ACTIVITIES AMONG NEGROES
A wedding of considerable interest in colored social circles in Oakland, Chicago and New Orleans was that of Miss Ethel Portia Craigg, daughter of Mr. und Mr. John Craigg, of Berkeley, to James Leon January, of Tillitson college, Austin, Texas. The event took place Easter afternoon at 4 o'clock in Saint Augustine Episcopal church with Rev. Father D. R. Wallace officiating.
Preceding the wedding procession, Mrs. Alice Ford, sang "Ava Maria" followed by Mrs. Grace Sexals, who sung "I Love You Truly." The wedding march was then played by Miss Irene Sears. The bride was attended by the following sorority sisters: Miss Helena Harper, maid of honor: Mrs. Greta Branch, matron of honor: and the following bridesmaids; Miss Onleta Lilly, Grace Morgan, Melba Miller, Francis Richardson and Gladys Claridy. The bridegroom was attended by Langston Branch as best man: George Johnson. Richard Clark, and Nillie Wysinger.
The bride wore a white organdie dress made with pointed lace yoke of rare old lace, with full length circular skirt. Her cup shaped veil of white tulle was outlined the entire length with seed pearls and rhinestones. And fastened on either side of her coiffure with a cluster of orange blossoms. She carried Immense cluster of calla lilies. The only jewelry he wore was a necklace and earrings of pearl, family Jewels.
The bride is a social favorite. During her schoolgirl days, she was first a member of Girl Reserve, then Girl Reserve advisor, and president of the T. M. T. M. club. During her college days a member of the Phyllis Wheatly Literary club and the Delta Sigma Theta honor sorority of the University of California. She is a native daughter of Oakland, attended the public schools here and the Saint Margaret’s school for social services in Berkeley and the University of California.
After leaving the university she went to Chicago where she immediately found employment as a teller in the savings department of Douglas National bank: later accepted a position in the Health Clinic of Dr. Regional Smith, where she successfully passed the Chicago City Health examination, retaining this position for over a year. Her mother is one of the members of the Louisiana Commercial association of northern California.
CORNERSTONE LAYING
An impressive ceremony was that of laying, the cornerstone of North Oakland Baptist church Easter afternoon, by the Most Sovereign Grand Lodge of Masons for the California Jurisdiction as the guest of the hostess lodge. "West Gate F. and A. M. of the city of Berkeley. Practically all outstanding Negro Masons in California, together with representatives from other fraternal organizations attended. Grand Master Theodore Moss of San Jose a presiding officer selected Grand Orator L. J Williams of Vallejo to deliver the oration of the day. He said in part: "that the established custom of laying with Masonic honors the cornerstone of prominent buildings for state, benevolent and educational purposes has a beautiful significance. It has an awakened inquiry and approval not only among the intelligent business and philanthropic men, whose vigilance in all moral and financial matters we highly esteem, but it has entered the calm and sacred retreat of church world, with a sentiment akin to religious enthusiasm and has become a fixed principle among thinking and sincere religionists. It is a means of concentrating the mind on religious duty and as such would have a tendency to make all who identity themselves with such work publicly interested in laying the foundation of every temple and church which is erected for the dissemination of moral truth being the highest and noblest aim of all teaching."
THE BUILDERS
The thing that is interesting the general public in regard to the erection of the North Oakland Baptist church is the fact that it has been the direct means of proving to the citizen of northern California that among its many Negro citizens, there are some who have been trained to do just such work. But because of prejudice, they are unable to find work. The drawings of the plans for this new church were donated to its pastor Rev. G. C. Coleman by one of the outstanding architects of Oakland, Charles McCall, who is also lending a helping hand in supervising and building.
But the erection of this church has been done by Negro workmen with a few exceptions. It has been a big help to the unemployed in this group of people. The question will be asked "Are they qualified?”
You may judge this from the following sketch.
George Martin, formerly editor of Oakland Independent, is a general contractor. He was educated in the trade in Clark University of Atlanta, Ga., later went to Chicago, where he entered the Northwestern University in Evanston, IIL., and he won a degree in law. At the same time he filled a position as clerk in the post office in Chicago for six years after which he came.
During his college days he was founder of the first weekly collegiate paper in a Negro school in the United States (The Courier of Clark University). Later he went to Houston, Texas where he became National Deputy of American Woodman, covering the entire southern states, Illinois and Missouri. He also became one of the founders of the Ogen Banking company of Houston, Tex.
Assisting George Martin in the erection of North Oakland Baptist church is G. J. Wildy who is superintendent of construction. He is a graduate of a trade school in Jackson Mississippi, coming to California with 20 year experience as a builder, having built some of the finest buildings in Little Rock, Arkansas. Since coming to California, he has constructed the Second Baptist church of Vallejo and the Star King apartments in San Francisco.
The stucco and plastering of the church is being done by Jim Johnson, a graduate from the trade school department of the Negro college at Petersburg, Va., and Hampton Institute, Va. Previous to coming to California he was engaged in selling lumber. The attorney for North Oakland Baptist church is John D. Drake, a graduate of Howard University who at the request of the board of trustees is looking after their Interests.
UNEMPLOYMENT
Th following is an extract from a recent news release sent out by the National Urban league: "The condition of employment among Negroes are not improving and in some sections of the country are apparently worse. In the opinion of T. Arnold, director of the Department of Industrial Relation of the National Urban league which had recently completed a nationwide study of Negroes in the industrial centers of the United States. Hill said that at no time in the history of the Negro since slavery had the economic and social outlook seemed so discouraging. The present period of unemployment is sapping the foundation of Negro family life and undoing the work of years in the development of economic independence. The records of Family relief organizations indicate an alarming increase in the number of Negro families wholly dependent on charily in almost every city in the country. Continuing he said there is an abundant evidence that in the public works program of the various states and the national government Negro workers are receiving scant contribution and it is a not uncommon practice in some cities to deliberately oust Negroes from the job in order to make room for unemployed white. The practice, which obviously will not solve the problem of under employment has further demoralized family life and make more difficult the task of rehabilitation. In every city the percentage of Negro unemployed is four to six times as high as the rate for the city as a whole. Unless there is some definite planned effort to extend to Negros the opportunities for reemployment which are being projected by various public and private agencies, the plight of the Negro for the next decade will be wretched indeed.
NEGRO EMPLOYMENT BILL
Telegrams to two New Jersey assemblyman, Speaker Joseph A. McGinnies and Irwin Steingut were sent to Albany on Tuesday by the national office of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People asking support of the measure introduced by Assemblyman J. E. Stephens, which would prohibit color discrimination in employment by public utility companies. The telegram signed by Walter White, N. A. A. C. P. secretary reads a follows:
"May I on behalf of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People and speaking for the Negro citizen of New York State, strongly urge upon you and through you upon New York State Legislature passage of Assembly Bill No. 1627 introduced by Assemblyman J. E. Stephen, the purpose of bill being to prohibit discrimination by utility companies on account of race or color in the employment of persons in the operation or maintenance of a public service. During periods of unemployment and financial depression the Negro citizen is particularly the victim of discrimination and is usually the last to be hired, and the first to be fired. Such discrimination by public utilities is notorious. No special privilege is being asked in this measure, but solely the right of the Negro to employment on the same basis as other citizens. Negro voters of the state and their friends are following with keen interest action from New York legislature on this measure.
Activities Among Negroes/Sun, April 12, 1931 12 Apr 1931, Sun Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com
