Nebraska Newspapers

    _ 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,.