th. As this will be the first appear ance of this artist in Omaha a large audience is anticipated. This is the first of a series of entertainments the Roosevelt Post is putting on to raise its share of he fund necessary to en- j tertain delegates to the Naiona] Con vention of the American Legion which meets in Omaha in September and which will be attended by a large number of colored delegates. MAYO SPIRITUALIST SOCIETY WILL HONOR LINCOLN The Mayo Spiritualist Society will have exercises in honor of Lincoln's birthday at their hall, 1412% North Twenty-fourth street, Sunday night, February 15. There will be a pageant and program. years; the third 1,500 years. Think of the durations of these civilizations and compare them with the transitory kingdoms and civilizations of the white man of today. Go today to the museums, see for yourself the mum mies and paintings of Egypt pre served through ages, if they are not Negroes. At the University of Penn sylvania, • Rahotep, father of recent find. Tut-Ankh-Amen, with his heavy features; Neferet, with the nose and lips of a Zulu; Aahmes and Nefertain are unmistakably Negroes. (To be continued.) ARREST OF EDITOR IS DISPLEASING TO VIRGIN ISLANDERS champion of the world, and Jessie Leaders Consider It Link in the Chain to Promote Policy of Prejudice and (Segregation by Naval Regime CIVIL LIBERTIES UNION ACTS New York Attorney of the American Civil Liberties Union Will Handle Francis’ Case (By Associated Negro Press) St. Thomas, V. I. U. S., Feb. 5.— Leaders among the Negroes here are of the opinion that the recent impris onment of Rothchild Francis, editor of The Emancipator, is not only an injustice to him but also a link in the chain being forged by the white naval regime here to promote a policy of prejudice and segregation. Mr. Francis is now out under bail while his case has been appealed to the Federal district in Philadelphia. It will be handled by a New York at torney for the American Civil Liber ties Union. He was sentenced to thirty days penal servitude January tenth on a charge of criminal libel. Te article which was responsible for the charge was published in his paper and read as follows: “Something is wrong with our po lice force, every body is saying. Re cently a policeman fired a shot which lodged in the tub of a private citizen, then he attempted to make a false ar rest and before we were about to go to press he used his club in a brutal manner on a woman he was ordered to take home, we understand. Mer chants and other citizens are indig nant. How long, O Justice! How long 1” George Washington Williams, the white American before whom Francis is supposed to have been tried and convicted, is described by the Amer ican Civil Liberties Union as a polit ical enemy of the editor. Francis op posed the appointment of Williams. The people of the islands believe that events leading up to the Francis trial and imprisonment show conclu sively that white supremacy is on the way in the Virgin Islands, despite the fact that 98% of the population is colored and race prejudice has been hitherto unknown. Recently the wife of a naval officer suggested segrega tion in the public schools between the children of the white Americans and those of the citizens here. Incident ally, the inhabitants of the islands can boast of a literacy test of 98%, more than the American mainland. In a paper recently got up, several men expressed their sentiment against those individuals who dare to trample in the dust the lofty concepts and ideals which the founders of the American republic fought and died for, and promised to fight for the eradication from the islands what purports to be segregation of thought, segregation of justice, segregation of equality and of freedom. FIRST COLORED WOMAN TO APPLY FOR CITIZENSHIP Miss Mary Jane Robinson, born in Woodstock, Ontario, Canada, is the first woman of her race go far as known to apply for citizenship papers in Nebraska. She filed her application in Omaha last week. In this connec tion it would be interesting to know how many of our race in Nebraska are of British or Canadian birth. Oma ha has quite a number. The Honorable C. Bascom Slemp, secretary to President Coolidgo has offered his resignation to take effect March 4th. The Honorable Everett Sanders, member of Congress from In diana, will be his successor. Mr. Slemp entered his office as secretary with strong protests from “Sun-kissed America'’. He has eminently lived these down and will retire with the commendations of all who have had dealings with the office since Mr. Slemp’s inrumlbency. Mr. Sanders, be ing a Hoosier, is naturally a politician of Class A, but is known to be gener ous, popular and a hard worker. He wip soon get on to the face of the “boys” who have business with the Chief Executive. Mrs. Elisabeth Buford who h&ebeen confined to her home, 2227 Miami street, gy illness during January hag so tar improved a* to be able to be out