Pfc John Wycliffe Fleming— Cincinnati, Ohio, Midwestern Vice-President, entered the armed service March I, 1943 He is now stationed at Fort Sill, Okla., with the 571st Ordnance Ammunition Company
Wherever he goes, as a soldier in the onward march toward victory, the light of Alphadom will shine the brightest See Page 2 for Brother Fleming's view on the war crisis.
1943
EAYFORD W LOGAN President Howard University Washington, D C
BERT A McDONALD First Vice-President 319 East 48th St., Los Angeles, Calif
FERDINAND L ROUSSEVE Second Vice-President 4636 Willow Street, New Orleans, La
JOHN FLEMING Third Vice-President 1532 Linn Street, Cincinnati, Ohio
ANDREW R TYLER Fourth Vice-President 462 West 146th St., New York City
JOSEPH H B EVANS General Secretary 101 S Street, N W., Washington, D C
FARROW h. ALLEN Treasurer 337 West 138th St., New York City
LEWIS O SWINGLER Editor of the Sphinx 390 Vi Beale Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee
H COUNCILL TRENHOLM Director of Education Alabama State College, Montgomery, Ala
BELFORD V LAWSON JR General Counsel 2001 11th N W. Washington, D C LAY MEMBERS EXECUTIVE COUNCIL
Edward W Brooke, 1262 Hamlin Street, N E„ Washington, D C
Honorary, Thomas E Kelley, Wilberforce University, William T Patrick, Jr. Clark Hall, Howard University, Washington D C; Chas D Proctor, Fisk University Nashville, Tenn
BELFORD V LAWSON JR Chairman, Chapter Housing Commission 2001 11th St., N W., Washington, D C
HOWARD II LONG Chairman, Committee on Public Policy 1112 Girard St., N W., Washington, D C
M G FERGUSON Chairman, Auditing Committee Citizens Savings & Trust Co., Nashville, Tennessee
HENRY L DICKASON Chairman, Committee on Standards Blueneld State Teachers College Blueneld, West Virginia
ROBERT P DANIEL Chairman, Budget Committee Shaw University, Raleigh, North Carolina
CHARLES H WESLEY Historian Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio
KERMIT J HALL Director, Transportation State Teachers College Bluefleld, West Va JEWELS
Dr Henry A Callls, 2306 E St., N E„ Washington, D O.: Nathaniel A Murray, 150 You Street, N W., Washington, D O.i Vertner W Tandy, 221 West 139th St., New York, N Y.; George B Kelly, l-113th Street, Troy New York
•Charles H Chapman—*Roy H Ogle—"James H Morton—•Deceased REGIONAL DIRECTORS
WESTERN JURISDICTION—Bert A McDonald, Vice-President; Walter M Booker, Prairie View College, Prairie View, Texas: James A Robinson 850 East 49th Place, Los Angeles, Calif.; Bernard E Squires, 326 Railway Exchange Bldg., Seattle, Washington
SOUTHERN JURISDICTION—Ferdinand L Rousseve, Vice-President; Region:—Louisiana, Arkansas, Miss., Southern Vice-President in charge; Harold Lucien, Dillard University, New Orleans, La., Undergraduate Director; C M Roulhac, Jr., 810 E McLemore, Memphis, Tenn.; Bernard G Wheatley, Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.; Andrew J Lewis II, 525 Tatwall St., Atlanta, Ga.; John P Bond, 13V2 E Hargett St., Raleigh, North Carolina
EASTERN JURISDICTION—Andrew R Tyler, Vice-President; John M Moore, Va Union University, Richmond, Va.; G A Galvin, 216 West State St., Ithaca, N Y.; Frank Morris, Jr., 1519 Page Street, Philadelphia, Pa.; William J Parks, Jr., 1917 3rd St., N w., Washington, D C; Rufus Hackett, 536 McCulloh St., Baltimore, Md.; and Thomas A Center, 54 Mt Pleasant North Cambridge, Mass
MIDWESTERN JURISDICTION—John W Fleming, Vice-President; John R Lawrence, Jr., 947 Iglehart Ave., St Paul, Minn.; J R Lillard, 2547 Tracy Avenue, Kansas City Mo.; Attorney Charles F Lane, 417 East 47th Street, Chicago Illinois
1 ALPHA—Cornell University, Ithaca, N Y.; President, Dr G A Galvin, 216 W State Street; Secretary, Dr Albert P Johnson, 216 W State Street
2 BETA—Howard University, Washington, D C ; President William T Patrick; Cor Secretary, Rollin Williams, Howard University
3 GAMMA—Virginia Union University, Richmond, Va.; President E D McCreary, Jr.; Secretary, Lee A Barnes, Va Union University
4 DELTA—Tillotson College, Austin, Texas; President, Samuel Fuller; Secretary, Jesse Bethel, Tillotson College
5 EPSILON—University of Michigan, Ann Arbor, Mich.; President, John L S Holliman, Jr.; Secretary, Henry C Everett 116 Victor C Vaugh House, University of Michigan
6 ZETA—Yale University, New Haven, Conn.; President, C A Tribbett, 124 Dlxwell Ave. Secretary; T R Pettyjohn, 77 DIckerman Street
7 ETA—Columbia University, St Lawrence, Brooklyn C C, St John University, Brooklyn, New York City; President, Mac C Davies, 79 St Nicholas Avenue, N Y C ; Secretary, Lloyd C Best, 217 W 120 N Y C
8 THETA—University Chicago, Chicago, 111.; President, Clifton O Dummett, 311 E Chicago Avenue, Box 158, Chicago, 111.; Secretary, Frank A Banks, 740 E Marquette Road
9 IOTA—Atlanta, Georgia; To be set up
10 KAPPA—Ohio State University, Ohio; President, Lionel H Newsom 51 East 11th Ave.; Secretary, James K Anthony, 68 E 11th Ave., Columbus, Ohio
11 MU—University o( Minnesota, Minneapolis, Minnesota; President, John R Lawrence, 947 Iglehart Ave., St Paul, Minn. Secretary* John M Patton, 954 St Anthony Ave., St Paul, Minn
12 NU—Lincoln University, Pa.; President Charles Okedas; Secretary, Robert Frazier, Lincoln University Pa
13 XI—Wilberforce University, Ohio; President, Everard A Hughes; Secretary, William B Shropshire, Wilberforce University, Wilberforce, Ohio
14 OMICRON—Pittsburgh Pa., President, Paul L Jones, 228 West 14th, Homestead, Pa.; Secretary McDonald Williams, 201 Michigan Avenue, Betshoover, Pitts, Pa
15 PI—Westorn Reserve, Cleveland, Ohio; President, Samuel Wade, 2285 East 89th Street; Secretary, Joseph D Smith, 2813 Central Avenue, N 584
16 RHO—Graduate Group, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; Pres Dr W P Jerrlck 1843 Christian St.; C Sec Dr O Wilson Winters, 28 Curren Arcade; F Sec Norristown, Pa.; F Sec Dr Percy I Bowser 5344 Race St
17 SIGMA—Harvard University, Boston, Mass.; President Thomas Center, 12 Hubbard Ave., Cambridge Mass.; Secretary, G Samuel Darrell, 137 Harold St., Roxbury, Mass
18 TAU—University of Illinois, Champalgn-Urbana, Illinois; President Nathaniel B Green; 1301 West Clark, Urbana, 111.; Secretary, Robert Claybrooks
19 UPSILON—University of Kansas, Kansas State Teachers College, Emporia, Kansas; Kansas State College of Agriculture & Applied Science, Manhattan, Kansas Lawrence, Kansas; President, Robert N Clark; Secretary, James D Walker, 1101 Mississippi Street, Lawrence, Kansas
20 PHI—Ohio University Athens, Ohio; INACTIVE
21 CHI—Meharry Medical College Nashville Tenn.: President Axel Hanson, Jr.; Cor Secretary, Edward L Wilkerson, Meharry Medical College
22 PSI—University of Pennsylvania, Temple University, Philadelphia Pa.; President, Franklin Morris, 1519 Page Street West: Secretary, Robert Poindexter, 2128 Christian Street
23 ALPHA ALPHA—University of Cincinnati, Cincinnati College of Pharmacy, Miami University, Cincinnati, Ohio; President John W Fleming, 1532 Linn Street; Secretary, Webster Posey, 1506 Baymlller Street
24 ALPHA BETA—Talladega College, Talladega Ala.; President, Horace Johnson; Secretary, William King, Talladega College
25 ALPHA GAMMA—Brown University, Providence, Rhode Island, INACTIVE
26 ALPHA DELTA—University of Southern California, Los Angeles Calif., President, Henry Feltenberg 1286 S Serrano; Secretary, Edward York, 1286 S Serrano Avenue
27 ALPHA EPSILON—University of California, Berkeley, California; President, Harold R Jones, 2831 Ellsworth Street, Berkeley; Secretary, Henry Johnson, 1340 8th St., Oakland, California
28 ALPHA ZETA—West Virginia State College, Institute, West Va., President, Graythorn T Heard; Secretary, Lloyd A Watts, West Va State College
29 ALPHA ETA—St Louis, Mo.; President, George H Hyram 4432 North Market St.; Secretary, Earl W Hunter 2316 Spruce
30 ALPHA THETA—University of Iowa, Iowa City, Iowa; President, James Peoples; Secretary, A Low; C Secretary, George R Ragland, Jr., 818 South Dubuque Street
31 ALPHA IOTA—University of Colorado, Denver, Colo President, Howard Jenkins, Jr., 3131 Gilpin St., Secretary John Wallar, 2606 Gilpin St
32 ALPHA KAPPA—Springfield College, Amherst College Amherst, Mass., Springfield, Mass.; INACTIVE
33 ALPHA MU—Northwestern University, Evanston, IllinoisPresident, Charles Warren; Secretary, William C Pyant 1930 Brown Avenue
34 ALPHA NU—Iowa State College, Drake University, Des Moines, Iowa; President, Virgil Dixon; Secretary, Chas P Howard, 515 Mulberry St., Des Moines, Iowa
35 ALPHA XI—University of Washington, Seattle, Washington; President, James P Johnson, 928 31st St., Seattle, Washington; Secretarv Robert B Pitts, 326 23rd Avenue North
36 ALPHA OMICRON—John C Smith University, Charlotte N C; President Nash Vernon Scott; Secretary, Edward LWilkerson, Meharry Medical College
37 ALPHA PI—Louisville Municipal College, Louisville Ky , President, Andrew Moten, 2336 W Chestnut Street; Secretary, Julius L Greene, 1810 W Chestnut Street
38 ALPHA RHO—Morehouse College, Ga.; President Benjamin Bullock, Secretary, Clarence Williams, Morehouse College
39 ALPHA SIGMA—Wiley College, Bishop College, Marshall, Texas; President, Frederick D Smith; Secretary, T Lannett Mack, Wiley College
40 ALPHA TAU—University of Akron Ohio; President, Attorney Artee Fleming, 22 West Market Street, Akron, OhioSecretary, Herbert T Bracken, 385 Wellington
41 ALPHA UPSILON—City College Detroit, Mich.; President, Gus Ogletree, 607 Division; Secretary, William Coleman, 1421 Sloman
42 ALPHA PHI—Clark University, Atlanta, Ga.; President Clarence D Coleman; Cor Secretary; Charles A Davis, Clark University
43 ALPHA CHI—Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee; President, Charles D Procter; Secretary, Clarence I Payne, Fisk University
44 ALPHA PSI—Lincoln University, Jefferson City, Mo.; President, Alphonse E Ellis, Allen Hall, Lincoln University; Secretary, William McCoy, Allen Hall Lincoln University
45 BETA ALPHA—Morgan College, Baltimore, Md.; President, Winston Emerson Brown, 529 Cumberland Street; Secretary, Harry Augustus Coles, 1935 Druid Hill Ave
46 BETA BETA—University of Nebraska, Creighton University, Municipal University, Lincoln, Nebraska, President, Gaines T Braford, 1952 T Street, Lincoln, Nebraska; Secretary Harold Biddiex, 2225 S Street, Lincoln, Nebraska
47 BETA GAMMA—Virginia State College, Ettrick, Va.; President, Reuben K Davis; Secretarv, Arthur E Young
48 BETA DELTA—State College Orangeburg S C: President Roland J Geiger
49 BETA EPSILON—Agricultural and Technical College, Greensboro, North Carolina; President, Clinton Etheridge; Secretary, Duncan Williams, A & T College
50 BETA ZETA—Samuel Huston College, Austin Texas: President Maceo D Pembroke; Secretary, Weldon K Groves Samuel Huston College, Austin Texas
51 BETA ETA—Southern Illinois Teachers College, Carbondale 111. President, Charle<s E Jones, 211 N Wall; Secretary Gaffney Tavlor, Colp Illinois
52 BETA THETA—Blueneld State Teachers College President William H Nicholson; Secretary .Silas E Craft State Teachers College
53 BETA IOTA—Western State Teachers College Kalamazoo Michigan; INACTIVE
54 BETA KAPPA—Langston University, Langston, Oklahoma; President, George Pearson; Secretary, Loyal Rucker
55 BETA MU—Kentucky State College, Frankfort, Ky.; President Arthur Walter; Secretary, Robert L Clardy
56 BETA NU—Florida A & M College, Tallahassee, Florida; President, Oliver H Jones; Secretary, James M Young
AUGUST 390 Vz Beale Avenue, Memphis, Term.
EDITOR-IN-CHIEF
LEWIS O SWINGLER
3901/2 Beale Avenue Memphis, Tennessee
ASSISTANT EDITORS
HUGH M GLOSTER
Morehouse College Atlanta, Georgia
BURT A MAYBERRY 2446 Harrison Kansas City, Mo
MILTON S J WRIGHT Wilberforce University Wilberforce, Ohio
WILLIAM H GRAY, JR Florida Normal St Augustine, Florida WHO'S
GEORGE B KELLEY Troy, New York HISTORY
JAMES B. BROWNING Miners Teachers College Ga Ave at Euclid and Fairmont, N W Washington, D C
FRAT
DR O WILSON WINTERS 28 Curren Arcade Norristown, Pa
Please
ART EDITORS
JAMES D. PARKS
Lincoln University Jefferson City, Mo
DOWDAL H. DAVIS, JR. 2711 E 21st Street Kansas City, Missouri
CONTRIBUTING EDITORS
KERMIT J HALL Bluefield State College Bluefield, West Virginia
FRANK L. STANLEY, JR. 619 W Walnut Street Louisville, Kentucky
PVT A J LEWIS, II 50th Inf Tr Bn., Co "A" Camp Croft, South Carolina
REID E. JACKSON Southern University Scotlandville, La
SIDNEY A JONES, JR 5341Maryland Chicago, Illinois
J EDWARD COTTON 390 V2 Beale Avenue Memphis, Tennessee
ADVERTISING
LEWIS O SWINGLER 390 Vi Beale Avenue Memphis, Tennessee
JOHN FLEMING
Third-Vice-President
Brother Fleming as he appeared in civilian life See front cover
By PFC JOHN WYCLIFFE FLEMING
All of us know that the present crisis has far more implications than the surface indicates I believe with many others, that we will be in this war a long time before final victory I also believe that there will be far more social gains for all groups after this war than after any other war in world's history Some of these gains will just come, but the most deep-seated gains must come through effort, watchfulness and participation However difficult the injustice we receive, we must all go out for the principles for which our country stands, and back this war to final victory and a just
peace We must participate, we must be and remain a vital part of this crisis so that our voice will become stronger and stronger Then, too, we must not wait for the victory to state our cause, we must do it now Brother Logan so definitely stated our job at the Louisville Convention and has been following through. Every chapter and every brother has a job First, to function as an organization; second, to keep continual contact with the National Offices; third, we in the services are making contributions in all capacities from privates to officers; those of us who are on
FRONT COVER
The front cover of this edition of the Sphinx presents Brother John Wycliffe Fleming, of Cincinnati, Ohio, Vice-President of the Midwestern Jurisdiction
This quiet, unassuming young num now a Private First Class with the 571st Ordnance Ammunition Co., Fort Sill, Oklahoma, has given practical
meaning to the Alpha ideals throughout his jurisdiction
During the past three years, th; Midwestern Region has gained in membership through initiation and reclamation under his leadership Brother Fleming has not sought the spotlight as he carried on the activities of his office. Rather lie has preferred to counsel with Alpha brothers
the home front must make contributions there That responsibility includes setting the stage for a true and just peace, including the principles for which we believe we are all fight;ng,. i .'t*i i nave no regrets at being in the fight on this end. I shall give my all here, as I did in civilian life, but shall expect to return and find that my Brothers and friends have given theirs and have kept up their end of the fight. I know that we with your backing shall achieve victory here, and feel that victory shall be ours at home
in the quieter atmosphere conducive to a more lasting fellowship One needs only to turn to Brother Fleming's own chapter, Alpha Alpha, of which he also headed as president, for testimonial to this fact Alpha Alpha (bapter in Cincinnati has been consistent in maintaining a large and active membership
Born second in family of eight children at Buford, S C, January IS, 1910, Brother Fleming moved to Cincinnati with his family during the Turn to page 5
By DR REID E JACKSON, Editorial Writer
THE present juncture in the normal state of affairs, more or less precipitated by the second World War, provides somewhat a tardy excuse for taking inventory of the Negro separate school True it is that twice, within the decade, THE JOURNAL OP NEGRO EDUCATION, has endeavored to assess the progress and status of education for the Negro, within the United States. Such academic treatises, naturally, have failed of coming to the attention of the mass of Negroes who squirm—sometimes hopelessly—under the impress of a segregated system of education "Quo Vadis?" (Whither Gfoest Thou?) is an interrogation which can well be posed, as to the education of the Negro. How, then, can we answer this question?
Marjorie MeKenzie, a discerningly intelligent columnist for the Pittsburgh Courier, has recently penned a plea for a more realistic approach in the curriculum of the Negro school, which coincides with the views that your present writer has expressed in more formal articles, from time to time In a word, this point of view has designated the development of workable techniques necessary to the fuller integration of the Negro into American Society—a minority-group strategy, if you please— as the fundamental and pressing task of education for the Negro, whatever the category! We must realize, though, that any aim, abstracted from the lulling and false security of academic rigamarole—even without invading the delicate area of Negro-White relationships—is obstructed by inhospitable reaction Hostile reception, however, is not raison d'etre for eschewing a rigorous and persistent effort at achieving a desired goal It should become evident, even to the untutored, that any human activity should be motivated by a guiding purpose. To say that education for the Negro lacks a purpose would be somewhat mistaken; more properly, we should declare that education for the Negro has been confused by a conflict' in purpose and ideology Inwardly, though, those directly responsible for the stewardship of the Negro separate school have known that the foundation of education for the Negro should be laid upon a cornerstone of the inherent worth and functional stature of the individual man Unfortunately, this idea has been rendered innocuous by the straddling shadow of James Crow which, mockingly angular and sinister, has fashioned a weblike philosophy of inferior status. Caught midway between these contrary poles of opinion, the weary administrator, as well as teacher, is slowly and irresistibly brought from a welter of confused values to a state of conformity In substance, then, an educational philosophy is subtly—sometimes openly—foisted upon the Negro and his educational scheme
True it is that the education of the Negro is financed, to large extent, by the dominant group; but such funds, usually do not approach a largess Be this as it may, it does not necessarily follow that the donors of education should inevitably define the entire purpose of education for the group benefited. This is just another way of saying that an educable group could, at least, propose a desired aim for its own educative process! Strange as it may seem, Negro teachers as a body politic have no1 considered greatly the direction which their educational efforts should take. And this is said, in face of the fad thai innumerable state teachers associations and even a national teachers organization meet faithfully year in and year out Por what do they meet, you may ask? So, do I! Cognizance is taken of the current survey of selected secondary schools, under the auspices of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools for Negroes I am willing to wager, though, that if and when findings are made available to all schools, they will be promptly ignored The point I am trying to make is that, in order for all schools to be imbued with a need for educational reform, all schools should be involved in some pertinent educational experimentation I .Most schools, some may argue, are not bothered about gearing their work to constantly-changing educational needs; and, these critics may not be far from wrong! Let us take, as an example, typical statements of objectives for Negro Colleges Generally speaking, these statements fall into three categories: (1) to prepare teachers for the state; (2) to train Christian men and women; and (3) to educate the individual for useful life ill his community Just what this involves and how it is to be accomplished is usually left untold Moreoever, these objectives invariably remain ritualistic and verbalities Beyond a doubt, if the Negro is to affect his own salvation, he must be quite clear as to the purposes which must undergird his educational ventures Such purposes, moreover, cannot be left to fortuitous circumstances The fundamental task, then, which confronts those, engaged in the education of 1 lie Negro, is to formulate a thorough-going and agressivc philosophy upon which all are immediately agreed and towards which all will persistently work Any philosophy, perforce, must seek now towards the resolution, through the most intelligent means, of the Negro's disfavored position in our present society
Once clarity in a functional purpose for the education of the Negro is achieved, the curriculum of the Negro separate school could better be scrutinized All too often, Negro schools have prosecuted a "scissors and paste" curriculum revision amounting, in the end, to the addition of courses wholly
unrelated to the total purpose of the institution For some reason or other, too, a majority of the Negro schools either have not heard tell of or else have disavowed knowledge of the prevailing conception of an educational curriculum To them, a curriculum is yet a sequential arrangement of factual subject matter leading towards a predetermined goal of life vocation rather than a series of personal and group experiences, deriving from everyday needs and demanding a solution consistent with the development of the individual's maximum capabilities in adjusting to himself and to his environment Educational jargon, you may be saying; but, translated into common language, it still means an actual exercise of one's intelligence and ability in resolving immediate and pressing problems of living, through the use of appropriate materials of knowledge and on the basis of scientific intelligence and methodology
What, then, are the pressing problems of the Negro—child, adolescent and adult alike? We all know them, such as: (1) political disfranchisement; C2) job prejudices; (3) civil discrimination; (4) sadistic lynching; (5) inadequate educational opportunities; (6) low economic status; (7) social insecurity; (8) blind justice—just to mention a few. The curriculum of the Negro school must be rooted in these areas of human relationship rather than projected upon a slavish memorization of discrete facts, formulae, and fads This should not be misconstrued as a plea for lowered standards in the education of the Negro. If anything, standards of learning and material should be rigid Just like the "kid" brother, the Negro separate school must emancipate itself from the irksome practice of wearing "big" brother's clothes cut down to fit him In short, the Negro school must develop a program consonant with its own peculiar purposes and needs! Techniques for acquiring the ballot; safeguards for preventing lynching orgies; education for specific technological jobs; procedures for securing promised civil liberties—among others—should become the bill of fare in Negro schools. And, symbolism and memoriter methods, we reiterate, must be displaced with functional activity, in these areas
Mention should be made of the leadership for our educational institutions Scientific studies are proving that everyone can not be a leader. Our job, then, is to see that the true leaders assume the helm of our schools Self-appointed leaders, along with those of compromising ilk, must be supplanted! While it is to be conceded that some of our present leaders are well-trained for their posts, one cannot be so sure whether that priceless ingredient of courage is a forte with them Too often is it that our leaders "back down'' from a position when the going becomes exceedingly tough. And, many times. the mass which is supporting them is not even aware of this patronizing renegation Again, this writer insists that the Negro school should cull out its potential leaders (not preachers, teachers, lawyers, and doctors) who will not veer one iota from their chosen path of duty and service to the cause of the
improved status for the Negro in American society. Summarily, then, the Negro separate school should both train intelligently agressive leaders and possess intelligently aggressive leadership
Even as we speak of educational statesmanship, we must not omit the teacher. Why is it that the teaching profession is the burial ground for all other vocational aspirations? The complaint need not be detailed here! Suffice it to say that teaching is literally a stepping-stone to marriage or a more lucrative career. The cause, of course, is not far to find. The pay for teaching services—particularly Negro—is dirt cheap! Small wonder, then, is it that the turnover in Negro teaching personnel is alarmingly great But, do teacher salaries have to remain mere pittances? The National Association for Advancement of Colored People is now posing a convincing "No!" to this question. And, while on this subject, allow this digression! Negro college teachers should awaken from their lethargy, somewhat as public-school teachers are presently doing, and consolidate their efforts towards a more adequate salary schedule. As matters go now, it will be much more profitable to teach in public schools than in colleges—not that the work on the work of the college level is more important!
By any token, though, it is not at all desirable that there would be hardly more than a fifty-dollar range between the highest and the lowest sal aries paid teachers in the Negro Colleges. Reduced to dollars and cents, this does not serve as much incentive for continued professional education and procurement of the penultimate degree In fact, many Negro college teachers now scoff at the idea of working toward the Pli D degree They say, and rightly so, that there is a diminishing economic return, in their pursuit of the degree (Right here, let me clear myself by saying that I do not intend to invest the Ph D degree with any magical halo which presupposes prestige and satisfactory accomplishment For, indeed, the man must make the degree and not the degree make the man).
Similar statements could be made in regard to teaching rank and research All this points to the fact that teaching should truly be made a profession rather than a stop-gap This is a challenge for the entire profession—Negro and White alike— which seems to obtain, in somewhat greater degree, for the Negro teacher The solution for this problem rests with the teacher! To begin with, teacher-training institutions should sort out those who become candidates for a teaching position. Everyone can't be a teacher, simply because of "a love for children". There should be a rigorous selection of teachers, based on more comprehensive criteria of background and personality; and both the institution and the public should demand this! Space precludes mention of other aspects, in the teaching job, which could be upgraded; primary among these would be the attitude of the Negro teacher Perfunctory regard of the teaching responsibilities
Turn to page 30
By DR RAYFORD W LOGAN General President
To All Brothers:
In constant consultation and cooperation with the Director of our Educational Activities, Brother H. Councill Trenholm, I have continued to devote my major efforts to the focusing of attention upon the Negro and the Postwar Society Our General Secretary, Brother Joseph H B Evans, and our General Counsel, Brother Belford V Lawson, Jr., have particularly shared in these consultations and cooperation, and all the other general officers have given a significant impetus to this particular phase of our educational activities Brother Swingler has encoui contributors to the Editorial Page to express their views on this vitally important subject
Many chapters have invited me to address public gatherings Unfortunately, I have not been able to accept all the invitations These public meetings at periods other than our special Education Week indicate that our chapters are not only talking about a yearround campaign, but are actually carrying out the idea
I have also addressed many gatherings other than those sponsored byour chapters. Among them have been the First Anniversary of the Byrne Street II S O Club in Petersburg, Virginia; the Emblem Club in Philadelphia; the Association of Deans and Registrars and the Student Body at Fisk ; the Members of the Honor Society of Hampton ; the Virginia State Teacher? Association; the Y M C A Forums in Detroit and Voungstown Addresses have been published in the Virginia State Tea.chers Bulletin The address at Fisk will shortly be published
I have been appointed chairman of a committee of the Association of Colleges and Secondary Schools to focus attention on the Negro and the PostWar Problems On behalf of this Association and of the Legislative Committee (the other two members of which are Brothers Howard H Long and Henry Lake Dickason) of the American Teachers Association I appeared before the Senate Committee on Education and Labor to urge the passage of Senate Bill 637 The passage of this bill which would provide up to $300,000,000 of Federal Funds annually for the support of public education in primary and secondary schools
DR RAYFORD W LOGAN General President
should, we believe, constitute one of our specific objectives I earnestly urge all Brothers to make a careful study of this epoch-making bill.
This is only a partial account of my own activities I have also visited many chapters and plan to visit many others Since this number is especially devoted to Education, however 1 shall mention only one matter of vital importance to our internal operations
As a result of numerous inquiries and petitions, T asked our General Secretary to poll the Executive Council on this question:
"Do you favor suspending Article VI, Section If of the Constitution for the "duration" so as to permit the initiation of men who have completed fifteen CIS) semester hours work or the equivalent?"
The vote thus far received has been unanimously in the affirmative This communication will serve then as official notice that chapters may initiate candidates who have completed fifteen semester hours' work or the equivalent if the regulations of the college or university also permit.
I cannot close without a renewed greeting to our Brothers with the armed forces and the reiteration of our pledge to continue the fight for democracy on the home front while they are defending it both at home and abroad
From page 2 spring of 1916 He attended the Douglas Elementary School, graduating with honors; and Withrow High School where he also excelled in scholarship and athletics as high jumper, sprinter and broad jumper
From the University of Cincinnati, Brother Fleming graduated with the B A degree in 1935, and the following year with the 11 E degree in Chemistry He was a three-letter man and winner of honor, in athletics on the track at Cincinnati University
While attendi g College, Brother Fleming worked at Stowe Branch of the Cincinnati Public Library and the Ninth Street Y M C A He also received a scholarship award from Alpha Phi Alpha in 1933 to Ielp further his education Upon finishing bis college work, Brother Fleming received a Civil Service appointment as Social Interviewer, and after eight months in this field resigned to return to school for graduate work
He has worked as Assistant Boys Work Secretary and Physical Education Director, Ninth Street Y M C A., Business Manager and Assistant Camp Director during the camping season, taught in the night school of his city, and finally as teacher at Douglass Junior High School of the Cincinnati Public School System The latter position he held until his induction March 1st of this year
Fraternally, Brother Fleming has been active since his initiation by Alpha Alpha Chapter in 1931 He served as registrar at the Cincinnati Convention in 1931 chapter secretary, 19321934, Association Editor of the Sphinx 1935-1937 Financial Secretary 1937-1939, and in 1940 the same year he became Midwestern VicePresident during the Kansas City TriParte Convention, was elected president of his chapter He held both positions until the date of his entry into the armed service Brother Fleming is proud of his record of having never been unfinancial with the General Organization since he first saw the light
In civic life, he has held numerous positions, including that of advisor to the Quadres Society, Advisory Committeeman for Selective Service Draft Board 8, Air Raid Warde-n and Instructor in Civilian Defense, Secretary pf the Tenant Council of Laurel Turn to page 3\
Three story structure located at 406-408 Charlotte Avenue (formerly Cedar Street), Nashville, Tennessee, which was acquired by the Alpha Corporation, Incorporated in Tennessee The membership is made up of members of four local Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternities here in this capital city of the Volunteer State They took title to the property in April 1942 The property is insured, is being rented out and this corporation lias met all the payments and are one year ahead in their obligations on insurance, taxes and purchase price payments
EDITOR'S NOTE
.Brother Hushes A Robinson has contributed mans inspirational articles to the Sphinx Magazine during the past twelve years After a splendid record with the 77th Coast Artillery, (See May, 1941 Sphinx) Brother Robinson, who presently holds rank of Captain, sailed with one of the first contingent of Negro soldiers assigned to overseas duties His study, personal observations, and work among soldiers, coupled with a fine educational background, add the weight of authority to his writings
By CHAPLAIN ROBINSON
THE TIME may soon arrive when we may be called upon for greater sacrifices than those we are now asked to make If that time should arrive, I have no doubt that every citizen will stand ready to discharge his duties wherever he may be I wish to review some of the background and history of the "Valley of the Nile." I can think of no section of the entire world that made greater contributions towards ancient civilization American soldiers have been engaged in battle in that theater of operations It is reasonable to believe that some may have lost their lives It is for this reason that I
call attention to the "Middle East" with special reference to Egypt
When the battle of 1942 swept into Egypt it stirred the dust of centuries The Eastern section of the Mediterranean Sea, this land of rivers and flood plains, of deserts and oases, this part of the coast, the entire distance from the site of Carthage to the site of Tyre, was a melting pot thousands of years before the discovery of America. Here Western oars made their first appearance; here Western sails first took to the sea The blue inland sea, then as now, casts its waves upon all the coasts, and tempted ancient explorers Island by island, cape by cape, they sailed westward to the Pillars of Hercules,
northward to Norway and Iceland, the northermost part of the habitable world; eastward and southward, by a canal built thirty centuries ago, down the coast of Africa, into the Indian Ocean, and to the kingdom of India and China, and what has since been called the isles of spice
By land and sea conqueror after conqueror passed over the blue waves of the Mediterranean, and each left a mark that he hoped would never be erased Behind a single strip of territory on the beach a dozen great warriors passed, made history and went on The names can still be seen in print, some in Assyrian, some in Latin, some in French, and some in English; but where are those ancient heroes now? In Egypt the pyramid builders endeavored to immortalize themselves This they did, but modern students in the class rooms of today read about Rameses, but think of such a man as only a mummy We forget the deeds of such outstanding characters
Let us remember that the blood and sweat of these lands, and the waters of the Nile and of the Jordan, gave birth to geographers, mathematicians, astronomers, poets, architects, historians, and even physicians Following in the footsteps of these conquerors, these men of light made their contributions to ancient civilization Out of these valleys and beaches, down from those hills and mountains, out of the deserts, enlightenment spread, and men of learning and understanding advanced and improved upon ancient ideas and customs, and brought about new inventions from century to century There was heard the voices of preachers and prophets, and then the words of scholars, and then came the songs of the people
In the "Middle East" there were master nations but no master races The human richness of this region was the result of the mingling of many different strains of human blood
The Eastern Mediterranean has this record: that from prehistoric times it possessed no absolutely pure breed • Behind the Arabs and the Egyptians of the present are the Egyptians of thousands of years spent, the Phoenicians, the Assyrians. The Babylonians, and many branches of the Greek and other races not remembered After many centuries the torch of civilization passed elsewhere to other seas of the thundering surf and majestic Turn to page 8
1 When flags of states or cities or pennant of societies are flown on the same halyard with the flag of the United States of America, the latter should always be at the peak When flown from adjacent staffs the flag of the United States should be hoisted first and lowered last
2 When displayed with another flag against a wall from crossed staffs, the Flag of the United States should be on the right (the flag's own right), and its staff should be in front of the staff of the other flag.
3 When used on a speaker's platform, whether indoors or out the flag should never be reduced to the role of a mere decoration by being tied into knots or draped over the stand For this purpose bunting should be used The flag, if displayed, should be cither on a staff or secured to the wall or back Curtain behind the speaker with the union to the flag's right
4 When flags of two or more nations are displayed together they should be flown from separate staffs of the same height and the flags should be of approximately equal size
5 When the flag is displayed in a manner other than by being flown from a staff, it should be displayed Hat, whether indoors or out When displayed either horizontally or vertically against a wall, the union should be uppermost and to the flag's own right, that is to the observer's left
6 Whenever a number of flags of states or cities or pennants of societies are to be arranged in a group and displayed from staffs with the flag of the United States the latter should he placed at the center of that group and on a staff slightly higher than any of the others
7 When the flag is displayed in the body of the church, it should be from a staff placed in the position of honor at the congregation's right as they face the clergyman The service flag, the state flag or other flag should be at the left of the congregation If in the chancel or on the platform, the flag of the United States should he placed on the clergyman's right as he faces the congregation and the other flags at his left
8 When the flag is displayed from a staff projecting horizontally or at an angle from the window sill, balcony or front of a building, the union of the flag should go to the
peak of the staff (unless the Hag is to he displayed at half-staff)
Q Whenever the flag of the
United States is carried in a procession in company with other flags, it should occupy a position in front of the center of the line of flags or on the right of the marching line.
Continued iron
tides With its great contributions made to ancie/nt civilization, the progress and advancement of the Nile Valley were temporarily retarded Now with the Allied Nations facing their enemies in the "MiddleEast," the history of Egypt is again revived, or again brought to light We still remember the Shepherd Kings who galloped into the merchant cities of ancient Egypt; we have not forgotten Napoleon, a great General, who addressed his troops in the shadow of the Pyramids We have still the record of Allenby, a humble man who entered Jerusalem on foot Western Europe, a section which drew so much light from the candles of the Near Eastern science, philosophy and religion, now finds itself in fear of darkness radiating from the ghost of the German Dictator It is this darkness, like that during the time of Moses, that hovers over the land of Egypt. it lias already darkened the Acropolis and Mount Olympus of historic Greece, and the shadow from this same ghost is now seen on route to the Holy City Urder this same fear the people of the Middle East are afraid that the half-gods may again return, and bring with them chaos, without form and void of an understanding
Whatever may be said about the inhabitants of the "Middle East," the spirit of man in that area has not been exhausted Such a spirit is not to be made darkened for any indefinite period of time It appears that the defenders of the Allied Nations, including our American soldiers, are assigned the important task of saving the contributions of many generations in the "Middle East", and at the same time making more secure our shipping through the Suez Canal, and over the blue waves of the Mediterranean Sea
These sea routes are essential and necessary for our merchant marines and our great Navy, Such a route must be held in the hands of the Allied Nations even at the price of blood Without them we cannot successfully carry much needed supplies and other cargoes to
I page 7
those closer to the theater of operations than we ourselves
Besides the oil and its strategic location around the Mediterranean Sea, the "Middle East" has an incredible rich past as I have already stated Out of some six thousand years of written history, we can say that more than one-half of this period of history was made in this part of the world Religions were cradled in this section; Jewish, Christian, Mohammedan and Zorastrain, allstarted in this region The ancient cultures of Mesopotamia, Egypt and Persia, even though reduced to mounds, are the results of by-gone civilizations that once thrived in the area around the Mediterranean World The archeologists have discovered many relics which have added to our knowledge of the past, and which have contributed much to Western culture Through Crete, through Greece and through Rome, the people of these ancient civilizations gave us the calendar, the alphabet, paper, ink, mathematics, medicine and architecture History tells us that we also received from the same people the checkers, ten-pins, income taxes, dice, liquor and beer The "Middle East" is the home of a stream of endless conquerors The Pharaohs trailed their chariots across the dusty Sinai and fought the ancient kings of lower Asia The Greeks came later, and were followed by the Romans Then came the Moslems and later the Crusaders In Egypt Napoleon stood beneath the Pyramids and observed that forty centuries were looking down upon him With all of this history, no nation has been more desirous to gain control of this territory than the German Dictator The Allies are equally determined that such a glorious heritage shall not fall into enemy hands
Those of our American soldiers who are not assigned to the task of defending territory under fire should consider themselves fortunate. They should be more willing to contribute in every conceivable manner to the jobs to which they have been assigned
By DR Wm H GRAY, Jr
EDITOR'S NOTE: An address delivered on the Wings Over Jordan program, CBS, by Brother Dr Wm H Gray, Jr. president of Florida Normal and Industrial Institute, St Augustine, Florida Brother Gray is a Contributing Editor of the Sphinx, and recen'ly accepted the invitation of President Rayford W Logan to serve as Regional Director in the Southern Jurisdiction.
The crisis of today presents a challenging demand for basic changes in the fundamental concepts underlying our present educational program Not only the tenets and philosophies of education are affected but we are faced with the necessity—yea the demand—of propelling our educational dogmas upon a foundation of Christian relationships
Today's struggles and conflicts have wrought changes in our entire social order In spite of drastic limitations on school programs, there are manv who look with optimism to the future Were not the words liberty, equalitv and fraternity, symbols of democracy nurtured in the bloody cradle of the French Revolution?
The circumstances of the hour arc establishing new values in educational thinking Emphasis is being shifted to the importance of informal, self-experienced training as contrasted to vicarious learning The educational programs which are by-produts of present military organizations suggest spring-boards for tomorrows' schools Education through travel is being exploited in mobilizing troops and workers The social and moral discipline of army life should prove of inestimable value in developing behavior patterns and establishing cultural controls
Of especial concern to Negroes are trends in areas of thrift, health and illiteracy The army program of compulsory insurance, systematically providing for dependents, and required saving on the part of enlistees and civilians, will achieve a desirable end in teaching untold lessons of thrift
"Life comes frequently to Negroes and death comes both soon and late." Statistics reveal that there are three times as many deaths per 100,000 Negroes as whites One must acknowledge the timeliness of the current movements developing consciousness among people for healthful living and personal hygiene
Today the problem of illiteracy is being met far more squarely than was the practice in normal civilian life
Aside from these factors are the more significant philosophical changes taking place in educational thinking and planning Many see in this war the end of local support and control of education The recent Vocational Training for Defense Workers Act of 1940 points unmistakably in this direction This Act implies a revolutionary trend towards technical training An unique example of the scope of this program is seen at Florida Normal and Industrial Institute, in historic St Augustine, where the Department of Vocational Education of Florida, has established a War Production Training center for Negroes offering free courses in boat-building, foundry and forging, sheet metal work, electricity, and welding at a cost of over $100,000.00 This vocational emphasis suggests the future importance of terminal education Increasing demands for youths in industry reveal a need for lowering the minimum age of child labor laws and corresponding:!; the age limit for the completion of public education
The issues of today imply a demand for a new scale of values based on broad social understandings Democracy implies a freedom of action that military discipline denies We must not lose sight of those democratic tenets so basic to our well-being The challenge of the day is the maintenance of a balance in our educational program between the militaristic requirements and social and spiritual needs Social science for tomorrow's democracy must become concrete and practical It must teach appreciation for the rule of the majority: and yet, at the same time enable one to recognize the right of the minority And that minority, be it political or racial, has a right to use every available technique to work constructively toward changing undesirable conditions
Consistent and wholesome solutions to racial difficulties may be met by a program of interpretative education to offset designing exploiters of prejudice of both races who misinterpret and distort facts for political advancement or personal aggrandizement Prejudice is a by-product of ignorance and invariably points to a need for education
This social philosophy will not be
effective if it is to be void of an intelligent interpretation of Christian principles as a basis for all social action The social engineers of the ages have been guided by the judicious philosophy of Christianity, based upon the ideal of the BrotherContinued on page 19 •*
DR THOMAS A LANDER charter member of Beta Rho Lambda Chapter, Youngstown, Ohio, is one of the fine reasons Alpha Phi Alpha has solid foundation 'in the great State of Ohio Having made many outstanding accomplishments in the medical field, Brother Lander still keeps close to his Fraternity
He received his scholastic training at Lincoln University, Pa., and later went to Howard University, Washington, D C,whereliegraduated in Medicine His interneship was completed at Mercer Hospital Philadelphia, but Brother Lander, in 1924, actually launched his life's work in Youngstown
His record in Youngstown has been unusual He has a large, lucrative practice one of the best in the city
Brother Lander is a member of the Mahoning County Medical Society, Ohio State National Society, American Medical Association, member of the staff of Mahoning County Tuberculosis Hospital, and the adjunct staff of the Youngstown City Hospital He recently built and opened his own private hospital
His active connection with the Youngstown N A A C P. the Y M C A. Butler Memorial Presbyterian Church, rounds out a full schedule of community activities Alpha brothers everywhere join Beta Rho Lambda in its salute to Brother Lander
SnMPWHPB P IW ov,, , .„ „ u „ ^„ ,
of Public Relations U S War Dept. Wash. D C York N V ^ n I ENGLAND-Negro graduates of Officer Candidate School in England (Left to right) Samuel L Coleman New York, N Y, William H Cox, Brooklyn, N Y.; Richard W Davis, Washington, D C; William F Duckery, Philadelphia Pa W HianVT Dyson New York, N Y, Lestor W Gordon, Brooklyn, N Y.; Lucius Gibson, Americus, Ga.; Earnest J Harris, N ptune N J WiUiat' We s W I I • GZ;n &IlWP ° Pe ' C0lUmbUS ' ° hi0 ; JamC S PRl'X* BIoOMbui,, Pa, Robert L Terrell, Houston Tex RicS T Wells, Washmgton, D C, Kenneth E Wilson, Brooklyn, N Y. These Officers have received their commissions as second ifeutenants.' Maj General Russell P Hartle during the graduation ceremonies, told these men-— „° a ar e a credi t t 0 tha t Sreat section of our Nation which is making an ever-increasing contribution to the war."
PARIS, Tenn.—Members of the 318th 319th, 320th and 321st Battalions at Camp Tyson, the Barrage Balloon Training Center for the Army, have the distinction of being the first Negro soldiers to serve in this new arm of the Anti-Aircraft Command. These four Battalions activated last December, are now completing their course in handling, operating and maneuvering these "Sentinels of the Skies."
The first contingent of troops to arrive at Camp Tyson was a carefully selected group that included a large number of men who had attended the Enlisted Division of the Barrage Balloon School and upon graduation formed the training cadre for the four Battalions named above As non-commissioned officers, they helped in giving basic training course and the balloon training course to the troops arriving from reception centers to fill up the units Camp Tyson was expanded, and an entire new area near the main gate was constructed for their balloon sites and headquarters
The four battalions have both white
and Negro officers at present The most recent graduating classes in the Officer's Division of the Barrage Balloon School, as we'll as the present class, have included a number of Negro lieutenants and captains These four battalions have run the gamut of balloon training They have built a majority of (he balloon beds used by them, installed their own balloons at the various sites, laid their own communications systems, and handled their own headquarters problems
The commanding officers of the units are: Lieutenant Colonel Walter A Johnson, 321st Bn.; Lieutenant Colonel Leon J Reed 320th Bn.; Major Wilford E H Yoehl 310th Bn.; and Lieutenant Colonel Charles F. McManus, 318th Bn.; all of the Coast Artillery Under their guidance these battalions have'won the praise of the entire camps The men have proven themselves good soldiers; they march well, they drill and work hard, and what is more important their enthusiasm is unbounded, All arc eager to learn
The Barrage Balloon isan innovation of the last war ami has been highly developed since then It has been found to be the best defense yet devised against dive-bombing and low altitude strafing attacks The present type of barrage balloon was first used by England following study and experimentation with the old Observation Ballon of that war A Balloon Barrage's effectiveness is based on the number of planes it keeps from coming into a protected area, rather than the number of planes it brings down Many pilots fear them more than antiaircraft fire.
The Barrage Balloon Training Center at Gamp Tyson is the only training center of its kind in the Army and is turning out Barrage Balloon Battalions to protect vital American installations This western corner of Tennessee was chosen for the site of Camp Tyson because it was off main air-line routes and because of its variable weather conditions The training program for tactical units is in charge of Brigadier General John B, Maynard, with Lieutenant Colonel William H Kendall, Coast Artillery, as Plans and Training Officers,
Brother George R Currie is now a Second Lieutenant in Aviation Ordinance with the 99th Fighters Squadron, Tuskegee, Ala His position is unique in that he had served with the Squadron as an enlisted man for a year and two months.
Brother Currie hails from Los Angeles, whore lie attended University of California L A He was initiated by Alpha Delta
Brother Henry S C Person, now with Co 149th B M. Regt, Fort Bliss, Texas, reports that his outfit is well organized, and adds:
"The company I represent has already been given the honor of being one of the best in the camp which I believe is greatly due to the high degree of intelligence, personal character and willingness to cooperate among the men."
He was inducted November 5, 1942, at Fort Bragg, North Carolina
Brother Chester E Williams, Gamma Chapter, (1938) was stationed at Camp Edwards, Mass., Co A-385th
Eng Bn., according to the last communication received from him He stated that there were four Alpha brothers with the 385th Engineers at the time, and they all were eager to keep in touch with the Fraternity Brother Williams is particularly anxious that members of Gamma Chapter, Virginia Union University, write him
Cpl Leo L Woody, Co "C" 263rd QM BN A P Q., No 668 care of Postmaster, New York, N Y., is serving overseas His communication to Secretary Evans stated in part:
"Just a line to 'say that I arrived safely, and am feeling O K I suppose that you received my last letter. I would be very interested to hear from you to hear the latest news."
Brother Woody and S Sgt Windsor Williams, before sailing,took the necessary steps to become re-instated into the Fraternitv What loyalty! * * *
Lt Edward A Tompkins, an officer in the 598th Ordnance Ammunition Company, Camp Breckenridge, Ky., w-.s accidentally killed at Camp Breckenridge, the Sphinx learned through an article appearing in the Kansas City Call No details of his
Continued on page 29
Troops in the South Pacific train for any eventuality A major part of their training consists of bayonet exercise This private, first class, in the South Pacific, practices the head blow with the butt of the rifle
Approximately one hundred race officers, hardened by months of military training, including the rigorous Officers Candidate Course which led to their commissions, are now stationed at Barrage Balloon Training Center, Camp Tyson, Tenn Among this fine group of service men is Lt Wendell Peters, who hails from Denver, Colorado.
Lt Peters is a native of Colorado and until he entered the service had never been in the deep South He was commissioned at Camp Davis, \ C, and later transferred to Camp Tyson He was initiated into Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity by Alpha Iota Chapter during his college days at Denver University
Situated near Paris, Tenn., in the northern section of the Volunteer State Camp Tyson is offering these young colored officers special training in balloon manipulations, and an opportunity to study weather conditions. •
Brother Harry Parks, Jr., of Dayton, Ohio, following completion of preliminary training for a position with Pabst Company, has been employed by the firm as market research expert for the Negro Division under William B Graham, national representative of Pabst
Brother Parks, prior to assuming his present duties with Pabst, was director of the NYA training center of the War Manpower Commission at Wilberforce University in Xcnia, O He is one of the younger brothers who has become closely identified with the conventional life of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity
By JOHN CHAMBERLAIN,
EDITOR'S NOTES:—The author of this article served as Editor of Fortune Magazine, 1928-36, Assistant Editor, New York Times Book Review, 1928-33, Book Editor, Scribner's Magazine, 1936-38, Book Editor, Harper's Magazine, 1939 He holds numerous degrees; is a ranking Professor of Journalism at Columbia University, and Director of Bureau of Labor-Industrial Relations, Freedom House, New York
The drive for a labor "draft" continues If a National Service Act is really necessary, as it undoubtedly was in Great Britain after Dunkirk we should by all means have it But has any real attempt been made to get the most out of free labor in America? There are 13,000,000 Negroes in this country, many of whom are anxious to work Yet Negroes are still being turned away from factory doors
Look at some basic statistics In the population there are ten Negroes to ninety whites; in manufacturing there are seven Negroes to ninetythree whites In answer to a query sent out in January, 1042, to hundreds of industrialists with war contracts, fifty-one percent answered that they did not and would not employ Negroes Only twenty-five percent expressed a willingness to hire Negroes with no provisos or qualifications In the aircraft industries 37.659 out of 64,859 prospective jobs were closed to Negroes; in electrical machinery, 10.346 out of 20,792; in chemicals 5,561 of 8,083; in steel, 20,397 of 33,230 The shipyards were an exception to the general rule: in shipbuilding, out of 64,000 anticipated jobs, less than twenty-eight percent of them were declared closed to Negroes
These figures might argue that employers had had experience with Negroes and decided against them on grounds of efficiency Yet a survey conducted by the National Industrial Conference Board implies the opposite The National Industrial Conference Board polled 102 representative firms which employ colored labor Seventy companies said they rated Negroes and whites equal in ability, thirty-one declared in favor of whites, one answered that Negroes did better work than white men The production of Negroes and whites was rated as equal by eighty-five firms, twelve said that Negroes lagged
behind, five rated the Negroes as faster workers
During the First World War, Negroes came north in droves to work in the meat-packing, steel, agricultural machinery and automobile industries They did their work well After the war many of them were turned loose on the labor market Without visible means of support, many of them got an unjust reputation for loafing in the Twenties and the Thirties The memory of the depression period continues to prejudice many employers, who fear that Negroes "cause trouble." A!nd so, while the Middle West industrial triangle cries for labor, the Negroes languish A number of Chicago and Detroit employers vote against them Yet International Harvester and Henry Ford have gotten excellent work out of them The picture just doesn't make sense.
In Delaware, World War II defense boom quickly absorbed all the available local white labor Local unemployed Negroes, however, soon discovered that additional" white help was being sought in out-of-State areas Foundry jobs in Louisiana, North Carolina, Georgia, Illinois, Michigan and Connecticut were filled by combing the country for white labor when local Negroes might easily have been "upgraded" for the work
Out of twenty-four international unions, ten affiliated with the American Federation of Labor exclude Negroes from membership Even in the new industrial unions, which have no color bars, there have been instances of occasional refusals by white members to work alongside of Negroes
There is, in Washington, a Committee on Fair Employment Practices which exists to investigate complaints of discrimination The Committee is directly responsible to the President. While the Committee has no legal power to do anything about a case of discrimination, it has helped to clear the air But it struggles along on a small budget and a parttime staff It cannot stop Jim-Crowism
Prohably the ouestion of Negro discrimination will not be tackled head-on during the war. But if the emplovers of the United States fail to hire Negroes when and if they apply, they will be forced to use drafted labor all the sooner Theoretically a labor draft could fill the factories,
But let no employer who is making a good income believe that there won't be a cry to put him on colonel's pay if the drafted men in the shop are forced to work under military discipline, at the industrial equivalent of a private's pay If there is going to be compulsion and regimentation, it will have to be on the basis of equality of sacrifice Otherwise the American industrial machine will bog down in the inefficiency that always follows when men are sullen about their circumstances
Brother Chaplain (Captain) Chas Walker Thomas, on leave of absence from the faculty of West Virginia Siale College, at a recent wedding ceremony at St Mark's Episcopal church, Jackson, Miss., exchanged vows with Miss Johnie Mayme 'Childress, of Jackson and Meridian The bride is a dental hygfenist employed by the State of Mississippi
Brother Thomas, formerly associated with Beta Delta and Beta Iota Lambda Chapters, is now a member in absentia of Alpha Iota Lambda, Charleston, West Va„ and is regimental chaplain of an outfit in a western theatre of operation
The marriage of Pfe Jesse Leroy Williams, Fort Dix, N J., and member of Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter, Memphis, Tenn., to MTss Bernice Eleanor Walker, daughter of Mr Henry Walker, of Bolivar, Tenn., was announced by the bride's father this past March The wedding was solemnized, however, the previous June 7, 1942
In civilian life Brother Williams was identified with the U S Postal Service in Memphis, having been appointed after making one of the highest grades on record at the local post office during the Civil Service examination Faithful to the cause of Alpha Phi Alpha, Brother Williams served his chapter fully until the day of his departure He attended LeMoyne College and Wilberforce University
"THEY GIVE THEIR . — LIVES-YOU LEND ^£ K YOUR MONEY" BY M
Brothers of Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter, Memphis, Tenn., gave good account of themselves in the "Miss Victory Bond" contest sponsored in the Bluff City by the Memphis chapter of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Their candidate, Miss Mattalyn Coleman, junior at LeMoyiie College,won the coveted title, "Miss Victory", for having reported the largest sales of war bonds and stamps As first prize, Miss Coleman also received a $25.00 war bond
Accompanying picture shows President W J Hale of A & I State College, guest of honor at the "Miss Victory Ball",
shortly after crowning the war bond queen The prominent educator, before the coronation took place, purchased $1,000.00 worth of war bonds with votes they represented being equally divided among the eight contestants
Total sales during the month-long drive, held in February, came to $98,000 with Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter being responsible for approximately forty-five percent of this total Brothers A A Latting, Hollis F Price, James G King, Walter W Guy, Jr., and Lewis O Swingler served on the committee that steered the chapters plan for victory through
By BROTHER J B BROWNING History Editor
By an Act of Congress, March 3, 1863 Myrtilla Miner's school for Negro youths in the District of Columbia was incorporated into "The Institution for the Education of Colored Youths." Unfortunately Miss Miner did not long survive this governmental recognition She died December 17, 1864 at the age of forty-nine, one year after the school whose enrollment she had increased from a mere six to forty members was nationally recognized as an educational instituttion
The mantle of Miss Miner fell consecutively on Miss Martha Briggs, Miss Lucy Moton, Mr Eugene A Clark and Mr J A Turner June of this academic year will mark the end of the first ten years of the administration of President Eugene A. Clark as college president He is a man with rich experiences as a student and a teacher He was well trained in the local schools and in the best institutions of New England and New York and is widely respected for his high moral character and his leadership in religious activities. Moreover, throughout his career he has been most actively engrossed in the worthwhile activities of the community, and is known as a leader of men who prefer to consult, confer, confide, and guide, rather than command
Four landmarks of the Administration of President Clark stand out He has playeda leading partin bringing the college up to the standards of the Association of Teachers Colleges He has raised the tone of the assembly programs; modernized the extracurrical activities of the students and enriched them with Greek letter organizations; he has made the faculty meetings interesting and scholarly; sponsored regional conferences; secured government aid for students who would not otherwise have been able to attend college, and has secured the cooperation of the Alumni Association and the vigorous support of distinguished educators
In his relations with his teachers President Clark has fought vigorously and effectively for additions in all divisions of the College He has stimulated to an amazing extent the professional growth of the faculty; he has stood ready always to enable his
teachers to secure adequate equipment and he has repeatedly pointed out that the teachers be given equality of opportunity in examinations for higher classifications President Clark has been able to render invaluable service not only because he has earned the cooperation of the teachers under his immediate supervision, but also because the principals of local schools and their cooperating teachers have rendered noteworthyservices
In the third place the President's relations with the Board of Education have been characterized by close cooperation and high respect for the President as a professional adviser His soundness of character has made him an ideal budgeting, recording, and reporting officer and he is deeply admired for the decisions he has made in the selection, retention and promotion of teachers.
The Board of Education has done its part in a most encouraging way to make possible the realization of President Clark's dreams, and no less significant has been the leadership of Dr Frank Ballou and his eminently superior corps of assistants Assistant-Superintendents Wilkinson, Long, and Savoy also have united with President Clark in putting over numerous aspects of the college program
Finally, the conferences on Elementary, Secondary, and Junior High School instruction and other subjects have brought stimulation to the community; and the president has done a noble job of maintaining proper school-home relationships Many college sponsored plays, recitals, and athletic activities have increased the popularity of the school President Eugene A Clark has raised a framework on the foundation laid by the founders that has met the supreme test of soundness It survives
Brother Dr George Singleton, editor of the Christian Recorder, official publication of the African Methodist Episcopal Church, with headquarters in Philadelphia, Pa Brother Singleton served as History Editor of the Sphinx during the editorship of Brother Oscar Brown and Brother P Bernard Young He is noted as a writer, orator, teacher, and presently is one of the leading aspirants to the Bishopric of the A M E Church
Bro Glenn L Fowlkes, Kappa Chapter, Ohio State, now Staff Sergeant with
the 512th QM Truck Regiment, Headquarters Detachment, Camp Van Dorn, -Miss He was in Memphis on a ten-day furlough visiting his mother, Mrs Lucy <J Fowlkes, city teacher
Sergeant Fowlkes did his undergraduate work at Lincoln University Pa., and "crossed the burning sands" into Alphadom via Nu Chapter However, he had become affiliated with Kappa, Ohio State, while doing graduate studies at that institution He was called for military service from Ohio State. *
Brother William H Hale, Acting Registrar, Langston University, Oklahoma, made a brief stop by the office while returning from Nashville where he attended the Annual Conference of Registrars and Deans at Fisk University A sketch of Brother Hale's career appeared in the Pictorial Edition of the Sphinx, 1942 *
Brother Richard M Hughes, Company A 512th QM Tr Camp Dorn, Miss During his visit to the Sphinx Office Brother Hughes became reinstated and is now on the active list of the General Organization He was initiated by Nu Chapter, Lincoln University, Pa
Brother Drs Roscoe C Bryant, president Alpha Tau Lambda Chapter, and Warren N Bowser, also of Alpha Tau Lambda, Tulsa, Oklahoma, paused for a few minutes during their trip to Nashville, Term., and Tuskegee Institute for the annual John A Andrew Medical Clinic The Tulsa brothers were accompanied by Mrs Roscoe V Bryant, wife of Dr Bryant The Bryants are parents of Brother R C Bryant, Jr., Fisk graduate, and presently a medical student at Meharry Medical College * * *
Brother Charles Greene, of Atlanta, Ga., former Southern Vice President of Alpha Phi Alpha, and one of the officials of the Atlanta Life Insurance Co He's a member of Eta Lambda * * *
Brother Clifford E Minton, Urban League Secretary, Little Rock, Arkansas He represented the National Urban League during funeral rites for the Late Prof Lucien J Searcy, executive secretary of the Community Welfare League, Memphis, Tenn
Energetic and forward in his Urban League program in Little Rock, young Brother Minton is columnist for Arkansas' greatest daily, the Arkansas Democrat His daily column, THE NEGRO COMMUNITY, is widely read by both white and colored people of the Tri-State, and is having healthful effects in the promotion of inter-racial understanding * * *
Brother Captain Lee M C, Fort Meade, Maryland Brother Lee took a special medical course at the University of Tennessee College of Medicine provided by the U S Army Medical Corps While in Memphis, he was guest of Brother W W Gibson, science instructor at LeMoyne College, and a life-long friend of the Captain
Colston was born July 27, 1909 He has spent the greatest proportion of his life in the Smith except for graduate work at Columbia University, New York He did his undergraduate work it Morehouse College and post work for the Master's Degree at Atlanta University, holding the B S and M A Degrees from these institutions respectively His Master's thesis was "A Stud; of the Relationship Between Intelligent and Motor Learning Ability." (An experiment in educational psychology.)
Selection of Brother James A Colston, native Floridan, as president of Bethune-Cookman College, Uaytona Beach, Fla., adds another well known name to an already illustrious list of educational institutions headed by Alpha men in the field of educational administration
In the case of Brother Colston, not yet thirty-five, his election to the presidency of Bethune-Cuokman College carries with it a rare honor , an honor exceeded only by the responsibility it imposes as successor of the beloved founder of this great school, Dr Mary McLeod Bethunc
Dr Bethune, during her long years of service, at Bethune-Cookman College, and more recently as head of the Negro Division of the National Youth Administration, has exemplified an unshakable faith in the Negro youth That she has entrusted the future of • her institution to the guiding hand of youthful James A Colston testifies to this fact Even at the high tide of life when she could content herself with reflections upon one outstanding accomplishment after another, Dr Bethune continues to look toward the rising sun.
Yet Brother Colston not only has the vigor, optimistic outlook, and ambition of youth, but a rich background of experience and training that eminently prepares him for his present position He is also Director of Ballard School, a private institution situated at Macon, Georgia, and under sponsorship of American Missionary Association
A native of Quincy, Florida, Brother
In 1932, Brother Colston became an instructor at E P Johnson School, Atlanta, Ga., and after one year took over the principalship of Rigby Junior High School at Ormond, Fla His work at Ribgy gave him the opportunity of proving his administrative ability during the four years spent there, and in 1938, Brother Colston accepted the directorship of Ballard School, a position he still retains
Other work has included instruction [it Atlanta University Summer School as a Work Shop Consultant, two summers;anddirection of the Extension Branch of the Hampton Institute Summer School, conducted in Jacksonville, Florida
The young college administrator is president of the District Teachers Association, which includes sections of Florida and Georgia, District Chairman, Central Georgia Council, Boy Scouts of America, Chairman, Macon Defense Recreation Committee, Director of Activities for the Georgia High School Principals' Conference, and for two years served on the Georgia Curriculum Committee for the Improvement of Instruction, and as Director of Program Committee, Florida State Teachers Association
Brother Colston was initiated into the Fraternity by Alpha I\ho Chapter, Morehouse College, where he took an active part in many campus programs, notably, the Science and Mathematics Club, the Glee Club and Orchestra for which he served as manager for two years
His wife is the former Miss Wilhelmina White. The couple has one child, Jean Alliecc, daughter.
"THEYGIVE THEIR j ^ \P LIVES—YOU LEND^jC^PJl YOUR MONEY" f
hollowing closely behind a request to the Ohio State legislature for a budget of $1,190,861 for the year 1943, a portion of which is to be ear-marked for post-war building construction, Brother Dr Charles H Wesley, president of Wilberforce University, was invited to deliver an address before the law-makers of Ohio This was the first time a Negro had been accorded such an' honor in many years, according to press releases
Ill-other Dr Wesley is a Past President of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity. having resigned after serving ten years in that office. He is also author of the Fraternity History.
Wilberforce recently observedj its 86th Anniversary •
Congratulations on achieving its 75th birthday were extended at Hampton Institute last month by President Franklin D. Roosevelt, who, in a letter addressed to Acting President R. O'Hara Lanier of the college, commended the Institute "for the vigor and effectiveness with which it has pursued its objectives," and stated that the "achievements of Hampton are a part of the imperishable record of the nation."
The college observed the 75th anniversary of its founding April 8-12, at the same time that the annual commencement exercises were held Brother Dr Charles H Wesley gave the commencement address
Congratulations go to Brother Hugh M Gloster, professor of English at Morehouse College, Atlanta, Ga., who was awarded the Doctor of Philosophy Degree in English by New York Uni-
versify February 23rd The young educator, who won his Master's Degree with a straight "A" average at Atlanta University, continued his superior scholastic work throughout his studies at New York University
The research for his thesis, entitled American Negro Fiction from Charles W Chestnutt to Richard Wright, was made possible by a grant-iu-aid-ofresearch fund awarded Dr Gloster by Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity Educational Fund, then under Brother Dr. Rayford W Logan, as Director of Education
Dr Gloster has maintained liis interest in Alpha Phi Alpha since the days of his undergraduate work a.t Morehouse College. An "initiate" of Alpha Rho Chapter, he has served successively since then as a member of Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter, Memphis, Tenn., and Eta Lambda Chapter, Atlanta, Ga He was president of the Memphis graduate chapter for nearly two years, and presently serves as president of Eta Lambda Dr Gloster is also Assistant
Editor of the Sphinx, a position he has held since 1936 In this capacity, he has contributed editorials and other timely articles to the official organ
His wife, the former Miss Louise Torrence, is also a graduate of Atlanta University, holding the Masters' Degree They have one child, a daughter
Brother Dr W H Gray, Jr., president of Florida Normal Institute, St Augustine, Fla., has accepted the Regional Directorship for Region No 3, and will work with Southern Vice President Ferdinand L. Rousseve in that capacity
"I feel honored to receive this appointment and I pledge to you and Brother Rousseve my best in promoting the ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha in this region," Brother Gray wrote President Rayford W Logan
He will direct activities of chapters in Georgia, and Florida Region 3 is
Well, Brothers:
To use the expression made famous in the movie, "Gentleman Jim,"you are feasting from the pen of the hand that .-hook the hand of the 'Lord.' As yet it is still preserved
You guessed it, I suppose, but during the past feu days our own town (Memphis, Tenn.) was visited by Lord and Lady Halifax during their good will tour of the South Of course he made his appearance before the 'dusty elite' of our town and in the mad scramble, ducking in and out of secret service men, I was privileged to touch the hem of his garment Lord Halifax, as you are no doubt aware, is the British Ambassador to the United States
It was somewhat amusing to me to see how some of our "Little Shots"
who want to appear "Big Snots' jumping around However, it was a pleasant few moments we had in the company of the "Lord" and as usual Alpha Phi Alpha was represented on the program Brother B T Hunt, principal of Booker T Washington high school of Memphis, summed up the entire war situation in his invocation * * *
The last edition of the Sphinx found me behind in getting my material together, due to rationing and other selected bits of diversions This 'cjuib' is being written between periods of chats with Brother Charles W Greene, former Southern Vice-president of Alpha Phi Alpha; and Brother R Dan (B'obo) Miller, of Helena, Arkansas
Brother Greene looks in on the
most fortunate in having Brother Gray as its Director There is not a more conscientious Alpha man in the Fraternity than Brother Dr Gray He is a tireless worker has the "knack" of getting things done with dispatch and efficiency
•NEGRO DIGEST founded during the latter part of 1942 as a "Magazine of Negro Comment'' has already begun to make itself felt on the national scene This publication made its advent when the Negro Press was being challenged from many quarters, and its brilliant young managing editor, Brother John H Johnson, lost no time in throwing this new "journalistic baby" right on the Fighting Front against James Crow and his Color Line
Congratulations, Brother Johnson, and best success in this new endeavor Negro Digest deserves to live
Lwemphis district of the Atlanta Life Insurance Co during several periods of the year, and of course it is always a source of inspiration to see him Yet, I find that he often looks in the same direction as I do whenever he visits in the Bluff City 'Can't blame him from being strickened with "matticosis" because it is very contagious. Recall I mentioned "Matticosis" the last time
Big 'Bobo' Miller, of Helena, was also interested in knowing who the cashier at the Supreme Liberty's Memphis office was, whom she belongs to, and why? Well, I was so befuddled myself until I couldn't answer him I am still living in hopes though
Continued on page 17
Dedicated Entirely to Alpha Servicemen
1 Dear Rameses,
I am a naval officer, not particularly handsome, but J noticed that a girl of the Norfolk U S O Center was very kind to me and hovered around me all during my visit there Why did that happen?
Signed O. C. Moore, Chief Petty Officer, U S Navy
2 Dear Rameses,
The new recruit was sent to a nearby creek by the sergeant to get a pail of water But he stood an hour gazing at the flowing stream instead. what was he waiting for?
S..B M
3 Dear Rameses,
At our camp we have a very mean sergeant \\ hen he passes by the soldiers as they line up for inspection most even man mumbles something I cannot make out Are they quoting •.nine military code?
T C D
•4 Dear Rameses,
We eat in grand style at our camp A clean napkin is at our plate at every meal Why do we get such service?
E B J
5 Dear Rameses
Why do they issue those little kits to us when we go on furloughs Does that keep up our morale?
M L D
6 Dear Rameses,
Hearing that we would be stationed at our camp for a long time, I set out some onions and got settled for a full summer of scullion joy One month later 1 was sent overseas What happened?
H T B
7 Dear Rameses, I attended an initiation at a college near our camp The fellows were very brutal, unnecessarily so Did they get any satisfaction out of that sort of behavior?
T S C
8 Dear Rameses,
I am the sexton of the little church near Camp Croft Lots of soldiers and the localgirls frequent the picnic grove adjoining the church I cannot complain of their behavior but I sus-
pect them How can I be sure? I R M
9. Dear Rameses, I am a candidate for Officers* Training School and am trying to impress my superiors with my presence of mind and general intelligence The barracks caught fire last week \\ hat order should 1 have given?
M T B
10 Dear Rameses,
What did your draft board say when you told them you were a Short Story Writer?
C W D
11 Dear Rameses,
Why does the Navy forbid its men to carry lead of any kind in their clothing?
A B
12 Dear Rameses, What three stories do you recommend lor service men this month?
U M
1 She thought you were the Chief Petting Officer
2 he didn't see a pailful he liked
3 No, they were tracing his canine lineage
4 There is an abandoned diaper laundry next door
5 No, they protect your morals
6 You were caught with your plants down
7. No, it was satisfaction.
8 Walk up on them suddenly and yell, "As you wereI"
9. Cease fire.
10 "Here today—gun tomorrow."
11. "Confidentially, it sinks."
12 (a) The colored soldier had been peeling potatoes until his hands ached Turning to a fellow K P hesaid, "What dat sergeant mean when he call us K. P.?"
"Ah dunno," replied his co-worker, "but from the look on his face, ah think he means "Keep peeling.'"
(b) Discussing the fascinating problem of what's going to happen in the industrial picture when all the men come hack and find women occupying their jobs, George Kauffman is said to have epiipped: "Oh they can stay home again and raise families All the boys will need to go into production is a small amount of re-tooling."
(c) A sight-seeing bus was making a tour of Hollywood "On your right is the Davies Home" bawled the
guide An interested soldier on furlough but with an unsatiahle curiosity called out, "\ou mean Marion Davies?" "No, Henry Davies," replied the guide. A little later, he announced that the structure in the distance was the Rogers home." Again the curious soldier asked, "Buddy Rogers?"
"No, was the guide's scathing answer, "Will Rogers Ihere was silence, broken by the guiue who explained, "We are now approaching the hirst Church of Christ, Scientists." the curious soldier kept quiet Finally an interested passenger nudged him, "Go ahead and ask him if it is Jesus Christ You can't he wrong all the time!''
So speaketh and so endeth the voice of Rameses XIII
Continued from page 16
Right here, I want to pay my respects to the widow oi the late Brother Louis L Gray, of Little Rock, Ark., who passed into Omega Chapter last Christinas Day 1 shall miss him and his hue fellowship whenever 1 am in Little Rock To the family, we commend to Him who does all things well! Alpha has lost a grand son * * *
And while Little Rock is still on my mind, it naturally carries me back to Olga Quite inspiring as ever, although I understand she is thinking very seriously of joining the Women's Army Auxiliary Corps I hope I can see her soon Maybe I can change her mind And to Caroline Brown, be on the lookout for me I'll be there sooner than you expect
'Had the fright of my life the other evening when 1 went home rather late, picked up the mail from the table There was one of those small cards from my draft board 1 thought for a few seconds that the long arm of Uncle Sam had reached right down from Capitol Hill in Washington for me It turned out to be a notice from the tire rationing board instead So it looks as though I shall be around for a few more days, barring draft for farm labor
I wish that I could visualize events like my good Brother Dr O Wilson Winters of the Frat Fun Column 11, can sit in a corner and picture some ideal situation He really goes to town When and if I am able to bounce my little son upon my knee, I
Continued next page
By James B. Browning History Editor
By CHARLES S. JOHNSON
Harper and Brothers Publishers (1943, Pp. 332. Price $3.50.)
The author, Charles S Johnson, who is head of the department of Social Science at Fisk University, has made abundant contributions to that field. As a student of Park and Burgess, Dr Johnson made an enviable record It was under his guidance that the Opportunity Magazine reached the acme of success He has lent time and influence in aiding the inter-racial movement to make notable progress. Dr. Johnson's views and vast knowledge may be read in the many sociological books which he has written Many of these treatises have been widely praised for their objectivity, scholarship, and pleasing style.
This account purports to set forth objectively the historical evolution of and varying patterns of Negro segregation. The book is divided into two parts Part one describes the various rules of conduct which tend to divide folks into groups and the social mechanism which causes the groups to become fixities
Secondly, an attempt is made to describe the legal status of the Negro, and, thirdly, an attempt is made to describe the manifold unwritten laws which bind the Negro to his position of inferiority
In part two, the reader is given eye witness accounts which describe the reaction of the Negro to segregation and discrimination " .their personal behavior in varying types of interpersonal relations with whites, and some of the psychopathological phenomena resulting from the efforts
of Negroes to make satisfactory individual racial adjustment."
Dr Johnson's book is no pioneer work because during the past decade an ever-increasing amount of attention has been paid to the Negro in the United States Moreover, a fair proportion of this literature has dealt with the gripping experiences of Negroes in a society widely advertised as democratic but both undemocratic and unchristian More than a dozen years ago, the late Dr Moten gave to the thinking public his stimulating work entitled What The Negro Thinks Subsequently, scholarly and popular literature has contained many accounts bearing on the pattern of segregation
The unique contribution of Patterns of Negro Segregation" is that here for the first time the entire story is told in a tremendously scholarly, interesting and objective style Equally significant is the fact that Dr Johnson faces those in the dominant group courageously and points out that there should be a new deal (of Federal control and guidance) in race relations to develop side-by-side with greater Federal control of things economic
The student of such measures as the 13th, 14th, 15th amendments and the civil rights acts knows all too well that these federal acts have failed miserably to achieve the lofty aims of their framers, and therefore may question seriously Dr Johnson's thesis that segregation can be legislated out of existence or appreciably curtailed by Federal law However, the same students will have to admit that the wave of New Deal legislation has profoundly improved the condition of the common man andmayifcombined
with education quite possibly (History to the contrary) improve the lot of the Negro
Interesting also is the sad but true observation of Dr Johnson that the most militant Negro opponents of segregation are the black proletariat rather than the occasionally vigorous and almost apologetic black bourgeois.
This book will be a stimulating treat for those with a desire to understand the complexities and viciousinequalities of life. The variations in different geographical areas will prove shocking to those who generalize from limited experience And all sincere believers in democracy and the teachings of Christ can not fail to close the book with the profound conviction that here is a problem which should be attacked immediately and vigorously
Continued from page 17
shall also have all those thoughts of what the boys are doing outside Right now I kinda' want that life more than anything else Here's hoping.
* * *
Brother President Charles H Wesley of Wilberforce University was very adept in his radio address over "Wings Over Jordan" during his address on occasion of 86th Anniversary of the founding of Wilberforce, my old Alma Mater I am looking forward to big things being done during his administration In fact, many fine accomplishments have already been made However, I didn't hear from the institution during Founder's Month What's the matter, Thelma? * * *
Well, we have had to do a lot of jumping around this office It looked
Continued on page 20
DR ROZIER EARL BLAND, 70S Medical Sanitary Company, Ft Dix, New Jersey, was recently promoted from the rank of First Lieutenant to that of Captain He is commanding officer of his company, the first and only race physician from the South to be stationed on the eastern shore, in command
A graduate of Morehouse and Meharry Medical College, Captain Bland has made a most remarkable record in his profession He severed many connection's in Memphis to serve his country as a member of the U S Army Medical Corps Captain Bland not only had a wide practice in the tri-states, but headed the citycontrolled Wellington Clinic He is former president of the Bluff City Medical Society, and chairman of the insurance section of the National Medical Association Initiated into the Fraternity by Alpha Rho, Captain Bland has held membership in Chi, and more recently in Alpha Delta Lambda Chapter.
By BROTHER A. P. MARSHALL
Alpha Pi Lambda
In a parting message to his chapter, Alpha Pi Lambda, WinstonSalem, N C, Brother Albert P Marshall, now in the armed forces of the nation, penned the following inspir-
ing words in the chapter's NEWS LETTER:
Dear Brothers in Alpha:
Having been called on March 17th to take up arms against the enemies of our country, and having sense enough, at least, to do nothing in de-
fiance of my dear Uncle Sam, I leave you to don the uniform of the United States Coast Guard, Manhattan Island Training Station, New York, N Y
Because I am hoping that this war will bring to all of us, and especially to our posterity, a better world to live in, better chances to earn a livelihood, better opportunities to seek equal educations, better chances to compete with other men on the strength of what we know rather than what the color of our skin is, and, finally, a chance to pursue the normal desires of life in an orderly, unrestrained and unprejudiced manner I feel that I am not leaving you in vain
I feel that somehow our God in Heaven has caused this war to be upon us; that we are more and more coming into our own as free, normal human beings. The activities of the great organizations such as the N. A. A. C. P., and the National Urban League somehow haveseemingly faded into the past, and something beyond our control has taken place to cause a new day for our people. Because I feel this way I shall not attempt to bid you farewell, for I shall be coming back sooner than you think, and I will bear greetings to you in your and my new world a world in which you and I can live as free men and pursue normal lives as human beings,
1 leave you joyfully, for I am convinced that one must make the best of every situation If at any time I am given a thought in your meetings please do not feel sorry for me, for I shall be happy to be making my contribution to that new world for which we are striving that world which from the beginning has been the chief objective of our fraternity
Continued from page 9 hood of Man, and that all embracing thought that God is love Education is being called upon to furnish the inner resources for meeting innumerable challenges for tomorrow's democracy A barren secular education cannot meet the issues in this crisis Only a balanced program founded on the ideals and faith so vital to Christian living can hasten the coming of the Prince of Peace
Brother Hollis F Price, after serving for two years as Dean of LeMoyne College, has been elected the first Negro president of that institution, tin- Sphinx learned at press time. The announcement was first made through the Memphis World by Dr Fred L Brownlee, General Secretary of the American Missionary Association, with office in New York City
LeMoyne, only Grade A college for the education of tin- Negro >n the Midsouth, was founded seventy-three years ago as an institution for the training of teachers Throughout this marly three quarters of century, LeMoyne has been under guidance of die American Missionary Association
Its president-elect is a native of Virginia, and received his early training at the mission school at Capahosic where his father was principal for forty years From there he went to WilliSton Academy at East Hampton, Mass., Amherst College, and Columbia University at which institutions he earned the B A and xMaster of Arts Degrees Me has completed all work for the Doctorate except for writing his thesis.
For seven years, Brother Price taught Economics at Tuskegee Institute in Alabama His father was graduated from Hampton Institute when that school was under the direction of the late General Samuel Chapman Armstrong its founder, and was a fellow-student of Booker T Washington and Major Robert Moton, the first and second principals of Tuskegee Institute
Dr Brownlee, who has served LeMoyne as president during the past three years, will continue his relationship with the institution in his capacity as General Secretary of the A. M A and as one of its trustees
Continued from page 18 as though our editor of the Sphinx was about to be called In fact, he was called and it was just a matter of hours before he received a postponement of his induction So he will be with us at least through this edition of the Sphinx * * *
To all the boys; and especially the brothers in service, on behalf of the staff, we wish you God's speed
Honors were divided among the three publications displayed in the Press Both at Negro Trade-Week Exhibition, Memphis, Tenn., recently The accompanying picture shows copies of the Sphinx, the Memphis World, and the Pittsburgh Courier on display at the well-appointed "press room" which brought many favorable comments from exhibition visitors
Mrs Freddie Greene Wesley, secretary at the Sphinx office, is seen in the press booth
THE next edition of the Sphinx will be published in October, 1943. It is the PICTORIAL NUMBER. Deadline date for this edition is set for
SEPTEMBER 5th
Associate Editors and regular members of the staff are asked to remain in close touch with the Sphinx office during the summer months The war crisis is bringing about many and rapid changes which may alter our program of operation. This office will be glad to keep all associate editors posted relative to last minute changes if summer addresses are available
LEWIS 0 SWINGLER Editor
390 Vz Beale Avenue
Memphis, Tennessee
brothers and their escorts pictured just before dinner was served during the chapter's Annual Installation Banquet, Detroit, Michigan
By NOAH B TURNER
Installation ceremonies held by members of Alpha Upsilon Chapter, Detroit, Michigan, represented one of the social triumphs of our chapter program during the first period of the year Officers for 1943 were installed The affair, given at the Fraternity House, also represented a dedication of the service flag. Alpha Upsilon now has sixteen brothers in the service
Former President Lloyd Richards made an impressive talk as he pre-
sented the new president, Gus Ogletree, with the gavel Other newly elected officers are Brothers: Wilbur Hughes, vice-president; William Coleman, Jr., secretary; Robert Ball, treasurer; Lloyd Richards, parliamentarian; Porter Dillard, corresponding secretary; Noah Turner, chapter editor; Floyd Jones, chaplain Cocktails and socializing occupied the time preceding the dinner, and dancing following dinner The host brothers complimented their lady guests by presented them with gold bows as tokens Each bow bore the emblem of the Fraternity Miss Margaret Wells, for her splendid representation as "Miss Alpha Phi Alpha",
was given a beautifully engraved compact
Among special guests present were Drs Walter Harmon and Boynton Milton, past and president president, respectively, of Gamma Lambda chapter
Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha, Greetings from Beta Tau:
The opening of 1943 found Beta Tau raising the curtains on the initiation of thirteen Sphinxmen into the fold of Alpha Phi Alpha, twelve of which have already been sworn into
Upha Upsilon Chapter officers, their wives and sweethearts, caught by the cameraman in this festive mood during the Formal Installation Ceremonies, Detroit, Michigan Front row, seated from left: Helen Greer, Wilbur Hughes,
the United States Army Reserve Corps They are as follows: James llayiUn Jack Forte, Benjamin Franklin, Clyde Hatch, Samuel Felton, Cornelius Wilson, Wallace Murine Warren Welters, Charles Younge, Robert Outtz, Isidore Lamothe and Fred Cuthrell, These young men wherever they go may be depended upon to carry high the name of Alpha Phi Alpha
Beta Tau also elected its officers for the year of 1043, who are as follows: John Holden, president; Joseph Boyer, secretary; Cornelius Wilson, Editor to Sphinx
Wc are proud of our honor roll in
Roberta Greenidge, Gus Ogletree and Margaret Bradley Standing, left to right: Robert Ball, Harold Perry, Doris Bell, William Coleman, Ellen Wheeler, Mrs Mildred Gardena, Dr and Mrs Milton, Dr and Mrs Harmon, Lloyd Richards, Marijorie Dunbar, Porter Dillard, and Noah Turner
the service for our great country. We are also grateful to Beta Delta for their hospitality extended to our basketball players on their tour
I remain your Association Editor, CORNELIUS WILSON
And "GOD BLESS AMERICA."
Greetings:
Since St Louis has become a major war material production and soldier (raining center, Epsilon Lambda's meetings are the mecca for many brothers assigned to this area, as well as passing through Resplendent in
their uniforms they give a distinctly military atmosphere to our recent gatherings which have been held at the Alliance Lounge Some of these visitors were Bro Sgt N Walter Gions, MU, 46 Aviation Squadron. Scott Field; Bro John Talbcrt Beta; Bro. Raymond Hill, Beta Xi, instructors, Scott Field; Bro Dr II A Merchant, Alpha Beta Lambda, resident physician, People's Hospital: Bro Dr Henry F Shorter, interne, Homer Phillips Hospital ; Bro Walter Price, Beta Eta, Swift Packing Co.; Bro John W Buckncr, president Alpha Eta
The chapter donated $10.00 to the
current NAACP drive Brothers Arnold Walker and Sidney Redmond were appointed to represent the chapter at the hearing of the Civil Rights Bill On January 24th, Bro Dan W Bowles presented Epsilon Lambda's award to the People's Art Center contest On January 29, at Tandy Center Alpha opened the fraternity basketball season in a game with Stowc College Brothers Jodie Bailey, Fred Williams, Bill Pollard, Lamar Smith and Geo Thompson and Walter Johnson played in their usual stellar fashion Bro J Q Blache and wife announced the birth of a girl May the little income tax deductions troop in like soldiers
Our closed social evening on February 19 was an occasion of such gaiety that the most dignified of us gave ourselves a fling—what witli the captivating ladies and the tantalizing music, the joy was unconfined Yet there was sadness because this marked the official departure of Bro Pres Arnold Walker for Cincinnati where he has become the Director of Negro Welfare Bro Walker's unfaltering zeal and ever-present good humor placed Epsilon Lambda on a high standard of efficiency As a token of appreciation, on behalf of the chapter, Bro Robert P Watts presented Bro Walker with a handsome portfolio The orchestra dedicated "Praise the Lord and Pass the Ammunition" to Bin Craig who was inducted into the army three days later With weary feet but high spirits we went out to greet the dawn
ROBERT P WATTS, Asst Editor 4
Greetings from the men of Kappa:
Realizing that the present situation calls for ever more brotherly spirit among all men, we are prone to personify the attitude manifested in the "Fraternal Bends." Each of us here at Ohio State is being affected by the war, and surely our University and our own chapter are feeling its pangs But here, as elsewhere,weare attempting to carry on; not in spite of the war, but in connection with the tasks we expect to face
After 33 years at Ohio State University, Kappa chapter is weathering its second period of war. Despite the depradation upon college enrollment, the chapter found enough men for an initiation. The men were selected out of twenty-nine, who, we felt, were
qualified to carry the aims and ideals of our renown Alpha Phi Alpha out into the many walks of life We here at Kappa feel that if the spirit that we have can be more prevalent in the post-war period, that once again this world of ours can walk in majesty in righteousness, and in justice Kappa is carrying on its social life Following initiation ceremonies, Kappa and Alpha Rho Lambda Chapters held an elaborate banquet in honor of the new brothers at the Spring Street Branch Y M C A This proved to be one of the most inspiring events that the two chapters have ever attempted Brother Lionel H Nevvsom, President of Kappa Chapter, spoke on "Alpha and the War." Every brother present was stirred as Brother Newsom called on all Alpha men to unite so that not only the light of Alpha Phi Alpha, but the light of the entire world will forever be held aloft
Among those present were Brother N V Allen, Executive Secretary of the Vanguard League; Brother Leo B Marsh, Executive Secretary of the Spring Street Branch Y M C A.: Brother A. D. V. Crosby, President of Alpha Lambda chapter; Brother A V Crawley, whois workirgonhisdoctorate degree at Ohio State in Mathematics Ten men initiated were: Brothers Austin Allen, Fred Johnson, Linwood Walker, Carl Slaughter, of Columbus, Ohio.; William Edward Williams, Paul Lewis, Edward Gentry, of Cleveland, Ohio; Kfchard Gordon, of Mansfield; Henry F Smith, of Lexington, Kentucky; and Ernest LeRoy Savory, of Lynn, Mass
In athletics Kappa is reluctant to state that they lost two games to the Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, but is proud to boast of the magnificent game of basketball ar shown by Brothers Savory. Harvey, Butler, Albritton, Newsom, and Lowery On the Koada team, the Negro Pan-Hellenic organization at Ohio State, Kappa is taking an active part Representing us are Brothers Newsom, Savory, Thomas, Lowery and Edward Gentry
In the recent election, the following brothers were elected to office: Lionel H Newsom, unanimously reelected President; Erwin G Lowery, Vice-president; Henry F Smith, Secretary and Editor to the Sphinx; William Edward Williams, Treasurer: William F Johnson, Sergcant-atarms; Jack Mitchell, Parliamentarian : Ralph Pearson, Chaplain; James K.
Anthony, re-elected Dean of pledges
Brother Newsom heads the Boys' Department at the Spring Street Y M C A., succeeding Brother Harold Strickland, who is in charge of the Boys' Department at the Cedar Avenue Y M C A of Cleveland, Ohio
Kappa wishes to extend farewell and God-speed to the following brothers: William Jenkins, who goes to the Air Corps at Tuskegee, Ala.; Lloyd Crable, in the army; Prof. Anthony B Crawley, head of the Mathematics department at West Virginia State College, and working on his Ph D at Ohio State, leaves for Northwestern University
Kappa's graduates are: Tracy Parks, who will enter Ohio State's Medical School; and John Clark, who will enter Howard's Medical School in June
F SMITH, Editor to the Sphinx
Greetings, Brothers, both far and near:
Beta Phi is still doing all that is in its power to hold ever aloft those noble ideals and aims of our fraternity Thus far we have been fortunate in not having lost one brother to the army However, we are expecting a mass exodus to the army in the near future In view of this fact the brothers are working diligently with the neophytes and the Sphinx Club with hopes that they will not be called for a long time By the time yoii read this column we shall have passed the following initiates over the burning sands: Carlyle C Hithe, Owen Mathieu, and Lionel Desbonles
Last quarter we pledged the following persons: Wilfred Stewart, Bryant, Texas; Albert Harris, New Orleans, Louisiana; Fred Wilkins, Vicksburg, Mississippi; and Louis Bernard, New Orleans, Louisiana
On February 16th, the brothers gave a farewell party for Brother Benjamin E Amnions who was scheduled to leave for the army In the midst of the party Brother Amnions received a telegram deferring his induction to a later date. All the brothers were quite elated over the outcome of the party
The Sphinx Club has lost little brothers Edgar Armstrong and James Ramsay to the army Sphinxman Ramsay was fortunate enough to complete this studies before being
called and will receive his degree in the field of Social Studies
Beta Phi along with Beta Tau and Sigma Lambda are working diligently on a skit for the Jabberwock of the local chapters of Delta Sigma Tlieta Sorority with the hope of carrying away the first prize
We have also planned our Education For Citizenship program which will be in the order of a panel discussion, The subject "ill be "The Negro and the Aftermath of World War II." The speakers will be Bros Dr Benjamin Quarlcs, Dr W R Warns, and Vernon Winslow
We are planning a banquet that will serve two purposes The primary purpose is to honor the neophytes of our coming initiation, the other to bid fare well to those brothers who are climaxing the undergraduate work The possible recipients of A B degrees in June are Bros. Elmore Dennis. Social Studies; lohn R Powe, Social Studies; Harold W l.ueieu Chemistry; Clarence Barre, Mathematics; Robert Johnson, Music; Benjamin E Amnions, Horticulture: John V Holmes, English; and Charles Terry Ill, Biology Bros K hen S Scarbough, Jr., Science, ,,„l Oliver Hart, Jr., Horticulture, anticipate the completion of their work in August at the close of the summer session,
We are grateful to Sigma Lambda for the splendid repast given for the three local chapters at the home of Dr Talbert This affair did much in the way of helping the members of the three chapters become better acquainted with each other We look forward to more such meetings
To you brothers who are serving your country in the armed forces we wish you all God's speed; and in the meanwhile we will do our best to keep our dear fraternity active so that you will find it easy to adjust yourself into its network Remember all visiting brothers are welcome at Beta Phi To you brothers on the home front, let's give the brothers in the army plenty of letters to read
Until we meet again, I remain Fraternally yours,
OT.JVER HART, JR.,
Associate
Editor to Sphinx
GAMMA ALPHA CHAPTER
Texas College
Greetings, Brothers of Alpha-dom: The third annual Founders' Day Program was very successful, due to its departure from the usual type of
Founders' programs on the campus The speaker for the occasion was the Reverend Norris S Curry, pastor of the St James C M E Church His address embodied the ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha: First of all, Servant of all, we shall transcend all
The Sphinx Club was given a smoker at the beginning of the third quarter to further acquaint the Sphinx-men with the relations that hind them to the Fraternity Refreshments were served and games were played A short talk was made by Brother James Sheppard, Dean of the Sphinxinem on Brotherhood in the Sphinx Club Some twenty odd Sphiuxmen were present Officers are Little Brothers Johnny Hines, President; Wesley Young, Vicepresident; John Sheppard, Secretary; Otis Collier, Treasurer; Abram Lewis. Sgt.-at-arms.
Several Alpha men of high rank in the armed forces visited us on their waj to maneuvers: Brother Lt Lawson of Washington and Brother Wallace of Hcnsley Field were among them
Brother Odell Douglas' recent return to the campus added talent to the Texas College Collegians, as he has been declared the greatest trombone player on the campus
We are happy to report having heard from the following brothers: Clarence Nix All-American quarterback of the famous Texas Steers, who is now in the Coast Guard in Kentucky; Henry Denson, honor man and football player, at Ft Huachuca, Arizona; William Lathen, notable sociology scholar, also in the service of his country; Lt James Patrick, honor man, talented musician, and Corporal James McThompson, honor student, and talented musician
Pvt Stratford S Hilliard, also a graduate of Texas College and the first President of Gamma Alpha Chapter, is now serving Uncle Sam in the Medical Division and is stationed at Kearns Field, Utah, 103 nd Tech School Squadron, Flight 119 Medical Brothers Weldon Berry and Wayland McClellan, charter members of Gamma Alpha, are serving respectively in the armed forces and government service
Gamma Alpha greets all Alpha men in the armed forces and bids them God-speed in their dark as well as their bright honor
Fraternally yours,
LUTHER C SIMOND, Associate Editor
Greetings Brothers in Alpha:
The long veil of silence that has enshrouded the portly realms of Beta Gamma has now been lifted, and once again we can proudly communicate to our brothers the noble deeds which we arc now carrying on
Although our ranks have been sorely depleted by the call to active duty of many of our brothers, the remaining members of our chapter are carrying on the program with vigor and courage
Our program this year includes a state-wide education for citizenship program headed by Brother Kennit Cockrell, head of the education committee This program was climaxed the first week in May with our annual chapel service presented on the campus
Beta Gamma is proud of its scholastic achievements in that for the past four years we have led all other Greek letter organizations on the campus in scholarship This year the following hrothers are still boosting the chapter by being on the honor roll: Brothers John Lee Reuben Davis, Henry F'ulford, Noel Torres, Curtis blood, and C Gray
The plans for our annual spring formal have been set for May 21; an occasion at which many graduate brothers will again return to the scenes of many happy college days
Last January a palatial banquet was held in the spacious lounge of Jones Hall in honor of the neophyte members The affair was a gala one in which the 'neophyte members 'are welcomed into the folds of Alphadom by Brother l.uther FI Foster of Nu Lambda, acting president of the college; and Brother Roscoe C Howard president of Nu Lambda Chapter The event was closed by remarks from Brother John M Gandy of Nu Lambda and president-emeritus of the college
We are sorry to lose many of our brothers to the armed forces, but we are sure that wherever they may go they will carry the spirit of Alpha with them Those who left the chapter this year for active duty are: Brothers William Kyle, Reuben Davis, Arthur Young, Robert Lewis, Henry Fulford, Robert Alexander, Noel Torres, and Earl Allen
Since many of our brothers have been inducted into the army, we have found it necessary to elect the following members as officers for the year:
Brother Aurelius King, president; Kermit Cockrell, vice-president; John Harris, recording secretary; John Lee, corresponding secretary; Edward Hall, treasurer; James Jackson, sergeant-at-arms; Moses Poles, dean of Sphinxmen; and George White, editor to the Sphinx.
Although we are only a mere handful in number, we do solemnly promise to carry on our duties as true Alpha men
Fraternally yours, BRO
GEO E WHITE Editor to
the Sphinx.
Beta Delta feels that the continued publication of the Sphinx for the remainder of this year was a very wise and timely movement, for which we are grateful to our General President and the Executive Council
Our effort for 1943 went off with a bang when we dedicated our initial program of the year to the men in the armed forces
After the program was opened by the singing of the National Negro Anthem, Bro Fuller gave scripture and invocation. Bro. Reese then introduced the program, followed by the musical recitation of Rudyard Kiping's "If" by Bro Gibbs Bro Becknell introduced Bro Emmett A Paulin, of Beta Delta, as speaker for the occasion Highlights of Bro Paulin's address were his constant stressings of the fact that "we too, are AMERICANS," and are entitled to the rights and privileges accorded other groups in a democracy; and that our devotion to the United States and the cause of the United Nations is shared only by our uncompromising devotion to the black race, its dignity, welfare and progress "But," said the speaker, "we are nevertheless in the front line of action where men worthy of their salt always stand."
Bro Paulin further stated, "war can teach us to live for the Nation instead of ourselves We can begin to give instead of receive: to seek God's will instead of our own way
The sooner we grow up as a nation, the sooner we shall win this war But more than this, we shall win the peace and we shall build the foundations of that freedom for which men in every age have died For this free world more of us must be willing to live
Yes, all of us are Americans I am an American I am an American
in the heart of George Washington Carver as a scientist I am an American in the heart of Marian Ai derson as a vocalist I am an American in the heart of Mary McLeod Bethune as an educator I am an American in the heart of Miller F Whittaker (president of State College) as an architect I am an American in the heart of Dorie Miller, the hero of Pearl Harbor Yea, we are all Americans." Bro Paulin then ended his speech by reciting Bro J Farley Kagland's poem, "Americans All." Bro Paulin is 18 years of age, a Neophyte of Alpha Phi Alpha, and a Junior in the Department of Business Administration
Following the speaker Bro Bradford, also a Neophyte Brother, rendered a selection, "Smiling Through" on the saxophone
The program ended with our National Anthem on the console, to the Alpha Men in the Armed Forces Mis:,- Lenora Hull was at the console
It is not a habit of Beta Delta to end a day with one program, so ours carried on into the evening in the form of a banquet. This get-together, to which the brothers invited guests, was held in honor of the brothers who are expecting to go to the armed forces in the near future Dining and dancing were the feature attractions of the evening
A short program was also arranged in which Bro Reese welcomed the guest Miss Jennie Mulligan, guest soloist, sang "Every Night About This Time", after which Bro Ander-
son gave an instrumental s>lo, "Concerto for Two." These renditions were highly enjoyed by all All the brothers then assembled in a circle and sang the Alpha Phi Alpha National Hymn As a closing gesture to tho:.e about to enter the armed services, Bro Paulin suggested that everyone join in singing Auld Lang Syne Everyone reported a gay affair
Beta Delta continues to strive to keep in touch with her sons in the armed forces Bro James B Linn private at Camp 'Claiborne, La., is in charge of the publicity of the 390th Engineers and has the title, "Assistant to the Special Service Officer.'' Bros McRussell Flynt aid Daniel Lawrence were inducted into the armed services early in March Bro Howard Jordan has recently received his commission as Second Lieutenant He also took the vows with Miss Ruth Menafee of Denmark, S C, shortly after receiving his commission Corp Edward Jones was a recent visitor at the chapter Bro Joseph Jackson has received his third stripe in the Medical Detachment of the Army
Most of our Brothers in the army are cooperating with us wonderfully but we still send out the request to our Brothers in the armed forces to keep in touch with their particular chapter
As a gesture of goodwill the brothers of Beta Delta entertained the entire basketball squad of Xavier University whom the State College
five defeated in a scries of two games Bros, on the visiting team joined in with the spirit of dear Alpha Phi Alpha and the affair was carried over in grand style As a climax to a most enjoyed evening the brothers present joined hands and sang the Alpha's National Hymn
Those Brothers chosen to direct the destiny of Beta Delta this year are: Clyde Reese, president; James P.ecknell, vice-president; Roland J Geiger, corresponding secretary; Willie Gaston. financial secretary; Samuel Anderson, treasurer; Carl Green, exofficio officer; Edward Fuller, editor to the Sphinx
I'ro Gaston is the new manager of the "State Theatre", a position that was formerly held by Bro. Isaac Annstcad
We are making extensive preparations for our Spring Offensive, Education for Citizenship Week We feel that our efforts here as well as those of other chapters will be successful in this movement
Beta Delta says, "So long, and may God bless all of you."
Fraternally, EDWARD FULLER, Editor to Sphinx
Talladega College
Greetings Brothers:
Alpha Beta is happy again to speak through the Sphinx
The following brothers were elected officers for the coining year: Horace Johnson president; Frank Richards, vice-president ; William King, secrel.iij : George McCIain, corresponding secretary; Edward Ray, treasurer; Lee Otis Miller, chaplain; Clark Arrington, advisor to the Sphinxmcn; James Caple, sergeant-at-arms
On Sunday, March 21, 1943, Alpha Beta presented Tourgee Debose in a piano recital Brother Debose is considered one of the best pianists in America. He has studied at Fisk, Oberlin, and in Paris He has given recitals at various universities all over the country, including Notre Dame, Howard and Fisk universities Among the numbers included in the recital were: Beethoven's "Sonata Appassionate, Op 57," Chopin's "Scherzo in C Sharp Minor," Rawel's "Ondine," and Liszt's "Polonaise in E" Following the recital, a reception was given by Alpha Beta Chapter in honor of Brother Debose
On the achievements of the year was the contribution of a Chapter
Hymn by neophyte Brothers Leonard Williams and Charles Scott
At present, we are planning our program for the National Education Week
The chapter lost Brothers Herman Daves, James Morris, and William Morse to the Armed Forces We are proud of these men and we feel certain that they will bear the colors of true Alpha men We also welcome little Brother Maynard V Foster into the fold of Alphadom
"The bands of Brotherhood arc far-reaching", so in order to keep intact the ties of Alphadom, and at the same time make their contribution towards maintaining the high morale of the members of our Armed Forces, the members of Alpha Beta are in constant contact with their Brothers in the services
Despite the tumults of the world about us, werededicate ourselves under the banner of Alpha to carry on,
Fraternally yours, GEORGE McCLAIN, Corresponding Secretary
Once again Alpha Theta Chapter extends greetings and best wishes to the Brothers throughout the country ,ni I to all Brothers in the armed forces wherever they are serving Like all chapters, Alpha Theta is experiencing all the hardships of a country at war; and one by one we have seen our brothers inducted into the armed forces Members of Alpha Theta Chapter now serving our country arc as follows: Sergeant Joseph F Tandy, Jr., now serving in Hawaii; Captain John Manly, in the Medical Corps, now serving in Africa; Brother Abishi Cunningham; Brother Inman Perkins, stationed at Tucson, Arizona; and Brother Bennie Drew Brown is now U S O Director in Tacoma, Washington In spite of the depletions which the war has made in our membership, Alpha Theta is earring on in true Alpha Phi Alpha spirit
On March 5, two new 1 members crossed the burning sands and werg welcomed into Alphadom The neophytes are—Brothers Landry E Burgess, Ph D candidate in the department of zoology, and Richard L Sykes, a junior in pharmacy On the following evening, March 6, a formal dinner was held in the private dining room of the Iowa Memorial Union in
May, 1943
honor of the new initiates and of the founders of Alpha Theta Chapter Among those present were: Brothers George S Meadows, Jr., President; Clifton R Jones, Secretary; Ardis P Graves, Treasurer; James D Parks, Toastmaster; Landry E Burgess, and Richard L Sykes Our charming guests included Mesdames Evelyn MiDaniel, Helen Lemme, and Lois Towles McNeely; Misses Francis Mills and Sophia White
Following the dinner there was a party held at the domicile of Mrs Lemme which lasted until the wee hours, and was climaxed by an early breakfast of bacon, eggs, rolls and coffee—Brother "One-y" Jones and Mrs McNeely doing the honors
On March 15, at 7:30 a m Brother (oaves became the proud father of an eight-pound baby girl, and immediately Brother Graves began to pass around the cigars. Not to be outdone, the very next day Brother Meadors became the proud father of a six-pound son, and a future Ape Mothers and children are doing nicely; fathers are suffering from a slight case of "swelled chest." Neither dares wear his vest any more Until the next time I remain, your correspondent.
CLIFTON R "ONE-Y" JONES
Greetings Brothers, here and 'over there':
From the foot of the hills in the Palmetto State, Gamma Gamma Lambda releases this resume of 'Chapter activities for the recent past and for the immediate future
Our regular fall initiation brought into the fold of Alpha Phi Alpha lbree stalwart brothers These were Brothers Dr Warren Cooper, one of our leading dentists in the upper piedment He has popularized himself in this section as being one of unusual friendliness as well as a master in his profession Professor J Wilbur Walker, who is doing a "bang of a job" as Supervising Principal of Gower, Union and Oscar Streets Schools in Greenville; and of course, Professor J. T. W. Mims, who is a popular figure over this and adjacent states in the field of Secondary Education He is principal of Bell Street, Clinton, S C, and is president of the Palmetto State Teachers' Association. Gamma Gamma Lambda takes pride in welcoming
these neophyte brothers into the fraternity
At our first meeting following initiation, our chapter held its regular election of officers and formulated plans for the year Officers elected and re-elected follow: Brother R W Anderson, who has served as president since the setting up of our chapter, was re-elected president Brother H E Hill, of Seneca, who was charter president of Alpha Chi Lambda, Augusta, Ga., and who since his established a thriving business of Pharmacy in Seneca, was elected Vice-president He succeeded Brother Dr H S Smiley, who was a pioneer in the establishment of the chapter and was charter vice-president Brother E G Grimes, Supervisor of Elementary Schools, Anderson, S C,
was re-elected Secretary He had previously filled the vacancy created by Brother Giles R Edwards, who entered the Defense Industry in Ohio Brother Dr L W Long, Union, S C., was re-elected Treasurer Brother Long is rated one of the top flight among the physicians as well as among his clientele in South Carolina He is also founder and Superintendent of Union 'Community Hospital Brother Dr J C Anderson, technician in dentistry, was elected Chaplain; Brother Frank Hall, a promising business man of Greenville, serves as our Asiociate Editor to the Sphinx; Brother Dr. Warren Cooper, Sergeant-at-arms; Brother Ezra Whittenburg, charter member of Beta Delta at S C State College, serves as a pivot man for the plannings and
doings of Gamma Gamma Lambda He relinquished his work as teacher, for the duration, to accept a nearby defense position
During the past year, we list the following brothers, either to the Army. defense industry, or positions elsewhere: Brother Roscoe Singleton, a position in Washington; Brother Edwards, a position at Canton, Ohio; Brother Douglass Greene, defense position on the East Coast; Brother G. A. Anderson, a position in Florence, S C More recently we lost Brother Dr R W Dockery, who was commissioned for Army Service in the Medical Corps; and Brother C A Williams, an inductee in Army service
For reason of war-time necessity, we have set our meetings for every
other month in the year and rotate meetings from one nearby city to others Our plans for the year also include observance of our annual Educational Campaign to be featured over the N B C network and the observance of our Chapters' Anniversary Sunday in August
Until the Sphinx speaks again, Gamma Gamma Lambda signs off, bidding you smooth sailing and happy returns
Fraternally,
FRANK HALL, Associate Editor
New Orleans, La
Sigma Lambda in the heart of the old South, the Crescent City, sends greetings to brothers throughout Alphadnm The chapter is under the ablfl leadership of Brother Benson M Boutte, who is now serving his second term
During the month of December three crossed the burning sands into dear old Alpha at Sigma Lambda These new brothers are—Allegretto F Alexander, Dr Robert E Fullilove, and Dr Raoul M Perez Brother Alexander is instructor in Band and Orchestra at Xavier University and is a promising young composer Brother Fullilove was formerly a Rosenwald fellow and is now the Urologist at Flint-Goodridge Hospital Brother Perez is Associate Professor of Romance Languages at Xavier He was recently awarded the degree of Doctor of Philosophy at the University of Chicago
Sigma Lambda has lost several brothers to the armed services We are proud to have listed Brothers Captain James Felton Brown, Sergeant Peter W Clark, who is author of Arrows of Gold, Sergeant Marcus Neustadter and J Edwin Wilkins
Our own Brother William R Adams is President of the Staff of the Flint Goodridge Hospital, while Brother J L Procope is the Superintendent Brother Wesley Segree is Director of the School of Mid-wifery at the same institution
Brother A P Turead together with Brother Thurgood Marshall represented the local teachers as counsel in the recent successful salary-equalization suit Brothers Ferdinand L Rousseve and Percy B Creuzot served on an Advisory Citizens Committee in directing the suit
We list in our midst Brother Orland Moss, who was recently elected
to the Board of Directors of the People's Life Insurance Company, one of the oldest and largest in the state
We count, too, another Alpha man in the local Public School System, in the person of Brother Lester M Braden Brother Braden is instructor in Physical Education at Booker T Washington Comprehensive High School While speaking of the School System, another brother was elevate! to the principalship of the Rosenwald School He is Brother Charles B Rousseve Brother Rousseve is president of the Teachers Credit Union which he helped to organize He is aided in this work by our chapter secretary, Brother Walter E Morial who is the Treasurer and Manager Brother Morial is also secretary of the local Teachers' Association
We were glad to welcome back to oar fold Brother Leonard James, who was very ill at the beginning of September Brother James is instructor in Economics at Dillard, where Brother Rudolph Moses is Dean of the College and Professor of English
On New Year's Eve the brothers from the local chapters, Beta Tau and Beta Phi, sponsored a gala formal banquet at which the affable Brother "Billie" Adams was toastmaster
Recently Sigma Lambda was the host to the undergraduate brothers at a Smoker al the residence of Brother George Talbert Brother Talbert's basement has been called Alpha Headquarters
Mention must be made here of Brother Francis Hammond who is a candidate fur the Ph I), at the University of Laval in Canada Brother Hammond holds two of his degrees fr m the University of Louvain He is instructor in Philosophy at Xavier.
Sigma Lambda sends greetings to all brothers serving our country here and "over thereP' Fraternally,
WALTER E MORIAL, Chapter Secretary.
Omicron Lambda extends greetings and best wishes on the battlefields and on the home fronts:
We are going about our work in the old Alpha way Our chapter personnel has not been bothered thus far in 1943 by the selective service system However, since this global war has been in progress the follow-
ing brothers have gone to do their best for their country: Brothers William L Crenshaw, Tilford J Ford, and N S Purifoy
Our last social function came in early April It was "The Great Greek Gathering.'' All the members of the other fraternities and sororities were invited to come and bring their sweethearts, wives or husbands The committee in charge of this social was headed by Brother Wayman Matherson
The chapter is endeavoring to stress patriot! m all over the city
Many of the Brothers are investing in War Bonds and Stamps
Congratulations are in order for three Brothers They are—Brother and Mrs Major A Brown, proud parents of a baby boy; Brother and Mrs Charles O Webb, proud parents of a darling girl; and Brother and Mrs C H Haywood, parents of a tine boy.
Brother W E Shortridge, one of the "Magic City's" most progressive morticians, is a member of the Board of Directors of the National Negro Funeral Directors Association for the Advancement of Colored People for the Birmingham district We predict that Brother Hollins with his civic influence will increase the membership, and make the organization even more functional for the benefit of the race
Brother 'C L Shepherd, professor at Miles Memorial College, is also employed by the War Training Branch of the University of Alabama
The courses offered are in Engineering Science and Management Brother Shepherd is instructing a class in Foremansbip and Supervision
Brother Frederick A Curtis, civic and social worker of this city, made a recent business trip to Memphis, Tennessee
Brother H Lovell Mosely is president of the Greiter Birmingham Inter-scholastic Athletic Conference which recently sponsored a citycounty high school basketball tournament The officiating was done by Brother B A (Yack) Collins
All officers of last year were reelected to carry on the program of Omicron Lambda in an even better manner than in 1942
Omicron Lambda wishes for Alpha men throughout the world unlimited progress, so that when the "Lights Go On Again" Alpha men will again resume their places in the world and
help to make life more enjoyable for those who are to come after us
Fraternally yours,
Wm E (PETE) PETERSON, Associate Editor
Greetings Brothers:
Gamma Beta Chapter had lost almost a chapter quota to Uncle Sam this year On January 16th however, five neophytes, Brothers Paul Edwards, James Hayes, Curtis Higginbotham, Samuel Hill and John Matthews were duly initiated. The new members are each experts in their respective fields
Alpha is leading this campus as is true in all colleges with Alpha chapters
Each month an "Hour of Music" to which faculty members, members of the Pan Hellenic Council and others were invited to separate programs was sponsored The music on record has been the masterpieces of the Masters
We are well on our way to our Education For Citizenship program
Success to you all in the gluriiication of Alpha Phi Alpha
Fraternally yours, W S PARHAM
Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha:
The brothers of Beta Rho Lambda Chapter extend greetings and best wishes to all chapters and brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha Here's hope for a most successful year Our chapter membership has been greatly decreased because of the Army and others have gone to distant cities to find employment We are still carrying on in spite of these losses Men of Beta Rho Lambda have had the privilege of fraternizing with three of its most outstanding brothers in person of brothers: Dr Charles H Wesley, president of Wilberforce University: Dr Akiki Nyabonogo of South Africa and brother Dr Channing H Tobias of New York City These brothers were feted with a smoker and dinner with President Brother S S Booker, acting as host The chapter is very hopeful of a promising Sphinx Club this spring, which we hope in the near future will strengthen our memberbership
Brothers in Alpha are doing a splendid job in genuine service to our fellowmen wherever there is a chance for service Fraternally yours, CURTIS HOLLAND, Acting Editor
Beta Delta Chapter, State College, Orangeburg, S C, admitted ten new brothers into the fold They are: Herman 'Big Train' Davis, of Savannah, Ga., captain of the 1942 football team; Alfred 'Toney' Holmes, New York City, outstanding premedical student; Everett 'Cactus' Spillman, East St Louis, Illinois, business student and manager of football and basketball teams; John 'Mask' LaSaine, Charleston, S C Architectural Designing student; Charles 'Porkey' Manning, Columbia, S C, basketball player; George 'Gup' Thompson, Greenville, S C, licensed embalmer and funeral home director; George 'Little Cheese' Jackson, Charleston, S C, vocalist; Henry 'Mice' Holden, Toledo, Ohio, one of the main cogs in the wheels of our championship S C basketball team and voted the most outstanding player in the S. I. A. C basketball tournament; Charles 'Cherry' Penn, of Toledo, Ohio, one of the iron-constitutioned men on our practically fiveman team.
Greetings, Brothers:
The following officers were elected to direct the chapter for the current year:
Brothers Charles Okedas, president; Gayraud Wilmore, vice president; and Dean of Pledgees; William Jenkins, recording secretary; Robert Frazier, corresponding secretary; Wilbur Douglass, treasurer; L Harris, parliamentarian; Jesse Barber, chaplain; John Cooper, sergeant-at-arms; Thomas Jenkins, editor to the Sphinx; and Robert Hackney, Co-Dean of Pledgees
Brother President Paul Scott welcomed the neophyte brothers attending their initial chapter meeting The following men, representing the largest group of honor students in any of the
four campus fraternities, have passed into Alpha during the past year
Brothers John Cooper, Raymond Butler, James Patterson Lenard Harris, Ralph Brown, O Brown, William Jenkins, Robert Hackney, Thomas Jenkins, William Lightfoot, Albert Black, Fitzalbert Marius, Harold Pierce, Alphonzo Jordan, Charles Huchings, Robert Hawkins, Wilbur Douglass, Jesse Barber, Orrington Hall, James Nelson, and Myles Washington
Continued from page 11 death were given, but his parents, Mr and Mrs M H Tompkins, of Kansas City, Mo., received a wire stating that his death was due to an accidental gunshot wound
Brother Tompkins received his Second Lieutenant Commission in October at the Ordnance Officer Candidate school at Aberdeen Proving Grounds, Md Before going to the (> C S. I.t Tompkins was a member of the <>th Calvary when it was stationed at Camp Funston, (Cans. He was a native Kansas, graduate ot Lincoln high school, Kansas City, Mo., and attended the University of Iowa for three and a half years
Brother Dr Channing H Tobias, of New York, has been made a member of the Board of Directors of the National War Fund, which will undertake to raise and distribute adequate funds to meet the reasonable requirements of all approved war-related appeals, except the American Red Cross, through coordinated campaigns to be held next fall
Brother Norman M Perkins, of Cincinnati, Ohio, graduate of Cincinnati University, was commissioned as Second Lieutenant at the graduation exercises of the Adjutant General's School, Fort Washington, Md He was a staff sergeant in the Infantry when he entered the school
Brother Jenkins holds the A B., B S and Master's degrees from Cincinnati University He holds membership in the Foreign Policy Association American Historial Association and National Education Association When he was inducted into service, Brother Perkins was teaching in the public schools of Cincinnati
Brothers who desire to have their copies of the Sphinx under one cover—artistically and neatly bound to give distinctiveness and longer wear, are asked to get in touch with the SPHINX OFFICE for detailed information 390 Vz Beale Avenue Memphis, Tennessee
BY. REID E. JACKSON
SINCE, at the present rate of induction of college youth—particularly the Enlisted Reserve Corps—into the armed forces, the rosters of undergraduate chapter in our Greek-Letter organizations are being alarmingly depleted, it should become incumbent upon the parent body to perfect some realistically intelligent program to cope with this situation And, for the time, the vin expediency of the present state of affairs should dissipate any intrenched patterns or sentimentalities, ill cognizance of the universal idea that the "organization must keep going!" It is in the light of tins that your columnist broaches the following proposal to Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity (He only wishes that someone would tell him how a paper proposal of this sort could be translated into effective action In other words, what is the proper procedure to effect the reality of this particular plan, if it appears to have feasibility? Perhaps, a general officer will pen an answer;) In bare outline form, this is our suggested plan The Executive Council, through temporary enactment, (night direct that it become obligatory for all graduate chapters located in close proximity to an undergraduate chapter or chapters to consolidate the activities of these chapters, under the sponsorship and control of the graduate chapter As a natural consequence of such organic union, there would be a single corps of officers and a combined program of activity, stemming from the original areas of service for the chapters now absorbed into the new unit It should be understood, however, that local initiative and need would, in the final analysis, determine the full extent of the temporary units thus created. On the other hand, all forms for initial action should be developed by the Executive Council or its duly authorized representative and such forms, in turn, should receive the final approval of the Executive Council or its duly authorized representative A complete and changing roll of these units, as they become established, could be published in THE SPHINX
What is said here merely represents the spawning of an idea, in its most embryonic stage I am sure, though, that, if the proposal has any merit whatsoever, the fertile minds of all
Brother Tourgee DeBose, pianist, head of the Department of Music at Talladega College, was recently presented in a recital by Brothers of Alpha Beta Chapter, Talladega College, Talladega, Alabama His program, inclusive of compositions by Chopin, Debussy, and Liszt, gave essence of an unusual combination of romantic style with a dash of fire rarely associated with the tendered moods
Though his early advantages were quite meager, he was something of a prodigy, performing a Mendelssohn l oncerto when only fifteen. In later years he had had the advantage of both German and French tradition in piano playing His study with Carl Friedburg was particularly fortunate and when through the Rosenwald Foundation he spent a year with Cortot in Paris, he became an adherent of the
brothcrs in Alpha Phi Alpha could seize upon the essential details and expand them in a flowering form that would accord fully with the exigency which has prompted the proposal For those who might demand justification as to the worth of the plan might I say that the survival of Alpha Phi Alpha, or any other fraternal group, lies in the hands of those youth who now face an uncertain future and, hecause of this, are now being rendered emotionally unstable to guide their normal affairs—even when they are left on the campus! Now, then, is the time to demonstrate true brotherhood and give ballast to the befuddled movements of our younger brothers If any other argument is needed, none would hardly gainsay the advantage at least of safeguarding and maintaining the existence of the undergraduate chapters through these crucial days And, if a final argument is necessary, the graduate chapters, for the most part, have been culpable, in the past, in their interest and relationship to the undergraduate chapter; in fact, they have operated as "in different worlds." Should I remind you now that, even despite a war, Alpha Phi Alpha is one organization!
•
Front page 4
should be replaced by an avid interest in the personal and group problems of students, who enn be brought to trust and confide in the teacher
The pupils, too, must come in for
polished French style Consequently his playing of Chopin and the modern French school is quite distinctive
He has performed at all of the important colored colleges and several white universities More recently he was something of a sensation at the University of Notre Dame Musical America, the famous weekly musical journal, recounts five pianists worthy of mention and names Tourgee De Bose near the top of the list
Brother DeBose was affiliated with Alpha Phi Alpha through Eta Lambda Chapter located at Atlanta, Georgia In spite of the fact that there is no graduate chapter in his immediate vicinity Brother DeBose, as an affiliate of Alpha Phi Alpha, has not become laxed for he is a staunch supporter of the Brothers of Alpha Beta in all of their activities
a round of inspection. To the earnest teacher, the gigantic problem has been that of motivation How can we stimulate the pupil to study and display real interest and activity in the assignment? In the opinion of this writer, it is much a matter of attitude 'Consequently, the problem should be "dumped" squarely in the laps of students, since this is largely their own responsibility That students have attitudes is a foregone conclusion! Thev do not like the food in the dining hall! They do not like long and difficult assignments! They do not like to make "D" grades, even without study! They want more dances! They want more holidays! They want student government! These grievances may be variously classified as either real or imaginary; but, what is more essential, how valid are they?
Sad to relate, Negro College students—at least, the majority—do not seem to exhibit a genuine concern in the fuller purpose and significance of their participation in present society The narrow problems of one's own selfishly personal satisfaction loom unnecessarily large, for the typical college student Movies and social affairs are patronized in large numbers, while scientific lectures and forum discussions seem banned Greek letter organizations are desiderata, but religious groups and student chapters of such liberal organizations as the N. A. A. C. P. and Negro Youth Congress go begging for members To put it mildly, it is of
more than passing significance that there is no well-defined youth movement among both Negro and white students in America, which would cause them to voluntarily rise en masse and fight for their country and its ideals, like corresponding German and South American students
Some go so far to claim that an esprit de corp3 is lacking among American college students, no matter what the race About this, we are not so sure! Yes• there is a type of esprit de corps—a questionable sense of justice and fair play, which compacts the typical student body into a "clannish" group that will harbor no "tattle-tales" and thus shields any and all culprits, regardless of the magnitude and the consequence of the misdemeanor A true democracy should not shelter criminals Rather, it should endeavor, through self-discipline, to reorient the individual, in his attitude and relationship toward society
Here, then, is the crux of the controversy over student government While it is true that those who do not favor granting the opportunity of self-government to students may have some cause for their belief, it is equally true that student government must be progressively achieved, through a demonstration of worth by the student This means that the student should manifest a proper interest in the balance of everyday affairs—academic and otherwise—to the point that his own proficiency will constitute the best argument for his assumption of self-government From another point of view, the Negro student does not seem to be interested in longterm values It is always a question of "what am I getting out of this now?" rather than "what will be the ultimate good of this activity to my permanent development and status?" You, no doubt, may be able to fill in whatever gaps are evident
Any analysis of a school cannot omit consideration of the community which it serves Sometimes this community provides financial support for the school But even if the community does not finance the school, it is possible for the community to proffer other forms of support Why is it that a Negro College is usually unpopular in the very community where it is located? And why is it that community residents seem to derive satanic glee in "knocking" the school in their community? Have you ever played the game of "Truth and
Consequence?" The general fdea is to whisper a sentence into the ear of the person next to you and direct, in turn, that this message be passed on around the circle By the time this statement has gone the rounds, it is badly garbled and distorted, from its original context To put it briefly, this is the method of gossip Good word, likewise, might be guilty of exaggeration and glossing; but the best service is rendered to an institution when the honest word is circulated It is best, in this way, that a sound basis for improvement can be erected What I am saying is that the community should survey the services and needs of its school and dispassionately and, at all times, turn its every resource to the continued betterment of that school
Is it not just as easy for the townspeople to use that same energy for castigation in well-deserved praise? Of course, it is to be admitted that many schools and colleges, for Negroes, do not have a well-developed program of publicity and public relations So, the community often is unaware of what is going on in the institution which it surrounds Even though it is apropos that the community should inspect the school constantly, it is also advisable that the school should deliberately solicit the attention of the community; and we do not have in mind public programs for dress paradeI The school, in short, must interpret its whole program to the community and this must not be left to chancel
As Alpha Phi Alpha enters into this annual "Education for Citizenship" program, considerable care must be exercised that the event will not degenerate into still alnother occasion for platitudinous preachments from the platform To offset this, we must, at first, disabuse ourselves of any notion for publicity As a matter of fact, this is or should be one aspect of an overall program for the education of the Negro, designed according to those specifications which have been detailed above The sooner, in our opinion, the Negro realizes that his salvation is to be had in a realistic program of education, which grapples face-to-face with the problems of minority status, and the sooner that every activity of the Negro be projected upon an intelligent educational basis, and the sooner that all phases of Negro life become integrated into a unitarily functioning mechanism of purpose, spirit, and intelligent action
—not until then, will he be able to supersede the begging query "Quo Vadis?" with the positive assertion that "We Are Marching On The Road To DemocracyI"
From page 5
Homes, member of "Jobs for Negroes" •Committee, member of Schoolmen's Club of Greater Cincinnati, and member of Committee of Management of the Ninth Street Y M Q A
Brother Fleming, in church life, was active on the membership roll of Bethel Baptist Church
Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha, Greetings:
h is a privilege for Mu Chapter to extend greetings to all brothers throughout Alpha Phi Alpha.
Mu has held very successful meetings at the homes of Brothers Earl Weber, Henry Thomas, Claiborne Hill, and William Casshis. We decided to meet only once a month after many of our brothers entered the armed forces, but so much enthusiasm developed that the brothers voted to return to the system of bi-monthly meetings.
We were glad to receive word from brother Archie James, who is taking Officer Training at Camp Davis, North Carolina
Candidate Brother Robert Gardner corresponds with regularity. Brother Gardner is located at Miami Beach, Florida. Best wishes to you Bob, and to all Alpha men in the services.
Brother C W Washington, secretary of the Minneapolis Urban League, had a very fine and well attended annual meeting of the League on March 23rd at the Minneapolis Y W C A Judge William Hastie addressed the meeting April 12th marked the thirty-first birthday of Mu No doubt many minds thought of the last birthday celebration which will stand for a long time in the memories of the brothers and the people of the Twin Cities
We had a social at the home o( Brother and Mrs Earl Weber for the brothers and wives or company, on April 30th This was our anniversary celebration
Fraternally yours, JOHN R LAWRENCE, Jr
of Chapter
Who Have Answered The Call To The Colors
Print full names, (Rank and Company if possible) of all brothers now in the armed service on blank lines below. Tear this page from Sphinx and return to the Sphinx Office.
NAME COMPANY RANK
We have suffered a severe attack of "draftosis," at N 'C College, as is Inn- at most campuses Our membership which was small last school year, was decreased by three-fourths in this attack Our small number has not proved handicapping in all respects We organized without delay and began working A smoker was given for all male freshmen and new students Dr Alphonse Henninberg, of Beta Theta Lambda, delivered in an informal way, a talk on The Negro After the War Brother Henninburg preferred not to use the platform for his talk, but the bays gathered around him while he advised them of the best ways we could contribute to our racial progress after the war The punch and chicken salad sandwiches topped the evening. Until you hear from us again, Fraternally yours, WARD PARHAM
Alpha Iota Lambda Chapter has been progressively active this year following the impetus given the group agenda by the retiring chapter president, Brother Thomas E Posey
At the initial meeting of the year the following roster of officers was elected: President, Leonard Barnett, principal of Washington High School, London, West Virginia; Vice-president, Felix Warren, of the faculty of the State Deaf and Blind School, Institute, West Virginia; Secretary, Andrew H Calloway, Aassistant Superintendent of Public Schools, Kanawha County, Charleston, West Virginia; Assistant Secretary, Lawrence V Jordan, Principal Teacher Training High School, West Virginia State College, Institute, West Virginia; Treasurer, David Scott, Charleston, West Virginia; Reporter to Sphinx, John F Matheus, head Romance Language De-
partment, West Virginia State College, Institute, West Virginia
Honor guests at this time were First Lieutenant Samuel Evans, of the R O T C, West Virginia State College; Second Lieutenant James Kidd, Engineer Corps; Second Lieutenant Paul Waller, Quartermaster Corps; Brother Richard Hopson, recently a navy recruit
Brother J A Pittman, of the Department of Mathematics, West Virginia State, was also introduced
At subsequent meetings at the homes of several brothers, the chapter has committed its deliberations to promoting activities of local and national racial benefit Efforts were made to get the State Legislature to appropriate money for the building of a Vocational High School for Negro students The just participation of Negroes in the war efforts has been the concern of President Barnett and his corps of officers ,-, , , fraternally yours, JOHN F MATHEUS, Reporter
57 BETA XI—LeMoyne College, Memphis, Tenn.; President James A Barber, 1597Davis St.;Cor Secretary, Carl C Poston; 1829Kerr Street
58 BETA OMICRON—Tennessee State College, Nashville, Tenn.; President, Edward W Reed; Secretary, Jesse W Miller, Tennessee State College
69 BETA PI—Lane College, Jackson, Tennessee; President,LeRoy Suttles; Secretary, William Longdon
60 BETA RHO—Shaw University, Raleigh, N C; President, Claud Whltaker, Jr.; Secretary, Milford Taylor, Shaw University
61 BETA SIGMA—Southern University, Scotlandville La.;President, Huel D.Perkins; Secretary, James L.Robinson, 'Southern University
62 BETA TAU—Xavler, NewOrleans, La.;President, JohnHolton, 7249 Dixon Street; Secretary, Joseph Boyer, 1126North Roberson
63 BETA UPSILON—State Teachers College, Montgomery, Alabama; President, Lindsay Fields; Secretary, William Kim ber
64 BETA PHI—Dillard University, NewOrleans, La.;President, Harold Lucien; Secretary, Robert S Scarborough
65 BETA CHI—Philander Smith College, Little Rock, Arkansas; President, Tullis E V Freeman; Secretary Theadore Walters
66 BETA PSICHAPTER—Oxford, Cambridge, London Universities, London, England; President, Dr C B Clarke Belfleld House, NewBarnet, England; Secretary, N A Fadlne 43 Calthorpe Street, London, England
67. GAMMA ALPHA—Texas College, Tyler, Texas; President, Travis L Carr, II; Secretary, Thomas Quails, Texas College
68. GAMMA BETA—North Carolina College. Durham N C• President, J E Chaplin: Secretary, M W Akins North Carolina College
101 ' to 8f8M s Dfi^L^Uvl\Ule « Ke ? tU( *y: President C Milton WOmsby Street ! Secretar y- Louis J -Harper 1753
102 BETA LAMBDA—'Greater Kansas City, Mo.-Kas.; President, Elmer Jackson, 359 Greely, Kansas City, Kas.- Secretary James A Jeffress, 1824Paseo, Kansas City Mo aecTe™ry'
103 GAMMA LAMBDA—Detroit, Michigan; President, Dr Walter Harmon, 210E Davidson; Secretary, Grover DLanee 607 Adams Avenue, E *' ,JXOVer u - ^ange,
104 DELTA LAMBDA—Baltimore, Md.; President j»m K H ^ r R h o D 'e^ 8 Street Carey ; *«"«*• * ™ W?iSgtf5SK^:
105' lv
4204 W Cote Brilliante " ™°™"ey,
106 ZETA LAMBDA—Newport News, Va.; President T Roeer Thompson, 641Hampton Avenue; Secretary, Fernando'Brown 2411 Jefferson Ave "
107 THETA LAMBDA—Dayton, Ohio; President, Llovd G Phillim 617 Randolph Street; Secretary, Robert H Snow 2404 McCall St
108 ETALAMBDA—Atlanta, Georgia; President, AG Moran 673 Greensferry Avenue; Secretary Leroy Carter' University Homes, Fair Street, Southwest ' univeisity
109 IOTA LAMBDA—Indianapolis, Ind.; President ArnoldC Banister, Jr Senate Avenue Branch YMCA; Secretary John Mansfield. 724Blake Street. No.114. "ciary, jonn
110 KAPPA LAMBDA—Greensboro, N C; President VanceH Chavis 1001 Benbow Road; Secretary, Frederic A Jackson 427 Bennett Street
111 MULAMBDA—Washington, D C; President Geores w Peterson, 604D Street, N W.;Secretary G Frederick <?tan ton, 611Irving Street, N W *' rreaericK stan-
112 NU LAMBDA—Virginia State College, Etterlck Virginia- President, Harry V,' Roberts; Secretary, Charles J Wart man, Jr
113 XI LAMBDA—Chicago, 111. President, Dr E K McDonald 5624 S State Street; Secretary, Alton M Child nTfiM Calumet Avenue ' •"• ,ie0 J
114 OMICRON LAMBDA—Birmingham, Alabama- President w Lovelle Mosely, 1204First Court, W.; Secretary CharlVs Shepard, 13-10th Avenue Phone: 6-8429 ^iianeo
115 PILAMBDA—Little Rock, Ark.;President, Atty J RBooker „ 1522Cross Street; Secretary, J D Scott, 1115West'lSth St"
116 RHO LAMBDA-Buffalo N Y.; President! Robert W Edwards, 310Purdy; Secretary, H Daniel Lone 131Soruce
117 SIGMA LAMBDA—New Orleans, La.,President Benson M Boutte, 2536 S Galvez St.;Secretary, Walter E Morial,1433
118 TAU LAMBDA—Nashville Tennnessee- President r w W^oM " " P ' aCe : SeCTetary ' Alfre d ^alSwa^;
119 UPSILON CHAPTER—Jacksonville, Fla.; President Georee W Cabaniss, 1823Louisiana Street; Secretary M'BConpage, 105E Union Street y ' ' '^ o p
120 PHILAMBDA—Raleigh, N C; President, Walker H Quarles Jr., Shaw University; Secretary, R. Herndon Toole lOOSs' Person Street '
121 CHILAMBDA—Raleigh N C: President, Raymond O Dickerson; Secretary, Clarence Harvey Mills Sr Wllberforre University Wllberforce Ohio wnoeriorce
122 PSI LAMBDA—Chattanooga, Tennessee- Provident- T T P430.T'E tftnVreft 9t h StVeet ; ^c^tary^^^Bynes.-
123 ALPHA ALPHA LAMBDA—Newark, N J- President Lawrence Willette 137Stevens Street, Belleville, N J.;'Secre-
„, ia T r yw Art£j£..W1]1iams13 6 "ncoln, Montclair N J
124 ALPHA BETA LAMBDA—Lexington Ky.; President, F L Baker, 629N Upper St.,Secretary, Dr H A Merchants,126 DeWeese St
125 ALPHA GAMMA LAMBDA—New York, N Y; President Frank A Walker, 450St;Nicholas Avenue; Secretary Vester G Fowlkes, 2816Eighth Avenue
126 ALPHA DELTA LAMBDA—Memphis, Tenn.: President, Lewis O Swingler, 390'/2 Beale Ave.;Secretary, Walter P Guy,Jr., 353 Simpson
127
ALPHA EPSILON LAMBDA—Jackson, Miss., Pres., Everett R Lawrence Tougaloo College, Tougaloo, Miss.; Sec,AlanT Busbv Box176,Alcorn, Miss
128 ALPHA ZETA LAMBDA—Bluefleld W Va.: President, Dr Percy G Howard; Secretary, Edward W Browne Bluefleld
129 ALPHA ETALAMBDA—Houston, Texas: President Dr J W Davis, 419'/, Milam St.,Houston, Texas; Secretary LeePerkins, Prairie View, Texas
130 ALPHA THETA LAMBDA—Atlantic City, N J.; President Ferdinand C Newton, 217N Jersey Avenue; Secretary Arwin A Hamm, 124N NewYork Avenue
131 ALPHA IOTA LAMBDA—Charleston, West Va.; President Leonard Barnett, London, West Va.; Secretary, Andrew H' Calloway 229Bradford St. Charleston, West Va
132 ALPHA KAPPA LAMBDA—Roanoke, Virginia; PresidentDr George A Moore, 106Wells Avenue, N W.; Secretary' Dr' L C Downing, 8047thStreet *'
133 ALPHA MULAMBDA—Knoxville, Tennessee; President N A Henderson, 123 E Vine Avenue; Secretary M'D'
,,„ ?reSi?r' 213 4 EVin e Ave -Knoxville, Tennessee '
134 ALPHA NU LAMBDA—Tuskegee Institute, Ala.; President LA Derblgny; Secretary Harry J Romm
5AI iF H A X I LAMBDA—Toledo, Ohio; President, LeoVEneVsh_ 61 , 4 Tecumseh St., Secretary Charles Peoples 858 Avondale Avenue
136 ALPHA OMICRON LAMBDA—Pittsburgh, Pa.;President Dr Robert C Bclden, 3539 Butler Street; Secretary'WilburC Douglass 518FourthAve
137 ALPHA PILAMBDA—Winston-Salem, North Carolina- President J Monroe Walker, Jr.; 800Cameron Ave.;Secretary- Delbert H Banks, 614W 241-2St
138 ALPHA RHOLAMBDA—Columbus, Ohio; President A DeV Crosby, 265N 22nd Street; Secretary, Begagy T Benton 246 ClarendonAve
139 ALPHA SIGMA LAMBDA—Dallas Texas; President HI ?J?}l&t£- ?,913 T noma s Avenue Secretary, S W Hudson, Jr^ 5211 KeatingAve
140 ALPHA TAULAMBDA—Tulsa, Oklahoma; President Dr R C Bryant, 360N Frankfort Place; Secretary, j Tvler Smith, 124N Greenwood Street ' *
141 ALPHA UPSILON LAMBDA—Montgomery, Alabama- President, C T Simpson; Secretary, J M Reynolds, State' Teachers College
142 ALPHA PHILAMBDA—Norfolk, Virginia; President Joseph L Jones, Currituck County Training School Snowden N C; Secretary, Thomas W Young, 721Chapel Street' Norfolk, Virginia
143 ALPHA CHILAMBDA—Augusta, Georgia; President L D Perry, 2033 Milledgeville Road; Secretary, John M Tutt' 1108 Phillips Street
144 ALPHA PSILAMBDA—Columbia, S C; President, Dr Robert W Mance, 1429Pine Street; Secretary, FrederickH Dedmond, Allen University.
145 BETA ALPHA LAMBDA—Jersey City, N J.; President John B Frazier, 57>/2 Jewett Avenue, Jersey City, N J.; Secretary ,„« D,?Jia nd J-Henderson, 269Clinton Street, N E.,Orange N J
146 BETA BETA LAMBDA-Miami, Florida; President, Robert Haith, Jr.,1025N W 2ndAvenue; Secretary, LeoA Lucas 6306 Northwest 14thAvenue ^ucas,
147 BETA GAMMA LAMBDA—Richmond, Va.;President, John W Riley Virginia Union University; Secretary, Curtis Crocker, 214E Clay Street
148 BETA DELTA LAMBDA—Daytona Beach, Fla., President Charles J Greene, P o Box1789;Secretary, Dr HErnest Hartley, 6242ndAve '" *-rnest
149 BETA EPSILON LAMBDA—Wewoka, Oklahoma- President I Bole;dOkTanriomfUmka' ° klahoma ^ SecretarT^ Ashley;
Kso^^M ^ B' TalhltLlacolr UnM &
151 BETA ETALAMBDA—Oklahoma City, Oklahoma; President Lee Edward Lewis, 918N E 6thStreet- Secretary wmi,™ W Johnson, 2506 N E 15thStreet secretary, William
152 BETA THETA LAMBDA—Durham, N C; President James T-v.Tay , lor ; 210 6 Fayetteville Street; Secretary (ActfS? John E Payne, 1204Fayetteville Street (Acting), 153 BETA IOTA LAMBDA—Baton Rouge, La.;President Russell W Smith Southern University, ScotiandvilT,™Li* Se^rtSr?
154 BE'TA KAP^'MC 61 ? , University, Scotlandville La ? '
154 BETA KAPPA LAMBDA—Charleston, S C: PresidentDr M.D'.,P^0VlCS om 5i2 ng An s Str?etStreet: S ^*ary, E D.USS&gS; 155. BETA MU^y^^f^^he^^reit's'^,, 0 ^ Pr6Slde ^ Secretary, Re/.'W &&£? & if&S^fc ^
156 BETA NULAMBDA—Charlotte, N C• President Secretary, Clinton L Blake »« i i'«t» S?1, „ gSi GF-Woodson Jr 2112w TrlL ^tr P i? anCla l Sec">157 BETA XI LAMBDA-Omaha Nebraska• £L* „
158 ' W^erTK,? B^wlSl^Tralnln, IT ^ * *
,„„ Kellev 1H3th Street, Troy NY Wesld ent, George B ?r y 212 EndWaVhf,LCOilege' G t°^ - slcretfry'wS Scott 1fi5 n™/ 1 ™,?- T WaIburg, Savannah, Georgia ecott BuJr ?St LAMBDA-Muskogee, Oklahoma, President L C FondulIeafs'treek ; lah°ma; Secretar y. Harry' M. HoSg'e,L'80C8
166 - ^itri%^T3 Au^^r^-» ssssr-j*man. 708E.48th Street secretary, Rufus S. Nor167 GAMMA ALPHA LAMBDA—Charlottesville Va• P r «M.„t Leander J Shaw 215Massie Street, Lexington Vi^n?,'' VST ' A ' R 'Ware ' Jr40 9 NAugust a Strgeetn'sTaugnton: 168 GAMMA BETA LAMBDA—Kentucky State College Frankfort ftaie '"eSldent A ' W ' Wright ; Secretar y- ^ Coigns' Kem^cTy
169 GAMMA GAMMA LAMBDA—Greenville, S C• President B W Anderson, 125Fall St.,Office No 5- Seattov ifi«'K^' Edwards, Jr.,107Wardlaw St secretary, Jii e s R
390^4 Beale St-, Memphis, -:- Tennessee
jj^* Return Postage guaranteed If not delivered In 15 days.
In wartime there is little excuse for ignorance of the branch of the military service to which a soldier belongs. Note the lapel buttons of the enlisted man and the insignia on an officer's collar. Then study the symbols shown above. It is good memory exercise. Next time you see him you'll know whether he fights with the infantry, builds bridges with the corps of engineers or is an officer on the general staff.