Fall—1956
THE FEDERATION JOURNAL
Page 2
THE FEDERATION JOURNAL
“Lifting as we climb”
Issued by
The N. C. Federation of Negro
Women’s Clubs
Editor: Mrs. Fannie T. Newsome
Rich Square
Co-editor: Mrs. Lu Sybil Taylor
Durham
Contributing Editors in This Issue
Mrs. Edna Taylor ...Pinehurst
Mrs. Alice Collins Smithfieid
Mrs. Mociie Spellman Elizabeth City
Mrs. Thelma Henley Fayetteville
John R. Larkins - - Raleigh
Mrs. Lyda Merrick ... —Durham
Mrs. Norma Darden Wilson
THANKS to all contributing
editors. You have made this what
ever it is. May we have your
material for the next issue by
December first or earlier.—The
Editor.
“Better to light one little can
dle than to curse the darkness.”
GOD GIVE ME A FRIEND
Give me a friend, and I’ll worry
along.
My vision may vanish, my dream
may go wrong;
My wealth I may lose, or my
money may spend.
But I’ll worry along if you give
me a friend.
Give me a friend, and my youth
may depart.
But still I’ll be young in the
house of my heart.
Yes, I’ll go laughing right on to
the end.
Whatever the years, if you give
me a friend.
Author Unknown
Editorials
WITH VOTING IN VIEW
Election Day — November 6, 1956
The time for Election Day was
set by an Act of Congress 1854.
Along with hot weather and
iced lemonades, August brought
politics into sharp focus. Demo
cratic and Republican delegates
met in separate conventions to
choose candidates for the Presi
dency and Vice Presidency of the
United States. It appears that
politics isn’t a man’s precinct any
more. Woman-power was evident,
for lady speakers set a convention
record.
Aside from watching these
dramatic events, via your News
paper, radio or T.V. set, what
vital responsibility does this bring
you?
“Our government, be it Nation
al, state, county or town, starts
with the people. If you let some
body else take over your say in
how dollars will be spent, the
kind of community you will live
in, the kind of nation and world
your children will grow up in,
you really don’t have the right
to complain about the way things
are going.” Even your right to
voting is the right that guarantees
all other rights.
There are 100 organizations in
the 1956 non-partisan, “Register,
Inform yourself, and Vote,” cam
paign that is sponsored by the
American Heritage Foundation,
11 W. 42nd. Street, New York 36,
N.Y. Your club may wish to write
for free materials.
Some one in writing of women
and their general civic interest
said, “they take more time to in
vestigate the character and fit
ness of those who are seeking
public office and to weigh the
civic questions or issues placed
before the voters, and especially
those which affect the home,
school and family.”
We are on the eve of an elec
tion which involves the election
of proper persons to fill various
offices. Certain civic questions
have also to be deciced. Federated
Women and all other women
should inform themselves regard
ing the character, beliefs, and
ability of the several candidates
and consider carefully the merits
of the questions to be voted
upon. “Don’t Vote in the Dark.”
Invite others to register, and
meet you at the polls, on election
day to exercise their privilege,
right and duty as American
Citizens.
TEACHER PLUS PARENTS
PLUS CHILDREN EQUAL
TOGETHERNESS
It all adds up to a great school
of thought-interests shared with
family and community.
School bells have rung over
America, summoning millions of
boys and girls to the classroom.
Meeting new experiences in some
700 school districts where inte
gration has started.
Books are on the agenda again,
and lessons, and home work. Best
of all teacher is back, greeting
her charges with friendliness and
understanding. Parents and chil
dren alike welcome them, for they
are a vital force that links family
and educational activities, cheer
fully sharing with mother and
dad, the responsibility for the
youngsters. It’s a great school of
thought, this teacher-parents-
children partnership—a truly in
spiring Togetherness.
The Journal takes pride in
saluting teachers everywhere, and
ask parents and children to join
us by applauding their wonderful
work in binding each community
in Togetherness.
The Government appealed to
high school students last month to
go back to classes this fall and
work for a diploma because more
education now means a better life
later.
Labor Secretary James P.
Mitchell and Acting Secretary of
Health Education and Welfare
Herold C. Hunt issued a fact
sheet designed to prove to teen
agers that it pays to go to school.
It said high school graduates
can earn from $80,000 to $50,000
more during their ddult life than
non-graduates. Mr. Mitchell said
persons lacking high school edu
cation are “finding it increasing
ly difficult” to compete with
graduates—particularly in techni
cal fields. Industry needs skilled,
educated workers, and there is a
shortage of them.
EDUCATION WEEK should
have a real significance these
days.
This special week is observed in
November to acquaint the public
with the work of education and
with the problems of training
children for effective citizenship.
Representatives of Education
and the American Legion in a
meeting about 1923 decided this
week of observance was neces
sary. The idea has developed
largely because of the work of
the National Education Associa
tion and the U. S. Office of Educa
tion.
The week usually begins in any
Community with sermons on
education in all churches. The
six remaining days are devoted
to health, home and school rela
tions, visiting schools, school op
portunities, citizenship and com
munity relations.
OUR BLIND PROJECT
The circulation of our “Negro
Braille Magazine” is growing.
Readers tell us of passing their
copies around to their fellow
blind friends with the request,
“Please return after you finish.”
It is also read at Blind Club
meetings, followed by lively dis
cussions. Students use the biogra
phy section as it is their only
source of material for Negro
History.
Last spring we published our
mailing list as requested by our
readers. As the result, many old
schoolmates and friends were
A Message from
Our President
The one important word for
every club in our state federation,
this year is that simple but very
meaningful word “Unite!” Con
fronted as we are with so many
serious problems here in North
Carolina, every wide-awake
woman knows why we need to
unite. To unite for better local
clubs, better district associations,
for a greater state federation in
deed, will surely give us vim, and
zest, and powerful strehgth. Why
should we not also unite with
other state groups and national
organizations that are seeking to
find a path out of the rough roads
of confusion discouragement, dis
crimination and fear, into some
highway that leads to peace, to
equality to worthy citizenship and
security?
Here and there may be found
some lone women who are doing
fairly good pieces of uplift work.
Strenuous, indeed noble, even
successful their work may be, but
they are not achieving their best
because they need more power
behind them. Uniting with the
Federation can give that power.
Inspiration is gained, ability chal
lenged, and enthusiasm aroused,
just to see, at our annual con
vention the amazing display of
useful and artistic handwork
which has been done by various
club women; just to hear the re
ports of splendid projects initiat
ed, just to hear of help offered
to needy people, aid to the blind
and to the aged, of remembrances
sent to the wayward; just to note
the cultural achievements in
music, art and literature by pro
gressive club members. Women
return to their homes with re
newed energy, nobler determina-
(See “PRESIDENT,” Page 3)
made happy to be able to locate
each other again. This past month
there was a wedding of a fine
blind couple in our state. The
groom remarked, “We have the
Negro Braille Magazine to thank
for helping us find each other;
after our graduation we were lost
to each other for years.”
These incidents give you some
idea of the help and happiness
we are bringing to these blind
who are depending on us to help
keep in touch with what is hap
pening in the seeing world about
them. Let us not fail them. Rath
er, let us double or triple our
donations for this year. By early
planning each one can send a
dollar to the State Federation
meeting for this our project—The
Negro Braille Magazine. — Mrs.
Lyda Merrick, Durham.