davidaulloa/AmericanStories huggingface dataset:
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17
WG, THO negro
By WIN. L. SHERRILL
President, Afro-American Institute and Federated
fireside Groups

To the Negro. the stern realities
OF life especially as he is
many times forced 10 live it, are
burdensome, -discouraging, and at
times nerve-racking. Negroes are
no more contented with slavery,
peonage. discrimination and iujus-
tice, than any other freedom loving
people. He has simply learned to
seek relief through his inherent
love for song dance and
merriment.
And what is more refreshing
than the laughter OF one OF mine
. whose soul is free for the time.
from the thought and cares OF liv-
ing. which gradually eat it
away and leave 1t emptyl
Because Of this disposition inner
ent in these races, they excel all
others in poetry and music, which
beguile the FACED mind into glad
someness and the joy OF living.
The Poetry OF Living
AAhNoA avs otNAiA ~ lAuNN ltdENAEu
something Of the poetry Of living as
well as something OF the philosophy
Of living. They are not the same
thing. They may. If one learns to
harmonic them 60 hand in hand
and make lfe's pathway smoother
the hedges blossom with flow
ers and the air sweeter or
you may have one without the
other and be that much poorer,
1t is good that VIC. the Negro have
the light heart attuned 10 music,
and song, and dance and can
go about the stern realities Of living
all the more cheerfully because we
are able for time 10 escape and
forget
II it were not so we could not
have lived through the double
night Of the ages and now be
kemerging into the sunshine the
glories The brish, hopes
Of new and bettet day.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17
Negro Education in Alabama" by
Horace Mann Bond. The
Associated Publishers. Washing
ton. D. c.. 1889; S3.25; 292pp.
Reviewed by Gertrude Martin

! heNleWcu Dy Oefltuue mAftin
Differences in expenditures based
on race in the Southern states have
become fairly well known and Ala
bama is far from an exception to
this rule OF the South This book
attempts TO point out the import
anre of sociaf, economic and psiiti-
cal factors which played a part in
setting up and maintaining this
differential. 1t is the thesis offered
by DR.. Bond at the University Of
Chicago in pursuit Of his electorate
degree. Like most theses it can be
recommended for its factual' mate
rial and careful analysis. of data
rather than for its interest value.
DR.. Bond is unusually clear-mind-
ed in hS approach TO his subject
andc this attitude is characteristic
OF the entire book; the facts are
here and in most cases the impli-
cations are inescapable even to those
least DESTROYS OF seeing. In his in
troductory chapter Dr. Bond writes;
Forgetting the issue OF NOR
evalustion, clarity OF understanding
is aided by a realization that in
studying Reconstruction we are face
to face with the deep-seated mores
OF folk. relatively undisturbed
even by the catastrophe Of long
and bitter war" With this in mind
it is much easier TO see the events
OF the following years in their true
light Political and economic factors
were in general the motivating
forces for the changes in Negro
education up to the present. Often
the race issue was Incidental to
other more important industrial or
general financial interests.
During Reconstruction as long as
the Negro vote was important in
Alabama the Negro schools Jared
better than the whites because APP
preparations were based on the
number Of Negro and white chill
dren. In the case OF the former. the
percentage Of enrolment was con-
siderably lower than in the case
Of the white making the per capita
allotment greater. The growing need
for money for the schools led to
the Act OF 1873 which stipulated
that the poll tax which was a part
OF the school fund should be paid
TO the school OF the race OF the
taxpayer. This initial movement
away from equality Of school appro-
priations was followed by the Act
OF 1891 which left the spportion-
ment OF the school fund to town
ship trustees 10 mete out as they
may deem just and equitable" From
that time on to the present Negroes
have suffered from inadequate edu-
cational facilities and much OF the
money for their education has been
used for the white schools. 1t is
the result OF the attempt Of a poor
state to support two systems OF
education when Il would be diff
cult enough for it to support one
adequately
A number OF factors were import
ant in these changes, the greater lax
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17
WESTSIDE DETROIT
By BETTE ELLINGTON 5242 vinewood Avenue

+ bert left West Point her father
was much improved
Mrs. Wills Hostess
Mrs. Agnes Wills OF POS LaTonia
apartments was hostess 10 the
Needlepoint Social club Thursday
night OF last week. Sewing and
chatting were the attractions OF the
evening. The club has planned 10
make a quilt 10 rattle off in the
near future. The hostess served
dainty menu.
Jiffy Unit Art Club
The Jiffy Knit Art club met at
the nome OF the president, Mrs.
Mollie Dozier in a call meeting TO
I disband for the summer months,
but will resume their activities in
the early fall
Struck by Car
Halbert Tillmsn OF 53l1 Vine
wood, one OF the Michigan Chroni-
Gle news carriers was struck by a
car Wednesday night as he began
10 run across the street an his way
home from the store during The
rain. He was taken TO the hospital;
his injuries were not serious.
Westside Elites Club Party
the party given by the Wesside
Elites club at the home OF Mrs.
tGorneiia Bridgewater Of 4f5f Mil
ford avenue, was a splendid sue
cess. There was constant stream
OF guests coming and going all eve
ming, but many came early and
| fingered late
Mrs Beatrice McC1inton. lovely
in a blue knitted suit and Mrs.
Hazel Bridgewater, equally as
charming in burgundy sports suit,
were receiving hostesses. Mrs.
Laura Brassfield, Mrs. Helen Tay-
Tor, and Mrs. Alice Hardin super
vtscd the gancsl cfftet among which
was bridge. Mrs. Margaret Toles,
Mrs. Cornelia Bridgewater served
the delicious chicken dinner which
the guests thoroughly enjoyed.
Spring Attraction Successful
The Peter Pan Nursery school.
presented its final spring attraction
with success Friday night OF last
week at Knonk Community Center.
The affair. a three-act play was
given by the girls and boys OF the
NYA prejeet,-a- mixed group. 1t
was attended mostly by young
people who danced after the play.
The play included drama, trag-
edy, and comedy, The NYA or
chestra whose musical accomplish
ments are achieved during their
off from regular duty on NYA pro-
jects. provided the music.
Included among those present
were Mrs Snowden Williams, Mrs.
Bright, Mrs. Elizabeth Cooper, Mrs.
Lulu Warren, Mrs. Charles Berry,
Mrs Thelma Hollis, Mrs. Evelyn
Parker, Mrs. Caldwell, Louis E.
Brown, Booker Ramsey, Mrs. Sadie
Ramsey, and many others. Miss
June Watts and Mr.. Swan directed
the play, assisted by Miss d. Penn.
Mrs. Matte Brown, founder and
Continued on Page III
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17


I Judge William H. HASTE is back
from the Virgin Islands. He has
given up a Federal Judgeship for
the Deanship OF Howard univer-
isity's law school Although he is
back in the states, his resignation
doess not become effective until
June 30.
Several outstanding Negroes are
being boosted for the vacancy.
Foremost amongst these are Atty.
Harold Bledsoe OF Detroit, Atty.
Westbrooks OF Chicago and Vir-
gin Islander, James Baugh.
There is wide belief that the Vir-
gin Islander has the edge We
doubt it. The Virgin Islanders do
not vote in our n.tional elections.
The vote getting possibilities tied
up with the appointment OF a Ne
gro from the States, will not be
passed up to satisfy the Islanders
desire for native representation.
The appointment will come from
America. Who it will be, is still
7 speculation.
X X X
We hear that Civil War is going
on within the ranks OF Negro Re
{ publicans as 10 who shall take H.
s Dunbar's former position in the
Friend Of the Court No ap-
! p,iptr,apt he. honr ,n,l. a.. -.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17

en- cnurch VIII meet thursday eve
ming. June is with Mrs, J. Rivers
OF 48ll fireman avenue.
The Senior Usher Board OF St
Stephen will sell tags Sunday, June
Ia.
New Iirht BantiSt Church
Rev NJ MARTIN Pastor
sunday lime II services were
we'll attended al New Light In
the morning the pastor spoke To
a large audience from 27th Psalm
continuing his message from las,
Sunday Music was furnished by
the Junior choir. The evening
worship services were conducted
oy the Sunday school department
This being Childrens day, a very
nice program was rendered by the
children, young men and women
Of the Sunday school.
After next Sunday, June 10, the
pastor will leave for Rochester
MINI, for a few days OF observation
IN the Mayo BrOtnerS clinic.
On Monday, Elder Morton and his
followers VIII worship at New
Light Frloay night Pastor Mariin
VIII SPEAK 81 'he ne" MI Aioi
baplst ehureh' me banquet gwen
oy-the Juniot-eho4r Was well al
teifaee,
Inc NURSES SulIu ihVi'es lhe pup
TIC 70 go WIN 'hem 10 'helr irs'
, l'oC.ii' gu V'',nb Vi ~, nc 'sUn'
ahHraI =, u.qo ~, -
49, ohnrah raaoI1a- 50
onai' &c. WE'VE 0iup
me ciuo hdu us regular meeuns
at me nome OF Mrs heeo, Plans
we're Completed Ior-lhe paoy con-
'ess Iol uhe ou'
pi 'nees sii's loI me mohth
', I'VE, fe-i'itsi f'ts .tSieeTfsNTi
Mis, M riiosy ana MISS Emma l..
Dur'i luse, inc next meeting VIII
We WIN MISS MARY S'e"~F' Oh Mer-
IN AVENUE
10 Go on Vacation
Christine M. Dickerson, the
granddaughter of Mr.. and Mrs.
owen Buroridge OF Merrick will
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17
Urge Race To
Join Unions

NEW YORK, June 1s-Speakers
who included the Rev William
Lloyd lines and Rev A. Clayton
Powell this week urged all Race
cafeteria workers to Join unions. at
a meeting held under the auspices OF
the Greater New York CoordinatinR
Committee for Employment at the
St. James Presbyterian church,
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17

The Philadelphia Main Line Me-
gro" by Marvin E. Porch. Pub
lished by the author. Gloucester
City. N. j. 1888; siOo; 123pp.
The Philadelphia Main Line iss
suburban area in the form of a
rectangle whose eastern width is
contiguous to the city Of Philadel-
phia." Its population is 8l.488 OF
which SOB are Negroes. In many
ways this Negro Main Line popula-
ton is not typical OF the urban
Negro and to some extent the rels-
lively small number OF Negroes de-
tracts from the general importance
OF Mr.. Porchs study. However, the
book fulfills its purpose which |,
to survey different aspects OF the
lives Of Negroes in this suburban
area.
In most ways the/Main Line Nc
groes compare favorsA+p-~ith their
white neighbors, in crime, in COM
munity benefits, and in health. The
majority OF them are either laborers
or domestic workers so that their
economic status is much lower than
the whites Of the same section. The
Negroes for the most part live in
fairly respectable houses, according
to the author.
Negro children compare un-
favorably with the general white
child population in intelligence
quotients and in performance. Mr..
Porch makes no attempt to ex-
plain this difference although the
fact that the majority are from the
South and their economic level
would account for much Of the
discrepancy.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17

Delight In Living
The African, the. Frsnkish, the
Latin and Gaelic races are among
the peoples pre-eminent for their
disposition to be gay 10 sing
dance and make merry. These, it
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17
BOOK REVIEW

burden of the Black Belt before
the rise of the Industrial centers.
the friction between the Republi-
cans and Democrats, the increasing
dlsfranchisement OF the Negroes
to mention only a few. With the
coming OF the United Steel corpora
ton the Negroes in industrial CEN
tiers received the benefit Of schools
partially supported by the corpora
ton. This participation in education
although not philanthropic Yas a
boon to the Negroes in the early
years OF the twentieth century. The
part of the different funds, Rosen-
valid, General Education, Jeanes,
Slater, and Peabody is noted by DR..
Bond as is the importance Of GER
tain personalities of the period. The
figure Of Booker T. Washington
looms large in Alabama and DR..
Bonds impartial estimate OF his
contribution throws new light on
him.
Negro Education in Alabama" Is
carefully documented, much
needed work in its field Much can
be gained by such an appraisal OF
I'll position OF education in Ala
oama or other southern states Ii is
always true that one is better able
to cope with the present il one
has an adequate knowledge OF the
past. For the Negro in general, DR..
Bonds book should clear up many
neutrality-suspicious. and furnish him
an unbiased outlook on one OF his
most vital problems.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17

Louis Reaves. youngest son OF
Mr., and Mrs. Reaves OF Roosevelt
avenue. was among a group OF
more than twenty little children to
receive certificates of promotion
from the cradle-roll TO beginners
classes in Mt. Olive Sunday school,
Sunday afternoon, June II, with a
Children's day program.
Mrs. F. f. Davis, superintendent
of the cradle-roll began a year ago
with two children; the class to date
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17

The Philadelphia Main Line Ne
gro" by Marvin E. Porch. Pub
lished by the author, Gloucester
City. N. j., 1888; si.O0; l23pp.
The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1939-06-17

en- church will meet Thursday eve
ming. June IS with Mrs, j Rivers
OF 48ll fireman avenue.
The Senior Usher Board OF St
Stephen will sell tags Sunday, June
10.
Evening star., 1939-06-06

UcCduSc ~ Is lOO llOI W use d SIllII'
key situation is the case of Ann
Sheridan. Miss Sheridan is War;
ner's oomph, the first, we believe.
Currently, she is on loan to Walter
Wanger for a picture called winter
Carnival" drama which obviously
could make better use of cold,
icy goddess type. Accordingly, the
Wanger experts are engaged in the
process of de-oomphing Miss Sheri-
dan. They are going at it rather
openly, too, apparently not caring
a darn whether Miss Sheridan is
returned to Warmers in the same
condition as when she left.
1t is an interesting spectacle this
of one studios publicity department
nulllfying the art of another. In
the case of Miss Sheridan, insofar
as it can be understood at this
distance, the process involves main-
ly giving the girl an entirely new
type of part. Warmers. of course,
has been casting Miss Sheridan in
roles in which she always had
sultry, somnolent expression in her
eyes and on her face. The express
sion, naturally, was enhanced by
proper wardrobe, "slinky," if you
know what we mean.
Her Winter Carnival" role Is vir-
tually the reverse 1t calls for an
outdoorsy look, sparkling eyes.
fresh. vital expression and clothes
which become girl who knows
when the phone rings the caller
will want to go ice skating, skiing,
or something like that.
Wanger publicity experts are
going at the job seriously. They
realize that it involves creating an
entirely new personality for Miss
Evening star., 1939-06-06
Cross Roads
Revives Hit
Comedy
'Abie's Irish Rose
Well Played at
Barn Theater
BY HARRY MACARTHUR.

Now is no time to complain about
the merits Of Ann Nichols "Abie's
Irish Rose" as a piece of writing
for the stage 1t was called the
baldest hokum and given not a
chance OF survival by the Broad
way death watch" when it first
saw the light of day, SO the cash
customers liked it SO we'll it set an
endurance record that hasn't been
broken yet. 1t is still the baldest
of hokum. but lot of people liked
"Abie's Irish Rose again last night
at the Cross Roads Theater's sum-
mer debut. for they laughed and
laughed. So did we laugh, too.
For this Cross Roads production
Of the comedy is smooth and
workmanlike job, credit to all
concerned with it, from Director
Howard Wentworth to the overalled
usherettes. Even those ghastly few
minutes for the cast when a fuse
blew out and left the first act in
the dark did not stymie the players.
They went right on until there was
light again. plugged away and by
the time the evening was over it
was happy and enthusiastic au-
dience that demanded one curtain
call after another.
1t is an obvious piece, this COM
edy about difficulties encountered
by Rose Mary Murphy and Abra-
I oft y
matrimony. Nothing ever happens
that you haven't expected all along
And you know the moment the
curtain rises that all these people
on the stage have hearts of gold
that are going to shine through in
time for the final curtain to fall.
But it also is pleasantly witty
affair goodly part of the time
And it comes off especially we'll
at the Cross Roads, for this is one
OF the best casts the Virginia barn
theater group has ever assembled
There is Peggy Johnston. bit of
an Irish brogue and all, to give
Rose Mary all the sincerity in the
world and to be a very lovely bride.
There is Don Sisler, to lend all the
conviction you could ask to his play
ing of Able Edmund j. Evans,
with an accent that couldn't be bet
tered, is right all the way as the
Solomon Levy who wouldn't have
it happen to dog what happened
to him when his son came home
with Murphy. And Ruth Nav.
Bob Langley, Charles Hohein, Lewis
Brott and Ted Field are others who
do their part in the reviving of
'Abies Irish Rose" It's a reviva,
which makes the patient look as
good as new, whatever that was.
Evening star., 1939-06-06
Where and When
Current Theater Attractions
and Time of Showing

Keith's-"The Mikado," picturiza-
ton of the beloved Gilbert and
Sullivan classic: 11:40 am, 1:4O,
$40, $40, TAO and $40 pm.
Capitol-"The Return of the Cisco
Kid" out Of the West comes that
dashing caballero: IL am, 1:45,
4:30, 7:2O and 1905 pm. Stage
shows: 12:40, $3.50, 6:15 and 9:O5
pm.
Earle-"Only Angels Have Wings"
love and danger in the air: 1915
am, los, 3:25, $50 and 9:45 pm.
Stage shows: 1925, 3:15, 6:1O and
9:05 pm.
MetropOlitan-"Man of Conquest,
life and love of Sam Houston: II
am, los, 3:15, 5:25, 7:35 and $50
pm.
Columbia-"The Gorilla" zany
comedy with the Ritz brothers:
1905, 2:05, 4, 6, 7:55 and 9:55 pm.
Palace-'Rose of Washington
Square," romance with nostalgia
music: 1920, 2:40, 4:55, tbs and
9:35 pm.
Little-"We're Going to Be Rich"
action drama with Oracle Fields
II am, lao, 4:25, ITO and 9:55
pm. Moonlight Sonata" with
Paderewski's music: 1890, 3, $50
and 1886 pm.
Trans-Lux-News and shorts
Continuous from 10 am.
Evening star., 1939-06-06

Sheridan so far as the public is
concerned. What happens to her
private personality is none of their
business. And none of ours, either.
We merely are fascinated by the
de-oomphing process and, having
given it this much space, we hope
you are the same.
Mr.. Wanger. as every one should
know, Is pretty expert at creating
personalities. His last effort in that
direction was Hedy Lamar. Miss
Lamar, in the pre-"Algiers" period
of human history, was a kind Of
problem child for M-G-M in that
that studio had her on its pay roll
without knowing what to do with
ner. When the "Algiers" script was
ready, Mr.. Wanger went over to
borrow her. Metro said sure, it was
all right with them.
Every one knows that after that
picture. Miss Lamar was the Ma
tons No. ! smoky brunette, a bit
Of smouldering beauty the whole
Republic would travel miles to see.
So definitely did that picture create
Miss Lamarr's personality that when
the home studio tried to put her
into another type of film the
cameras turned for 76 costly days
before 1t was conceded the thing
was a total loss. Now Miss Lamar
is working In a picture called Lady
Of the Tropics" which sounds very
much as If she were back in the
old Algiers atmosphere. Hollywood
reports say she is flourishing in 1t.
Serious students Of oomph, II any
exist, can study one of the latest
entrants into the field at the Earle
this week. She is Rita Hayworth
in only Angels Have Wings" Miss
Hayworth not only has the backing
of Universal Studios as the choice
of the oomph lot, but also of the
students of some Eastern university
whose name we conveniently forget
at the moment. The latter not only
recently presented Miss Hayworth
with a plaque, but challenged the
oomph set on their scholarship. in
sisting the word is correctly spelled
"yumph"
Whatever it is Miss Hayworths
got that Jean Arthur in the same
picture has not, we are fashioned
enough to prefer Miss Arthur's type.
So much for oomph!
The man with the two big hunks
OF luggage going from drama de-
partment to drama department these
days is Barrett Kiesling. Mr..
Kiesling's function is missionary
work for Metro-Goldwyn- Mayer.
In one Of the bags he carries the
illustrations for lecture course on
color photography for newspapers.
=. Rejecting, maybe, on the sanity
OF newSpapermen, they find the
color illustrations more interesting
than his pictures of Hedy Lamar
Rose of Washington Square"
with all those nostalgia songs of
two decades ago will remain a second
week at the Palace. In the
meantime. Invitation to Happiness. "
coming soon to the same house. will
be screened today. That's Irene
Dunne's latest, Miss Dunno being
the person who recently was de-
scribed as Deanna Durbin with her
hair up. From a New York movie
house marquee: Made for Each
i
Duck. .. Write your own tag line