Activities Among Negroes
The race relation meeting held Tuesday evening in First Congregational church was very well attended. It opened with congregational singing led by the Reverend Van Horn, pastor of the church, who afterwards welcomed the assembly and the speaker of the evening, and called on the Reverend Waddell to offer prayer. Mrs. G. D. Spencer, newly elected president of the Oakland Council of Church Women, was presented, and made some remarks on practical Christianity, and the value of contacts with other groups of people, paying compliment to The Oakland TRIBUNE for having a column conducted on "Activities Among Negroes."
She then introduced Delilah L. Beasley as chairman of arrangement, who had secured the cooperation in "better race relation" of many groups of other races. Miss Beasley introduced the Rev. W. Byers, who had been selected to represent the colored ministers of Oakland in welcoming Mrs. Emerich, the speaker of the evening. In short address he told of the great growth in America during the past few years of better racial understanding. The. Reverend Byers, an excellent orator, represented the well-educated Negro ministers today occupying the leading pulpits in Negro churches of Oakland.
This was followed by Mrs. Lawrence Sledge, who welcomed the speaker of the evening for the California Federated Colored Women Clubs, of which organization she is vice-president. She emphasized the fine thought of Mrs. Emerich in working to create "world peace through world friendship" among school children.
This was followed by Taylor Davis singing "Go Down Moses," which was rendered in a most impressive manner, bringing out all the beauty of his tenor voice. Just before the close of the meeting Taylor Memorial church choir sang a group of negro spirituals.
THE ADDRESS
Mrs. Emerich confined her remarks to the race-relation between the Negro, and much to the disappointment of many, did not speak or refer to the "treasure chest," which is also one angle of race-relations, which is not confined to the Negro alone. She told of the lack of sincerity on the part of many of her own race in the approach to the race-relation question, especially in regard to the Negro. She emphasized the value to both groups of constant contact in order to create understanding. The difficulties suffered by Negro citizens in many parts of the United States were then given in detail in a most dramatic manner. After these remarks she turned the meeting into a forum and asked questions. It was gratifying to have the club women in the audience, as Mrs. Mary Grasses and others, answer from the floor and give statements supporting the fact that such conditions do not exist in Oakland. She also added that race problems in Oakland, while not perfect, had made wonderful strides in the past seven years. She recalled statements made by Mrs. Emerich and many others throughout America that Roland Hayes was not discovered until he made his appearance in Europe, when, in fact, it was The Oakland TRIBUNE and that Fanny Coppin club of colored women in Oakland who discovered his artistry years before he went to Europe.
That Negro club women are invited to attend functions of other club women, but have to withdraw when lunch is served, does not exist in Oakland. It was about two years after the establishing of this column that over 350 white women held a luncheon program in one of the most fashionable public eating places in Oakland. Of this number, twenty or more were Negro club women, and the first speaker was a Negro woman, who had spoken before the queen of England and Susan B. Anthony. Many leading clubs have invited Negro club women to participate in public functions.
Oakland is one of the greatest cities in America today in regard to race-relation. With both the white ministers of all the churches and the Oakland Council of Church Women, together with the local branch of the N. A. A. C. P. again active, many problems now existing can and will be solved much to the satisfaction of all concerned.
LYCEUM CONCERT
According to the committee composed of John Williams, Lee J. Purnell, James Allen, Edward Wilson and Ida Jackson, college colored students are sponsoring a concert to provide a scholarship to aid deserving colored students at the University of California. This concert will be held tomorrow (Monday) evening, April 21, in the Veterans memorial building. It will feature Clarence Muse, who will appear in recital and dramatic reading. He has a rich baritone that has won for him international fame. Despite his ability as known an actor, he is the highest paid colored star in Hollywood. As a special attraction, the lyceum will also present Bill Robinson who will appear in a series of new and difficult tap-dancing stunts.
COTTON BLOSSOM SINGERS
The famous Cotton Blossom Singers from Mississippi will give an evening of music at the Market street Seventh Day Adventist church this evening. The public offering will be devoted to Christian education.
Activities Among Negroes/Sun, April 20, 1930 20 Apr 1930, Sun Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com
