Activities Among Negroes
Friday night the Berkeley high school graduated a class of 238 students. There was just one colored student in the class, Miss Clayton Mitchell, the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. Robert Mitchell of Carrison street, Berkeley. Due to illness, Miss Mitchell was out of school a whole year, but regained her health sufficiently to return and graduate with honor. She was a member of the high school orchestra for three years as second violinist, and hopes to be able to continue her studies in music. She specialized in art and millinery. The lower classmen entertained for the seniors the day before graduation. A collection of pictures were presented in a contest for the art students to name the painter. Out of fifteen pictures presented, Miss Mitchell gave the names of twelve correctly and won the prize.
Miss Ethel Craig of Berkeley, a student of social service in St. Margaret's school in Berkeley, which is affiliated with the University of California, has been delegated to represent the colored students of the University of California at the forth coming interracial students meet, to be held under the auspices of the National Y. W. C. A. in Milwaukee December 28.
Miss Matilda Smith of Oakland, who is now a student of the National Academy and Trades school for colored girls at Lincoln Heights., Washington, D. C., has sent word to the Alameda County League of Colored Women Voters that she has won first honors in a stenographic contest with an average of 98. Miss Smith is the daughter of the late Dee Smith, and when she decided that she would like to attend this school, appealed to the league for assistance. It was through the league's efforts together with this assistance of a group of well known public spirited white women who are friendly to the league, that purse was raised to pay the girl's tuition until January 1, 1927. Other white friends contributed to her railroad fare to Washington, D. C. This school was founded and is being operated by Miss Nannie Burroughs. It has grown from a small beginning to one of prominence and commanding rank in the nation.
NEGROES TO WEST POINT.
A few weeks ago readers of this Column were given an account of the efforts of Robert Abbott, editor and publisher of the Chicago Defender who, through Colonel Theodore Roosevelt, had his promise to secure a colored cadet to the United States military academy at West Point. This resulted in the President of the United States appointing as a candidate at large a colored boy, the son of a United States army officer of the Tenth Cavalry, to take the examination for entrance to the academy.
In this week's issue of the Chicago Defender the editor said: "He has the assurance of Congressman Martin Madden, that he will appoint, or nominate to West Point or Annapolis, or both any young man or two young men of the race in the first congressional district of Illinois who can pass the examination and who is man enough to go to either of these institutions prepared to stay or die in the attempt."
This editorial then recalls the severe hazing to which students attending these institutions are subjected. Continuing, he said:
"Everything operates in those academies on the theory that the rougher a cadet is treated, the better man it makes of him. It naturally, follows that since a youth of our race would be treated more harshly than the average white person, he will emerge stronger than the average white person. But we want no QUITTERS. If you think you can stand the gaff, be a real sport, take and give, then step forward. The race needs you, the country needs you. Our academies are here for all of us. Who will step forward. And remember only REAL MEN are wanted."
In another editorial in the same issue this editor stated something concerning the recent Army and Navy football game played in Chicago and recounts the colored attendance together with the heads of World War Post colored men occupying positions of distinction during this game. The editorial said in part: "Among the huge crowd scattered in every section of this mighty stadium were 20,000 of our people. With the cadets from West Point were ten men of our race composing the medical detachment who marched with their contingent and took their seats with the army crew. These men served as a reminder that we should have representatives in these academies. "Among the ushers, made up of ex-service men, was a detachment from the George L. Giles Post of the American Legions, who officiated along with members from other posts. Among the special officials, composed of officers, who served in the World war and whose functions were supervisory, was the commander of the Giles Post. In the seat of honor with the West Pointers was a woman of our race brought here from the academy where she has been employed for 42 years as a cook. Among the officers who represented the National Guard of Illinois officially at the game was the commander of the Eighth regiment. Among the newspapers allotted press courtesies and given the same consideration as America's foremost dailies was the Chicago Defender. We give these facts as an object lesson. We point them out to show that the American people as a whole are not against us."
PRAISES THE TRIBUNE.
Mrs. Lena Watters writer in Glad Tidings, published in Bloomington, Illinois, has an article in this month's issue in which she praises the Oakland TRIBUNE. She said: "It is interesting to note that the Oakland TRIBUNE of Oakland, California, has issued a booklet of "The proceedings of the thirteenth biennial convention of the N. A. of C. W. in order to meet the demand for the special articles by Miss Delilah L. Beasley, author of the Negro Trail Blazers of California and special feature writer with the Oakland TRIBUNE. She gave unusual notice of the activities of the organization through the columns of this paper and it increased the appreciation of the efforts of our women and aroused keen interest in race endeavors. It is gratifying to know that the editors of this great western journal recognize that the women are a factor in the political and economic life of America, and they deserve the highest praise for their fairness to their staff of reporters."
KENTUCKY CONVENTION.
Mrs. L. B. Fouse of Lexington, Ky., sends greetings to her friends in Oakland and a short account of the recent twenty-second annual convention of the State Federation of Women's Clubs for Kentucky which met Friday and Saturday, November 26 and 27 in the First Baptist church, Lancaster, Ky. Among the many topics presented and discussed was "Why Negro Women Should Vote," by Mrs. Alice Weston; "Does the Average Negro Man Know his Political Power," by Mrs. Fanny G. Givens; "Will the Girl of Today Make the Real Woman of Tomorrow," by Mrs. Martha Williams Walker. Reports were rendered on the recent biennial convention of the National Association of Colored Women held in Oakland. This report was given by Mrs. M. E. Steward and a report on the Douglass Home was given by Miss Georgie Nugent.
Mrs. Fouse stated that the convention met with ninety-three delegates representing eighty clubs and as she was the chairman of the Scholarship Loan Fund previous to giving the report she spoke on the splendid booklet published by the Oakland TRIBUNE covering the proceedings of the biennial of the N. A. of C. W. She said: "I displayed my own copy, which was most enthusiastically received, and many took your name with the intention of sending for a copy."
The Federation of Kentucky clubs raised for the scholarship loan fund during the past year, $437.23. They have $15,000 in bonds and have at present six girls attending colleges and universities and many applicants on the waiting list. Altogether they have in the past twelve years assisted twenty girls and two boys with money from this scholarship loan fund.
LOCALS.
The members of the Presidents' Council of Federated Colored Women's clubs for the state of California will be the guests at breakfast Wednesday morning with Mrs. C. Davis, 1564 Jones street, San Francisco. This council at the last meeting created two new departments, one on public speaking, and appointed Mrs. W. P. Henry of Oakland as chairman, and the department of music, with Mrs. A. M. Smith, also of Oakland, chairman as
Mr. and Mrs. Edward Jones of Fresno have been weekend guests of their son, Errol Jones, a student of the law department of the University of California. Mr. Jones Sr. has the distinction of being deputy grand lecturer of A. F. A. M. Hiram of Tyre lodge, while his wife is worthy grand matron of the Order of the Eastern Star.
Mrs. Nora Harris of Gary, Indiana, has for the past fortnight been the guest of her sister, Mrs. A. M. Smith of Oakland. She holds the distinction of being the first colored woman in Indiana granted a license to conduct a home for neglected children who are wards of the juvenile court. She was the incentive for many social functions while in Oakland. She leaves for her home today via Portland and Seattle.
