Activities Among Negroes
The writer is in receipt of a copy of the Women's Missionary Magazine, published by the United Presbyterian church at Xenia, O. (OH). The magazine is the official organ of the missionary activities of this church among negroes and Indians. This copy contains interesting articles. The United Presbyterian Church Women's Missionary Society was one of the first white organizations to begin work among the negro people in the South after the Civil War. Hence this magazine is preparing a special Freedman's Edition, to appear in the near future. Some of the subjects which well-known writers will contribute will be: "The Negro and His Needs," "Negro Women in America," "The Negro's Responsibility for the Advancement of His Own Race," "Booker T. Washington, a Prophet of His Race," and "Some Things Negroes Need Do."
During the past month there has been held in different parts of the United States many conventions on social work, which included the Urban League and its activities among negro people. One of these gatherings held in Dayton, O. (OH), as the State Conference of Social Workers, was of especial interest because so many persons of national distinction were in attendance. Their deliberations lasted three days, during which time many questions of national importance were discussed.
J. A. Mitchell, principal of the Champion Avenue Junior High school of Columbus, O.(OH), talked on modern social work in its relation to education in large cities. He emphasized the fact "that the standards of American society are being raised by the scientific methods now being employed by the majority of city school boards." Other speakers were Dr. Sara Brown of the National Y. M. C. A. board; Franklin O. Nichols of the New York Bureau of Social Hygiene; John C. Dancy Jr. of the Detroit Urban League; Dr. F. G. Barr, Judge R. W. Baggott, and Mayor F. B. Hale of Dayton, O. (OH).
Last week there was held in Long Beach, Calif., a conference of the State Social Alliance Workers. Mrs. Eva Carter Buckner, the California colored poet, was on the program and spoke in the interest of her race.
James E. Whitfield of New York City has won first prize in oratory in a contest held at the College of the City of New York. He selected for his subject, "The Significance of the Negro Migration." He was awarded first prize for an original oration in the annual spring prize speaking contest of this college. He is a senior, and will receive the degree of Bachelor of Science in Biology and Chemistry. He served as a member of the junior prom committee of the class of 1925. He was also student advisor to the freshman class. Outside of college Whitfield is an active worker at the Carlton Avenue Y. M. C. A., Brooklyn, where he lives. He is a member of the Eta chapter of the Alpha Phi Alpha fraternity and is planning to enter a medical school next year.
Landus Smith, of Washington, D. C., has won first prize in an essay award through nationwide competition. The award was offered by the American Chemical Society. The subject of this prize winning essay was "The Relation of Chemistry to the Development of Industries and Resources in My City." The award was made at a special assembly held at Randall Junior High School, Washington, D. C. Prof. Nelson E. Weatherless, head of the department of science of the local high schools, presided. The community recognized the occasion as a historical incident, with the result that many notable persons of both races participated in the exercises. This colored boy, by winning first prize for the District of Columbia, will now go into competition with winners in 48 States of the Union in the contest, which will take place in that city with President Coolidge as one of the judges. Six of the contestants will be selected for a special award.
The National Republican Convention at Cleveland, O. (OH), will have among its delegates and alternates several colored men and women of national distinction. Among this number will be Miss Sallie Q. Brown, president of the National Association of Colored Women's Clubs. Dr. George Cannon of Newark, N. J., a strong advocate for the rights of his race, has been selected as one of the men who will second the nomination of President Coolidge. Another colored delegate-at-large will be Attorney S. D. McGill of Jacksonville, Fla. This delegate will be considered a sign of a better day for negro people in the South, since Georgia has named a colored woman as a member of the National committeemen.
Another colored delegate who will attend will be Dr. B. E. Robinson, chairman of the executive committee of the Coolidge Republican Club of Massachusetts. Dr. Robinson was the founder of the Coolidge club in 1919, when, as governor, Coolidge made his sturdy approval of law and order.
Many of the older colored politicians who have always played a prominent part in attendance at the G. O. P. conventions, will be missed this year, as the majority have died during the past six months. Last week Henry A. Rucker of Atlanta, Ga., died. He had attended every convention for the past 40 years, either as an alternate or in some other capacity. Rucker began his political career at an early age as a gauger in the revenue service. In 1897, after having carried the Republican delegation for McKinley, he was appointed collector of internal revenue for the district of Georgia. He held this position under McKinley, Roosevelt and Taft, resigning to enter private life in 1910. He was also prominently identified with a fire insurance company. He was born in Washington, Ga., in 1852. He married in 1889 Miss Annie L. Long, daughter to the first colored Congressman from Georgia. He leaves a widow and eight children, all of whom are prominent representatives of the race,
Mrs. Anna Crow of North Oakland Baptist church died last week. She had been a resident of this part of the State since pioneer days, having come to California when a girl in the early fifties.
The Mrs. McDonald mentioned in last week's article as having been found dead in the Home for Aged and Infirm Colored People was a woman much respected, the colored club women having paid her entrance fee into the institution.
