The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1932-10-20
The Future OF
American Negro
CONTINUED from page y

istence of white characters such as
those which l depicted, so l could
not possibly write them in.
Buffoon, Criminal
have never subscribed to the
sterotyped American concept of the
Negro as a buffoon, criminal, or a
child-like and subservient type. 1
am fully aware of the work being
done currently by Negro writers,
painters, singers, actors and actress
es. Any prejudices may possibly
have formed regarding members of
the race were swept away long ago
under the magnificent beauty of the
voices of such singers as Roland
Hayes or Paul Robson, or the fire.
quently gifted lines of Negro poets
such as Countee Cullen, James We'll
don Johnson, or LanPston Hughes.
Who Is To Blame
Probably you will want to jump
down my throat for suggesting it,
but | think the Negro is somewhat
to blame because the upper classes
of the race-their story-has not
been told. Wealthy Negro philan-
thropists, Negro bankers, the rich
men of the race have never thought
enough of their people to back such
project as the life-like presentation
of the cultured or gifted Negroes in
their proper, accepted sphere. After
all, why look to the white men to do
the Job for you. They have their
own problems, their own standards.
If you've conviction, a TRUTH, the
PRONUNCIATION of which will lead to
the betterment of the social status of
the race, why not fight for it--why
not put some energy behind its real
ization? Isn't that job for that
famous organization of yours, | for
get the name, dedicated to the. ad-
vancement of the Negro in Americas
."Hallelujah"
Pictures like "Hallelu iah," Hearts
in Dixie" depicting the picturesque
Southern background of the race,
did more than you realize to generate
tremendous sympathy for the col
ored people. Certainly, it is but one
small phase, and an antiquated one,
of the Negro life in this country.
Certainly there are a score of Negro
stories infinitely worth telling, re-
garding which SO many excellent
books have been written in the past
half dozen years. Agreed that mo-
ton pictures of these books-the
greatest existing form of propagan-
da-would be a splendid thing for
the race, Fastening an era of more
complete understanding between
white and black people. Why then,
not have colored financiers take an
interest in seeing that they are
made?
e. M Concert Singers
I make frequent trips to New York
and other key cities where there is
the opportunity to. attend concerts.
have heard colored singers such as
Roland Hayes, Paul Robson and
Jules Bledso, countless times. As a
practical scenarist, / know that the
4 romantic story of Roland Hayes's
rise from poverty and obscurity to
wealth, fame, position as a linguist
and singer of classic compositions
woulr make an utterly fascinating
picture-that his sweet and haunting
tenor voice would doubtless entrance
movie-goers just as much as that of
our own Lawrence Tibet.
Charles Gilpin
Down in the old MacDohgal Alley
Converted Stable" saw Charles
Gilpin do Eugene O'Neill's Emperor
JONES'" / knew at the time | was
seeing one of the greatest pieces OF
acting in the annals of modern
American histrionics. | know that 9
: story could have been fitted to Gilpir
that he could have Kicked hell out
of u.s." as they say in our profes
sion. He would have been sensa
! ton in some film like "The Emperor
S Jones'-a literal sensation.
But as | say, our white producer.
. have not yet seen this point. Ism
r it, then, up to the Negro leaders, in
: stead of complaining to go ahead ant
+ work constructively in an effort t,
t somehow see that these colored gen
E fuses get a chance to reveal thei
s great talents to the world? / thin
e it is great responsibility and on
l. which they cannot possibly afforo t
: overlook in their struggle Tor equal
ity.