I HE BENNETT BANNER
NOVEMBER, 1947
THE BENNETT BANNER SYLVIA READER’S RETREAT FACULTY CLOSE-UP
^Anything Worth Reading^ We Write^
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Editor—
DOBOTUY Aknou), '48
AstccUite Editor—
ViRciNiA jErrERiES, '48
Neu)$ Editor—
Gwls Cann, '4S
EOITOUIAL BOAKD
feature Editor—
Dolures Haves, 'ds |
Buxincis Manager—
Elizabeth Riveba, '49
STAFF ASSISTANTS
Circulation Editor—
tJETTV MC.JONNAUGHEY, '49
A»ltant Circulation t.aitoTt—
> ANNIE UCNI, '50
ViaciNiA WACSTArr, '48
Acsittant BusinesM Manauers—
Fannie Carroll, '49
SYLVIA MOCK, ’it)
Jacqueline Vounc, '49
KSTHER Harris, ’4U
TYPISTS
Fannie Caiiroll '49
Altamese l^TER '49
Wilma Vestaj. '50
Exchange Editor—
Gloria Alexander, 50
Aisistant Exchange Editors—
tilliD^tlT i'JUMAN, '4l
Maxine Haixh, '49
Secretary—
L,illian Murphy, 'iO
Assistant Secretary—
Altamese I .k.tkr, '49
Fannie Dent '50
Lillian murphy '4j
Betty Mcconnaughey '49
PROOF READERS
Dolores Hayes '48 Ljllian Beckham '50 Audrey Cochrane '50
jEsmi Hampton '48 inohmacene LiRecnwood '48 H ankie Carroll '49
Marilyn Motley ’49 MaroAret Derr.ckson '48 sylvia Kock '49
REPORTERS
Eleanor Barnwell '49 —
Lillian Beckham '5u8
Margaret Brown '51 ”
Audrey Cochrane '50
i’ANNiE Dent '50 ,
Edna Uamble '48
Maxine Haith '49
DOLORCK HAYES 'Hd
Uessal Holland
Barbara Jones 'b
Alice Judd '4t
Marilyn Motley '49
i
LtWfcNDOLYN CANN - ’49
xjHiuuLn riTTMAN ’^y
i V "iy
,f\NNlfc IVI. SMITH
• VtbTAL
uACWL/KLINE lOUNG -iy
iVlAKGAKl^l’ L/ERH*Ci^SON 4l>
A^uH4Viriuc.Ne. vjMc.bi'i wUOi>
rvOSALlND L.YNN - '4J
oYLViA ItOCK ’49
bO
AL'lAMfattli '4U
ADVISOR — - CAhSAR R. BLAKE
LEST WE FORGET
1 haiik.sgiving—a lurkcy diiuici with all Uiai goes with it, lootbali
gamti, cxtuciuciiL, uowUi, laugiucr, gaiety, luii—is tins wliat ilianks
giving means to you? Is 1 haiiKsgiving a tiaie to make meiiy, a tniic in
wliiai to Stull ourselves as ii it were our last meal, a time to throw away
all tile dull tares ol every day existence and just liaVe a gooil nine.'' Per
haps this day has a greater sigiiUitante, a iieeper and lar more import
ant meaning to you. I'erhaps you tan see through the gaiety and liappi-
ness back to the time when the day was loundeti and oi the meaning it
held lor those who lirst observed it.
Our minds drilt back to our I'ilgrim lathers wlio liist set aside a day
on which we could give thanks. Ihis day was set aside by them as a day
ol reverence; a time when one coukl oiler thanks to (»od lor all our
countless blessings. Other holidays had been oljserved but there vas no
day set aside to give thanks. So our lar-iinnking and wise ancestors set
aside this day as a day when the entire nation could give thanks. No
lootbali games nor huge turkey dinners had liiey in mind. I'liey just
wanted to oiler thanks lor the many blessings bestowctl ii])on them as a
strange jjcople in a strange land.
'Ihrough the years this idea has more or less given away to the idea
ot gaiety and lestivity. Somewhere along the line this day ol ]>rayerlul
thanks has been ciianged so that ihe true idea has almost been lorgotten.
Most ol us do not stop lor live mnaues on this day to give a moment’s
thought to its true meaning. 11 we would sto|) just long enough to look
at the word I'lianksgiving and break it up into ihe two words that make
it up perhaps we could get its greater meaning. I'hanks—just a way ot
letting someone know how much you appreciate their ihoiightlul kuid-
ness. Giving—to give thanks by prayers, a kind word or deed, or just
some slight remembrance.
As we celebrate lhanksgiving ihis year let us try to really give
thanks. I'hanks that we are not among the countless thousands hungry,
Iriendless, homeless, and lost the world over. 1 hanks liiat here—secure,
happy, and satislied we are sheltered Irom the trageilies iliat go on about
us. 1 hanks that we are a Iree people in a Iree lanil, that we are loved and
wanted and can return this love. I hanks that here we can really live
and enjoy the ‘lour Ireedoms’ which are just a mystiial dream to so many.
Lest we lorget—the stark, bare tragedy ol human existence, the plight
ot millions who like us not loo many years ago hail time lor gaiety and
laughter, happiness and good times, the people we know whom lile has
treated a bit unlair and unjust, the thousands who are not lortiinate
enough to have our peace ot mind and joy ot contentment—let us remem
ber to give thanks. Thanks to our parents, Iriends, Beiniett sisters, and
above all thanks to (iod. Rememijer November 27, lor t is )our day—
it has been set aside so that you may give thanks lor yoin many blessings.
INQUIRING REPORTER
Ijuestioa: *'11
Of what slgnlttpance to you Is the
Kreedom Train?
Answers:
To me. the Freedom Train symbo
lizes what men down through the
nges have been trying to maintain—
freedom and equality for all peoples.
It serves as a reminder to those who
have forgotten that we are all one in
the sight of God. l)rothers under the
Hkin. If the train can imbed into the
minds of all people the idea of “in
unity there is strength,” I do feel
that it would have accomplished its
purpose.
MADBIJNE I’KRKINS, ’48.
s. gregation and discrimination are
lound in its travels although It should
iymbolize the elimination of these
two evils.
PATRICIA DUCKETT, ’49
The Freedom Train has for me no
Fignificance of any progress in men’s
relations because of the fact that
In my opinion, one of the most
unique methods of educating the
.uasses through what might be called
•jxperiences is the Freedom Train.
The Department of Justice as the I'f-
icial sponsor says that the train will
)v-pass all cities which plan segre.
;ati()-i. This stand gives rise to a
est as to whether the south will let
-.iich an educational opportunity pass
>y insisting upon segregation and
.whether the sponsors will really stick
'o their policy of non-segregation on
he Freedom Train.
-LILLIE MOSBY, ’49.
VIEWS THE NEWS
Something has been added to the
international situations. The United
."tates now has a chance to gloat and
crow. There has appeared in the
liussian “Times ” an article stating
tiiat communism and capitalism CAN
live side by side peacefully. The news
arid radio commentators are going
wild! Speculation is high. The gener-
;il consensus ot opinion is that Russi.x
lias at last realized the power behind
the United State's firm stand in
foreign affairs and is frightened. The
general shout going up is, “three
cheers for the good old U.S.A.; those
communist “jerks” should have
known in the first place that they
aren't good enough to hold a candle
to us!” The common people of the
Inited States now consider them,
selves important and right (a bad
combination in any language).
It seems to me that the United
States with all it's preaching and
praying about Democracy and the
right to free enterprise had better
stop and think. The Russian people
who stood firm against the threat
of all Hitler's “Blitzkreig” are hardy
folk. The communistic government
that is leading the Russian people
today is not a wishy-washy affair. If
Russia is retracting her present
stand on politics, she has something
sti'onger and better . . . and more
deadly . . . up her sleeve.
It would be a very smart thing for
the American people to look ask
ance at Russia's new move and to
try to find a new foreign policy for
ourselves. If we don't, we may find
ourselves far behind the American
‘eight-ball.”
On the national front, affairs are
I'Ubbling: The latest thing to strike
tlie eyes of the public is the publica
tion on civil rights. So far the ac.
coptance of this publication as a
fjood and powerful thing seems to be
nationwide. I wonder, though, what
the nation is going to do besides
accept and anprove the proposals
made in the publication?
President Truman has at last ac
quired his sense of bearing. He has
improved as president so much that
Ihe popularity of the Democratic
party has again risen above that of
the Tiepublicans. Or perhaps that
change is due to the capitalistic . . .
oops ... I mean Republican disre
gard for the common and hungry
folk.
Last evening. I heard a program
called "Town Hall Meeting.” The
policy and the ineftectualness of the
United Nations Organization was be
ing discussed. They had a fancy
name, but the real thought behind
it wa.s whether or not the United
Nations could solve our world prob-
etns. The conclusion was mostly
fortune telling coupled with forlorn
hope. If the Russian delegation will
u,ilo'.y the U.S. and Great Britain to
ri;n over her, IF each nation at this
late date will forget their own per.
sonal enterprises, and IF the demo
cratic way of life is accepted as the
MO-spel with freedom promised for all
. . . except . . . Communists, Jews,
Negroes, Catliolics, Chinese, Japanese
(minority groups) then we will have
peace. But meanwhile let us all
tremble in our boots and talk in
whispers about the oncoming “World
War Three.”
It would do well for all Americans
10 be aware of the impending situa
tions. It would be well to open our
eyes and minds. If the world marches
on. so do we de: but if it perishes our
fate is also sealed.
Kings Blood Royal
By SLNCLAIK LEWIS
This story reminds me of American
Democracy: it means well, but en
tirely misses the point. Neil Kings-
blood suddenly in the midst of all hi.s
petty race hatred finds himself a
Negro. It is not a lot of Negro blood,
but Just enough to earn him the
title of “Nigger” or “Spook” 01
“Shine” if it is discovered. Since he
finds himself made by blood a kind,
red to the “dusky” people, he begins
to seek them out. Of course, in time
Neil finds that the Negro people are
just like their white brothers. They
hate, love, pretend to be more than
they are, and have ambitions . . . just
as the white people. The more Nell
understands them, the more he feels
that he should ally himself with his
people; his colored kin. Unfortunate
ly, the rest of the Kingsblood famil>
feel differently about the matter. In
fact. Papa Kingsblood loses all wish
10 live because of this unconquerabU
shame. Finally, in a meeting where
another of the frequent outburstt
ol anger against the Negro people is
in progress, Neil in an endeavor to
stem the tide of feeling reveals the
fact that he has Negro blood. The
I'esult is dramatic. All the once dear
friends drop from him, he loses his
job, his wife is urged to leave him,
and his child suffers the indignity Oi
l.oeing branded a “Nigger.” Finally,
the good American people of Neil’s
community decide that it would con
taminate them to live in the same
neighborhood with a colored man.
Neil is asked to move. Upon his re
fusal a small riot occurs with all
Neil’s friends (the colored ones)
coming to his house to help him out
against all his ex-friends. As the be.
iginning barges into the middle of the
Kingsblood life, so the end merely
; stops with Neil on his way to the
;courthouse with a prejudiced judge.
1 It is gratifying to find that such
an eminent author as Sinclair Lewis
ia aware of the ensuing problem, it is
stimulating to find that he cares
enough about the problem to write
about it, but it is disappointing to
discover that he, with all his sin
cerity missed the mark. The reader
is not challenged, he is told that
such and such is the problem, and
so is the solution. Because of the nak
edness of the plot and idea, “Kings
blood Royal” misses the mark of a
masterriece and sinks into the class
of all other “race ranking” books.
Home Ec Cliib Plans
(Continued From Page One)
groups will be under the supervision
of Hisses F. L. Guenveur, Gwendolyn
Jones and Mr. J. C. McMillan.
SENIORS RETAIN
SCHOLARSHIP CUP
If you were to look over the Ben
nett students it would be easy for you
io decide which class was the most
studious, intelligent, and hard-work
ing. You would notice the Seniors
haggard and worn but still valiantly
hurrying back and forth to the li
brary. Stacks of books you’ll find
them carrying to their rooms to pore
over until the wee hours of the night.
You'll see the science students rush,
iiig to the lab to finish experiments,
the English majors frantically writ
ing papers, sociology and psychology
majors in deep case studies of their
fellow workers, and the social science
majors quoting dates of all important
historical events. The practice teach
ers will be found ardently discussing
their theories on modern education.
I Alas these poor, hard w'orking
j s.eniors have been recognized. For
their efforts the beforenamed stu
dents have received the Jane Miller
Jones scholarship cup for the record
they made last school year. It goes
viithout saying that the cup will stay
in the possession of the now victori
ous owners. Let me remind you that
this class in the Junior year was the
first class to obtain this honor. Con.
gi atulations for a job well done.
This month, The Banner wishes to
salute two newcomers to the faculty
- —Mr. Sayles, an addition to the
Science Department, and Dr. Karfoil,
in the department of Social Science
and History.
Mr. J. Henry Sayles, Jr., was born
in San Antonia, Texas. He received
ris B. S. degree from Arkansas State
College where he became a member
of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity
-ind the Beta Kappa Chi Scientific
,-^onorary Society. Mr. Sayles then
ittended the University of Michigan
Yhere he received a Master of Sci
ence degree and also did further
study there.
Mr. Sayles agrees that some of his
.nost interesting experiences were re
ceived during the four years he serv
ed in the armed forces. Particularly
interesting during this time were his
.ravels in Europe. While there, he
was stationed in Germany, Austria,
Holland, France and England.
Mr. Sayles came to Bennett after
being in the Science Department at
Langston University. He says that
the philosophy of the school Is the
thing that influenced his coming
here a great deal. His major Interest
is in inorganic chemistry and medi
cine, although he finds organic chem_
istry quite fascinating and usually
spends his spare time in the labora
tory. When asked how he feels about
ihe problem of atomic energy and
whether or not it will destroy the
world, Mr. Sayles states, “In view of
contributions that scientists have
made to humanity and science, I feel
that scientists are interested only in
facts and not in facts from the point
of view of destroying man. I am in
clined to believe that the scientists
/ill not be the ones to destroy, but
ather the ruthless men who are in
terested in world dominion who will
use the discoveries of scientists to
attain this dominion.”
When not in his chemistry labora-
; tory, Mr. Sayles may be found on his
I way to a lake or nearby river fishing,
j as this is his favorite sport. Along
I with fishing, Mr. Sayles finds other
I s])orts such as basketball, football,
I and track very interesting also.
[ Dr. Rose Karfoil was born in the
[ Rhineland of Germany where she
lived until she came to the United
States. She received her degree from
the University of Cologne and work-
ea in the city of Cologne for a num.
ber of years in welfare organizations,
where she served in the capacity of
p. lecturer to welfare workers.
In 19 40, she left Germany by way
of Italy on one of the last boats leav
ing to come to America. With her
she brought thirty German children
who were placed in foster homes here
in the United States. During her first
>ear in America, she worked at a
I number of odd jobs in New York
I City. I'^or one year she served in the
I capacity of a house mother in a girls’
i =inhnol. Following this position, she
studied at New York University and
received a degree in public adminis
tration in 1947.
In November of 194 5, Dr. Karfoil
became a citizen of the United States,
i She came to Bennett through friends,
j Here she teaches economics and so
cial sciences.
Her favorite pastime is reading,
and she likes swimming and hiking.
She is interested in all international
I problems and here in the United
; States, she would like to do all that is
I possible to better international re
lationships.
Bishop Shaw Founders’
Day Speaker
' (Continued From Page One)
The sum of $4,248 in cash and
pledges was announced as contribu
tions of students, graduates and
I faculty who made their gifts as a
j pledge of support to the Ideals of the
college. The groups contributed as
follows: Students $1,103; graduates.
?2,000; and faculty $1,145.50.
President David D. Jones who pre
sided described the day as one of
dedication for those who are the link
between what comes before and that
which will come alter.