Activities Among Negroes
During the past week an unusually large number of telegrams, letters and newspaper clippings contained news of value to this column has been most gratefully received. The most outstanding was a telegram from Morris Lewis, secretary to Congressman DePriest (De Priest). It contained news about the recent opening celebration in Washington, D. C. of National Negro History week February 10, throughout the United States. The celebration sponsored by a citizen's committee through the leadership of the "Association for the Study of Negro Life and History,"
The object of the celebration was to honor the four Negro congressmen now living. The telegram said in part:
"Congressman Oscar De Priest entertained Monday morning at breakfast in speaker's private dining room in the capitol the former congressmen, John R. Lynch of Mississippi and Thomas K. Miller of South Carolina. Later they were presented on the floor of the house by De Priest; in the evening they were special guests at a banquet at Armstrong High school dining hall. At night at mass meeting at "Washington auditorium, they were speakers to an audience of six thousand."
Morris Lewis also sent an official program of the occasion which will be treasured for its historical significance. It contained the pictures and a short sketch of the political activities of the Negro congressmen. The program was as follows:
Toastmaster: Sylvester L. McLarurin, chairman of the Citizen's committee. "The Significance of the Occasion," Garnett C. Wilkinson, first assistant superintendent of schools; "The record of the negro Congressmen," W. T. Andrews, editor of The Herald and Commonwealth, Baltimore; "Why the Negro Should Aspire to High Office," Judge James A. Cobb, of municipal court of the District of Columbia, the presentation of visitors from afar, Attorney Armond Scott, of District of Columbia. Response on behalf of visitors, Mrs. George S. Williams of Savannah, Georgia, (Republican National Committee women).
MASS MEETING
The program for the mass meeting, honoring these Negro congressmen, read as follows: Opening by audience standing while singing "America." Call to order, the chairman of citizen's committee introducing the master of ceremonies. Introductory address by Hon. John R. Hawkins, master of ceremonies and president of the Association for the Study Negro Life and History; musical selection by Mt. Carmel Baptist church choir under the direction of Mrs. Ethel V. Gibbs. Address by Honorable John R. Lynch, of Mississippi member of 43-44th and 47th Congresses. Address by Honorable Henry Plummer Cheatham, North Carolina member of the 51st and 52nd congresses. Selection by the Samuel Coleridge Taylor choral society; Alfred H. Johnson, director. Address by Honorable Thomas K. Miller, South Carolina, member of the 51st congress; selections "Lift Every Voice and Sing" by Samuel Coleridge Taylor Choral society; address by Honorable Oscar De Priest, of Illinois, member of the 71st congress; address by Senator Otis F. Glenn, of Illinois singing "Star Spangled Banner."
INSTITUTE CELEBRATES
National Negro History week was observed at Tuskegee Institute last week through a series of talks by teachers and students on various phases of Negro history, life and culture and exhibitions of Negro literature and art; programs of Negro music; and a "Believe It or Not" contest in which students sought to discover incidents in Negro history.
NEGRO DOCTOR HONORED
The following interesting news has been received from national headquarters of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People in New York City, and will interest citizens of both groups in Oakland since one of its native son's has been accorded an honor never before given to a member of his race in the medical world. Dr. Paul A. Collins, a nephew of Mrs. Grasses of Oakland has been given the appointment of chief ophthalmologist in the Harlem hospital of New York. The communication further states: "Harlem hospital leads the country in recognizing Negro doctors and nurses." Dated February 14, it says: "The most decisive step thus far taken in any city of the United States for the recognition and giving of opportunity to colored doctors and nurses is announced today as having been taken in Harlem hospital where there has been a reorganization of the medical board.
The thirteen members of the surgical division of the new medical board of the hospital ordered by Dr. J. G. Williams Greeff, commissioner of hospitals, includes seven Negro surgeons and the medical staff of eight includes four Negroes. Dr. Louis T. Wright secretary of the newly organized board of the Harlem hospital is New York's first colored police department surgeon and is a member of the national board of directors of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.
The survey of Harlem hospital which preceded this reorganization was initiated by William S. Schroedre, former commissioner of hospitals, and now head of the department of sanitation of New York City. On the committee making the survey, Dr. George David Stewart was chairman. Doctors Bernard Sachs, and Samuel Lambert served on it. Dr. Stewart is head of the department of surgery at Bellevue hospital, professor of surgery at New York university and former president of the American College of Surgery. He is now a member of the Board of Regents of the American College of Surgery.
The communication then gives the names of the colored doctors and surgeons, on the same division of which Dr. Paul Collins is chief there will be another colored and a white doctor. Dr. Chester Chinn, is the colored and Michael Schiller white. Another colored doctor will serve in the division of hematology.
LOCAL NEWS ITEMS
The Linden Branch Y. M. C. A held the annual, election of committee of management and presented a program a week ago. It was largely attended and took place In the Central Y. W. C. A. Their own building has become too small to accommodate even their grown up members, making it impossible for Girl Reserves on such an occasion to be present. The Colonial program was by the Swastika Civic club women of Berkeley. They used white wigs and attire of that date. The Girl Reserve of Oakland and the Girl Reserve of Berkeley played a game of basketball, Oakland winning 7 to 3. A sheet giving the results of the election was prepared by the executive secretary Miss Lula Chapman, and was quite unique. Mesdames Mable Craig, Iva Gray, Grace Mathews, A. O. Newman, E. Ricks, M. J. Stubblefield and Grace Temple were elected.
RECITAL
Madam Margarithia Van Loben Sels will present two of her pupils in recital February 27 in Fifteenth Street church. Miss Ruth Dean, a native daughter, who is the organist for the Mount Pleasant Baptist church of Berkeley, and Miss Irene Sears, pianist of Junior choir of Fifteenth Street A. M. E. church played. The object of the recital is to assist these girls to enter University of California this fall.
PUBLIC WELFARE DINNER
The public fellowship dinner sponsored by the Alameda County Public Welfare league was a great success. The part of the affair of interest to the colored group was that Mrs. Viola Anderson, lyric soprano soloist in First A. M. E. church, rendered a solo after the dinner, singing "The Swallows." The address of Mrs. Anderson gave a picture of condition in Oakland and the handicap under which colored citizens live, since she said few doors of opportunity are open to them. She pleaded for a more liberal policy to the colored people in employment, arid complimented both Mrs. M. Ruffin, former, chairman of Colored Group and Miss Bertha Allen, the present chairman.
INTERRACIAL CHURCH MEET
There is in this city a welfare department of the Oakland Council of Churches which is affiliated with the Federal Council of Churches of New York. The Oakland chapter on Tuesday noon held a luncheon in Leamington Hotel which was attended by representatives of the Japanese, Mexican, Filipino, and Negro. After the luncheon these different group representatives told of their conditions in Oakland. The colored group was represented by a full attendance of the Alliance of Colored Ministers. Rev. Byers, president, acted as spokesman and referred in his remarks to the training of Negro girls as nurses in Highland hospital. Later the matter like all others was discussed in the open meeting. Those colored groups in attendance were the church. Rev. Scott, Fifteenth Street A. M. E. church; Rev. H. T. Johnson, Taylor Memorial A. M.E. church and Rev. G. C. Coleman, of North Oakland Baptist church.
COMMUNITY CHEST
Have you sent in your subscriptions to the Community Chest. It has been the writers privilege to attend some of the organization meetings of the Berkeley Community Chest and later to visit a few of the 21 agencies. They have an exceptionally well organized Community Chest, are one hundred percent true to their trust in that all races and nations are treated square. This method of public giving is being recognized in all cities in America as the only way whereby money, given to the charity is used for the purpose for which it is given. It would be a liberal education to attend some of the meetings of your own Community Chest organization, and there gain firsthand information. It will be time well used to visit some of the 28 agencies given aid by the Oakland Community Chest. This year with the large unemployment of all races, it becomes a duty for citizen to give liberally and ask your friends to do likewise.
Activities Among Negroes/Sun, Feb 23, 1930 23 Feb 1930, Sun Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com
