Activities Among Negroes
Letters continue to arrive from visitors to the recent exhibit of paintings by Negro artists just closed in the Oakland Art Gallery. It has been most interesting to study by means of these letters the appreciation and pleasure brought to the citizens of Oakland by the exhibit. Of all the groups representing various clubs and fraternal organizations, the exhibit gave the most pleasure and inspiration to the Girl Reserves of Linden branch Y. W. C. A. and the members of the Junior branch, N. A. A.C. P. Members of the U. N. I. A. and members of the Fanny J. Coppin club, who were unofficially represented daily by one or more of its members, highly praised the exhibit. This club has for years been devoted to the cultural side of club life among colored women.
But perhaps the greatest appreciative visitors at the exhibit were the three evening classes from Prescott Public school. It was through the efforts of Miss Roberta Wells a Negro girl teacher in this school who, realizing these adult pupils worked during the day and would miss the exhibit, arranged with Mr. Clapp, director of the gallery to have it opened one evening. Teachers offering use of their automobiles for the trip and even joined the classes visiting the exhibit. The writer voluntarily delivered a lecture to the group of the struggles of Negro artists for recognition, and told something of the life and struggles of artists whose work was in the exhibit. Another letter definitely proved that through this exhibit Oakland citizens are realizing that among its Negro citizens there is much talent in art and music needing a helping hand or word of appreciation. Letters from H. A. Pierce, Negro cartoonist, and Miss Wells, a native daughter, graduated from the University of California in Berkeley and the only Negro public school teacher in northern California teaching Spanish, praised the exhibit.
VALUE TO RACES
Among the personal invitations to visit the exhibit sent by the writer to artists and organizations was one to the Oakland Council of Church Women. The response was very gratifying. But because of the very close contact with the church women by members of the Negro race it is befitting that at least one letter from this organization be quoted. It is from Mrs. Inajane Stephens, and says:
“May I take this opportunity to express my appreciation of the recent exhibit of Negro art which you so kindly invited the ladies of the churches to visit. It was a very fine thing for everyone to attend and such a remarkable display of talent. The average man and woman is not aware of the beauty that the colored artist can produce. It has been a very astonishing realization to a great many Oakland people."
A splendid letter was received from the Harmon Foundation in New York City expressing thanks for the numerous articles appearing in The TRIBUNE on the exhibit. They were especially pleased with the reproduction in these articles of letters from local outstanding artists of other races calling attention to the merits of certain paintings in the exhibit. While unknown to these artists, these Negro artists were among those who had worked under the greatest handicap of both their color and poverty, and was a fine tribute to them that their worth was recognized by the art world in California.
WHY SUCH DEVOTION
Many have asked why the writer devoted so much time and space to the exhibit, and what was her position with the local and national organization. Since the exhibit has become a history making event it is well to answer these questions. Having been a member of the organization for 21 years and at different times secured membership from other races. This year she is also enjoying this privilege. During 1918 she suggested and succeeded in having the late Attorney Burton Cerruta {E. Burton Ceruti} of Los Angeles presented and nominated for a director on the national board of the organization, where the Negro citizens of California became an integral part of this great Negro organization.
And last, but not least, during the past five years of the activities of the Harmon Foundation among Negroes, it has been the privilege of the writer to sponsor many worthwhile events in Oakland and Berkeley, notably the program for the "Brotherhood of Races," a University of California student society; the International luncheon for the Oakland Council of Church Women," and the interracial meeting with Mrs. Emerick as speaker from the Federal Council of Churches. During the holding of these affairs there have been read to the audiences letters from Dr. George E. Haynes, secretary of race-relations commission, Federal Council of Churches in New York City, in which the action was heartily endorsed. The object of the Harmon Foundation, N. A. A. C. P. and Federal Council of Churches, and the object and aim of the writer and this column is to bring about a better interracial understanding.
FOUNDER'S DAY
The California Federation of Colored Women's clubs recently celebrated their twenty-fifth anniversary. The northern district, with Mrs. Lawrence Sledge serving her second term as president, was successful in celebrating the event in the Fanny Wall Home and Day Nursery in Oakland with representatives present from all parts of northern California. The affair was in the nature of a reception during the afternoon, with a program in the evening.
The decoration was sponsored by the young women's department, and was supervised by Tarie Pittman and Vivian Osborn Marsh. This department also supplied corsage bouquets for all the officials for this district. The evening program consisted of many worthwhile addresses, Mrs. Sledge giving a review of the monuments or buildings which had been sponsored and paid for by the club women, including the "Fanny Wall Children's Home and Day Nursery of Oakland, and the Sojourner Truth Home for Working Girls in Los Angeles.” Delilah L. Beasley, as a representative of The TRIBUNE recalled to mind the convention, of the organization held in Oakland in 1915, at which time the organization went on record as condemning the use of Negro spirituals as a minstrel attraction. She also recalled how The TRIBUNE sent to this meeting copies of a Sunday issue to be sold for the benefit of a fund for Sojourner Truth Home. The paper contained an article on exhibits by Negroes in the Panama Pacific International Exposition. Among the out-of-town officials in attendance was Mrs. L. J. Williams, of Vallejo, who for many years has served as treasurer for the state organization. Mrs. Stafford, of Oakland, was named as one of the founders present at the state organization of colored women’s clubs.
MORTGAGE BURNING
Beth Eden Baptist church last week celebrated the fifty years of the founding of this church in the city of Oakland. Meetings were held every evening, at which time many of the pioneer members and citizens spoke of the struggles of the church and its continued growth during the past eight years with Rev. J. Hubbard as its pastor. All were in accord on the success of his leadership. Just previous to the mortgage burning Delilah L. Beasley delivered a short address in which she complimented the church and pastor on the Junior church, which she said was teaching the young people race pride and respect for the church.
The burning of a church mortgage in Oakland by a colored church marked united action and sacrifice on the part of the members of the church and citizens who had contributed to the same.
PIANO RECITAL
Mrs. Grace West, organist for Beth Eden Baptist church, was presented Tuesday evening in piano recital by her teacher, 'Lillian Jetter Davis, in Kohler & Chase concert hall in Oakland. She was assisted by Mrs. Loel Anderson, lyric soprano. A musician who attended the recital has written: "The program opened with Kamennoe-Ostraw, which always shows the best that there is in the piano. Many of the possibilities of the performer were brought out in the finale. "Spanish Caprice" by Moritz Moszkowski with its display "of a dozen stimulating" phases of piano work coupled with various changes of expression and display of technic ending with clear crisp martellato octave passage of hard alternations which it has not been our privilege to watch for many a day. E. B. Gray, well known business man of Oakland, is organizing the colored people to study ways and means whereby unemployment among Negroes in Alameda county may be relieved.
