in\ The monitor si t NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS _ THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS. Editor. *2.00 a Year—5 Cent.'a Copy " OMAHA, NEBRASKA, FRIDAY, JUNE 17, 1927 Vol. XII—No. 51 Whole Number 621 RACIAL SEGREGATION MENACES AMERICA’S PEACE ARDS LITT William Pickens, Field Secretary of the Advancement Association Advises Audience Here Sunday INFLUENCE IS FAR-REACHING Deepens and Perpetuates Prejudice Which Begets Injustice in One Group and Resentment in the Other William Pickens, field secretary of the National Association for the Ad vancement of Colored People, deliv ered one of his characteristic and impressive addresses to an apprecia tive audience Sunday afternoon in Zion Baptist church, under the aus pices of the local branch. Mr. Pickens discussed the ‘‘Effect of Segregation Upon the Segregator and the Segregated.” He stigmatiz ed segregation as the chief battle ment and stronghold of race preju dice which is endangering America’s peace and stability and clearly show ed that race prejudice and friction increases or decreases in exact ratio with segregation. Where there is the least segregation there is the least race prejudice and race fric tion and consequently greater amity and good will and mutual co-opera tion for the upbuilding of the com munity. The effect of segregation upon the segregator is to make him look with contempt upon the segregated and consequently to exploit him and treat him unfairly. The weaker and seg regated group is denied sanitary sur roundings where he is compelled to live and public improvements in such districts are of the poorest and most meager kind. Educational facilities, either in buildings or in equipment, are woefully inferior for the weak er. The speaker cited in this con nection statistics from some South ern states where $10 per capita is spent for the education of white chil dren in the grades and $1.00 per capita- for Negro children. Where the law says there shall be “separate but equal accommodations” for the two races on railroads and public carriers it iB notorious that such a provision is never carried out and the Negro passenger has to pay first class fare for very inferior accom modations. The toleration of such things lowers the moral tone and deudens the ethical sense of the dom inant group by developing in them a superior complex which so blinds them that they do not perceive the personality or respect the humanity of the black race. While not desir ing to be unjust this superior com plex begets in the segregator an un conscious injustice toward the seg regated which manifests itself in va rious ways. Turning to the effect of segrega tion upon the segregated, Mr. Pick ens pointed out many racial weak nesses and plead for their correction. This superior-complex in one has cre ated an inferior-complex in the race, which has been harmful. It has made the race under-rate its own inherent powers and abilities. The great white shadow has made the race tim id in initiative and skeptical as to the possibility of any of its members measuring up to the standard of the dominant group in business, trade, or the professions. Exceptions to the baneful influence of this inferior complex are rare. It must be count eracted by teaching our children the equality of all races, the seeming ad vantages being due to conditions and opportunities. The speaker empha sized the fact that the more than a million of the race who have crossed over to the dominant group have done so for protective and industrial reasons and not because they are ashamed of their race. He pointed out the folly of segregation within the race, the classifying of groups by degrees of pigmentation. He urg ed the race to be broadminded to ward all men, practising the folly of segregation toward none and fight ing to the last ditch all forms of DELIVERS ORATION AT 152ND ANNIVERSARY OF BATTLE OF BUNKER HILL Naval Thomas, Militant Washington ian, Urges America to Be True to the Principles for Which Her Martyrs Died ALSO SPEAKS IN FANUE1L HALL Washington, D. C.—Neval H. Thomas of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People left for Boston, Mass., on Wednesday evening to deliver the oration of the day on Bunker Hill on Friday, June 17, in commemora tion of the 152nd anniversary of the Battle of Bunker Hill and the hero ism of the Negro patriot, Peter Sa lem, displayed that day. The even ing before he will be the main speak er at a celebration in Faneuil hall under the National Equal Rights league’s auspices. His subject will be "Segregation Is War Against De mocracy,” while at Bunker Hill he will spe'jk on the subject, “What Bunker Hill and Peter Salem Should Mean to America.” In speaking of the events, Mr. Thomas says, “I shall be glad to stand in Faneuil hall where Wendell Phillips, converted like some mighty Paul, made the great decisions when he heard the attorney general of Massachusetts praise the mob that murdered Lovejoy; where William Lloyd Garrisan and great Frederick Douglass thundered against slavery and all other iniquitous proscriptions that outrage the very name of Free dom. It teems with memories of the gifted Sumner, and remains after two hundred years a national forum for free speech. At Bunker Hill, I shall think of the intellectual giant and powerful orator, Daniel Web ster, who delivered the classic ora tion at the laying of the corner stone of the huge monument there 102 years ago in the presence of Lafayette, and his second oration at the completion of the monument 18 yeurs afterwards. These two labored efforts gave us two models of fault less style, skillful generalities, but thinly-veiled evasions of the over shadowing issue, human slavery. The brilliant politician failed to rise to the heights of statesmanship, and lost the love of posterity in his manipulations for the presidency. At both places I shall ask my coun try to live up to her Constitution and the lofty declarations of her statesmen and politicians, lest Peter Salem and all of the long list of martyrs, white and black, died in vain.” N. A. A. C. P. FORUM WILL MEET SUNDAY AFTERNOON The forum of the Omaha branch of the N. A. A. C. P. will meet Sun day afternoon at 4 o’clock in St. Philip’s Guild Rooms. The program will be entitled “Echoes of the Pick ens Meeting,” with an open discus sion on “Statutory, Mandatory and Voluntary Segregation.” Public is cordially invited to be present and to take part in the discussion. The funeral of Mrs. Hattie McGee, 4214 North Twenty-sixth street, who died June 6, was held Wednesday, June 8, at 2 p. m., at the Lewis fu neral home. Rev. John Grant offi ciated. Interment at Graceland cem etery. segregation, racial or religious, and so help America find her rightful place among the Christian nations of the earth. Upon request, Mr. Pickens, after an appeal for members of the N. A. A. C. P., told briefly of some of his observations in Russia, in which he stated that Russia of today is far in advance of what it was under the czar. Social conditions for all classes are vastly improved. The meeting was called to order by the vice-president of the local branch, Rev. J. A. Harris, ./ho intro duced Mr. Henry W. Black, as chair man. Attorney H. J. Pinkett intro duced Mr. Pickens. Musical numbers on the program included a piano solo by Vera Chandler and the singing of “America” and “Lift Every Voice and Sing” by the audience. EDITORIAL For the past seven years futile efforts have been made to secure the appointment of some colored teachers in the Oma ha public schools, of which our people are patrons, and for the support of which we pay our proportionate share of taxes. The first efforts were largely individual. Two or three per sons requested Superintendent Beveridge to recommend or make such appointments, they being advised by certain mem bers of the board of education that selections for the teaching corps had been left almost exclusively and arbitrarily in his hands and that his recommendations would be approved. This may have been a case of “passing the buck.” But this was the information upon which these individuals acted in interviewing Mr. Beveridge. He was most affable and adroit and gave the impression that he was not unfavorable or unfriendly, and re quested that he would like to have data from other cities. Letters from seventeen cities from Boston to Los Angeles, in which colored teachers are employed, were subsequently se cured and placed in his hands. But nothing came of it. Three years ago individualistic effort yielded to corporate and united effort. A committee was appointed to interview the superintendent and members of the board of education. Again affability and shall we call it duplicity? Or “passing the buck” were the net results. Last year a representative committee of thirty of our citi zens, augmented by prominent and influential white friends like Mrs. J. H. Vance, Mrs. Palmer Findlay and Mr. S. S. Cald well, appeared before the entire board of education and pre sented the cause. It was finally left, we were advised, up to the Teachers’ committee of the board, three of whom favored such appointments, one opposed and one was undecided. En forced reduction of the teaching force because of lack of funds of course made it impossible last year to make the appoint ments,' which we believe might have been made. With the election of several new members of the board, whom it is believed are fair and broad-minded men, hope was entertained that this year our just request might be granted. A meeting was held on Friday morning, May 27, by a large committee of our people, with a sub-committee of the board of education, consisting of President Burke, Mr. Miller, treasurer; Mrs. Fetters, chairman of the teachers’ committee; Superin tendent Beveridge and Miss Belle Ryan, assistant superintend ent. Mr. H. J. Pinkett, who has been active in this whole move ment and had written to several cities for letters, was chosen chairman. He, the Rev. John Albert Williams and Mrs. Kale Wilson, were deputized to present the subject to the committee. Assurances were given that the matter would be presented to the board of education and that a reply would be sent to the committee. Here is the reply: Omaha, Nebr., June 7, 1927. Mr. H. J. Pinkett, Attorney-at-Law, 19 Patterson Block, Omaha, Neb. Dear Mr. Pinkett: At the meeting of the board of education last even ing I presentd the matter of the employment of col ored teachers in the Omaha Public schools. It devel oped that no additional teachers are to be employed. In fact, the number of teachers on the payroll next year will be somewhat less than during the current year. Inasmuch as this situation exists, the board felt that no action should be taken on the matter sug gested by your committee. I am returning herewith the letters which you left with me. Truly yours, E. R. BURKE, President of Omaha School Board. This letter is self-explanatory and shows that again no ac tion has been taken. Despite the fact that “no additional teachers are to be employed,” we believe that the board should have taken some action. It could have gone on record as favoring the appoint ment of some colored teachers, just as soon as funds permit the employment of additional teachers. This would have been SOme gain and held out some definite hope. Moreover, there will be vacancies by resignations and perhaps other causes, and these vacancies will have to be filled. Among a teach ing corps of nearly 1,200 it does seem that if the present board of education is really sincere and anxious to do the right thing, place could be found for at least TWO COLORED TEACHERS. We ought to have twenty. The present board like the former one, has failed, we will not say refused, but failed to put itself on record in this matter. So far as our people are concerned, it is plain that we must keep up the fight until victory is won. We are too easy to give up In this matter, as in others, we are not supplicants humbly begging mercy or charity but sovereign American citizens de manding rights to which we are justly entitled, and there must be no cessation of effort until this just cause is won. for fif teen years, from 1895 until 1910, there were two colored teachers employed and they left excellent records. Each re signed upon her marriage and none has been appointed since. Whose fault is it? PROTEST NAMING NEGRO A MEMBER OF FLOOD BODY Jackson, Miss.—A telegram pro testing the appointment of S. D. Redmond, Jackson Negro lawyer, as a member of the flood rehabilitation commission was sent Thursday by Gov. Dennis Murphree to Secretary of Commerce Herbert Hoover. “It is rumored here,” the telegram read, “that S. D. Redmond will be appointed on the flood rehabilitation commission. As governor of Missis sippi I protest against this appoint ment. It will tend to nullify the good work you have already done in this state.” L. J. Folse, assistant flood relief dictator, said over long distance tele phone from Greenwood, Miss., that Redmond would represent Negro or ganizations out of the state in re habilitation work among Negroes in flooded areas. Mrs. Edith Stewart and daughter, Evangeline, of Wilmington, N. C., are the house guests of Rev. and Mrs. John Adams, 2722 North Twenty eighth avenue. Mrs. Stewart is a sister of Mrs. Adams. Colored Flood Advisory Commission Is At Work Memphis, Tenn.—Meeting at the invitation of Herbert Hoover in charge of governmental activities in the flood relief and only a few hours after the telegraphic summons of its chairman, Dr. Robert R. Moton, the colored advisory commission of the Mississippi valley flood disaster held its initial session at the Red Cross headquarters here Thursday and made plans to immediately invade the stricken flooded territories on a tour of inspection. The commission which included representative colored men and women from various sections was ap pointed by Secretary Hoover for the purpose of giving President Cool idge’s Mississippi Flood committee and the American National Red Cross, the benefit of their advice on questions affecting the care of the colored population in our refugee camps and flooded territories. The commission is to receive suggestions and complaints and make the neces sary investigations, so as to give com plete assurance of the proper han dling of every phase of relief af fecting colored people. The efforts at rehabitation of the refugees and of assisting those who have had all their earthly possessions swept away, are to be carefully consider ed by the commission and out of its findings it is hoped that a way to re lieve some of the intense suffering and privation being undergone by the victims of the terrible devasta tion may be found. Members of te commission ap pointed thus far include Dr. Robert R. Moton, chairman; Bishop Robert E. Jones of the M. E. Church, presi dent; Joseph S. Clark of Southern University, Miss Eva Bowles, na tional secretary of the Y. W. C. A., New York; Thomas Hayes, president of the Solvent Savings bank, Mem phis; Eugene Kinckle Jones, execu tive secretary of the National Urban league; Dr. S. D. Rodmond, Missis sippi; Dr. J. B. Martin, Memphis; Jesse C. Thomas, Atlanta; Dr. L. M. McCoy, president, Rust college; Bert M. Roddy, Memphis; A. L. Holsey, Tuskegee Institute, Alabama; Dr. Roscoe Brown, assistant secretary, National Medical association; Thom as M. Campbell, U. S. Department of Agriculture, in charge of the Mis sissippi valley states; Miss F. C. Wil liams, public health expert; Mrs. John Hope, Morehouse college; R. R. Taylor, vice principal, Tuskegee, and Claude A. Barnett of the Associated Negro Press. The commission plunged immedi ately into its work and after listen ing to the detailed plan of procedure which the Red Cross has instituted in handling the 550,000 people whom they have served or are still caring for in this disaster, made plans to visit every one of the 25 camps now functioning in the three states hard est hit, Mississippi, Arkansas and Louisiana. The members of the commission with the authority and support of the Red Cross will have full access to all activities and are concentrating on a definite program of surveying the conditions at the camps, the treatment of refugees, their living accommodations, food sanitation, conditions under which they work, isolation camps and medi cal care. They are to contact the civic and financial* organizations handling the location of families returning to the plantations and to interpret to them the needs and viewpoint of the col ored people. The commission ex pects to make its investigations of the most sweeping and searching character, meeting at New Orleans at the crest of the flood district to make their first report to Secretary Hoover and Vice-Chairman James L. Fieser of the Red Cross, both of whom have expressed the heartiest interest in the work and were instru mental in initiating it. The body, Dr. Moton said, will be divided into four groups, so as to make the camp visits thorough and at the same time expedite the work as much as pos sible so as to make their recom mendations available for action at the earliest date possible. PEONAGE DISCOVERED AT NATIONAL CAPITOL Washington, D. C.—The Mothers' Civic Protective Union of which Mrs. Thornton is president has discovered a case of peonage here at the nation al capitol. A white man from Mary land found a colored boy there sev eral years ago, brought him to Wash ington, hired him out, appropriated his wages for himself, and forced him to do menial work at his home. Af ter these years of wage earning and additional hard work at his master’s home, the boy has absolutely nothing. Mrs. Thornton invited Neval H. Thomas, president of the Washing ton branch of the National Associ ation for the Advancement of Col ored People and members of its na tional board of directors to meet the league and receive the facts for fur ther investigation. Mr. Thomas vis ited the engraving establishment where both the master and his peon were working, and secured the state ment of the boy. He demanded the release of the boy under threat of putting the police power of the state on the case. The Mothers’ Civic Pro tective Union then secured a good home for the boy and placed him there, where for the first time he is able to secure the benefit of his earnings. Mr. Thomas states that both the league and the N. A. A. C. P. are endeavoring to secure evi dence in the case to recover the earn ings of the boy, and to prosecute the man who has wronged him and violated the law. Mr. Thomas ap peals to the other branches of the N. A. A. C. P. throughout the coun try to be vigilant for this crime, and to co-operate with all other agencies in their communities, both north and Bouth, for there are many poor col ored people who are suffering sim ilar handicaps. White people mov ing into the north are bringing nn known Negro boys and girls with them and hold them as peons. Five years ago the association discovered a similar case here. ST. PHILIP’S GIRLS' SOCIETY PRESENTS PLEASING PROGRAM St. Philip’s branch of the Girls’ Friendly society gave a delightful entertainment in the Guild Rooms of the church Monday night, which was thoroughly enjoyed by a good sized crowd. The program was plan ned and carried out by the girls themselves, without advice or sugges tion from the associates or directors, it being the policy of the society to encourage initiative in the girls. The program was in charge of Catherine Williams and Vera Walton. A very clever feature was the “broadcast ing” of “the deluxe program from Station GFS, St. Philipsburgh, Epis copalian,” by Louise Scott, the wit and originality of the announcement of each number creating laughter. The program consisted of an opening chorus by all members of the branch, accompanied by Miss Catherine Wil liams on the “Who’d a Thunk It Grand,” according to the announcer; a brief address explanatory of the G. F. S., by Mrs. John Albert Wil liams, associate and member of the diocesan board; a piano solo, by Willa Hayes; a recitation, “A Girl,” by Mary Ann Williams; a duet, “An Indian Maiden,” by Sylvia Adams and Margaret Dickerson; a recita tion, “The Party,” by Catherine Williams, and a clever one-act play, “How a Woman Keeps a Secret,” by Celestine Smith, Olive Jackson, Vera Walton, Lillian Avant, Mar garet Bell, Rachel Hartley, Helen Jenkins, Sarah Brown and Ellen Richardson. Following the program refresh ments were served and needlework of the girls was placed on sale.