VOfc. XL1X.
CHARLOTTE, N. C.
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DECLARATIONS THIRTY
TUSKEGEE NEGRO
ANNUAL
The annual Tuskegee Negro
Conference in its tbb*ty-seventh
annual session extends greetings
to those who work and sympa
thize with us in the common
cause of the improvement of
rural life.
In our last conference, farm
ers were much depressed be
cause of conditions in the cotton
market. This year for a crop
five million bales less than last
year, the farmers are getting
more money. In addition to this
improvement in the condition
of cotton, more food and feed
stuffs have been produced. In
a srord, general prosperity has
attended the cotton belt farmers
this year. These conditions
have been brought about large
ly by diversification of crops,
live stock farming, and soil
building. For years this confer
ence has urged such a program
upon our farmers.
in our last meeting, the con
ference emphasized dairying as
one of the roads to safe farm
ing. As a result it has been
noted that great progress has
been made in this direction. In
the Black Belt of Alabama,
creamery reports show that
thiye times as much milk
is being produced and sold
as in former years. Reports
from other sections would indi
cate that this is true in other
States, especially Mississippi.
We learn from a recent letter I
from Mr. L. J. Folse, General
Manager of the Mississippi De-|
velopment Association, that 501
fann owners of the 1200
plant at StIi^ille/^^V,^r
month of May, 1927, about $14,
000 for milk and cream. Their
production alone is now $15,
000 per month or an average of
$3,600 per year for each of the
Negro farm owners. They are
growing as much cotton as ever.
Dairying offeirs a way out to
those farmers living in the boll
weevil infested territory.
Another indication of our
prosperity is the large increase
this year in the number of fairs,
community, county and state,
which are being held by Negro
farmers in every section of the
South. We are also pleased to |
note the growing number of
fairs conducted by white people
which are, every year, giving a
larger space to the exhibits of
Negro farmers. This is espe
cially true of the Southeastern
Fair at Atlanta and the Alaba
t'fcna State Fair at Montgomery.
We note with pleasure that
after a lapse of several years
Tuskegee Institute has revived
the custom, which it initiated,
of giving Certificates of Merit
and* this year in co-operation
with the United States Agricul
tural Extension Service, is
awarding this honor to several
farmers at this conference. The
giving of these Certificates of
Merit is a worthy recognition
of the skill and intelligence
which Negro farmers are
more and more putting into
their work and of their contri
farming to the dignity of a pro
fession.
The continued development
of local farmers’ conferences is
another source of great satisfac
tion to this conference. Through
these agencies the message of
this larger conference reaches a
larger number of farmers than
would otherwise be possible. The
Tuskegee Conference urges upon
the local conferences to develop
strong committees on co-op
tion. and committees on co-op
erative buying and selling for
their communities. We further
recommend to the farmers
reached by this conference, “the
use of the “curb market” for
the disposal of their surplus
and perishable products; such
as green vegetables, fresh and
canned,fruits, poultry and dairy
products
Throwh the Farm Bureau,
Negro tanners are marketing
cotton, .vegetables, fruits, poul
try ftnd|jive stock in many oi
cne southern States. The con
ference {Records itself as appre
ciating fie activities of the Jfarm
bureau m this directon, and
urges Negro farmers everywhere
to joi$ With the Farm Bureau
in tneie' co-operative efforts. At
the same time We suggest that
the general cattle of co-operative
maketiag in the South and the
iaea of facial co-operation will
be greater advanced if the Farm
nureau will grant full mlttiber
ship privileges to Negro farm
ers. Such a step would be a
means \ of greatly increasing
their interest and support of
this movement which is so vital
in a program of farm market
ing. !
Improvement in race relations
in the Southland continues. We
heartened by the efforts
le to time to remedy
which in the past
intolerable. We are
note instances which
a tendency to more
fairness in the courts and a
large increase in the provisions
for moi* and better schools. In
this connectioji, this-conference
wishes t04fe*fftrm its opposition
to d^miination practiced
against Negroes
are
from
conditi
have
pleased^
indicate
railroads
and other eomramoa
carriers,
which
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of the South. We acknowledge
with sincere appreciation the
efforts which are being made to
improve race relations. May
the voice of the better South
be heard and heeded. May
there be no halt in the program
for justice, peace, harmony and
good will so necessary to our
national progress.
Again we urge the desirabil
ity of making the country home
more comfortable and attrac
tive. Many homes are install
ing electric lights and power,
and running water. And also
increased prosperity should re
sult in many owners of farms
replacing their dilapidated farm
houses with more modern and
up-to-date buildings. This will
go far toward making condi
tions more livaJble and will ena
ble the country boy and girl, as
well as their parents, to get
more satisfaction out of country
life.
From its first session through
its thirty-sixth session, this
conference has emphasized the
owning of land. Conditions for
buying land were never more
favorable during any of these
years than now. As farmers
let us adopt a slogan for the
year, “Buy Land.”
In the Southern States gen
erally, there is an unprecedent
ed increase in the enrollment
and attendance of school chil
dren. Many adults are also tak
ing advantage of educational
opportunities. Encourging as is
this report, we regret to note
that 'too large a number are
not taking advantage of their
educational opportunities. As
farmers, let us adopt “Go to
School” as another slogan for
the year.
In this connection we note that
the number of Rosenwald
schools has passed the four
thousand mark. We appreciate
the . sacrifices colored people have
made in raising over three and
a half million dollars to aid in
the construction of these schools.
We also appreciate the contri
bution of more than eight hun
dred thousand dollars by white
(friends to enable the colored
people to meet the conditions of
Mr. Rosenwald’s gifts. We con
gratulate these communities
which have availed themselves
of the generosity of Mr. Rosen
wald, and the conference here
by expresses its gratitude to
this philanthropist for his great
contribution to rural advance
ment.
For the first time, the annual
fuskegee Negro Conference and
che Southern Negro Boys’ and
Girls' Four-H Club Camp have
met together. They have been
mutually inspiring. The Club re
presents a far-reaching move
ment of the greatest promise.
vVe urge that these clubs be or
ganized widely as a means of
encouraging and helping the
Doy and girl in the country dis
tricts.
We would not forget at this
time the farmers who have suf
fered so heavily in the great
Mississippi flood disaster. We
hope with them, that despite
the loss of life and property,
this disaster may bring some
thing of blessing to the affected
area: Certainly the country is
aroused, as never before to use
every means possible to prevent
its recurrence. The rapid and
satisfactory rehabilitation Of
plantations and farms will de
pend largely upon the attitude
of landlords toward tenants,
and tenants toward landlords.
Here may we counsel mutual pa
tience, forbearance and consid
eration.
For two successive conier
ences we have missed, due to
ill health, the presence and di
rect counsel* advice and inspira
tion of our beloved leader, Dr.
Moton. We rejoice in his recov
ery, »»d pr^r ^Q*¥W»
uance of health and strength
that he may for many years to
come devote himself to racial
uplift, and the services of his
fellowmen everywhere.
The South is on the verge of
unparalleled prosperity. One of
our greatest Southern newspa
pers heads an editorial with the
caption, “Grow Rich With The
South.”’ This conference calls
upon the Negro fanner to do his
part in contributing to this
prosperity by uniting in a pro
ducing and selling program of
all farm products in line with
the most progressive methods
of the day, and we sincerely
believe he will in increasing
measure from year to. year,
'share, more equitajbly in that
prosperity which his service
helps to create.
BARBER COLLEGE
NOTES
By Joetta Stinson
Monday was universal “Shop
ping day” at Barber. The shops
at Christmas time are haunted
by Barberites though much of
it is being done at the win
dows.
“The Star of Hope,” a Christ
mas cantata, will be presented
by the chorus on the Thursday
evening before Christmas.
Leathea Reed, a Sophomore
from Morristown, Tenn., is re
covering slowly from a burn on
the foot and leg. The accident
happened while working in the
kitchen when hot frying fat was
overturned.
A delegate from the Barber
Y. W. C. A. was sent Friday
by request of the Field Secreta
ry, Mrs. McLemore, to the
meeting of the council which is
being held this week-end in At
lanta, Ga. The President, Ger
trude Davenport, was elected by
the Y. W. Society to be the del
egate.
The prayer circles of Misses
Foresman and Elston and Mrs.
Donnell will have the missionary
ed by the President, Ma
jrlor. 4 ' :
following program will fee
-Lthel Lou Young, Geneva
p,- Ethel Brown,
station—Christmas Carol
lyn Fuller. ^
Syrian Legend—Mildred
Cflristmas Candle Service—
Loupe Beavers, Mattie Howell,
NelaeHill, Inez Harvill.
• \®dnesday night before
Chmtmas, the Second Junior
clas& will give a brief program,
‘ChnStmas in Merry Lands.”
Cfl| Christmas eve the teach
ers ||nd students remaining for
tfee holidays will have a Christ
mawtree and program,
i 'E* First Senior class enjoyed
a scoal hour Saturday afternoon
frotw four to five in the Third
Senm parlor.
Tab Senior class will give a
program Saturday night, Dee.
tijm assisted by nieiribers of
t§e&culty.
"mP—Miss Moke.
Georgia -uonneu.
Last Monday evening the
Freshman class, sponsored by
Misses Smith and Burritt, Soci
ology teachers, and directed by
Bessie Mayle, President of the
class, entertained the Faculty
and student body together with
a large numiber of waiting
friends in the chapel. The pro
gram consisted of:
- Solo, “My Lover is a Fisher
man”—Pauline Donnell.
Reading, “Who’s Afraid”—
Miss Burritt.
Saxophone solo, “Because,
from Jocelyn-—lone Alston.
Reading, “Mr Brown Has His
Hair Cut”—Albertha Loveless.
Play, “The Romancers”—The
class.
At the beginning of the pro
gram, Rev. Miles, pastor of the
Congregational church, an
nounced that the purpose of the
evening’s effort was to aid in
establishing a clinic for the Ne
gro children in the city, possi
bly in the basement ot his
church. Following the program,
a social was held in the .dining
room which was beautifully
decorated with futuristic de
signs by Miss Burritt. During
this peridd home-made candy,
hot chocolate and ice cream were
sold in green and white booths.
Bessie Mayle acted as hostess*
with assistants, and announced
the features of the social:
Special musical numbers, a
clown dance, a reading by Dr.
Holloway and many humorous
numbers were among the things
given. Proceeds from the whole
evening's entertainment amount
ed to $30. The school is quite
proud of its Freshman class and
those who were responsible for
this gift from Barber for the
new project.
Six members of the faculty
will go home for Christmas and
a party of teachers will also go
to Jacksonville, Fla., for the
holidays.
1 To all readers of the Africo
Barber wishes a very merry
Christmas and a Happy New
Year.
The past week has bean one
of exceedingly great joy and
mirth, due to the spirit of ser
vice practiced by all. This add
ed zeal can be definitely traced
to the standards .of the institu
tion being taken on by the
whole student body. Swift has
a rich heritage to look back
upon. It is being carried on
with the same lofty ideals, and
the news is heralded far and
'wide that Swift is a safe place
for any boy or girl. More and
more the: great problem fading
aU institutions is how to make
themselves safe, Christian and
highly intellectual Swft is
solving the problem; it is now
open for inspection and study,
because the students show by
their daily walks the fruits of
the labor of the standard-bear
er of Swift ideals,
last Sunday, the Student body
and;, faculty worshipped at St;
Mask's Presbyterian church.
Rev. Hiibert F. Anderson, the
pastor, delivered a very helpful
serihon. The theme of his dis
course was “Thou Shalt Not
Hide Thy Coveted Things.”
The services were well attend
ed: and the newly organized choir
under the direction ofKate
Ross Hatcher, an Alumnh. of
Swift, added much to the ser
vices.
Our Presideut-Em^itus,
W. H,. Franklin, is. always foiled
wr ithe school and church.
He attended . eJttpKh Sunday
and frequently visits the Ja$f
great preparations 3or tiheHfule
tide season. They are planning
to have a Christmas tree with
a program under the direction
of Miss L. Burdell Sullivan, con
sisting of cantata, pantomimes
and many other features. The
Christmas tree will be placed in
the chapel and trimmed with
all the beauties of the season.
Candies, fruits and many other
things will go to make the affair
a pleasant one. Great rivalry is
being shown by the classes for
the, party promised at the end
of the first semester. The 4th
year students are in the lead,
The Alumni of Swift met in
the Larimer Y. M. C. A. rooms
last Friday night. The purpose
of the meeting was to perfect
a permanent organization so
that the Alumni can do effective
work for their Alma Mater.
Swift has about 800 Alumni in
all parts of the world. It is the
purpose of the organization to
ii>ring them together in one
band. If there be any one who
has avienaeu owuu
years, please write to the Alum
ni Secretary at Swift. The
President, Dr. Tucker, met with
the Alumni and told them that
the institution was open, at all
ti./ js to them, and that he is
willing at all times to give them
a helping hand. Mrs. Kate
Hatcher is acting as the Secre
tary. An appeal has gone out.
Old grads and students, write to
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Another organization which is
doing effective work for the
school is the Choral Glub.- Miss
Bur*dell Sullivan, head of the
music department, is practicing
them each week and they are
able to give helpful programs at
any time. The students selected
for the particular parts have
nice voices and are showing that
they will make good leaders foi
any community..
They are as follows: Miss Bes
, sie Starr, Knoxville; Tenn.; Mist
I Modeste Brazelton, New Market
Tenn.; Miss Annabelle Thomas
Sadie Mills, Gertrude Bradford
all of Dandridge Tenn. ; Eunice
Nelson, Middlesboro, Ky.; Lessi<
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Albert Thompson, Macony-Ga.;
and Booker T. ’jackson, of'Hal
ton, Ga.
By Mary White Ovingt<
Chairman Board of ®$&|
of the N. A. A. C. P.
“Plays of Negro se
lected and edited by Alain
Locke and Montgomery Grego
Published by Harper and
Brothers, 49 East 33rd Street;'
New York City. Price $5.00.
In this book twenty plays are
gathered together,' all dealing
with Negro life. Among!, them
are well-known pieces of litera-.
ture, Eugene Q’-Neil’s “Emperor
Jones,” Ridgeley. Torrence’s
“The Rider of Dreams” Paul,
Green’s “In Albraham’s Bosom,”
while rubbing elbows with*these
dramatists are a. group of Ne
gro writers, Willis Richardson,
Eulalie Spence, John Mgttheus
and others. The book ends
with a chronology of the Negro
theatre and a bibliography Of
Negtb drama.* And if these •
two editors; one of:Oxford, the*
other of Harvard, lack at . times,
accuracy—for example, Ellen ,
Terry is described ‘as
ith Ira - Aldridge in “
made ^ mosfcJi
stod Cam' tvoieafcdf'i
ia Jiard on «the^ram^tlst,
white or .colored,, who finds his
play in the pages between Eu
gene O’Neill’s “The Dreamy
Kid” - and “Emperor Jones.”
Who can compete with the driv
ing power of this first of Amer- ,
ican dramatists ? Nor is it easy
to bear comparison with; such
delicate, half humorous, more
than half pathetic plays as Paul
Green’s “The No ’Count Boy”
and Ridgeley Torrence’s “The ;
Rider of Dreams.” To me, the
writers in this volume who fare
best in such company, are those
who have been least ambitious
in their themes. “Plumes,” by
Georgia Douglass Johnson, (the
plumes are those that wave, at
the funeral) and Eulalie
Spence’s gay bit of Harlem in
“The Starter,” are simple, true
pictures. Willis Richardson’s
“Banjo” is in the volume* a play
that acts very well, and Drank
Wilson’s “Sugar Cane.” Wilson
is now winning renown, jas an
actor in “Porgy.”, Two of the
plays are laid in Africa. There
are twenty piays iu.au, wie ihwbi
of them gloomy—they could not
he modern and be any thing, else.
—the plays by Negroes a little
less given to picturing a
thwarted race than the plays by "
whites. Altogether a fine group.
The book leads one to remi
niscence. The Washington
Square Players, precursors of
the Theatre Guild, saw the val
ue of Negro material and used
it once in a short play concern
ing the flight of a criminal and
his capture. The Neighborhood -
Playhouse besides producing,
las Mr. Gregory notices, An
gelina Grimke’s “Rachel,” .
gave “The Noose” by Tra
cy Mygatt. This was a
straightforward 'bit of propa
ganda regarding a Southern
, lynching with the church" or
gan playing hymns while' the
murder went on. The Fornight
i ly Players gave Rosalie Jonas’
“The Victim^’ a powerful pic
’ ture of the quadroon with her
white and colored lovers. One
[ attempt was made in New York
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