_ _
Vol. 3, No. 42 Lincoln 3, Nebraska Thursday, May 5, 1949
—Courtesy of The Lincoln Journal.
Dr. Charles S. Johnson, Dr. C. W. Smith, convocations chairman,
and Dr. R. G. Gustavson confer before convocation begins. Later,
Dr. Johnson spoke at a luncheon for faculty members and friends
I\U Students Hear Famous Fisk
Educator Cite Positive Ways In
Which Social Problems Are Met
“Numbers of young people, on
their own, are engaging the social
problems of our time and new
values are emerging that in time,
may be the antidote of our age.”
Approximately 2,000 students,
faculty and friends were on hand
at the Coliseum April 26 to honor
some 1,800 University of Nebraska
students for their outstanding
scholarship and to hear Dr.
Charles S. Johnson. Introduced as
a “distinguished American educa
tor” by Chancellor R. G. Gustav
son. Dr. Johnson spoke from the
subject “Fear is a Negative Moti
vation.” He told that young people
today ^io not fear war, depression
or new ideas, and that one of the
most promising symptoms was the
positive approach being made to
world problems. Citing five values
which are* not inspired by fear,
the president of Fisk University
listed:
1. Their invasion of the not-yet
socially-acceptable worlds of la
bor, politics, social service, inter
racial and intercultural education
and living. There is a sense of so
cial responsibility and participa
tion that is being demanded as
part of the educational process.
2. There is the swift contagion
of the doctrine of human rights.
Only ten years ago the idea of
human rights was largely a con
cept of philosophy. Today it is a
principle of action. Taking an
aside at the opposition of the anti
civil rights bloc, he said, “This is
indeed a new climate, a new chal
lenge to youth, a new day, despite
the insolent rebellion of a pro
vincial section of our own country,
against the tide of history.”
3. New definitions for such
terms as democracy. “M any
American youths who fought for
democracy,” he said, “had little
real conception of its meaning.
They did not see the incongruity
of such a crusade to save or carry
democracy to the world in racially
segregated units.”
4. An almost unhealthy respect
for science. Our emotions, our val
ues, ideals and decisions, in their
living context of actual experi
ence, lie beyond the reach of
scientific methods.
5. The imperative pursuit of
peace.
Concluding, he stated that “in
our world the possibilities of good
are as limitless as the possibilities
of evil. There need be no fear and
no frustation if you only use the
skills and t knowledge already
within your reach, for fear itself
Is a negative motivation.”
| Following outstanding scholars
| received awards given for scholar
ship. Among those listed were
Granville Coggs, Charlene Colbert
and Jeanne Malone.
Illinois Names
Summers Court
Commissioner
SPRINGFIELD, 111. (ANP)
Frank M. Summers of Spring
field was appointed commissioner
of the Court of Claims last week
by Gov. Adlai Stevenson. The
appointment made the 55-year
old attorney the highest ranking
Negro state officer in downstate
Illinois. He is the first person of
his race to hold this position.
Summers is a life long Demo
crat. In 1948 he was an alternate
delegate to the Democratic Na
tional convention.
Afro Arts Bazaar Holds
First Annual Exhibit
At Hotel Theresa
NEW YORK.—The First An
nual Tea and Exhimits of the Afro
Art bazaar was held in the Sky
line room of Hotel Theresa last
Monday. Estelle M. Osborne and
Etta Moten, co-owners, were host
esses. The Afro Arts bazaar is a
gift shop which offers objects
from Haiti, the West Indies and
vaiious parts of Africa. Elsie La
Moine, is the manager of the
unique enterprise.
Included On Nebraska’s Honor List
CHARLENE COLBERT. GRANVILLE COGGS. JEANNE MALONE
Above are three students who were among the 1808 honored at the University of Nebraska’s Honors
Convocation April Z5. L to r.: Miss Charlene Colbert, St. Joseph, Missouri, freshman honor student
and recipient of the Mortar Board scholarship; center, Granville Coggs, Little Rock, Arkansas, senior
honor student listed with those who had an average above 8 since enrollment and who also received
a Regents scholarship; right. Miss Jeanne Malone, Lincoln, recipient of the Chi Omega prize awarded <
to togfotogy majors. 1
Calif. House
Passes Bills
Against Bias
SACRAMENTO, Calif. (ANP).
Two anti-bias bills, introduced by
the two Negro assemblymen,
passed the house of the state
legislature, last week. Both bills
had failed to pass two years ago.
Assemblyman Augustus Haw
kins introduced a bill which would
ban bias in automobile insurance,
and Assemblyman Byron Rum
ford introduced a bill outlawing
racial discrimination in the Cali
fornia national guard.
Both bills must pass the state
senate and be okayed by the gov
ernor before becoming law.
Masons To Give
Dawson Award
CHICAGO, (ANP). The United
Supreme council, A&ASR, Prince
Hall affiliation, has announced
when the Scottish Rite Masons
meet in Chicago, May 8-10, for
their 68th annual session, Con
gressman Wm. L. Dawson will re
ceive an achievement award as
the outstanding Scottish Rite
Mason of the year.
Dawson will be the first re
cipient of the medal which was
established in 1948. It is given in
recognition of his significant pub
lic career as the first Negro chair
man of a standing congressional
committee and for conspicuous
service to the United Supreme
council in the liquidation of its
cathedral debt.
Quinn Chapel
Revival Series
Ended Friday
The series of revival meetings
that have been conducted at Quinn
Chapel since April 18 came
to a-close April 29. The evangelist
for the series was the Rev. E. V.
Wade of Omaha, who did an ex
cellent job of preaching and of in
spiring his hearers. Converts re
ceived baptism on Sunday May 1.
Mrs. Gibbons Heads Urban
League Membership Drive
Artists Decline
Talks At Univ.
Of Ala. Festival
BIRMINGHAM. (ANP). Don’t
think for a minute that all artists
live in abstract worlds, far re
moved from real issues. Two
artists have declined invitations to
the University of Alabama art fes
tival because of segregation.
According to the Birmingham
News, Dr. Francis Taylor, director
of the Metropolitan Museum of
Art, New York, and Dr. Thomas
Munro, director of the Cleveland
Art museum, have cancelled
speeches at the university.
The internationally prominent
authorities on art will not address
the festival, scheduled for April
22 and 23, because the university
has accepted the works of Negro
artists but denies them the op
portunity of participating in the
exposition.
Baptist Laymen
Have State Meet
In Omaha May 1
The New Era Baptist state lay
men’s movement had their an
nual men's day program Sun
day, May 1, at 3 p. m. in Zion
Baptist church, Omaha, according
to Curt Seals, secretary. Guest
speaker for the occasion was
the Rev. Z. W. Williams, pastor
of the Morning Star Baptist
church, Omaha and vice president
of the New Era State convention.
A civic leader, he is also well
grounded in the field of religious
education. The men’s choir of 46
voices will furnish music which
will be open to the public. Mr.
T. H. Jenkins of Omaha is presi
dent of the organization.
Wichita Elects
Negro To Board
Of Education
WICHITA, Kas. (ANP). By
running sixth in a field of 16 can
didates, Dr. Hugh N. Sims, a local
dentist, was recently elected to
the Wichita school board. This
makes Dr. Sims the first Negro
ever elected to the city board.
The Lincoln Urban League, as
of May 1, announces their An
nual Membership Roundup un
der the direction of Mrs. Florence
Gibbons. Your membership in
this agency is of far greater value
as evidence of local interest and
co-operation than for financial
support. Is the Uuban League
serving the community? Has it
served in the promotion of a bet
ter social, economic or education
status for the Negroes of our
community? Let the record speak.
In posing the above questions,
Mr. Clyde W. Malone, executive
secretary of the Lincoln Urban
League, offered the following in
formation.
“The free Employment place
ment of jobs stands at 144 for
1948. Estimating the average earn
ings at only $20.00 per week the
total of $158,400 was earned by
these workers in one year. This
does not record the morale and
spiritual gains of the recipients.
“New job opportunities were
found for 4 persons that may pro
vide openings for other Negro
workers.
“67 documents were notarized,
without charges, that involved
pension application, job refer
ences, real estate purchases and
reports.
“23 youth and adult organiza
tions and clubs with a total en
rolment of 523 were provided
with recreation and social oppor
tunities. Average weekly attend
ance by all groups was 1500, in
cluding 21 organizations not un
der the Urban League supervision.
“5114 letters, programs and
bulletins were mimeographed
without charge other than ma
terial used.
“Vocational guidance given to
26 youth, free movies were shown
to 15,000 persons and housing was
secured for 196 individuals.
Many tasks such as letters of
reference written, counseling in
individual problems, record keep
ing, attending meetings in the in
terest of better race relation and
community service, were not
listed statistically.
“These and many other services
we have and shall continue to
render. On the basis of this rec
ord we are asking your member
ship, signifying your co-operation
and good-will.”
The membership Fee is $1.00
per year and includes your sub
scription to our Bulletin issued bi
monthly. Get your 1940 member
ship card at the Urban League
office or from any of the follow
ing: .
Mr*. E. S. Wegner Mrs, Katherine
Mrs. Florence Lytle
Gibbons Mr. Thomas Pansing
Mrs. Edna Pa#e ifrs. Leonard Motley
Mrs. Ritha Banks Mrs. Mary Kinder
Mr. John Irving Dr. J. M. Reinhardt
Mr, ’’red Nevels Mrs. Ida Allen
Mrs. Margaret Mr. Dale Weeks
Williams Mr. R. T. Malone
Mrs. E. L Williams Mrs. Roma Hender
Mr. B. G. Clark son
Mrs. Carrie King Mrs. Beulah Bradley
Mrs. E. P. Leonard Mr. C. W. Malone
Mr. Maurice Cope- Dr. M. F. Amholt
land Mrs. Basilla Bell
Mrs. Helene Foe Mrs. W. B. Davie
Mr. Karl Amdt
/Vo Easy Chairs For Me
By William Henry Huff
I seldom sit in easy chairs
For fear they'll make me lazy,
I let the others sit in theirs
Ev'n though they call me crazy.
I had no such in early years;
I sat on puncheon benches,
Sometimes 'mid Mood and briny
tears
boys fend to toe taench—.