Lincoln High School - Lincolnian Yearbook (Kansas City, MO)

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JACQUELINE GREEN Attendants Arlene Edmondson and Gloria Williams Contestants Virginia Hawkins, Helen Murdock, Jacqueline Green, Gloria Williams, Lois Love, Charlene Bass, Emogean Davis, Novellar Vinson, Marie Sampson, Laye Boothe, Thelma Harmon, Evelyn McGinnis, Helen Baxter, Catherine Randall. Ou i 2ueen

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ALVALOISE LIVINGSTONE FRANK OLIVER VIVIAN BAXTER NELVIE SMITH JOAN BROWN HELEN STROTHERS CONSTANCE McDaniel DOROTHY TUCKER J OFIN HOBBS PANTHER PEP CLUB FRANK PATTERSON GLANIE WHTMORE BETTY HAMMOND ERNESTNE JONES EDITH ' MASSEY JONATHAN BOOKER DORIS KELSEY BETTY MASON JOSH BAIR] MARIE ROBERSON HAROLD ASHBY Our Freshman and Sophomore years in Junior College have been crowded with various activities. When Freshmen, we chose as our class officers: Jonathan Booker, President; Doris Trotter, Vice-President; Barbara Pullam, Secretary; Reola Baker, Assistant Secretary; and Verlea Heriold, Treasurer. During our Sophomore years, we formed for the first time a boys’ basket ball team and Pep Club. They were sponsored by Coach Norman and Miss Guy. We also participated in the “Y” organization under the direction of Miss Spurlock, our Dean of Women. Christmas and spring parties were given during their respective seasons. Although we were greatly depressed over the death of Mr. Carroll, our Dean of Men, we continued our work under the supervision of our present Dean, Mr. Bryant.

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KEEP FIGHTING, SENIORS There was a group of high school seniors who were expecting to be graduated, sitting around a fireplace, listening with great interest to an old woman whom they all called “granny,” and who told them of the past and predicted the future. “Granny” was a woman about eighty-seven years of age. One could easily guess she was very old because she was very thin with white hair and deep lines in her face which indicated suffering, sorrow, poverty and many hardships. She was born during the slavery period. At the end of the Civil War, when she was eleven years old, she first realized what it meant to be free. She had often dreamed of a life in the outside world; a world where she could speak what she thought, praise God when and where she desired. This wish had been made pos- sible by the great emancipation. “Boys and girls,” she began, “the Negroes did not play as important a part in the Civil War as they are doing now and as they will be doing before this war of today is over. There was a time when my people could not vote, walk on the sidewalks, and praise God; but dear ones, time changes things. We are gradually being given our rights. We vote now, walk on the sidewalks and say practically anything we want to. All this she spoke in a steady, smooth voice which indicated that she was earnest. “There are some things which we, as Negroes, are not allowed to do, but never you mind, for when you are men and women, and that won’t be long, you will be able to get any type of job, and do anything that any other loyal American citizen can do. You are loyal American citizens, and you will be treated as others are.” She paused to gaze into the red coals with her narrow, but wise eyes. Then she continued by saying that she didn’t believe that there was any record in American History where the Negro had proved disloyal, and yet people of every other na- tionality who have come to America, secure jobs which the Negro should have. “Children, go on to school and get your educa- tion. Don’t you know that you can’t share in this democracy unless you are prepared for it? Education is a very precious thing and you can’t make much progress without it. “Do your part to win our war,” she said suddenly. “I say our war, because it is just as much yours as it is the white man’s. We were born under the American flag, and we must not let preoccupation with our enemies at home blind us to this. It’s ours —fight for it, die for it. 1 hink of our predicament if our country was ever subjected to the rule of Adolph Hitler. You know what he thinks of Negroes. I Ie thinks we should he slaves for the lighter races, that we are like animals with no morals and no ideas. It is your duty in this fight to prove to him the opposite. Prove to him that you are human and have ideas and an understanding of what morals are. Get into the swing of this thing and work side by side with your fellow citizens to win our war. By doing that you also show your fellow citizens that you deserve equal opportunities when the nation is at peace.” There was not a word uttered by the student, for they were busy thinking about what “old granny” had said. “Maybe she was right,” they thought. They had been told that this was the white man’s war, and country, so why should they risk their lives for those who had treated them unjustly, but now they have been enlightened. “Granny” went on the predict the future. “Chil- dren, twenty years from today, you will be among the millions of Negroes who have won their places in this world. You will be respected as American citizens. You will be successful congressmen, judges, lawyers, skilled workers, and will be in many posi- tions which your varied ability will permit you to enter. Those people who have cast you aside, be- cause of your color, will look up to you as ideal Americans, and will be delighted to serve a person your color in their hotels and stores. You will be placed in high offices in the army, navy, and air corps.” “Granny” added this bit for among the group of listeners gathered on the floor were some who wanted to fly and to be hostesses aboard the planes. “Granny” concluded by saying, “Boys and girls, go out into the world and do your job so well that there will be no question about your efficiency; then you can take your places in the march for progress.” — Addie Lewis. LAUGHS “Where did you get that fine hat?” “1 bought it ten years ago. Seven years ago I dyed it black. Three years ago I had it pressed. The year before last I had a new band put on it. Last week 1 exchanged it at a restaurant.” SHOWING RESULTS Teacher— “Surely you know what the word mirror means. After you’ve washed, what do you look at to see if your face is clean.” Tommy— “The towel, sir!” Student— “When an eagle takes a child up in his nest, does he eat him?” Miss Smothers— “Of course, you don’t think he takes him up there to rear him, do you?” Teacher— “Surely the reason you don’t get your lesson isn’t spring fever?” Jean Pearl— “Oh, yes it is, too, because I saw a robin yesterday.”