St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1947-02-21

life and culture of that country.
Of thousands of dollars in actual
money, to say nothing Of the time
involved.
When, after three weeks the
women had had no word from Mr..
Childress, they decided to ask a
prominent man of the city to call
on him, and, on their behalf, urge
that he speak for them. The wom-
ems emissary was informed by the
famed journalist that the invitation
to speak had been duly received and
considered, but that he had not
replied because no compensation
had been mentioned.
Mr.. Childress was told that the
club would be most happy to pay
him whatever he charged. He
told the emissary it was not
matter Of what the women could
afford to pay, but it was i'm
pOrtant that they show by offer
ing to pay whatever they could
afford that they appreciated the
cost involved in preparing him
self to be able to have something
to say which would Justify his
being their featured guest speak
err. They finally agreed on an
hOnOrarium of $25.
The speaker came and showed
pictures Of native life in both the
hinterland and the urban areas of
Africa, which by the way were most
revealing because they showed that
the natives standard of living is
not far removed from ours instead
Of their being savages consumed
with a desire to boil and eat fat
white people and "A lot of other
poppycock which white propagan-
dists have over a period Of more
than a century striven with all their
might and main to make the world
believe.
In his closing remarks he again
explained the reason back Of his
delay in accepting the clubs invita-,
ton. He emphasized the growth OF
an individual group or race is evi
denced by the degree which the
individual, group or race expresses
appreciation for the worth of values
enjoyed at the hands Of others
He made it plain that the honorar.
ium that they were paying hin
was in itself relatively unimpor
tant, but as a token Of appreciation
it was indicative of growth on tn,
part of the club. He then turned
and gave the $25 to the director
Of the colored boys club to use a.
he saw fit in the program Of tina
character-building agency.
Recently. | had a letter from e.,
citizens committee. composed o
some Of the best people in the STATE
of Mississippi, informing me of I
great statewide Percy Greene APP
probation program and Dime
staged at Campbell college Feb
10 in recognition and appreciation
Of the great fight staged by Mr.
Greene, editor of the jackson AID
vocate, in getting colored peopl
in large numbers to try to registe
to vote and to testify against in
famous Bilbo.
In their letter they reminded
me that any cOlored editor who
really champions the emancipa-
ton of the oppressed from eco
nomic. political, and social bon
dage in the deep south loses the
support of the powers that be
and suffers under sanctions Of
various sorts which rObs him of
that which makes survival possi-
BILE. | should know; my own fight
against the forces of prejudice,
backwardness and enslavement
Of colored people in Alabama
has cost me more than 100000
in the past Is years.
The enlightened colored people o
Mississippi have grown up. The!
have the ability TO appreciate tn,
fact that Percy Greene's fight i
their fight. They appreciate i
enough to stage voluntarily thi
Percy Greene Appreciation pro
gram, during which they are goinl
to give Percy several thousands o
dollars. Not only has Percy put up 1
good fight, but all those colored an,
white Mississippians who fight Bill
DO. without regard to consequences
because they know they are RICH
make the greatest contribution
against totalitarianism ever mad