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About The weekly review (Lincoln, Nebraska) 1933-19?? | View Entire Issue (Feb. 23, 1933)
_ The Weekly Review PUBLISHED WEEKLY AND '‘DEVOTED TO THE INTERESTS OF THE COLORED CITIZENRY OF NEBRASKA ’ VOLUME ONE LINCOLN, NEBRASKA, THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 23, 1933 NUMBER EIGHT J. H. Kerns Reports to the Findings Committee SOCIAL SURVEY REPORT MADE BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHOSEN Before an interracial group of 27 persons representing the social, eiv ie and educational groups in Lincoln J. Harvey Kerns, executive secretary of the Urban League of Omaha pre sented hiv findings in the recent sur vey he has just completed on The Social and Economic Conditions of Negroes in Lincoln. The survey, aside from the social and civic life of the local Negro, deals with Ne gro health, education and race rela tions. Among the more serious problems the survey revealed was the poor and unsanitary conditions Negroes must accept on the north side, the lack of recreational opportunities for Negroes and his laek of industrial opportunities. Facts brought out in the survey disclosed that from 1929 to 1933 the death rate among Lin coln Negroes exceeded the birth rate by 17 persons. Mr. Kerns attrib uted this to lack of definite health training among the Negro popula tions and their failure to take ad vantage of the various health facil ities. l^ack oi constructive leisure tune activities was given as a cause of the high delinquency rate among Ne groes, which was found to be 8.8 of the total population. While the re lation of Negroes and Whites in Lin coln are friendly the report stated there had, been no serious thought on the part of Negroes and Whites to consider seriously the economic side of the race problem which is basic in the Negroes’ social welfare. The., survey ..revealed.. 7.. Negro churches in the city with a mem bership of 483 persons. While the chnreheB are doing a commendable service, the report stated, the church programs are largely one of evan gelism and offers little or no social service activities. Mr. Kerns stated because the church programs, while lacking in a social appeal many Ne gro youths are leaving the church. According to the survfJy ^Lincoln affords no place where colored youth or adults may have recreational out lets or social programs. Because the churches are burdened with debt and for lack of trained leadership little assistance could be expected from that source it was stated. Among the more important recom-; mendations based on the findings of the survey were: 1. The organization of neighbor hood clubs where household manage ment, child welfare and balanced budgets may be taught colored mothers. 2. A more serious consideration of the employment opportunities for Negroes. 3. An educational campaign to ac quaint and urge Negroes to make greater use of the health facilities at their disposal. 4. An effort to federate some ot the smaller* ehiurches^for the sake of economy. 5. A community center in which may be developed a social service program under a competent colored person who would coordinate the ac tivities of local colored groups and cooperate and council with heads of established social agenmes and schools in matters affecting the Negro. . The following wore present at the luncheon: I)r. A. L. Weatherly, pas tor of All Souls Unitarian Church; Louis Horne, secretary of the Com munity Chest; J. D. Hertzler, presi dent of the Council of Social Agen cies; Miss Treater, Y. W. C. A- girl reserve secretary; Miss Drake, exec utive secretary of Y. W. C. A.; Mrs. H. B. Williams, department of sosiology, Uni. of Nebraskn; T. T. McWilliams, editor of the Weekly PLAN FOR NATION WIDE JOBLESS DEMONSTRATIONS Chicago—Nation-wide demonstra tions of protest by the unemployed against cold, hunger and want on the day that Franklin Roosevelt takes the oath as president is called for in a communication mailed from the Chicago office of the National Federation of Unemployed Workers’ League- of America. “We are in the midst of the fourth winter of unemployment," writes Kail Borders, chairman of the temporary national executive committee. Addressed to all organizations, especially of unemployed workers, that wish to join in protest against the conditions which have caused unemployment, the call concludes: “This further fact is plain: The stage where local activity alone is effective has passed. The problem is a national one. It must be met on a national scale. To this end the Federation of Unemployed Workers’ ^Leagues of America has been formed. The temporary executive committee plans a national conven tion in May. “But national action cannot be deferred longer; therefore, the com mittee 1ms called for mass meetings to be held on March 4. Lists Its Demands "“On March 4, a new administra tion assumes power in Washington,” it states. “Its greatest problem is unem ployment. On that date your tem porary executive committee calls up otr every member organization of the federation to call a mass meeting in its town or city mid forward .csom tions through delegates to Washing ton demanding: A special session of congress to enact legislation. For immediate increases in di rect unemployment relief. For public, works, especially slum clearance. For unemployment compensation and a national system of unemploy ment bureaus. For a shorter work day and work with no reduction in pay. For old age pensions to remove the aged from employment and give security to them. For child labor laws to remove children from the labor market.” KERNS TO MAKE RADIO ADDRESS J. Harvey Kerns will give a brief summary of the social survey of Ne groes in Lincoln next Thursday af ternoon, March 2, over radio sta tion KFOR. Review; George Evans, promnient civic worker; Mrs. Maud Johnson, Grand Matron O. E. S.; W- Luke, executive secretary of the Y. M. C. A •; Mrs; F. F. Teal, former director of Camp Fire activities; Mrs. Doro othy Dean, musician, social worker; .1. R. Kelly, employed at Golds, Scout Master Troop 61; Arnold Walker, student sociology depart ment; O. J. Burkhardt, employed nt Nebraska state eapitol; M. T. Woods, acting executive secretary Lincoln Urban League; Miss R. E. Pyrtle, principal Bancroft School, ex-president N. E. A.; Ward Gray, executive boys secretary Y. M. C. A.; Mr. Haves, executive secretary University Y. M- C. A.; C. A, Sor ensen, ex-Attorney General of State of Nebraska. Dr. Wetherlv presided at the meet ing. The following people were se lected ns members of the Board of Directors of the Lincoln Urban League: Dr. A. L. Weatherly, T• T McWilliams, C. A. Sorensen, Mrs. J. Edwards, Mrs. Dorothy Denn, George Evans, Miss Ruth E. Pyrtle, ,T. R. Kelly, Miss Alice Howell, Dr. A- B. Moss and Mrs. F. F. Teal. I “DE LAWD” OKAYS JIM CROW PLAN \Vuslhngton, 1). C.—A special sep arsto night has been set aside “for Negroes” by the National Theatre hero when colored peoplo will be granted an opportunity to sec Rich ard B. Harrison and the all Negro cost in the world famous religious play, “The Unco* Pastures.” No Negroes will be allowed to enter tiie National Theatre r.t any other per formance during the two week run ot the play. Mr. Harrison has ap proved the plan. The Elks have closed a contract lor the performance and have an nounced that the proceeds will go into their educational fund. LAST RITES FOR MR. W. A. HARDIN The funeral of Mr. Willis Agustus Hardin was held Saturday, Fefy, IStli, from Brown’s Mortuary. Reverend Burbridge of Quinn Chapel A. M. E. Church officiated and was ussisted by Reverend Win chester of Mt. Zion Baptist. Mrs. Pearl Crissman w'as in charge of the music. Rev. Burbridge in his eloquent eulogy stressed the beauties of life spent in the services of others. He said “although it is impossible for everyone to be ministers of the gos pel there is the possibility of every person teaching the “Word” thru example and precept of every day living. ” The acting pallbearers were Mr. William Jenqucn/., John Marshal!, Tnh,n Wjlbomg Vi«nrod Ross, Mose Stepney and W. 1L Fields. Mr. James Dean was in charge of I he cars. LOUISIANA LYNCHES NEGRO Only fourteen hours after J. P. Bachelor, the cashier of the King gold National Bank of Ringgold, Louisiana, was beaten to death in his home supposedly by a Negro, a mob of citizens took the law into their own hnnds as is the custom when colored people are said to be involved in crimes. A mob of sixty people bound and hanged Nejson Nash. Not satisfied with having taken his life by hang ing the man, they fired 50 shots into his already limp body. Nelson Nash was never definitely identified as the man who beat Bach elor to death, by Bachelor’s wife, according to police authorities. Un fortunately this has often been the case in Louisiana and other states that have generally adopted this scheme of reducing its colored popu lation. It will be interesting to see the steps that the state officials of Louis iane take to try to reduce this wild orgy that the savage whites of the souih have been on since the days of slavery. PREJUDICED REDS EXPELLED There were nine white persons ex pelled from the communist party of the United States during the past nine months. These persons were dismissed from the ranks of the Communists because of the race prejudice, or, as it was called by them “white chauvenism.’ LEAGUE DIRECTORS TO MEET The Board of directors of the re cently organized Lincoln Urban League will hold their first monthly meeting at a 12'-00 o’clock luncheon in the directors room of the Y. M. C. A., Thursday, March 2nd. Mr. J. Harvey Kerns, the Executive Secretary of the Omaha Urban League has been invited to be pres ent to serve in an advisory capacity. Dr. A. L. Weatherly is chairman of the board. METHOD AND PURPOSE OF THE URBAN LEAGUE The i' limn League was formed to bring the lenders of the Negro and white races together to deal with the problems confronting the Urban Ne gro, many whom had come from rurlal sections of the South. It is an organization for stimulat ing thought and notion. Tt alms to provide '• (a) FOllUM—Where the Negro can do his own thinking. (b) PLATFORM—Where he can express his own thoughts. (e) INSTITUTION —i Which cun give support to the Negro in carry ing out the aspirations which he forme. Some Urban Leaguo Principles 1. That any program, however necessary, should not ho undertaken blindly, hut must be preceded by a scientific study of the Held. 2. To carry out its program, Ne gro social workers should be secured and trained, thus placing the respon sibility for ‘initiative upon the Ne gro himself. 3. To work with, rather than for Negroes. 4. To substitute for the old term inology, “The Negro Problem” the understanding that the problems of the Negro arc bnsic social prob lems which are. the direct concern of the community ns a whole. THE URBAN LEAGUE Is non-sectarian and non-political. It attempts no radical solution to the “problem” of Negroes hut believes a sound and sane approach should be the course pursued. Industrial relations, health, hous ing, neighborhood activities, clubs for neighborhood improvement., and race relation programs are a few activities sponsored by the League. Branches in 47 cities where they are located. The philosophy of the Urban League may be expressed in the Is*ague motto: “Not Alms—But Op portunity.” “The work of the National Urban league in training Negroes in our cities so ns to adapt themselves more readily to the condition of urban life is fundamental to the progress of the race. I wish the League all success in the New Year.” Yours faithfully, HERBERT HOOVER SURVEY REPORT TO BE MADE The sociological survey that was requested by a group of social minded people of Lincoln has been completed. Several copies of the re port have been placed in the hands of the various social agencies. This report will be given in detail at the Mt. Zion Baptist Church, 12th and F streets at 8:00 o’clock, Thurs day, March 2, by Mr. J. Harvey Kerns, executive secretary of the Omaha Urban League, who directed the work in making the survey. The final refiort is more comprehensive than had ever been anticipated. It gives in detail historical facts relative to the Negro in Lincoln and present status of the social and .in dustrial conditions of the Negro cin Lincoln with relation to other groups in the community. This report was given to a mixed group at the Y. M. C. A who were selected ns a Findings Committee and who wore to later recommend the present organisation of the Lin coln Urban League to the Council of Social Agencies for membership. . This will be a public meeting and one of great interest to everyone in the community. The Review is your paper—sup port it and its advertisers. ! NEGRO HISTORY WEEK PROGRAM Humlu\ night, nt tho Quinn Chap el A. M. K. Church, beginning at 7 :S0 p. m., tho Semper Fidelia Liter ary Club will 8[>oii8or ita annual Negro History Week Program. This club is composed of university and senior high school students. Its pur pose in presenting this program is to familiarize the local raoe group with tho outstanding accomplishments of the race in various lines of endeav or; to inform the public of tho tre mendous development of the raco toward equality with other races in fields hitherto unknown to the New gro. Accounts of the Negro in educa tion, literature, music and art, busi iii ss, science, politics, journalism and its social development will bo given by students. Readings from Negro authors aud‘ musical numbers from Negro composers will be rendered. WOE ARE THEY! Little do we stop to realize what gruesome consequences a wanton lie may have; nor do wo often conceive of the destruction on innocent souls which lies in tho wake of the false prattlings of a drunken tongue. Ruby Bntes, in utter disregard of the truth, made a statement that had the deadliness of a six-shooter; that statement was made without any vision of the consequences, without any care that the lives of innocent Scottsborough boys might be in volved; that, statement was a fcpB*— necusation of assault and rape. Now it has recently appeared from her own written confession in the form of a letter that not one hair of her head did these Negro boys touch. Even after the evidence of the falsity of this trumped up charge was brought into existence by Ruby’s own pen, the police of Huntsville would not release it to the boys’ attorneys. The police had no interest in the security of the boys' lives. They would rather that the costly consequences of the falsi fication be realized. However, the justice of the law has compelled this hit of material evidence to be pro duced; and it means, if the great odds arc overcome, that the Scotts horough hoys will be vindicated. Had not this statement intervened, what disaster this lie wouM have caused! TIME TO REGISTER Important spring elections in the offing recall the fact that Negroes often in the past have lost their franchise because of failure to reg ister. These times call for an es pcowlly keen interest in the election oi the right men to office. For if ever the city needed careful admin istration to guide it over a trying period it is now. If we fail to use votes that we have we can have little cause for complaint if those who are elected by the votes of others fail to re spond to our wishes. Under the new registration laws the voter need not register for each election. It is sufficient if ho registers and votes in the following elections. Check up on your own ease. If you registered last summer or fall and Voted in either the primaries or the general election you are ready to vote. Tf you failed to vote in both or have moved you must register again. Whatever you do, register, and tl|,en vote your choice. Spring ia in the air. |ptnwtv Hatoaska-Slato Historical Society,.