Newspapers / Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.) / Aug. 6, 1925, edition 1 / Page 1
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Africo-Americ “AND YE SHALL KNOW THE TRUTH, AND THE TRUTH SHALL MAKE YOU FREE.”—John viii, 32. CHARLOTTE, N. C., THURSDAY, AUGUST 6, 1925. NO. 32. ■m m VOL. XLVII. TOWARD INTER RACIAL UNDERSTANDING By W. W. Alexander Secretary, Commission on Inter-racial Cooperation, Federal Council of Churches. American race questions are but part of a race problem which exists around the world. In Egypt, South Africa, India and the Pacific are racial situations in many respects almost identi cal with those in the United States, and usually more acute. The race problem in America would of itself be of little signif icance. But as an important segment of a circle of suspicion and misunderstanding that reaches around the globe, includ ing unnumbered millions of many races and climes, it is of great significance. Among the groups recently brought into the closet of con tacts, ‘‘tinted races” comprise by far the larger number; but for some time past the untinted mi nority have enjoyed by far the larger measure of control over the affairs of the world. Unfor tunately, this privileged minori ty has not always exercised its power in such a way as to in spire the confidence of its sub jects. Indeed, the exercise of power rarely ever does result in confidence. Its very possession inspires suspicion, for which his tory has furnished ample and plausible grounds. Exploitation vs. Cooperation. In the past, human contacts were dominated by the philoso phy of exploitation. In theory, at least, this philosophy has been abandoned. The passing of slavery would seem to indicate that the improvement is real. However, the psychology result ^in^F^Tiofh groups aiid vastly complicates race relations today. On the one side is con tempt and condescension for those formerly held in servi tude; on the other side there is resentment and suspicion. One of the leading dailies of America has recently given re peated expression to the senti ment that the white race must dominate the other peoples of the world and that some sort of cooperation among white na tions must be brought about at once, particularly in the interest of controlling the Pacific. The editor tells us that the people of the East must be kept “un der.” An eminent American col lege professor recently brought out a volume in which he seeks to establish the following thesis: Civilization in the past was based upon the economic exploi tation of one class by another within the same racial groups; exploitation within the white group must stop; it must pre pare at once for a campaign of exploitation among the other races of the world. This senti ment has found cruder and more popular expression in the Ku Klux Klan. The religion of Jesus is the only influence either willing or able to challenge this philosophy of dominance and psychology of exploitation. The future of civ ilization is not in the hands of any one race. It is rather the task of men of goodwill from among many races. Right methods of racial adjustment can be discovered only by a dem ocratic process, and men of oth er races have as definite a con tribution to make to the discov ery as those of the white race. In every race there are men of the Christian spirit who know that special privilege is a men ace to individual and social pro gress, and who are willing to forego it and join like-minded men from other groups in the search for inter-racial justice through service and helpful ness. Racial adjustment is rendered imore difficult by lack of any comprehensive body of trust worthy facts regarding race. These facts are not easily gath ered no rreadily interpreted. Long periods are required to de I termine the meaning of tenden cies among racial groups. The technique for studying racial differences is as yet crude and elementary. Moreover, feeling plays so large a part in racial attitudes that it is different for men to be rational. Feelings easily crystallize into dogma. In America today, for example, dogmatic statements about rela tive racial capacity are being an nounced, founded so far not on scientific research, but on bare, unsupported assumptions. The Promise of the Negro. It should not be supposed, however, that prejudice and an tagonism constitute the univer sal American attitude toward the Negro. Thoughtful Amer icans, North and South, do not share these sentiments. In America’s experience with Ne groes they see nothing to justi fy hysteria or pessimism as to the ultimate outcome. On the contrary, they see much to en courage the hope that racial dif ferences will yet be found not a menace to civilization, but a means for its enrichment, not a cause of war, but an opportu nity for fellowship in the com mon tasks of human welfare. The educational processes have not been in operation long enough or with sufficient thor oughness to indicate finally what special capacities American Ne groes may possess. They have, however, shown an inclination to the arts that has already en riched our national life. This h<asshad; itsjnost pronaising-eXT. presstdh in music ana poetry. There have been significant out croppings also in painting, sculp ture and dramatics. With al most no opportunity, Negroes have done conspicuous work in science. Prof. George Carver, of Tuskegee Institute, has startled the world with his original and valuaDle contributions to the science of agricultural chemis try. Other contributions may be expected in this field as op portunities open. Not the least encouraging aspect of Negro life in America is the emphasis placed on education and religion as the forces which can contri bute most to the advancement of the race. While the condition of Negroes in America is steadily improv ing, they still labor under not a few burdensome handicaps and disabilities. Though provisions for Negro education are increas ing rapidly, the ratio of public outlay per child still averages four or five times as much for white children as for colored. For higher education the Negro must yet depend largely upon institutions supported by benev olent boards and individuals. Public utilities, such as parks, playgrounds, pools, libraries, are provided but sparingly for city-dwelling Negroes in the South. The streets in colored sections are not infrequently found unpaved, ill-lighted and without sewers. Perhaps in not many communities have Negroes an equal chance before the law, where, if anywhere in the world, men ought to be equal. Indis criminate arrests, ready police clubs and petit courts where men are esteemed guilty until they prove themselves innocent, are the means by which injustices innumerable are inflicted. Mob violence and lynching, though all too common still, nevertheless appear to be waning rapidly be fore an awakened public con science. The Segregation Issue. Segregation, in many forms, still holds general sway, partic ularly in the South—separation in schools, places of entertain ment and of public recreation, common carriers, hotels, etc. Residential segregation is com mon, in most cases by tacit un dertsanding, in others by city PROVIDES FOR IEGRO CRIPPLED CHILDREN B. N. Duke Gives $15,000 to Establish Ward for Negro Crippled Children at Orthopedic Hospital. The crying need for provisions for Negro crippled children, which has been noted through out the State, has been answered by a gift of fifteen thousand dol lars, given by B. N. Duke, of New York, to establish a ward for Negro children at the State Orthopedic Hospital at Gasto nia. Appeal was made to the last Legislature for such provision, and after failure to provide funds, Mrs. Johnson brought the need to the attention of Mr. Duke, who promptly responded with his gift. The sum will build and equip a ward of ten beds and maintain it until the next session of the General As sembly. Then it will be neces sary to ask only for contindfed maintenance.,. In the course of the clinics for crippled children held in the va rious parts of the State during the last two years, many Negro children have come under the at tention of Dr. 0. H. Miller, chief surgeon of the Orthopedic Hos pital, and Miss Emeth Tuttle, of the Division of Case Work of the State Welfare Board. Advice was given and a diagnosis of each case was made; but no or thopedic treatment was availa 'ij£, except in a few instances in f ivate hospitals. One case examined at a clinic May at Halifax County re aired immediate care in a hos ital. X sum of at least $300 as required, and since the fath r had practically no means be ond the bare-expenses of the amily, the rural supervisor was ijitsked to seek means. The child Was a boy of five, who had been unable to walk after pneumonia Id two years of age. Dr. Miller diagnosed the trouble as a path ological dislocation of the hip. Hospital care will better condi tions. Another child, a colored girl of ten, had suffered from a fall several months ago. She had hurt her knee badly and Dr. Miller declared that she was in need of surgical and jmedical treatment. The child’s father was a poor tenant farmer in poor condition. She will probably be cared for at the new ward. These two cases are typical of the kind of children who need help. Mr. Duke’s timely gift is Certain to be productive of work Qf a constructive nature.—Pub ljc Welfare Progress. ordinances, which are now be ing tested legally and which in two recent cases have been de clared unconstitutional by the lower courts. Public sentiment rtot * infrequently to exclude Negroes from certain professions and trades, makes access to the means of culture difficult for them, and denies them participation in many forms of public service. Advocates of segregation de fend it on the ground that arti ficial barriers are necessary for the maintenance of racial integ rity. On the other hand, there are those who hold that in so far as segregation is made a badge of inferiority, it defeats the very purpose it professes to serve, in that it breaks down re spect for the Negro’s personali ty, retards the development of self-respect, and makes inevita bly for illicit amalgamation. One can explain on no other ground the large measure of interming ling of blood that has already taken place. It is pointed out that in the West Indies, where enforced segregation does not exist, racial intermixture, through marriage and other wise, is no greater than here. Happily there are many gleams of light. Progress is be ing made at a rate that is most encouraging to anyone who has a sense of perspective. Church councils are all demanding that the principles of Jesus be applied to these questions. Thousands of church groups are seeking to un derstand and to realize this ideal. Multitudes of college stu dents, destined to be the lead ers of the next generation, are dropping off age-long accretions of prejudice and looking at this question intelligently and hon estly. Negro leaders are being listened to with profound inter est. The newspapers, almost without exception, are voicing the plea for justice. Inter-racial committees throughout the country are working together for mutual helpfulness. The goal is yet a long way ahead. There are vast barriers of ignorance, misconception and prejudice still blocking the path. Yet in the light of present trends it is possible for the eye of faith to look forward to a day when understanding, justice and goodwill shall prevail between the white and colored races in America.—Federal Council Bul letin. LAW AND ORDER BILL PENDING IN GEORGIA. Atlanta, Ga.—Georgia will join the growing list of Southern j|ates.. whicji are. taking active steps to end rioting and mob vi olence if the Legislature enacts the Law and Order Bill intro duced in the House of Represen tatives last week. The bill, entitled, “An Act to Maintain Law and Order,” pro vides that in any case of riot, riotous assembly, or mob vio lence, careful investigation shall be made by the Judge of the Su perior Court. If it appears from this investigation that any sher iff, deputy sheriff, jailer, or oth er peace officer was negligent or incompetent in dealing with such disorder, the Chief Justice or other Justice of the Supreme Court shall appoint a special Law and Order Commission to hear all the evidence in the case and render judgment as to the faithfulness or negligence of the officer in question. If he is found by the Commission to have been negligent, judgment to that effect shall be communicated to the Governor, who in turn shall remove the officer from his po sition. Proof that any' person was taken from the custody of the officer by the mob, oririlled or injured while in his custody, shall be prima facie evidence of neglect, to be offset only by af firmative proof that the officer had in fact used all reasonable precaution and exercised the ut most diligence in the effort to maintain order. The bill provides further that in the case of an officer so ad judged negligent in the preven tion of rioting or violence, the Attorney General of the State shall bring suit against such of ficer for the full value of any property destroyed by the mob and for the sum of $500 for each homicide committed by it. Any person removed from office un der the provisions of the act shall be disqualified for a period of five years to hold any peace office of the State, county, or municipality. Friends of the measure point out that it is in line with similar laws enacted in other Southern States which have been found very effective in the reduction of mob violence. It is said to be widely supported by religious, civic and welfare organizations over the State. THE PROGRESS AND ACHIEVEMENTS OF THE NEGRO IN AMERICA. (The following is an abstract of an address delivered by the Rev. E. W. Carpenter to the Christian Endeavor and congregation of the First Presbyterian church (white), Southampton, Long Island. N. Y., July 26th, 7 P. M.:) Miss President, ladies and gentlemen: I was pleased at a late hour on yesterday afternoon to ac cept an invitation extended by you through your pastor, the Rev. Geo. W. Rexford, to have the distinction of speaking to you. The subject before us is a great one, and the Negroes of America greater. I am extreme ly glad that the hand of Provi dence has placed me in this group Miss President: I feel that the verses you have read, Psalm 40, 1-5; Prov. 22:29, are adaptable to the American Ne gro and that he has lived to see the truths verified. To better understand our subject let our minds go back for a moment to the year 1865 and see the condition of the American Negro when the chain of slavery was broken. He was let go without the experience of citizenship, anything to eat, house or land, church or school. He was not able to read or write. From these conditions he has made himself what he is today. He is thrifty. He , is without an equal as a worker on farms, on raidroads, in mills, in mines, lumber camps, etc. The statistics of Negro pro gress are gratifying to us who are interested in Negro achieve ments. In one decade the number of Negro farm owners increased about 17 per cent. In 1910 sta tistics showed that the Negroes operated 45,000 business enter prises. Ten years later they were operating more than 55, 000. At the same rate we should concede in this year, 1925, they are operating at least 60,000 business enterprises. Ladies and gentlemen, I am just delighted to call your atten tion to the following facts: the Negro has Life Insurance Com panies, banks, stores, huilding and loan associations, newspa pers, hospitals, trained nurses, physicians, surgeons and law yers. In fact he is engaged in all of the leading professions of the country. As the Negro makes, moral progress he respects himself, hence we find crime is diminish ing among the better class. The Negro’s crimes are not more than others. He gives less trouble to his country than any other race in America. Never as yet has he been accused of treason. Never has he organ ized a revolt against the union. We note, too, that he has better homes; has developed better community life; has better schools and churches; competent leadership. I would state with out fear of successful contradic tion that no race since 1865 has made the material progress in the same length of time that the Negro nas made. Today there are many Negro high schools and colleges operated for the up lift of the Negro, such as Jones University, Talladega College, Tuskegee Normal and Industrial School, Atlanta University, Shaw university, Livingstone College, Johnson C. Smith (for merly Biddle) University, Scotia Women’s College, etc. Some of these schools and colleges are owned and controlled by Ne groes. We would mention a few of our noted men: Granville T. Wood has sold several of his pa tents to the electric companies. Jan Matzeliger sold his patent to one of the largest manufac C.S.C.&S.M. NOTES (From the Office of the Dean.) A Few Reminders for the Delegates. 1. Cdme prepared to stay from Monday, Aug. 24th through Sunday, August 30th. 2. Bring your Bible. 3. Bring your toilet articles, such as soap, towels, etc. 4. Bring two sheets and a pillow case for your bed—each individual. 5. For recreation bring rub ber soled shoes, knickers or bloomers. 6. And above all don’t forget to bring along a broad smile of good cneer; for we all are going to have a grand and glorious time carrying out every phase of the Convention Program. As the time nears, the stream of registrations is get ing larger. From the most dis tant point in the Synod, Carver Memorial, Newport News, Va., there will be four delegates, and when we tell you it will cost those delegates about $140.00 to make the trip to Charlottee and return you can see the large in terest Carver Memorial, under the leadership of Dr. Ward, has in the Convention and School of Methods. Wish some of the nearby churches had half that interest. If so, our meeting would be twice as large as it was last year. Calvary at Wilson, N. C., an other distant point, is also liv ing up to past records. Rev. A. H. George writes and sends reg istration for four delegates. Indications point—te-«r large ministerial delegation. Among the ministers registering we are glad to call attention to two who have been recently added to the roll of our Synod: Rev. J. Metz Rollins, of Lynchburg, Va., and Rev. G. R. Carter, of Chestnut Knob, Va. Dr. McCrorey states that ef forts will be made this year to make it more comfortable than ever before for the delegates. The women will be cared for in beautiful Berry Hall, the latest constructed dormitory, just a stone’s throw from the dining hall and a nice stroll from the administration building. Berry Hall will hold 90 per sons. We are starting from the first floor and going up. If you don’t want to climb to the third floor better register at once. The men will be housed in Smith Hall. Would you profit: 1. By bright ideas on Children’s Work. 2. By fresh methods for Young Peo ple. 3. By plans which attract Adults, xiien let the week of August 24-30 find you in Char lotte, N. U., at Johnson C. Smith University, attending the Ca tawba Synodical Convention and School of Methods. turers of shoe-making machines in the country. The following Negroes are noted for their work: Elmer Imes in magnetic physics; Ernest E. Just, Charles H. Turner, George Turner in bi ology; George W. Carver in in dustrial chemistry; W. E. B. Du Bois in history, and Paul Law rence Dunbar in poetry. Statistics further show that in 1920 about five out of every eleven Negroes in the United States were church members. They had more than 37,000 church edifices and 3,600 par sonages estimated to be worth more than $75,000,000. To a great extent we may claim an educated ministry, hence an el evated people. All over the country the Ne gro has Y. M. C. A’s and Y. W. C. A’s which are an auxiliary to the rapid progress and achieve ments of the Negro.
Africo-American Presbyterian (Wilmington, N.C.)
Standardized title groups preceding, succeeding, and alternate titles together.
Aug. 6, 1925, edition 1
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