The Northwest enterprise. [volume] (Seattle, Wash.) 1931-1952, 1946-01-30
MORE THAN 100 BRAVE STORM
TO HEAR LANGSTON HUGHES

l olOilh AhOlt ludu 11Ou luuiNiuudlo
heard one of Americas greatest
poets, authors and orators Wednes-
day evening, January %, when
Langston Hughes appeared as the
guest speaker for the third meet
ing of the Urban League of Port
land. held at the Benson High
School auditorium.
Speaking on Race Relations in
American Democracy" Mr.. Hughes
said 1T is no dishonor for my
people to do humble work-clean
spittoons. shine shoes, wash
kitchen pots and pans, be house
maids and hold other mental jobs,
but it is wrong, absolutely wrong
to hold them to work like this
without giving them the oppor-
tunity to progress. He said, with
the Negroes advent into pictures
his capabilities to fill impor-
tant roles. the motion picture in
dustry and the theatre still picture
the Negro as mere servant or
comic.
The speaker reemphasized the
fact that the Negro has produced
some of the worlds outstanding
writer's (paying high tribute to
the late Countee Cullen, poet),
musicians and scientists. Continu-
ing, he said. The Negro is the
oldest American except the In
dian. His contribution to culture
goes back some 800 years. Among
the first poets was Phyllis Wheat
ley slave girl; scientists, Benja-
min Banker; medical profess
sion, noted as Charles Drew, for
his discovery and use of blood
plasma."
A loud ovation from the audi.
ence was an agreeable evidence,
when Mr.. Hughes referred to the
inaccuracy of the census regard
ing population of the Negro in the
United States; that it has re-
NAMED at 13,5OO,O0O for a num-
Der of years-while he, himself,
has never been counted. He be-
lieves if an accurate count was
taken it would reveal 10000, 900
instead of the 13 million plus.
To more fully set forth, and to
the best advantage present the
truth and realities that are requi |
sites to better understanding of
the problems of the day. Mr..
Hughes recited a collection of
his poems augmenting each with
emphasis which depict the Negro |
in everyday life, revealing much |
of the internal weakness of Amer
lean Democracy. Among the col
lection were: Sugar Hill Har- |
lem" Sweet Susanna" 1.-THE |
Merry Round" lin which the |
little southern girl asked, where |
is the jim-crow horse on the |
foreground p ALBERT X. john
son." (a) Madam's past history; |
(b) Madam and her Madam; (c)
Madam's calling cards; (d) Mad |
am and the census man." Still
others AT the Feet of Jesus"
My Lord" the st. Louis Blues"
came in for recognition. The |
Blues" said the speaker, are
protest songs; they became very |
popular in England during the
war Among my poems of hope
are these" and he read THE |
Black Man Speaks" THE Negro
Speaks of Rivers" and Mother
to Son"
Questions were asked the speak
err at the close, particularly with
reference to his mention of how
in eight years the soviet govern
ment did away with jim-crow pol
icies-while here In the land of
the free-home of the brave
democratic government, they still
say, maybe in 25 or so years
hence. st simply does no good
to talk about it, we must do
something about it," admonished
Mr.. Hughes who is believed Qf
public opinion means anything) to
have done the most substantial
thing towards race relation con-
victions that Portland has known.
It was the largest and most sue
cessful interracial demonstration
in Portland history.
William l.. Brewster, Jr., presi-
dent of Urban League of Port
land, introduced Edwin c. Berry
executive secretary, who intro
duced platform guests: C. P.
Scott, Portland Air Base; George
l.. Thomas Race Relations direc-
tor, Portland Council of Churches;
Fred Ward, Coma Lake Commu-
nifty Center; DR.. Robert N. JOY
ner. Jr.. president N.A.A.C.P.;
Rev. l.. o. Stone, rector of st.
Philip Episcopal church, who gave
the invocation and Rev. Paul S.
Wright, who gave the benedic
ton. In choice words and descrip'
tive phrases, Professor Lloyd j.
Reynolds of Reed College intro
duced the speaker. not as the