Activities Among Negroes
BY THOS. E. FLEMING
SLEEPING CAR PORTERS START A.F.L. DEBATE
Resolutions Lead to Appointment of Group to Probe Standing of Workers
At the fifty-fourth annual convention of the American Federation of Labor, the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters was represented by A. Philip Randolph, national president; M. P. Webster, first vice-president, and C. L. Dellums, fourth vice-president.
Five resolutions were presented to the convention concerning Negro workers and the Negro people in particular by Randolph: One called for the expulsion of all national and international unions from the American Federation of Labor that had color clauses in their constitutions and color pledges in their rituals. The presentation of this resolution provoked a heated debate on the floor.
The talk by Randolph received an ovation from the delegates. President Green appointed a committee of five to report its findings after in investigation of the whole status of the Negro workers in relation to the American Federation of Labor. This was the most signal victory and the most definite bit of progress that has yet been made in getting anything done that may be helpful to Negro workers.
LYNCHING RESOLUTION
Other resolutions presented were on Lynching. Negro labor organizers, against racial wage differentials and an international charter for the Brotherhood of Sleeping Car Porters.
Three white labor unions also introduced resolutions on Negro Jabor. These resolutions covered discriminations against Negro worker's by the American Federation, and lynching,
Randolph will speak at the Oakland Auditorium at 3 p. m. Loday.
Samuel Leibowitz, chief defense counsel of the famous Scottsboro case, has resigned., Leibowitz gives as his reason for quitting the case:
"I cannot continue as counsel in the Scottsboro case until the Communists are removed from all connection with the defense. In takIng this position. I believe I am acting in the best interests of my clients, of whose innocence I am as certain today as when I first look. up their cause.
"The events of the past week in Alabama have convinced me there is no other course left open. My defense has been hampered by mysterious moves behind the scenes by the International Labor Defense. I knew nothing of the activities of the two men from the International Labor Defense who were arrested in Nashville, charged with attempting to bribe Victoria Price. The defense needed no such help. If anything, the developments referred to have dealt a foul blow to the Scottsboro defendants.
'LUCRATIVE BALLYHOO'
"The Communists have raised huge sums of money by the exploitation of this case through paid admission - mass meetings throughout the country, and kindred forms of lucrative ballyhoo. I gave my services free.
I do not propose to have myself or my clients used any longer to provide funds for parades to the city hall to disconcert the mayor of our city, or for similar expeditions to Washington to embarrass the President. Until all secret maneuverings, ballyhoo, mass pressure and Communist methods are removed from thc case, I can no longer continue, I am not deserting the Scottsboro boys. I have given of my best, and am prepared to continue to do so to the end that the Scottsboro boys shall not die."
A new book just is the press is "Black Wings" by Lieutenant William J. Powell, published by Ivan Deach Jr., of Los Angeles.
The book is written in autobiographical form and depicts the struggles that Negroes encounter in the field of aviation. There is an inspiring foreword by Floyd Covington, secretary of the Los Angeles branch of the National Urban League,
Mention is made of the pseudo "Black Eagle of Harlem" - Hubert Julian, a Negro with unusual imagination who claims to be the head of Haile Salisse's air corps in Abyssinia. Mention is made also of Bessie Coleman, the first licensed Negro pilot in America,
The author asks a number of questions which he seeks to answer. Some of them are: "Are Negroes planning to quit riding the segregated railroads of the South?" "Are negroes afraid to fly?" "Why are so few Negroes in business and industry?"
The original paragraph is garbled:
The book is well written when it is considered that the author is a literary figure,
In Memoriam - Miss Delilah L. Beasley
When the last rites were said at the bier of the late Delilah L. Beasley, according to the ritualistic services of St. Francis De Sales Catholic Church, Twenty-second and Grove Streets, memory in the hearts of her associates lived on and will live throughout the ages, as was expressed at a special memorial demonstration under the sponsorship of the Oakland Council of Church Women and various other organizations, local and national, in the activities of which Miss Beasley found joy, and through which she bent her efforts during her entire life for the furtherance of the uplift of humanity.
The First African Methodist Episcopal Church of Oakland, the Rev. Daniel G. Hill, pastor, was selected as the place, and a large number of persons from various inter-racial groups assembled, at which time the many beautiful and interesting activities of Miss Beasley were fittingly portrayed in words, music and song. It is often the case that upon such occasions the time is spent in delivering extravagant eulogies of the deceased and in reading complimentary resolutions. However, while the services were limited and by no means lengthy, the meeting had nobler aims which were readily grasped when the ushers, composed of the Delilah L. Beasley Club, whose motto is
D - Deeds
E - Ever
L - Lasting
I - In
L - Lending
A - A
H - Hand
L - Let's
B - Be
E - Ever
A - Alert
S - Serving
L - Lovingly
E - Every
Y - Year
put into the hands of each person present a mimeographed card, the challenge of the united task by Mrs. Grace D. Spencer, chairman of the occasion, which was as follows:
"My Pledge
"In Memoriam
"Miss Delilah L. Beasley
"Every life casts its shadow, any life plus others makes a power to move the world, I, therefore, pledge my life to the living world of brotherhood and mutual understanding between the races."
Miss Ruth Dean was at the organ; Mrs. Sadie Huggins and Miss Talma Brooks, and T. Tracy of the Attucks Club rendered vocal solos.
HISTORICAL SKETCHES
Mrs. Chlora Hayes Sledge, past president of the State Federation of Colored Women's Clubs, said in part:
"Ohio, with its cultural and educational background, has given to us a woman who will take her place in the history of useful lives; a woman who played a great part on life's stage of action in the person of the late Delilah L. Beasley, author and writer, who was a native of Cincinnati, Ohio."
Mrs. Sledge further stated that Miss Beasley manifested her literary gift at the age of 12 years, having become a staff member of the Cleveland Gazette. At the age of 15 years she confucted a column in the Sunday issue of the Cincinnati Enquirer under the caption, "Mosaics." She later studied journalism in a publishing plant in the same city under the direction of the publisher of the Colored Catholic Tribune.
Alter the death of her parents, they having died nine months apart, she went to Chicago, look a position to work and learn massage; her desire was to become a nurse, which accomplishment was perfected a few years later. Finally she came to California to nurse a former patient. at which time she became interested in the pioneer Negro of California and was inspired to write a book under the title, "Negro Trail Blazers of California," her greatest effort and contribution to the literary world. This work, completed in 1919, has been recognized by foreign, home and state libraries and much comment stressed its value,
The Clansman attitude during the exposition in San Francisco led her to request the Oakland Tribune to publish articles of outstanding Negro visitors and their achievements. Finally she was employed as a special feature writer of The Tribune, covering "Activities Among Negroes," which proved an asset for better race relations.
MRS. ALLEN SPEAKS
As a member of the Alameda County League of Colored Women Voters. Mrs. Bertha M. Allen, president, spoke of Miss Beasley as vice-president of the league for many years and chairman of government and legislation; of the unstinted support given each and every phase of the work of women voters of California. She was an honorary member of the League of Nations' Association of Northern California; she afterward became a member of the World Court and League for Peace and Freedom. She carried on her programs of international and inter-racial interests in the University of California and many outstanding churches of the community, always receiving hearty applause.
The National Association for Advancement of Colored People was represented by the Rev. D. R. Wallace, rector of St. Augustine's Episcopal Church, who spoke of the successful efforts of Miss Beasley when Assemblymen Knowland of Oakland and Roberts of Los Angeles introduced the anti-lynching bill into the Legislature which passed both houses and will prove a lasting benefit to a race and to nation.
Miss Beasley was an aid to the northern California branch of the N. A. A. C. P., in exhibiting the art of the Harmon Foundation the first year. In 1931 she organized the various groups to supervise the Harmon exhibit in the Oakland Art Gallery and was successful through donations to place on the walls of the art gallery in the Oakland Auditorium one of Eugene Burk's paintings,
Mrs. Terea Pittman, state president of the California Federated Wonen's Clubs, told of Miss Beasley's work in national and state activities. She was an honorary member of both groups and as a member of the news' staff of the national organization contributed much in the way of biographies of the "Who is Who" among the Negro women in California, She was also named national historian.
MRS. ARTIEDA HEARD
As a social worker, Miss Beasley was a member of the Public Welfare League of Alameda County, of which Mrs. Helen S. Artieda is executive secretary, who reviewed the excellent assistance Miss BeasIey had rendered to the various departments of the Welfare League. Mrs. Artieda made special mention of Miss Beasley's attitude and expression, "Others first, self last." Her special feature column from The Tribune are clipped and filed, preserved for reference and general information in the office of the Public Welfare League.
- Mesdames Spencer and Artieda expressed the desire that Miss Beasley's articles be placed in book form for future reference.
- Mrs. Bertha Salvage read resolutions from the Women's Progressive Club, a federated club of the state and national body.
- Mrs. G. Inman of the U. N. I. A., a Garvey movement, spoke of Miss Beasley's contribution in behalf of Africa.
- Mrs. J. J. Butler, Oakland Council of Church Women, gave a glowing tribute to the deceased and, like the Rev. D. R. Wallace. she expressed the desire that the column once furnished by Miss Beasley be continued in the future. Miss Beasley was chairman of international relations for the Oakland Council of Church Women.
Tributes were read from the following:
- Walter White, executive secretary, National Association for Advancement of Colored People.
- Joseph R. Knowland, publisher of The Oakland Tribune.
- The Rev. George E. Haynes, executive secretary, race relations department of Federal Council of Churches of Christ in America,
- Mrs. Malvone Graham of the California League of Women Voters.
