Activities Among Negroes
This week has been history making for the women of the United States, because ten years ago March 20, 1920 in Chicago there was born the "National League of Women Voters." The fight to win the suffrage for women had been steadily waged from 1848. The white women during all these years had linked their fight with the anti-slavery movement. It was very trying to them to witness the freeing of one million Negro slaves and later given the right of suffrage, when they who had fought to bring this condition about were compelled to wait 50 years longer.
But during these 50 years many Negro women of education, and courage joined these white women in the struggle among them Hallie Q. Brown, of Ohio; who lectured in the United States and England on "Votes for Women" while Mrs. Ida B. Wells-Barnett of Illinois lectured with the late Susan B. Anthony. Other Negro women who are now recognized national leaders were Mrs. Elizabeth Lindsey Davis and the late Mrs. Irene Coins, both of Chicago, and Mrs. F. A.T. Kerry, of Oakland, Mr. Joe Brown of Des Moines, Iowa, and Mrs. S. Williams of Savannah.
When the National League of Women Voters was organized in Chicago many of these women remembered how their rights were denied them for 50 years because of the Negro question were not willing to have the Negro women enter as members of the organization. After hours of debate, one of their number, a social leader of Chicago, asked the late Mrs. Irene Coins to speak a word in defense of the Negro women. Mrs. Coins told this correspondent when she (Mrs. Coins) was in Oakland as a delegate in attendance to the National Association of Colored Women's convention in 1926 that "after working for so many years to win the right of suffrage for all women, at this particular time her heart was saddened," and instead of speaking in behalf of the Negro women voters, they began singing a negro spiritual.
Other Negro women joined her, making it so impressive that there was not a dry eye in the audience of thousands of America's best women. In that audience was one Negro woman.
The California women voters won suffrage before the United States amendment was passed which granted to all women the right of suffrage. They organized in California, "Civic Centers." They did not enter the national league, so I have been informed, for at least a year after its organization. The same question of the "Color Bar" being raised. But through the diplomacy of the president of the Negro Women's Civic Center, they were admitted. On this coast among the pioneer workers of Negro women for the right of franchise were such outstanding women as Mrs. Tilghman, Melba Stafford, F. Henry, and Miss Mira Simmons, of San Francisco and many others. The women members of the "Alameda County League of Colored Women Voters" in an effort to show their appreciation to their president, held a birthday party and listened to the broadcasting of the program of achievement of the" National league from New York by Mrs. Carrie Chapman Catt, Mrs. Catherine Luddington, and Miss Bell Sherwin, from Washington. After which they served their birthday party in the Edining hall of Linden branch Y. W.C. A. A program was prepared for the occasion by Mrs. Dixon. Musical numbers were rendered and Mrs. Tilghman delivered an address covering the struggle for "Votes for Women" in California. At the conclusion Virginia Stephens and Miss Alston, a recent graduate in nurse training were introduced.
NEGRO HEALTH WEEK
This afternoon at 3 p. m. the Sixteenth annual observance of National Negro Health week will be opened in Oakland with a mass meeting in Taylor Memorial M. E. church, Twelfth and Magnolia streets. The pastor, Rev. H.T.S. Johnson, will serve as chairman. The observance has been endorsed by practically every Negro organization in Oakland. Mrs. Bertha Allen chairman of the committee of the colored group, public welfare league states the meeting will be addressed by Dr. Harold Trimble, specialist on tuberculosis, and a representative from the Social Hygiene association. The public will be welcome.
YOUNG WOMEN'S MUSICAL
The Young Women's auxiliary of Fifteenth street A. M.E. church under the leadership of Mrs. Gladys D. Brown, will present Mrs. Leota Anderson in song recital on Tuesday evening, April 1. Mrs. Anderson is a product of local music teachers, a former member of the Etude musical club, and a member of Fifteenth Street A. M. E. church choir, when two years ago they won first honors in a choir contest.
ROLAND HAYES SINGS
Oakland citizens were privileged to hear Roland Hayes in a song recital last Saturday evening in the Oakland municipal theater. He is rendering a great service for the race in his concert tours, first, because he is a recognized artist, and because of this world recognition, he never lowers his high standard of program or will he sing until he is accorded the same respect as other artists. Roland Hayes' singing of "Old English Ballads," and his "Japanese" number were fine. But many liked him best in the singing of Negro spirituals. There are today throughout the United States many Negroes who are employed on broadcasting programs. This is a splendid opportunity to do the race an exceptionally fine and valuable service.
U. N. I. A. ACTIVITIES
The organization known as Universal Negro Improvement association, hold weekly meetings in their own hall, Liberty hall, in West Oakland. Last Sunday was Divisional day. Felix Beckford, treasurer, presiding as master of ceremonies. A musical and literary program was rendered with the juvenile department, taking an active part. The current topic, national, state and international were explained by G. E. Inman, after which the address of the afternoon, was delivered by Joseph Johnson, who spoke on the "Economic Situation of the Race in Oakland." This was followed by a select reading of the biography of Roland Hayes, Negro tenor and commented upon by W. A. Dan the "Ethiopian Anthem" was sung. This afternoon will be observed as "Foreign Relation Day."
JUNIOR N.A. A. C. P.
The junior branch N. A. A. C. P. held an enthusiastic meeting last Sunday afternoon at which time Mrs. Dixon, their sponsor, called attention to a picture in the current issue of the "Crisis" a reproduction of a painting by Elinor Paul, one of their members who won the Crisis art contest for 1929. She is now the art editor for this magazine, while still attending Junior College in Sacramento. She also spoke of Miss Dorothy Gray, president of the organization having won the Crisis contest on essays. Her winning essay was published in January issue of the Crisis.
The organization presented Mr. Dawson, the organizer and sponsor for several years, with a token of appreciation.
This organization will debate with the College Lyceum on Sunday afternoon, April 13, in the Linden Y. W. C. A.
The third reciprocity meeting of the Northern California district Federated Colored Women's Clubs will convene all day Wednesday April 2, in Bethel A. M. E. church in San Francisco.
Activities Among Negroes/Sun, Mar 30, 1930 30 Mar 1930, Sun Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com
