St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1953-01-02

Inen early last ran, MoPherBon
became aware that a group OF
African students had arrived at
the colleges on missionary scholar
ships. Central College enrolled Au-
gustine Njolu-obi. "a. an ebony
black graduate of a Nigerian mis-
sion school. Mcpherson College
took In six other Africans:
James Craig, 20, a half Scots Nige-
rian who wanted to be an argi-
cultural missionary; Joseph Obi,
20, a one time math teacher In
a mission high school (who soon
topped McPherson's honor roll) I;
Isaac Grilio. 81, surveyor aiming
for a degree in civil engineering:
Daniel onyema, IS, an accountant
who wanted to be an electrical
engineer; Emanuel Thompson, "a,
a pharmacist studying TO be an
orthopedic surgeon; Elijah odo-
kara, Fl, a railway telegrapher
who was taking a premedical
course.
Odokara had come TO the u. 8.
in spite of warnings from his
father. 97-year-old ceremonial
leader of the idol-worshiping
omenani religion. Christians, :"
scoffed the father, don't practice
what they preach"
Flight by Night. Like most Mid
western towns, McPherson was
unaware that Il had a segregation
problem: before the students ar
rived from Africa, It counted only
20 Negroes inside the city limits
and they managed pretty well to
keep out of the way. So when
Nigerian James Craig went into
a barbershop for his first U. 8.
haircut, the barber sputtered I'M
certainly, then announced that he
could not cut Negroes hair. Said
Craig later: II told him / was
half-Scotch. / asked him II he
would give me half a haircut. He
asked me to leave" Augustine
Njoku-obi got a job in laundry,
discovered that he was being paid
only half as much as the whites
next to him. The first time the
boys went to the movies, they
were hustled upstairs to the bal
cony.
Joe Obi, the ex-math teacher,
went one evening into downtown
cafe and sat down at the counter.
The counterman told Joe he would
have to eat in the kitchen. Il was
awfully hungry" Joe said later,
80 went back there to the
kitchen. They put me at a little
table near the sink. The dishwash-
er splashed soapy water on my
food, and someone started to
sweep the floor and made a dust
cloud" Joe was terrified. He
plunked down the price Of his
meal, dashed out through the front
door, and ran without stopping
all the mile and a half back TO
the college.
This Made Me Scared" The
boys we're unprepared for another
Midwestern phenomenon: winter.
At the first cold snap. Mcpherson
College telephoned around town
to line up some warm clothes.
One Of the first calls went TO
loyal Mcpherson alumna. Rozella
Switzer, the towns Democratic
postmistress. Rozella, a widow in
her 40s, runs an efficient post
office, smokes Pail Malls, drinks
an occasional bourbon and coke,
likes politics and people. She was
curious about the African students
and invited them over. Two nights
later they sat comfortably around
her living room. slipping coffee,
browsing through her books, list
ening to her records-and talking.
What they said was an earful.
Nigeria, they told Rozella, is surg
ing toward its own nationalism.
I'VE are struggling for independ-
ence," Isaac Grille explained. I'VE
won't stop. That is why we want
education--to help with the re-
volution." They told about their
Nigerian friends who study In
Communist countries. come back
home with plenty Of money for
political activity" and hot with
praise for the Communists. They
read Rozella an editorial from the
West African Pilot. written by
their hero. Nnamdi AzlIiwe. known
as Xix" zik. they said. Is a nom
Communist, but he hates the us.