The Omaha guide., 1937-05-08
PetersOn's Comment.

Now I know just what it means to be ashamed of being
Colored Pick up any daily newspaper and see what their fea
ture story is. The so called Father Divine and his latest bid for
the crown of Americas Clown Prince.
! think he and his followers have a right to get together,
even stay together q wish they would) and go through what
ever f~oolishness that strikes their fancy. They have a right to
think he is anything he can persuade them to think he is. But
when their atics serve to put the race in a bad light, with
the penchant of achieving the front page, THAI is only matched
by the president when he brings another pet theory out of his
hat, then it is high time for us to take stock of how much
harm the whole race will receive from Father Divine.
We have the unfortunate habit of receiving blame for the
individual acts of any one person or sect, provided that act
will be a discredit to us. And one Father Divine r Rev. Solomon
Lightfoot Michaux 1.-THE Happy Am ] man from the banks of
The Potomac) can cause more harm to the race as a whole than
a flock of Joe Louses, jesse Owenses, or Congressman Mitchels
can counterfeit. As long as We continue to produce, fosterhand
build up into national figures men like Divine and Michaux, we
will never be taken seriously by the rest of the country.
I doubt not that Michaux and followers were sincere in
their goings on, but even the youngest radio listener was aware
the broadcasting chain that put them on the air was presenting
their patrons with a comedy program that was second to none
AS long as we don't take ourselves seriously, how can we expect
different treatment from others I know ourneighbors have had
their Carrie Nations. Billy Sundays and Aimee Semple McPher
sons and lots of other cults and sects that make ours seem in
nocent picnics. but their whole race never got blamed for the
few antics thew produced. They still have Aimee and John s
Summers. but their publicity AGENTS ought to turn green with
envy when they see lust what Father Divine has achieved.
Remember that apartment house murder Of several months
900 IN the Bronx tina. they pinned on q Major Greene9 Well. for
weeks after that hardly a colored person in New York CITY had
a chance TO land a ioh Of any kind. Some of those that were
WORKING were fired while others Were looked on as SAMPLES of a
race that nrodnced q character like Major Greene. And vet q
few weeks before tha4 we had what was called the Titterton
Rafb Tub Murder nv . FOREIGNER. hut his race was accorded no
differnn+ treatmen. for their one mans crime
We have . scientist down at Tuskecee Institute who has
done wonders with the nearni and van to benefit us end every
southern fetrer. Int FOR tho life Of me 7 can't think Of his name
This flnstrafe NV noint. He is unknown to Won and me and the
hr citv narnrs. He IS doinr too mrch to mako the headlines,
7 know vn have sciaties lke the "conS of 7 VIII Arise" bnt a
Ion~ . { thev keen in 4heir w niche +he whole rahA does not
snfser ~ IS not c1assed as likelv svncophants for Father Divine
emile r. Is fine to call a halt.
Rv the wav tha sciantists name is Prof George W. Carver, 2
very fine gentleman, too.