ACTIVITIES AMONG NEGROES
The committee from the local branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, sponsoring the Harmon Awards Negro Art exhibit to be held in the Oakland Municipal Art Galleries November 10 to 25 is happy over the spirit of cooperation by members and friends in assisting to raise the necessary funds to bring the exhibit to this city. The committee held a whist tournament last Monday in West Gate Masonic hall, the proceeds to be used for the two-fold purpose, pay expenses of bringing the Art exhibit to this city and an effort to raise a part of their quota to the national office of the N. A. A. C. P.
Dr. Nelson, president of the local branch, and Mrs. Alberta Martin, secretary, and chairman of the Art exhibit committee have asked the writer to extend thanks to the press and the following persons whose assistance made the whist tournament a success. They are Wade Whaley, donation of the orchestra for evening; J. M. Bridges and company for loan of chairs, and tables: Miss Lulu Chapman, executive secretary Linden Branch Y. W. C. A. for loan of chairs, and to Messrs. Walter Green, of Green Brothers, and E.E. Michell for conveying the chairs and tables to and from Oakland to West Berkeley. Dr. Nelson also states that the branch will hold their regular annual election of officers Monday evening, November 10. The nominating committee consists of Mrs. Elizabeth Brown, chairman, Mrs. Mabel Calhoune, Mrs. H. E. De Hart, E. L. Dawson, and Attorney George Johnson. Membership dues must be paid not later than noon on the day of election.
HARMON ART EXHIBIT
The Harmon Foundation was created by the late Hon. William B. Harmon of New York City. Through this foundation there are offered many awards in different fields of endeavor in an effort to stimulate students of affairs to conduct research work. A particularly interesting group is the Social Work Publicity council.
This is a group of persons interested in methods of informing the public about social, civic and public health work. Its headquarters are at 130 East Twenty second street, New York City. The administration of awards is through the office of the Harmon foundation, 140 Nassau street, New York city.
It was in the summer of 1925 that the first public statement was made concerning the Harmon awards for distinguished achievements by Negroes of American residence, and read:
"Washington D. C, July 5. Outstanding musicians, artists, scientists, educators, religious leaders, university professors, economists and business men will serve as judges for the Harmon awards for distinguished achievements by Negroes of American residence. This announcement was made today by the Commission on Race Relations of the Federal Council of Churches, 105 East Twenty-second street, New York city, which has been asked to administer the awards. These judges will consider nominations and make awards to Negroes of American residence who have made creative achievements in the seven major fields of literature, music, fine arts, industry, including business, science including invention, education, and religion, and also to a candidate white or Negro, who has made an outstanding achievement in race relations. The awards are offered by the Harmon Foundation to give annual recognition and stimulus to creative work among Negroes. The period for making nominations or filing applications is open until August 1. Names of successful candidates will be announced December 1."
As a result of these awards, Negro art and sculpture received immediate attention and an exhibit was placed in International House, 500 Riverside drive, New York city, January 3 to 15. During that time over 2000 whites and Negroes visited the exhibit, among whom were distinguished artists, art critics, art students, and many distinguished citizens of all nations and races living in New York city. Many of the paintings were sold to white art collectors. The exhibit coming to Oakland is known as 1930 Negro Art exhibit (Harmon Awards). Upon the close of the first exhibit, an almost immediate request came from 11 large cities to have the exhibit sent to them. Hence with each year similar requests have been made until the exhibit has of its self created traveling exhibit. These cities realizing the great benefit coming to their community of a "Better Inter-racial Understanding" clearly demonstrating that there are yet many thousands of persons in all races who, until then, did not know that Negroes possessed this ability, that they actually claimed one of the four world's greatest religious painters, and that Spain has produced three outstanding Negro painters, or that the great sculptor Rodin, had as a pupil a Negro woman, who won international fame as a sculptor, and that Berkeley and San Francisco environments has produced a Negro sculptor who is often referred to in art circles as destined to become one of the world's great sculptors. The exhibit is free to the public.
U. N. I. A. MEET
The Universal Negro Improvement association's local chapter had as their guest speaker last Sunday in the West Oakland hall, "Mahendra Pratap" of India, who is in this country as an unofficial envoy of Afghanistan. He wished this column to convey the following message:
"I heartily sympathize with the Negro movement which tries to better the lot of our African brethren. I wish, however, that they would follow the path of goodness, to make themselves happy and bring peace in our world. I mean they should develop all goodness possible in them and make a common cause with all goodness existing in our society to suppress evil. Our troubles are from evil. Let us work energetically to destroy evil and injustice."
Today the U. N. I. A. will have as guest speaker Dr. Allen O. Newman, who will speak on the power of organization in putting over a program. Today is Garvey day. Public will be welcome.
PROGRESSIVE CLUB
The Women's progressive club celebrated their second anniversary last Sunday afternoon with a reception in the home of Mrs. Johnson on Thirty-sixth street. An interesting program was rendered. Violin solo, Miss Roberta Wells; history of the club by Mrs. Roberta Savage; talk on the Young club women, Mrs. Vivian O. Marsh; solo, Miss Ruth Dean; talk on club work, Mrs. C. Sledge; president northern district C W C; remarks, Mrs. Mapps, Tacoma, Washington, who is spending the winter in Oakland. This club was organized through Mrs. A. M. Smith and Mrs. Katherine Jackson. Mrs. H. E. Jackson is the president. Mrs. H. Hogan, vice-president and Roberta Savage, secretary; Mrs. Charles Morris, treasurer, and Mrs. H. Connley, parliamentarian.
INTER-RACIAL MEET
The Young People's Forum held last Sunday, evening in Mt. Pleasant Baptist church in Berkeley was one of the finest meetings ever held in that city by colored people. It was a real inter-racial meeting. The singing by the school girls from Edison public school under the leadership of Misses Alien and O'Neill of Berkeley public school music department, was a most creditable showing of careful training. Mrs. Lillian Jetter Davis, regular organist for the church, gave some fine selections on the pipe organ. The address of the evening was delivered by Dr. Lawrence Cross. It was interesting and instructive, clearly demonstrating the great handicap suffered by well-meaning white people who rush to assist the Negro, but because of not knowing something about the present day history of the American Negro, is often misunderstood. Dr. Cross stated that the radio company for which he works employs more Negro radio artists than any other on this coast. This was welcome and valuable news for Negro citizens.
Y. M. C. A. NOTES
William Watkins, executive secretary Filbert street branch Y. M. C. A. announces that a pre-league basketball game will be played November 15 in the Armory. The league will open November 23. He will have personal charge of all “Y" activities of the branch this season. He also stated that the colored men of Oakland are being given during this present membership drive, an opportunity to prove if they actually wish a well-equipped building or organization. The first step has been taken toward such a building by the Rosenwald Foundation designating a $25,000 gift for that purpose. But the colored men of Oakland must show that they want and need such by securing 500 new members. The committee working in the drive are K. L. Williams, general chairman, Attorneys J. D. Drake, H. L. Richardson, Walter A. Gordon, Rev. W. J. J. Byers, U. S. King, Byron O'Reilly, Wm. McFarland, and others.
ENGAGEMENT ANNOUNCED
Members of the First A. M. E. Zion church of San Francisco, last Monday evening tendered their pastor Rev. Macgruder, and family a reception, acknowledging with appreciation his re-assignment as their pastor for another year. After the reception, refreshments were served at a beautifully decorated table. Hung above the table was an umbrella, trimmed in colors with multi-colored ribbon streamers gracefully dropping to each place card. The surprise of the evening came when the streamers were pulled and the announcement of the betrothal of Miss Fredona Macgruder to Bernard Basquie of Oakland, fell out. He is a native of New Orleans, graduate of Oakland Technical high school and Davis School of Agriculture of University, of California.
On Thursday evening a family dinner was held by Mrs. I. C. Johnson, mother of Basquie, together with Mr. and Mrs. Walter Smith, relatives, in their home on Thirty-fourth street, Oakland, complimentary to the forthcoming nuptials of the couple.
