Activities Among Negroes
The Commission on Race Relations, through the committee on economic life of the Federal Council of Churches has offered its assistance to President Hoover's national committee on unemployment.
"While we recognize that the whole country is suffering from unemployment, the evidence coming from many places north and south to our office shows," announces Dr. George E. Haynes, secretary of the Commission on Race Relations, "that Negros are furnishing a larger proportion than others in the army of the unemployed."
The Commission on Race Relations has a committee on economic life which has been organized to stimulate the interest of the churches in justice in economic life as it affects the Negro. At the meeting of this committee last week it was voted to send a letter to Colonel Woods offering any assistance it can render to the President's National Committee on employment. The letter, signed by Dr. Edward T. Devine, chairman of the committee of direction of the Commission on Race Relations read as follows:
"As you know, the Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America represents the Protestant churches of the country. The council, through its constituent bodies, has access to all communities in the United States. It has a Commission on Race Relations which has been working for some time on justice in economic life through the standing committee. At the last meeting of the commission's national committee on economic life it voted to offer such assistance as it can render to the President's National Committee on Employment during the duration of the Unemployment crisis.
"The Commission on Race Relations is in touch with about fifty communities in different sections of the country. While these committees are autonomous both in their programs and organizations they look to their commission for suggestions and guidance. We shall appreciate your letting us know as soon as possible the plans of the president's committee and suggestions you have to make regarding any service we can render."
The Federal Council of Churches through the Social Service Commission, with which the committee on economic life is working cooperatively, has issued a set of recommendations to churches throughout the country on the unemployment situation and has especially drawn attention to the Negro as follows:
1. Negroes and other racial groups should be accorded equitable treatment in the distribution of work and relief.
2. Any payment of lower wages or maintenance of longer working hours which would tend to break down present labor standards should be discouraged. The government and leading business men have gone on record in favor of maintenance of present wage rates during the depression period. In the case of emergency jobs created for purpose of relief, when only a given amount of money is available, it is better to employ men and women for part time than to employ them full time at reduced wage rate.
One of the worst possible results of the unemployment period would be a permanent impairment of present standard of wages and hours.
URBAN LEAGUE SURVEY
A report of the survey made on unemployment among Negroes by the National Urban league through T. Arnold Hill, director of department of industrial relations, and Ira, D. Reid, director of department of research, and investigation has been received from New York City. The National Urban League rendered a similar report in March, making a recheck in October on the present situation.
“A recheck on the state of unemployment among Negroes in October showed that the situation was coming quite acute. Reports from thirty-five affiliated employment bureaus in urban centers throughout the country warranted the statement that the present unemployment crisis is the severest test of the urban and industrial adjustment of the Negro worker since the recent migrations.”
This statement is followed by figures collected from the larger cities and Industrial centers to prove the statement. A statement from Brooklyn reads:
"Heads of families out of work are receiving pay for emergency employment from the city fund provided for this purpose. A committee of ministers appointed at a meeting called by the Brooklyn Urban League is seeking the cooperation of the Brooklyn Federation of Churches in an effort to stem the tide against the employment of Negroes."
Continuing the report says: "The charge of "under selling" white labor usually laid at the door of Negro labor may not be preferred against white men and women, particularly the latter, who are frequently replacing Negroes at a lower wage, a situation by no means basically a racial one.
"Our information leads us to believe that the problem of unemployment among Negroes is serious enough to demand special attention. To offset the inequalities usually found in work relationships involving Negroes and certain to appear during a crisis such as this, special attention will have to be given this group through official agencies functioning in the emergency. What the league forces are doing locally is not sufficient. Normally one out of every eight wage earners is a Negro and as such this race should receive, both for its own welfare and for the restoration of business, its normal share of employment.
"In almost every city Negroes constitute a larger part of the beneficiaries of charitable agencies than they do of the population. This is because they are receiving a smaller share of the work. Their purchasing power is being lowered and communities dependent upon Negro trade felt the loss of their patronage. Thus new causes for racial irritation are coming to the front to disturb relations that are already too unsettled. Nothing is more evident than that the color line must be taken out of industry. Since the inception of the National Urban league this has been its industrial objective. We see it today as a more important need than ever before. Violent competition between white and black workers comes to the front in times like these to prove the weakness of an industrial system that pushes one group forward at the expense of another. The removal of this artificial barrier is the challenge to American Industry."
LOCAL NOTES
The recent quarterly luncheon held by the Oakland Council of Church Women last Friday in the First Methodist church dining room with the president, Mrs. Orace Spencer, presiding, was the largest and most interesting meeting of the entire year. All the different racial groups affiliated with the council of churches furnished speakers. Especially interesting was an account of the work being done among the Chinese, Armenians, Portuguese and Negroes. An address by Rev. Henry J. McCall, who spent many years in Brazil, and is now working among the Portuguese in San Leandro, was intensely interesting. The Negro group was represented by Father David H. Wallace, of Saint Augustine Episcopal church, who spoke of the effect of unemployment among his members, asking for Jobs for them. Delilah L. Beasley also spoke asking the women of the churches to attend the Harmon art exhibit of Negro artists, and reminding them that the Linden Branch Y. W. C. A. maintained a free employment agency and would gladly furnish reliable help from its members. Mrs. Carrie O. Clarke, of Berkeley, as a guest of Delilah L. Beasley, was also in attendance.
INTERRACIAL MEET
The Sunday Forum held last Sunday evening in Mt. Pleasant Baptist church of Berkeley proved to be a real interracial meeting, Many of the public school teachers of the Berkeley school and Negro club women attended. The principal speakers were Hayes, teacher and principal of the Longfellow public school in Berkeley, and Glessner, principal of Edison Junior high school, also of that city. Both addresses were well received. It was voted that arrangements be made whereby a committee of teachers and Negro citizens be formed in Berkeley to cooperate in better racial relations. Rev. L. Brown deserves much credit for the work he is doing in that regard in Berkeley.
TAYLOR MEMORIAL CHURCH
Mrs. M. Mead, president of the Ladies' Aid of Taylor Memorial M. E. church, held a Thanksgiving dinner for the four sections of the organization on Monday night, with about seventy present. They are engaged in raising funds to pay off church debts.
Y. W. C. A. NOTES
The fourth anniversary celebration of the Linden club of the Business Girls' department was held Tuesday evening November 25 in the branch with the following program: Singing Club members; "We Pause to Give Thanks," by Miss Lula Chapman, executive secretary; "We Review Our Year's Activities," by the president, Mrs. Rosalie Smith; vocal selection, Miss Sylvia Macgruder; "What Others Are Doing," by Miss C. Weems; piano selection, Miss C. Black, Girl Reserve secretary; comments by Mrs. Allen O. Newman.
