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About The monitor. (Omaha, Neb.) 1915-1928 | View Entire Issue (Feb. 17, 1928)
••••••••••••••» ... LIF T %IG— LIFT ioo * e 'P o n _% The Monitor NEBRASKA’S WEEKLY NEWSPAPER DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF COLORED AMERICANS THE REV. JOHN ALBERT WILLIAMS, Editor. GROWING — THANK YOU $2.00 a Yeai —O Cents a CopyOmaha, Nebraska, Friday, February 17, 1928 Vol. XIII—Number 33 Whole Number 654 Does America Consider Negro Human? National Urban League Reports on Year’s Work At the annual meeting of the Na tionaj Urban league held in the rooms of the National Urban league on the tenth floor of No. 17, Madison ave nue, New York City, on Wednesday afternoon, February 8th, a report of the year’s achievements was rendered by the executive secretary, Eugene Knickle Jones, a summary of which follows: “We have established two new Ur ban leagues in large cities—Buffalo, New York; and Omaha, Nebraska. This makes 42 now. Practically every large industrial center where Negroes are living in numbers has an Urban league which with its board of white and colored members represent ing the leading persons of under standing in the community is attack ing the living and working problems of Negroes and the many complica tions arising from race contacts. Pre liminary steps for Urban leagues have been taken in Grand Rapids, Mich.; in Pensacola and St. Petersburg, Fla.; in New Orleans, La.; in Albany and Syracuse, N. Y., and Atlantic City, N. J. "Much progress has been made in the creation of better understanding of the problems of race relations through the publication each month of the ‘Opportunity’ magazine and through addresses by the staff mem bers ut leading educational institu tions such as Columbia university, Ohio State university, Vassar college and many of the leading Negro col leges. Radio addresses over stations in New York, Boston and Milwaukee, adresses before church groups, Ki wanis and Rotary clubs, chambers of commerce, such outstanding forums as the Old South Forum, Boston, and women’s clubs, settlement houses, the National Conference of Social Work and other state social work confer ences, social workers’ clubs and coun cils of social work make up an im posing list of more than one hundred. “I was re-elected at the National Confernce of Social Work held in Des Moines last May to a second three year term as a member of the ex ecutive committee of that organiza tion—five persons being elected from a slate of fourteen. This conference consists of more than d,000 delegates with less than forty of them colored. Several other members of our staff were elected to division committees. “The annual Urban league confer ence was held in St. Louis with rep resentatives from forty cities. Here board members and staff workers dis cussed the subject of readjustment of social programs in the light of re . search. You see, we are now basing all of our field activities on careful, scientific study of the causes of so cial maladjustment. We are aiming at a dispassionate, objective approach j to our common problem. “Following reports on the inequal ity of the treatment of Negro Mis sissippi flood sufferers (80 per cent of the total), we appealed to Presi dent Coolidge and the American Red Cross and were successful in having appointed by Mr. Herbert Hoover, a special Negro advisory committee with Hr. Robert Russa Moton, prin cipal of Tuskegee institute, as chair man, and Mr. Jesse O. Thomas, south ern field secretary of the league, and myself, on the committee. The re- j suits of this commission’s activities are seen in much fairer and equable \ treatment of the Negro group in the flood area. “The league has been helpful in the establishment of special work for the colored boys in New York by the Boy Scouts of America, one of our last year’s ‘Fellows’ at the New York School of Social Work—George W. Goodman—being appointed Harlem Scout executive. Here I should men tion the fact that the other two ‘B'el lows’ of the Urban league last year are now dean of women at West Vir ginia Collegiate institute and execu tive secretary of the Canton, Ohio, Urban league, respectively. “A survey of the Negro popula tion of Fort Wayne, Ind., was made by Mr. Charles S. Johnson, director of the league’s department of re search and investigations. Other studies made include one of the Ne groes of Albany, N. Y. Observations have been made in Syracuse, N. Y., as preliminary steps to active inter racial co-operation there. “The annual ‘Opportunity’ maga azine literary contest was held at which 1,038 entries were made in poetry, short stories, essays, personal experience sketches and musical com positions; the purpose being to arouse latent artistic talent. “From 55 applicants for Urban j league Fellowships who took the com- j petitive examination, three excellent young college graduates of last year were appointed, two at the New York ; School of Social Work and one at the ! University of Pittsburgh. “Industrial campaigns to open up new opportunities for employment of colored people and to impress upon them the importance of efficiency on J the job were conducted in Philadel- ! phia, Boston, Milwaukee, and Spring field, 111. Many new openings were j made. “The league has continued to gath er and to supply to students, writers, authors and lecturers, facts concern- j ing Negro life. Probably we have I more reliable, current information concerning the Negro in our files 1 than has any other organization or institution in America. And the ma- I terial is being used in current books | and magazine articles. Not only do the students of our own country ! come to us for information, but dur ing 11127 South African, West Afri can, French, Dutch, English, Russian, East Indian, Czecho-Slovakian and Scandinavian scholars have consulted' our files or conferred with our staff ' members concerning conditions | among the Negro as bases for special : articles or approach to their local J racial problems.” l ne audited treasurer s report j showing a total income of $67,000; was presented. The following exe cutive board members were re-elected i for a term of three years: Josiah P. Marvel, Mrs. Mary McLeod Bethune, A. S. Frissell, John Hope, Mrs. Henry Goddard Leach, Mrs. B. B. Munford, Mrs. Albert S. Reed, Miss Elizabeth Walton,, Dr. E. P. Roberts, Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, Miss Dorothy Straus, L. Hollingsworth Wood, and Henry Bruere. L. Hollingsworth Wood, president of the National Urban league, pre-1 sided. Following this meeting, a board ■ meeting was held at which time the following officers were re-elected for the ensuing year: Chairman, L. Hol lingsworth Wood; vice chairmen,! Robert R. Moton, John T. Emlen, Kelly Miller, George C. Hall; secre tary, William H. Baldwin; treasurer, Lloyd Garrison. The executive secretary, Eugene Kinckle Jones, was authorized to rep resent the National Urban league at the international conference of social workers to be held in Paris, France, July 9th to 14th, 1928. Mr. Jones also being one of ten delegates se lected by the executive committee of the national conference of social work to represent America officially at this conference. ---- MEETING OF MANAGER AND PATRONS OF GROCERY ! _ A real get-together meeting be tween the maangement of the Golden Rule grocery and its customers will be had in the Y. W. C. A. building, North Twenty-second and Grant streets at 8:15 p. m. Tuesday, Feb ruary 28th. Lunch will be served at 8:30 sharp. The W. C. association family saving plan will be explained also. The new economics organiza tion of society. Every housewife in terested in reducing the cost of food stuffs buys of the Golden Rule gro cery and every man interested in the ownership and the operation of gro cery stores and meat markets, and who are patrons of the Golden Rule grocery store should avail themselves of the one grand opportunity to be come part owners of business in which such a small amount of finance is required. EDITORIAL Miss Belle Ryan, assistant superintendent of education, who graciously participated in the program given at South High school Friday night in the observance of Negro History Week, in her brief, but well-chosen message of greeting, said that the public school is the one great democratic institution which is the safeguard of America, “in which there is no sep aration or distinction made and all are received upon equal terms. Catholic and Protestant, Jew and Gentile, all races, all colors alike equally enjoy its privileges and advantages, and I hope it will be always so and that there will be no separation.” Miss Ryan was speaking, of course, of the ideal which un derlies the common public school system of the United States, of the beautiful theory upon which this democratic institution is founded, overlooking for the nonce, the wide chasm which yawns between the ideal and its realization, the theory and its practical application in certain sections of this country, the! area of which there seems to be a well-organized plan and de-| termined effort to enlarge. It is a notorious and well-known j fact that where the bi-racial system obtains there is glaring inequality in school buildings and equipment, in the school j terms, and in the salaries between those provided for the two | respective races. With a very few notable exceptions like j Washington, D. C., and St. Louis, Mo., this statement of fact! cannot be successfully contradicted. The expenditure of $1.25 I per annum per Negro pupil and $10.30 per annum per white' pupil, which is the ratio in some southern states where the bi-1 racial or separate system obtains, graphically tells the story of injustice and inequality. Miss Kyan, as we have said, was not thinking of this, but ol the ideal which underlies the honest employment of the Ameri can public school system. She was speaking of it as it applies in the North and West generally and in Omaha particularly. Here, it is true, there is no separation or distinction made be tween the pupils. School privileges and advantages are open to all pupils alike and this democratic association of all racial groups, all religions, is making for true Americanism of the highest kind and those who are so shortsighted to advocate a change—and there are some among both groups who favor a bi-racial system—are, no doubt unconsciously, encouraging hos tility and inviting disaster to America's best interests, which demands unity, tolerance and friendship between all her citi zens. We most cheerfully concede- the catholic and democratic spirit prevalent in the Omaha schools so aptly stated by the cultured and efficient assistant superintendent. There is, how ever, an exception to be noted. And this applies to the em ployment of teachers and school employees. In the teaching corps numbering approximately 1,500, and among the other hundreds of employees, while there are “Catholic and Protes tants, Jews and Gentiles, all races,” EXCEPT THE NEGRO RACE are represented. Despite the fact that our youth have enjoyed the “privileges and advantages” of our excellent school system and several have graduated from our own and other universities and can meet the standard as to intellectual and professional qualifications and character set by the Superin tendent of Education and the Board we have not a single teacher employed in our public schools. Nor is there a janitor, clerk, mechanic or any other member of our race directly em ployed by the Board of Education. Is there any one with a conscience who will say this is fair or just in the face of our taxpaying and contributions towards our city government and school district? We know the powerful influence of Superintendent Bever idge and Assistant Superintendent Ryan in the matter of the appointment of teachers. They have it within their power to see that justice is done in this matter. Members of the School Board, and we can give their names, when necessary, have told us personally that the demand for teachers upon the part of our people is fair and they favor it. What then doth hinder making such appointments? We appreciate the gracious greeting which Miss Ryan brought to our people on behalf of the schools last Friday night. We hope her well-chosen words may be followed by the exertion of her influence in securing the appointment of some of our well-qualified young women, products of our schools, as teachers in these schools. Then indeed it can be truthfully said, that in the public school system of Omaha, like that of many other progressive American cities to be found from Maine to California, “there is no separation or distinction made and all are received upon equal terms. Catholic and Protestant, Jew and Gentile, all races, all colors alike, equally enjoy its privileges and advantages.” ABRAHAM LINCOLN AND FREDERICK DOUGLASS PRE-EMINENT MEN The Rev. Dr. Charles H. Trusty De livers Instructive Address at Ben son Presbyterian Church, Sun day Night The Rev. Charles H. Trusty, D. D., pastor of Hillside Presbyterian church, was the special speaker at Benson Presbyterian church, the Rev. Mr. Fisk, pastor, Sunday night. Dr. Trusty’s subject was “Our Debt to Abraham Lincoln.’’ The speaker em phasized the fact that the eighteenth century produced two great charac ters, Abraham Lincoln representing the highest type of white American citizenship, and Frederick Douglass the highest type of Negro American citizenship. “When the character, spirit and attitude of Abraham Lin coln are exemplified by the white people of America and the character, spirit and attitude of Frederick Doug lass are exemplified by Negro Amer icans, then the Negro problem will be reduced to the minimum,” said the* speaker. He said we owe a debt to Abraham] Lincoln for his rebuke to the hypoc-, risy of professing Christians who do not do the deeds or live the life of the Master in their dealing with their fellow men. Lincoln placed the em phasis on life rather than upon pro fession and in this showed himself to be in advance of his age. Preceding Dr. Trusty’s address, the Rev. Mr. Fisk gave an illuminating talk on ‘‘Abraham Lincoln as an Emancipator,” in which he stressed the fact that the martyred president not only emancipated the black man but also the white man. A quartet composed of Mr. John G. Pegg, bass; Dr. Gerald Edwards, tenor; Miss Maxine Barquette, so prano, and Miss Frances Trusty, alto, rendered several selections with Miss Elaine Smith at the piano. QUESTIONS WHITE AMERICA’S BELIEF IN NEGRO’S HUMANITY Rev. John Albert Williams Address ing Missionary Society of First Christian Church Makes Un usual Charge The Rev. John Albert Williams, rector of the Episcopal Church of St. Philip the Deacon, accepted an invita tion to deliver an address before the monthly meeting of the women’s mis sionary society of the First Christian church, Twenty-sixth and Harney streets, Wednesday afternoon. The society had as its topic for the meet ing, “The Colored Race and Our Duty | Towards It.” Father Williams chose as the sub ject of his address, “The Nation’s Human Tithe, or Your Neighbor Whom You Should Know.” The speaker said that God was test ing this nation by the use it made of this human tithe of its population. Every tenth person in the nation is a Negro. If he be a human being, then he calls for acquaintance, neighbor liness, friendliness, sympathy, inter est and helpfulness. An analysis of the mental attitude and of the con duct of the average American to wards him raises the question as to his belief in the Negro’s humanity. In the psychology of white America the Negro is not regarded as a human being. If he were so regarded his treatment would be different. This psychology is a legacy from the slave holding days, yvhen the justification for slavery, was the dominant belief that the Negro was not a human be ing, and his possession of a soul was seriously debated. This sentiment, though modified, still prevails. When America really believes in the human ity of the Negro, then we will cease to be perturbed and perplexed by a ! “Negro problem,” but will recognize I him, and his relation to his brethren only as a human problem. The speaker recited some of the major achievements of the race in its contributions to the material wealth of the nation, to literature, music, science, and art, as proof of its iden tity with the human race, susceptible to the same influences, moved by the same impulses, inspired by the same , ideals, subject to the same sins com-! mon to humanity, and saved by the j same grace that flows from the Sac-f rifice on Calvary’s Hill. Mrs. Pearl Regse, accompanied by j Miss Aline Burnett at the piano, con- j tributed four vocal spiritual numbers to the program which were highly ap preciated. The program was in charge of Mrs. L. A. Thompson. PICKENS WRITES ON RACE AND SEX PROBLEM FOR GERMAN MONTHLY PLANS NEW NATIONAL BANK St. Louis, Mo.—A campaign for the organization of a new bank which will be a member of the Federal Re serve System and of the St. Louis Clearing House association, is being carried on here by the People’s Fi nance company, headed by George Buckner. NEGRO HISTORY WEEK CELEBRATION 1$ A DECIDED SUCCESS Large and Representative Gathering of Both Races Present at First Local Observance of Event CO-OPERATIVE SPIRIT EVIDENT An audience numbering approxi mately 700, composed of members of both races, attended the first observ ance of National Negro History Week in the spacious auditorium of the South High school, last Friday night. Taken all in all it was a marked suc cess, exceeding the highest expecta tions of its sponsors and promoters. The fine spirit of whole hearted co operation manifested by organizations' and citizens of both the North Side and South Side was unquestionably responsible for the success of the cel ebration, and in this co-operation rep resentatives of both races shared. The program featured the produc tions, musical and literary, of the Ne gro race. It opened with the singing of “America,” by the audience, fol lowed by an invocation by the Rev. J. C. Brewer, pastor of Allen chapel, South Side. Miss Catherine Williams, representing the Tri-Arts society, an organization of high school pupils, gave as a piano number, “Night,” by R. Nathaniel Dett, and later on the program, Mr. John Jackson, of the same organization, gave as a violin solo, “Jubilee Songs,” by Clarecen Cameron White, with Miss Williams at the piano; and Miss Willa Hayes played with her usual brilliancy “Ju ba Dance,” by Dett. In justice to all musicians who gave numbers on the program it should be stated that the piano was badly out of tune. Other musical numbers, all of which were enthusiastically received and enjoyed, were “Listen to the Lambs,” by Dett; and “Deep River,” by Bur leigh, by the well-trained choir of St. John’s A. M. E. church; “Zion,” a composition by the choir master of Zion Baptist church by that popular choir; “Didn’t It Rain,” Burleigh, by Mrs. Pearl Ray Reese; selections by Pilgrim Baptist male quartet; by the Taylor quartet, composed of the Rev. Russel Taylor and his sons, Russel, jr., William and Elbert, the Carna tion Choral club, and the National Negro Anthem, Johnson, by the aud ience. Mrs. Carrie Carter recited delight fully her own arrangement of Paul Laurence Dunbar’s “In the Morning” and Mrs. L. M. Brewer gave readings from Countee Cullen and Langston Hughes. The principal address was deliver ed by Attorney H. J. Pinkett, who traced the influence of the Negro from ancient times upon the Grecian and Roman civilization and also upon modern times. He expressed the hope that should the sceptre of power pass to the darker race, which is a possibility, the darker races would not use it to exploit and repress as the dominant white race has done. The Rev. John Albert Williams told the purpose of Negro History Week, saying that it was to inspire our youth with the deeds done by members of the race, not to encourage self-con ceit, but to develop self respect. The Negro press was the subject of a paper by Mr. Fred Wakefield and the Negro in art and music was pre sented by Miss Alice Hunter. Brief and appropriate remarks were made by Mrs. C. W. Axtell, vice president of the South Side Social Settlement; Mrs. J. H. Vance, chairman of Col ored Work of the Y. W. C. A., and by Miss Belle Ryan, assistant super intendent of schools. The benediction was pronounced by the Rev. John H. Grant, pastor of ,St. John's A. M. E. church. Mrs. M. L. Rhone, director of the Cultural Center, South Side, presided. New York City—According to a re port being oft heard along Broadway and in the theatrical circles of Har lem, Miller and Lyles will soon pro duce a new show titled “Still Shuf fling,” at the 63rd Street Theatre, New York.
