Phoenix tribune., 1919-01-18
WONDERFUL PROGRESS
OF COLORED PEOPLE IN
TUCSONANDELSEWHERE
Review of the Year by Leading Edu.
Gator and Welfare Worker
BY prof. Cicero c. simmons


the employees that were and are per
mitted to work in the Southern PACT
fic railway shops have given satisfac
ton if official reports are true.
We are gratified to know that we
have made good in the Southern Paci-
fic shops, for when it is remembered
that this opportunity has not been ours
in past years, the feeling being that
we were not reliable workers. But
our record in the shops has dispelled
that erroneous contention.
The social life of the colored people
is improved and the criminal class
doesn't find as happy homes here as
hitherto.
Church and Fraternal
The colored people here are sup
porting not only two fraternal orders
the Masonic Lodge and the Order of
Eastern Star, but old line insurance
companies also.
The Baptist and the African Metho-
dist as well as the Colored Methodist
churches are represented in the city
and are doing much toward elevating
the moral and religious life of the com
munity.
The Dunbar school is endeavoring to
better not only education conditions,
but is linking the home and the school
in one great force for general good.
Last year we had but one colored
restaurant, but this year we have two
successful and decent eating places.
Three boarding and rooming houses
are being successfully operated in the
city.
A colored barber shop has been
long felt need in Tucson and today we
have one which is being literally sup
ported by the colored people.
War Activities
In all the war work activities-Lib-
erty loans, Red Cross and United War
Work drives, Tucson colored people
have responded in a most gratifying
manner, so the respective drive di-
rectors said.
Colored cooks, laundresses, BARRIERS,
porters, automobile and other mechan-
les in the city, as well as farmers in
outlying districts, have given satis-
faction in their respective lines Of en-
deavor, and everywhere the respect
and confidence of the employing fam
lilies and business people have been
maintained, if not increased.
And what is true OF Tucson may be
thruthfully said of, the colored people
throughout the state.
Need High School
We might say in passing, however
that one of the needs of the colored
people in the state is some definite ar
rangement for taking care of colored
pupils of high school grade. AS con-
ditions are, it is a perplexing question
! with various school boards as to what
disposition to make of students of the
above grades Something then, ought
to be done to better existing condi-
tions, as colored students are debarred
from white high schools throughout
Arizona.
OF course, any central school es-
tablished along the above line, should
by all means, include strong courses
! in vocational oofiuitioc
National Progress
In conclusion it may truthfully be
said that the colored people, national.
ly, have made remarkable progress
during these last twelve months, which
space will not permit us to recount
here.
We might say in this connection
that the race has increased its pres
tige nationally and internationally be-
cause of it's Willingness and effective
part taken in the great war for de-
mocracy.
Our efforts in this great crisis have
been singuarly recognized by the gov
ernment by sending a delegation OF
colored people to Europe which will,
if not directly, certainly incidentally,
give advice to the delegates sitting at
the great peace table.
African interests
One Of the chief objects of the dele
gates will be to see that the interests
of the African natives in German
Southwest Africa will be safe-guarded
TO native Africans and for Negroes,
who might elect to emigrate to the AT
rican homeland.
Those on this colored mission are:
DR.. R. R. Notion, principal of Tuske-
gee Institute, and DR.. w. E. B. Du-
Boise, editor of The Crisis.
The Negro delegates, which sailed
to Europe on the transport Orizabo.
which also took so representative
newspaper men of America, arrived at
RraSf Franco noc 9