Sumner High School - Maroon and White Yearbook (St Louis, MO)

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The Voice of Freedom When we consider the elements guiding and influencing the progress of America's most oppressed minority group, we cannot forget the one great factor of law. Civics tells us that law is the rule by which the people of a community, locality, or nation should govern themselves. However, it is evident that many of these laws in the majority of our com- munities do not apply to the Negro. In giving the black man of this nation his freedom seventy-five years ago, the white master kept two strikes against him, and both of these were law. Under the leadership of the fore- most members of our race and with the aid of many liberal white-blooded Americans, the Negro has not struck out yet. Instead, we have ventured into the field of law, the only means by which we can annul the white man's curse. In the first few years after the emancipa- tion, the Negro lawyers' struggle to maintain a professional foothold in the United States almost resulted in failure and the ultimate decrease in civic privileges. One of the def- inite causes which retarded the Negro lawyers' progress was, he could not get enough support from either the white or his own race. In studying law, the black man made the first mistake of practicing without regard to his own people. He prepared himself for a career of lawsuits, business disputes, and criminal defense. When the chief need of the majority of the Negroes for lawyers were for to obtain equal privileges and equal justice, the early colored barman was not prepared for the tricks and discriminations practiced in the southern courts of uneven justice. Another mistake practically fatal to our newly acquired freedom was the venturing of every Negro lawyer into the field of politics, which at that time was more corrupt than it is in the present decade. Many of our race survived the political struggle and emerged victorious in the managing of our government. Such notable lawyers as John H. Smythe, our first colored minister to Liberia, T. Morris Chester, an Arkansas officer of the reconstruc- tion period, John R. Lynch, and John M. Langston, congressman, and several other diplomats, reformers, and United States Army officers. All of these were graduates of law. To the very few barmen who had wealth enough to withstand the ordeal of a simple practicioner's career, we owe thanks for the first major step in breaking down the barriers of general discrimination existing largely in the U. S. A. Since the black -people could not Page Sixty-two K support a law school graduate, he was forced to take up another profession, or enter into the already discussed political field. Those who went into the latter class usually found service in the government. 'There they helped considerably to equalize the opportunities of the colored American. But these men were out of the field of law. The former class of graduates, those who prepared for a sideline profession to keep them going, were the ones that struggled with the tricks of' corrupt justice to destroy the evil forces working against our race. Gradually, as the Negro lawyer was forced out of politics, he was compelled to take his place beside these struggling barmen. In the late nineties, our lawyers made bold strokes for equal liberties. Continually, through the years they have been educating themselves for the task of breaking down a two hundred year old institution prejudice. Much success has resulted in the North, but the South is left as a future test of their actual ability. Can our black mouthpieces of Liberty, Justice, and Fraternity carry on the courage- ous fight in the future as they have in the past? Can they surpass the many triumphs over prejudice? The Negro has often found it necessary to apply the methods of criminal barmen to escape the loopholes of the white man's law. The fight for entrance into colleges, Army Institutions, equal business opportuni- ties and government positions have all been successful to a large degree. Now with their dark eyes to the South, the Negro lawyers are making another gallant thrust and this time they have a black minority which is more able to support them. Lawrence Still. Canossa I've been to Canossa, I've know its death-cold snows And misty winter skies. I've been depressed, Suffered pain that cut as deep As the snow itself. I know just what it means To find life's sweetest dreams Cannot come true. But I've hoped against Canossa's blinding storms And lo, I am the Victor! W MAROON AND HITE

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A Glorious Awakening The day was one of rare beautyg the hour was a most convenient one, and I was very drowsy. Settling myself in my favorite chair, I prepared for a little nap. Suddenly I heard the babble of voices and before I knew it I was surrounded by a group of my friends who were pulling me out of my chair. They wanted me to go swimming with them. This sounded rather refreshing, so I agreed to the hilarious plan. With carefree abandon, our swimming toggery in bags, we tramped through the house to the waiting jalopy. We rode past the crowded and stifling city streets where unkempt children were playing. We rode past slovenly and slightly inebriated men who were conversing on the street corn- ers. We rode past filthy and tumbled down tenament houses reeking with pungent odors. We rode past depressing and degrading sights to the fresh country air, green grass, shady trees, chirping birds and beautiful flowers. This was truly God's country. We basked in the glow and peace of this refreshing environ- ment. Feeling rather thirsty, we stopped at a road- side inn and obtained a few bottles of soda. After hurriedly consuming it, We went on our way once more. Past the orchards, past the barns, Past cows and the fields of corn. Onward! Onward! Faster still, Around the bend to the old red mill. Hurry! hurry! for goodness sake, Soon we'll reach our cherished lake. Suddenly the jalopy, christened Old Faith- ful, evidently grew weary of her load, for she gave away. With a wheeze and at cough she refused to bear us any longer. She was as dead as a door nail. The driver got out to investigate. He tinkered with the spark plug, the fan belt, and various other mysterious parts of the automobile. After giving up hope of restoring life to Old Faithful, he be- gan to beg us for assistance. We got out and walked around the car, looking intelligent and eyeing it with suspicion and disdain. Sud- denly someone had a brainstorm and investi- gated the gasoline supply. To our surprise we found the tank was empty. A collection was taken up and a delegation was sent to secure the cherished fluid. In their absence the remainder of us sang loudly and lustily to pass the time away. With a song in our hearts and a crack in our voices, we welcomed the gasoline bearer. MAROON AND WHITE Painfully and slowly we continued on our way. Finally, we reached our cherished lake. The sunlight on the water gleamed and glist- ened. The wind made ripples on its surface. The tantalizing swishing and gurgling of the water made us race to shelter and don our swimming paraphernalia. Frivolous, hilarious, and energetic, we splashed about in the water. The cool and delicious feeling of water on one's lurid and sweaty body had a soothing sensation. With closed eyes and lazy strokes, I swam toward the middle of the lake. The current was taking me swiftly to my destination. I had no idea that I had traveled such a long distance until I attempted to stand up. My feet went down and the previously soothing waves turned to violent and terrifying water. Fran- tically I kicked and struggled. I reached the surface and gasped for air. I was under again. After kicking with all my might, I came up for air the second time. As the water closed about me, again I remembered having heard that the third time to go under was the last time. With all my power and strength, I struggled and kicked. Suddenly, I awoke with a start and gazed into the face of my mischievous brother, who had been dashing cold water on my face. With a sigh of relief, I lay back in my chair and said, That is what I call a glorious awak- enin-g. M ary Turner. Emotion Of all the things for which I care, The gifts our Lord has given, Winter's wind pure driven snow In silver fingers from my eaves, On my windows delicate filegrees. A poignant feeling in my breast, As a shy young violet does its best, And singing birds take wing To announce the recent arrival Of the beautiful lady spring. There's something about a summer's Day that fills my eyes with tears, Causes my heart to overflow, As peaceful clouds sail in blue skies And gentle breezes blow. George P1-ice, Jr. Page Sixty-three

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Finding Inspiration by Press It is true that the Negro race has progressed since its emancipation, but there is much to be done towards his improvement. Because certain ambitious and far-seeing individuals have journeyed on ahead, the race has been given a path on which to follow. To help him along, new fields of work are continually be- ing opened up to him. We find that in the realms of education, with which we are im- mediately concerned, the newspaper has played an important part. Since everything that exists must have had a beginning, I will give a brief history of the Negro newspaper. Our history of the Negro in the newspaper field goes back to the early part of the eighteenth century. Of the early pioneers in the newspaper work, John Brown Russworn deserves the most credit. He came to the United States from Jamaica, his birth- place, to attend college. The first Negro to obtain a college degree in the United States, he placed his efforts in the field entirely new to the race-the colored newspaper. Mr. Russwurn edited and published the first newspaper, called the Freedmen's Journal , in the year of 1827, in New York City. Short- ly afterwards he published another paper, called The Rights of All . These early papers proved to be powerful and useful in promoting intelligence of the race. In 1837 there appeared another newspaper under the name of The Weekly Advocate , edited by one Samuel E. Carnish. Later the paper adopted the name of The Colored American . It, like The Freedmen's Journal , filled its columns with select and important bits of in- formation. It boldly advocated the emanci- pation and elevation of the Negroes. In the northern states, before the Civil War, a number of fpapers, forty-one to be exact, were published by Negroes. This had much to do with bringing about the success of the anti-slavery movements. It was through this medium that the Negro, just out of slavery, was gradually made aware of the affairs of the world and how they affected them. It helped considerably in answering his questions of where he was to go and what he could or should do in this new life. As time passed, progress was made, and bigger and better newspapers were developed. One of the most important later publica- tions was called the Northern Star , and was edited by Frederick Douglass. He later be- came the most influential editor among the Negroes. He had already made a deep im- pression on the public in presenting his own interesting story in what he called the Nar- rative . MAROON AND WHITE These early newspapers consisted of only a few sheets and treated of things of the ut- most importance to the race. They were, in a sense, acting as teachers. 'Today there are hundreds of colored newspapers all over the country, far better than those of the past in the way of written material, but I ask you to stop and think of how little progress they have made morally-in the things that really count. Those early papers did not show as much achievement and fields of experience as the present papers. Yet, our modern papers deal largely with sensationalism and social life. There is a philosophy concerning the newspapers that always rings true: People read seven out of ten columns of crime simply because the papers print it. Today, of the better class, we have such newspapers as the Pittsburgh Courier, the Chicago Defender, and Afro-American, and others which space will not permit me to mention. In concluding, I wish for you to keep in mind these facts. The early appearance of Negro editors is significant. Some of them did not know as much as those today, but they appreciated the importance of a daily record and the prestige which it gives. They knew the value of the press in fighting the battles of humanity. It must be remembered, however, that al- though Negroes were doing difiicult things efficiently, they had the help and cooperation of friendly whites. Without their assistance these efforts would have failed. Austin N ichols. , rv ll ' , f 3-itll I e W F .I Sf- '- EJL i 1 6 n ..,,,oo is N Page Sixty-one