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

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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

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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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The Negro woman, too, has played an im- portant role on the stage of Negro poetry. Mrs. G. D. Johnson, through her Heart of a Woman , has written much of her sadness. Though not one word or hint of race is pres- ent, still the unwritable tragedy of the Ne- groes' sufferings is described. Langston Hughes comes with his new form of poetry and his novel, Not Without Laugh- ter . Du Bois, Kelly Miller, and R. Nathaniel Dett, composer, pianist, and poet, belong to this class. Dialect and fpoetry of protest against segregation voice the sentiment of the Negro masses. Here and there in magazines we find a poem by some unheard of Negro, perhaps a student. Another generation rises, another voice is heard, the voice of Negro youth. And so, upward through trials We climb the slopes of life with throbbing hearts to grasp our cherished star. Naomi C. Long. ...i..i.- Banking of an Oppressed People From the beginning of time there has al- ways been a struggle for the accumulation of wealth. After means of acquiring were found, ways of keeping were sought. At first the cave dwellers hid their treasures in niches and secret passages of their caves. Men of the far East, after bringing their tithes to be placed at the foot of the emperor, stored their immense Wealth for their posterity. With the advancement of civilization, mod- ern means of saving have come into existence. Money was placed in banks and banking de- veloped into a paying enterprise. In this venture none have had more obstacles to overcome than the Negro, who, we can say with pride, has come forward from subjuga- tion, and in seventy-five years has, at least, established a place in this field. When the Emancipation of Proclamation freed the Negro slaves, a Freedman's Bank was established, supposedly to encourage fru- gality and thrift among the newly liberated slaves. The institution became a detriment to Negro progress, taking advantage of the ignorance and superstition which was prev- alent among those whose opportunities for acquiring knowledge were little or none. In- stead of providing a non-profit concern for the depositing of Negro savings, it was soon dissolved, leaving the depositors destitute. Page Sixty Dread of repetition of this disastrous affair left the Negro populace, for a time, appre- hensive of further banking endeavors. To overcome this fear has taken years of not altogether successful work. But, as the Ne- groes increased in number and importance, the necessity for improving the economic con- ditions led to the establishment of the Capitol Savings Bank of Washington, D. C. This was the first private bank opened and operated for business by Negroes in the United States. After sixteen years of commendable service, this bank failed, and the Alabama Penny Sav- ings Bank, of Birmingham, came into exist- ence. During the operation of this bank more than two hundred thousand dollars was de- posited by more than ten thousand persons. Probably the expansion and branching out of this bank caused its failure. These bank- ing failures, along with others, began to quell enthusiasm, and the Negroes became discour- aged. Later, because of the need of the rap- idly spread-fraternal societies for depositories for their funds, the Savings Bank of the Grand Fountain was established. This movement was the first great effort of the Negro to organize a bank. Contributing much to its failure were the lax business methods within the institution and meager banking experi- ence of the officers. Not all of the banking institutions have failed, however, for a few have lived and others more recently organized are going for- ward. In Nashville, Tennessee, the Citizens' Savings Band and Trust Company, under the presidency of H. A. Boyd, is serving its pur- pose. The Mechanics' and Farmers' Bank of Durham and Raleigh, North Carolina, is pro- gressing under its president, C. C. Spaulding. The Citizens' Trust Company, of Atlanta, has been operating since August, 1921, and is certainly worthy of mention. Tribute should also be paid to Jesse Binga, under whose guidance the Binga State Bank was organized in Chicago. It is by no means fitting for the progress of a race, removed only seventy-five years from slavery, to be compared with one whose natural heritage is freedom and a chance for advancement, but it is altogether fitting, when writing of Negro progress in the past seventy- five years, that banking be mentioned as an achievement. Elizabeth Wallace. MAROON AND WHITE