Evening star., 1948-06-20
TheCWiRights
Issue Explored
In Two Books

ISSuO ENPsO1NN
In Two Books
SOUTH WIND BLOWS
BY Clark Porteous. "A. A. Wyn;
s2.50.)
THE NEGRO NEWSPAPER
BY Vishnu v. Oak. (Anttoch
Press, Yellou Spring, Ohio; $780,
Reviewed by
CARTER BROOKE JONES
These books both bear on an
explosive issue of the moment
civil rights for a minority race
that makes up a 10th OF our
population.
South Wind Blows" is a first
novel by a Southern newspaperman
written around lynching. but
bringing in many phases OF the ra-
cial situation in the South. Dr.
Oak contributes a pioneer study OF
the Negro press, which naturally
is concerned primarily with ending
discrimination against colored cltl-
zens and improving their lot.
Mr.. Porteous' novel is not likely
TO win him any encomiums in Mis-
sissippi. His picture OF a small town
In that State is not pretty. 1t Is
nonetheless a striking panorama OF
intolerance. 1t may be overdrawn
i found myself hoping it vas-but
at least the author grew up in the
South and went to high school in
such a town as he describes. No one
can say this is the work of Yankee
who doesn't know any region south
OF Weehawken.
The background Of the lynching
is developed as each character con-
cerned in it directly or remotely
tells his story. 1t is as if each were
being interviewed by somebody he
was willing to confide in.
The Only 'Law."
Alb Lacey, colored sharecropper,
had killed his landlord, Will Blake,
under great provocation. The white
landowner had forced his attentions
on Abs wife and had followed that
by whipping Alb numerically. Yet
Alb was hunted down by posse and
hanged in the yard Of country
school. Those present at the execu-
ton included Sam Davis, a deputy
sheriff, the only law in the lit
tie town Of Kilton.
The first witness to speak Is
Charlie Porter, reporter from the
city paper, who got tip that the
lynching was about to take place
and drove down from Tennessee
with a photographer. They saw the
whole thing, even got pictures.
Charlie blamed himself for not in
terfering, called himself a coward
for not speaking up. His paper was
afraid to use the pictures. but did
use his story. And he wrote that
he had the names OF several in the
lynching party. but he never was
called before a grand jury or a
prosecutor.
The others tell their stories
lynchers, prominent men in the
community who had no part in 1t.
Abs widow, the slain landowners
widow. The result is a composite
account of the community's attitude
toward the submerged race. Mr..
Porteous has presented some OF the
most atrocious characters in the
history of the new Southern real
ism. not excluding the creations OF
William Faulkner and Erskine Cald-
well 1t is true that others are not
quite so bad, like the banker. He
hated lynching and spoke up mildly
against it when the men were mill
ing around the town square, flll-
ing up on corn liquor and debating
whether to burn or hang Alb Lacey.
There is the Baptist minister, who
wanted to denounce it, but recalled
that he lost one pastorate because
he discussed an earlier lynching too
candidly. There is the school teach
er. who abhors such things, but
also needs his Job.
Deserves to Be Read.
According to the narrative, lynch
ing is not always organized; prison.
ers sometimes are shot by peace
officers while escaping" II South
Wind Blows" Is even half true. 1t
deserves to be read. Mr.. Porteous
writes with the skilled reporters in
stinct for rejecting the irrelevant
and dramatizing the pertinent. He
wrote the first draft Of his novel
while studying at Harvard under a
Nieman journalism fellowship.
Nieman journalism fellowship. Mr..
Poretous is at present member of
the staff of the Memphis Press
Scimitar.
DR.. Oak. in his interesting study
of the Negro press, points out that
there are 1926 periodicals of all types.
including 1859 newspapers, Sc college
publications and more than 100 re-
ligious, fraternal and literary maga-
zines. He undertakes a critical
evaluation Of colored newspapers,
summing up favorable and unfavor-
able traits.
On the credit side. he sees the
Negro press as contributing great
deal to the preservation of American
democracy by its virtuous fight in
behalf of its people" 1t is, he feels,
rendering invaluable service to the
cause Of justice and fair play. ."
1t also is the colored readers only
means of keeping up with the prog
ress Of his race and usually the only
voice raised in its defense.
DR.. Oak recognizes, on the other
hand, number of serious faults.
These include sensa tionalisn, which,
he rightly concludes, the Negro jour-
nalist borrowed from some Of his
white colleagues. Unfairness and
inaccuracy are other counts too
often proved. But he feels that the
colored dailies have improved greatly
in recent years and that few Of