Activities Among Negroes
Today, Sunday, February 9 is off to historical significance to the Negro citizens of the United States. First because it is Race Relations Sunday, and as such will be observed widely on recommendation of the Federal Council of Churches of Christ In America. The day has been designated by the church council for furthering understanding and cooperation between the various racial groups of the country. This year marks the eighth annual observance of this day of special emphasis in the churches. According to Dr. George E. Hayes executive secretary of Federal Council of Churches commission on race relations this observance is gaining a recognized place in the program of an increasing number of churches every year. In announcing the plans for the day Dr. Hayes stated:
"The idea that at least one day of the year, people of different races should meet in churches and other places on the basis of friendliness and good will has already borne rich fruit. The members of the different groups have been helped to discover how much they have in common and as a result have been stimulate to join in cooperative service for the welfare of the whole community."
One of the special plans urged for the Federal Council of Churches in connection with this day is the exchange of pulpits between white and negro ministers. In several instances white and negro choirs have also exchanged places on this day. A message issued from the Federal Council's Commission in connection of the observance emphasizes the fact the development of understanding good will and cooperation among the races is crucial importance to the church, since it has to do with the truth of its own preaching about "God as the Father of All Men."
HARMON AWARDS PRESENTED
Today in many sections of the United States there will be connection with race relations Sunday's observance of presenting of the Harmon Awards recently granted to 16 negroes for notable achievements. This makes the fourth year of the Harmon Awards for Distinguished Achievements among negroes in the fields of business organization, fine arts, music, business, religious service, science, education and race relations. Five persons serving as judges in each particular field determines the conferring of the awards of a gold medal, and honorarium of $400, and a bronze medal and honorarium of $100 in each of seven fields. This year nine gold medals, and seven bronze medals and a total of $4900 will be given in awards. These awards will be made in home town where the recipients live. The ceremonies will be participated in by members of other races.
The award in race relations, which is biennial, consists of a gold medal and $1000, was accorded to Dr. Robert Russa Moton, principle (president) of Tuskegee Institute. Dr. Moton is a Virginian and was educated at Hampton Institute, where he became commander, and vice-principal, remaining there until he was summoned to Tuskegee Institute in 1916, to succeed the late Dr. Booker T. Washington. While in Hampton he was on of the founders of the Virginia Negro Organization Society which has done much to promote better understanding between the races. He was one of the leaders in the formation of the Commission on Interracial Cooperation of the South, and since 1922, has been chairman of the executive committee of the Jeannes Fund {Jeanes} concerned with rural education among Negroes. He has been an influential leader in the interracial work of the National Young Men's Christian association. His latest contribution to the cause of better racial understanding is his book "What the Negro Thinks."
Bishop Robert E. Jones of New Orleans, will receive a gold medal and $400 in religious service. He is one of the two Negro bishops of the Methodist Episcopal church and was founder of the Gulf Sie Chautauqua and assembly located on the gulf coast near Bay St. Louis. He was formerly editor of the Southwestern Christian Advocate, an organ of the Methodist Episcopal church. The award of one bronze medal and $100 in religious service was granted to Dr. Clayton Powell of New York City for his leadership as pastor at the Abyssinian Baptist church for the past 21 years. He has set an example for financing religious and social church activities among Negroes. In six years his church, one of the finest conceived and carried forward by Negroes in the world was built and paid for at a cost of nearly $400,000. The congregation has also purchased a home for their aged members.
FIELD OF EDUCATION
Mrs. Janie Porter Barrett was awarded a bronze medal in education for the unique work she has done with delinquent Negro girls at the Virginia Industrial School of which she is superintendent at Peak's Turnout, Virginia. It was started by the Virginia Federation of Colored Women, under her leadership, and in the first school of its kind for Negroes in the United States. Mrs. Barrett was a delegate at the biennial convention of the National Association of Colored Women at their meeting held in Oakland, July, 1926.
Dr. W. J. Hale, president of the State Agricultural and Industrial College for Negroes, Nashville was awarded a bronze medal and $100. He began the work of the State college for Negroes in 1912 with a small and inadequate state appropriation. Today he has a state accredited institution with a plant appraised at more than a million dollars.
AWARD IN SCIENCE
An award in science was made to Theodore Kenneth Lawless of Chicago, III. He was granted a gold medal and $400 for his studies in dermatology. Dr. Lawless holds a research and lecture fellowship in dermatology at Northwestern University. His monograph "Intercutaneous Methods of Treating Argyria." is considered to be authoritative. He is a graduate of Talladega college, Alabama, and of Northwestern university medical school; he has studied in hospitals in New York at Harvard medical school. In Berlin, Paris, Freiburg and Vienna.
Harry Lawrence Freeman of New York City was awarded a gold medal and $400. He is a composer of the first grand opera which was presented In Denver, Cleveland, Chicago and other places by a Negro company he organized. He studied music under Johann Peck, conductor and founder of the Cleveland symphony orchestra.
Carl Rossinia Diton of New York City was awarded a bronze medal and $100 for his achievement in music including a "cantata" and the first movement of a symphony in which he reproduces African rhythms. For the past two years he has been studying in New York on a scholarship from Julliard Foundation
NEGRO HISTORY WEEK
Dr. Carter G. Woodson is president of the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History, Washington, D. C. the best educated Negro historian today in America, who, after graduating from Harvard, studied and did research work In leading colleges in Spain, and other foreign countries. Upon returning to America he discovered that because of prejudices many of his race were ashamed to be called Negro, or even use the word in their own publication. This was due to daily paper printing the word with a small letter "n" or often a "nigger." As an historian he realized the danger to his race loosing valuable record if the attitude was not changed.
Hence he organized in 1912 the Association for the Study of Negro Life and History and was elected the editor of the association's official organ "The Journal of Negro History." Later he wrote several books on Negro history, which can be found in any public library. This association for the study of Negro life and history has for several year sponsored the celebration of "National Negro History Week." Tomorrow night in Washington, it will honor the four living Negro congressmen together with members of the association and their friends. Dr. Carter G. Woodson is being assisted by a citizens' committee of 200 outstanding Negroes selected from every section of United States.
The men who will honored are former Congressmen' John R. Lynch, Henry F. Cheatman, Thos. E. Miller and Congressman Oscar De Priest. The assembly will be addressed by Senator Otis O. Glenn of Illinois (white.) The banquet will be served. A mass meeting will be held in the Washington Auditorium at 8 p.m. Special guests will respond, and distinguished visitors will be presented.
LOCAL NOTES
The Sawstika Women's Civic Study club of Berkeley rendered an interesting program Sunday afternoon in the Home for Aged Colored People at Beulah, Calif. The occasion was the celebration of the one hundred and thirteenth anniversary of the birthday of the late Hon. Frederick Douglass. The program was opened by singing the National Negro anthem followed with prayer, after which the members answered to roll call by repeating some favorite saying of Fred Douglass. Mesdames Dupree, James and Howard read short essays on the life of Douglass. Mrs. H. E. DeHart read a paper that had been prepared by the club's president, Mrs. Theo Purnell, on reminiscences of Douglass as given her by her grandparents.
Miss Viola Haines and Edward A. Howard rendered a duet for piano and violin, followed by a paper on the 'Influence of the Life of Douglass America," by Mrs. Theo Purnell. The North Oakland Baptist church choir sang a group of Negro spirituals, followed by Douglass' favorite solo "One Sweetly Solemn Thought," with music written by one of his sons. The Lincoln part of the program was represented by an address delivered by Miss Dorothy Gray, president of Junior N. A. A. C. P. of Oakland. "Lincoln the Master of Failures" was the title. Short talks were then given by visitors, Mr. T. M. Jackson and Mr. Howard, followed by remarks by Delilah L. Beasley who told of having visited Douglass home on Anacosta hill, Washington, D. C. In 1925 while serving as a press delegate to the quinquinnal sessions of the International Council of Women. She stated that the National Association of Colored Women having assumed the responsibility to restore the place were well repaid. The club was then addressed by Mrs. Hettie B. Tilghman, who is treasurer for the advisory board of the Home for Aged People. She made a plea for the Community Chest, telling of its great value to the maintenance of this home. The club then was thanked by Mrs. Elizabeth Brown for the program, the quantity of fruit brought for the inmates and the donation of the collection.
NORTH OAKLAND CLUB
The North Oakland Improvement club will hold the regular monthly meeting on Tuesday, February 11, at 7:45 p. m. in the auditorium of Herbert Hoover Junior high school. The principal speaker will be Mayor Rolph of San Francisco, who will talk on "Current Events of the Day." The club orchestra under the leadership of D. A. Mead and accompanist, Mrs. Elizabeth Thomas, will furnish music. The public will be welcome.
Judge Wood of the superior court will be the principal speaker the seventeenth annual celebration of Rev. G. C. Coleman's pastorate of North Oakland Baptist church next Sunday morning, February 16. The public will be welcome.
Activities Among Negroes/Sun, Feb 09, 1930 09 Feb 1930, Sun Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com
