The Omaha guide., 1940-07-13
IMPRESSIVE
CEREMONIES
MARK NEGRO
FAIR OPENING
BY HAZEL REED

that guides a great nation pressed
a button in New York last week,
and a Negroes world fair was born
the first in the history of a race.
Appropriately enough, this eooch-
al fair, the American Negro Elk
position, celebrating 70 years of
freedom by the Negro race, OPP
ened on the birthday of freedom
for all Americans, July A. With
the states foremost leaders gath
cred to greet its initiation, the
Exposition officially began at 1870
when President Franklin d. Roose-
welt made the contact from Hyde
Park to send dazzling shafts of
light through Chicago's coliseum.
An awed hush settled over the
crowd as President Roosevelt's
move was announced by Executive
Director Truman X. Gibson, jr.
Then, with the burst of light upon
the scene of Negro history and ac-
Movement, it was as though the
presidents own characteristic
spirit of enthusiasm and dynamic
force electrified opening day
throngs. Lifted spirits scared
with pride at the beauty and splen
dor of the magnificent spectacle,
and a murmur of approval rippled
through lines of spectators, many
thousands of Them, on hand for
opening festivities. Prof. J. Wes-
ley Jones lifted his baton, and, es
in one accord, visitors, Joined
their voices with those of the
chorus in a spontaneous rendition
of God Bless America"
President Roosevelt,s message
to the Exposition, conveyed by
Executive Director Gibson, read in
port: ain extending my greetings
may I express confident hope that
a race that has achieved so much
in SO few years may go forward to
ever nobler things in the genera
tions anead."
1.-THE nation pays a debt of graf
itude to the Negroes today not a
lone for their contribution TO the
arts and sciences and for the good
and great names that stand out in
the book of American achieve
ments, but because they stand
1000 strong to help strengthen the
backbone of Democracy" Chicago
Mayor Edward J. Kelly told the
audience.
"You may spell Afro-American
with a hyphen if you will; but
there is no hyphen in the Negroes
allegiance to America" Illinois
Sen. Slattery said. And thus
went speeches and messages from
many Industrious Americans, in
cluding Congressman Arthur w.
Mitchell, Robert H. Bishop, rep
resenting Gov Henry Hofner,
Wendell E. Green, Civil Service
Commissioner of Chicago, and DR..
Frederick B. Patterson, president
of Tuskegee institute.
An ovation of several minutes
duration greeted james w. Wash
ingtcn father" of the Exposition
idea, when he was presented to the
audience. Mr.. Washington con-
ceived the idea for a pageant of
Negro progress more than five
years ago, and, with never-failing
determination, worked to pave the
way for the accomplished feat.
Opening day crowds were warm
in their greeting to this man
whose dream stood a beautiful
reality in the Exposition's exhibits
of the Negro in history, past and
present, and his place in the worlds
of art, science, business, literature
the humanities and religion.
As though it reiterated Mr..
Washington's spirit, the most dyn.
annie figure of the Exposition,
Determination lowered impress
sively from lofty heights in the
Court of Dicrmas in full view Of
the crowds as they turned from
the opening day celebration to
tour exhibits. A magnificently
cculptured piece, the figure port
rays unforgettable the spirit of
the Negro race the spirit which
made possible the American n egro