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NEW NEGRO OPINION NEW NEGRO OPINION WASHINGTON'S PROGRESSIVE WEEKLY OFFICIAL ORGAN OF THE NEW NEGRO ALLIANCE Published Weekly by THE NEW NEGRO ALLIANCE, Inc. 2001 ELEVENTH STREET, N.W. PHONES DECATUR 4237 EUGENE DAVIDSON Editor 2 Pennies Per Copy; 100 Pennies Per Year; 150 Pennies Per Year Outside of the United States Saturday, August 11, 1934 THE PASSING OF FORRESTER WASHINGTON With the resignation of Forrester B. Washington from the position of Director of Negro Work for the F.E.R.A. the Roosevelt New Deal Administration, as well as the colored race, has suffered a definite loss. Roosevelt's ideal of a New America, which may differ from the idea of political leaders under him, demands men, black and white, like Forrester B. Washington. As a member of the mythical Black Cabinet Mr.Washington leaves behind him characteristics which should be, but probably will not be, imitated by those remaining. His training in the field of social work and his thoroughness as an executive were the least of his good points. The race and the New Deal administration have lost more than a good executive. They have lost a real man who fits in well with a changing order. Although verbose and undiplomatic Forrester Washington is definitely a race radical. He came into office with no political stirring attached t ohim. He did not seek the office and so had to accept no compromises on the race question to keep it. He was in the unique position of having as his only interest the welfare of the race which he is identified. He surprised and worried some of his fellow members of the Black Cabinet by his blunt refusal to visualize the Negro as anything less than an American citizen. With a Rooseveltian flair for the dramatic he was a sepia bull in a china shop of race and prejudices and injustices. As Forrester Washington passes into official history a race is praying for more men of his type to bear the banner of fearless justice in a social revolution. THE NEW BEAUTY OF HOWARD Since seeing is believing, it will be some time yet before the general public realizes what the federal public works program is meaning to Howard University. The beautifying and fencing of the University grounds, although a comparatively small undertaking, has added much to the appearance of the campus. The new classroom building and the new chemistry building, now under construction, represent a much larger outlay of money and much needed additions. A central heating plant and a new library are also projected. In a time of national depression when schools and colleges all over the country are unable to meet current running expenses, many closing their doors, it is a great thing that Howard is able to carry on the most ambitious building program in its history. Credit for the generous allotment of the public works funds to finance this program is due in part to the interest of the public works administration in the project. Unsympathetic public works officials could easily have refused to allot so much money for undertaking in connection with a single institution. Credit is also due to the officials of the University who had a well worked out building program prepared for execution. Just at the time when the public works administration was seeking useful projects which could be undertaken quickly so that men could be put back to work, Howard was ready with a program to fit the bill. The University on the Hilltop will soon be a place its sons and daughters and friends can point to as one of the best equipped schools in the land. - H. Persons and Affairs... By William H. Hastie The mole, burrowing under ground for generation after generation has become blind. The man who lives alone and does not use his voice will lose the power of speech. Many of us have been surprised after recovering from an illness to learn that we are unable to walk. In the law we find that rights, like physical powers, which are not exercised for a long time, may be lost. It sometimes seems to me that the Negro runs serious danger of suffering the same fate as the mole and other unfortunates who lose what they do not use. This occurred to me most recently at one of the frequent open air entertainments which are held throughout the summer on the Monument Grounds at the Sylvan Theater. Or course, everyone is not interested in singing, dramatics or dancing as presented at the Sylvan Theater. But the number of Negroes interested is far larger than the number who attend these entertainments. Some time ago I heard a comment made upon the very small number of Negroes who, when traveling by train, take advantage of the dining car. Of cohrse, this is a somewhat different case since meals on trains are expensive and we often have hardly enough money for railroad fare alone. But even at that very few Negroes who can afford to eat in the diner do so. These are only two of the many familiar examples of our failure to use the privileges we have. After a time, when we are never seen at places, it comes to be understood that those places are not for us, and the privilege we had is lost. This staying away from places has a very bad effect upon us. We become uncomfortable in public places where we are not surrounded by other Negroes. We feel that we do not belong in such places. We develop the very sense of inferiority and the very consciousness of "our place" which Negro haters have been trying to each us for fifty years. Few of us have failed to experience that timidity at times. Many of us hesitate to go into the wash room on a sleeping car, particularly below the Mason and Dixon line. I have twice observed porters on trains entering Washington slipping Negro passengers into the washroom when no one else was there. They meant well, but were doing very badly. Not a small part of the task of the Negro in America is learning to walk without timidity, neither looking for trouble nor avoiding it, and taking full advantage of the privileges of citizenship wherever he may. The New Deal AND THE Rural Negro IV. by VICTOR H. DANIEL No task of reconstruction in America or elsewhere is more vial that the task of rural community building. And because about eighty per cent of the Negro population of this country are rural dwellers, it is very important that those entrusted with carrying out the ideals of the New Deal, as applied to the [[torn page]]at industry of agriculture, see to it that the rural Negro receives every assistance and encouragement which will enable him to do his full share in the reconstruction of rural life. Any attempt to develop rural life those section where the rural Negro dwells, which does not include his well being will be a travesty of social and economic justice. Such an attitude would be concrete evidence that those in charge of the agricultural rehabilitation program hove failed to catch the spirit of the President and the First Lady of the land. Both of these persons have given sufficient evidence that they are sincerely interested in the social rehabilitation of all of America, and, that they are conscious of the fact that the black man on the land is entitled to the fullest benefits of the New Deal. Social reconstruction of rural America will require turning back the hand of the clock against all kinds of social and economic discrimination that are at present in vogue against the rural Negro. Unless this is done the south must make up its mind to remain under the economic disadvantage she has so long labored under. By now it should be clear to the South that the unprivileged Negro is a liability to her; but that this same Negro, if given a new deal along social, economic and political lines, can be turned into a great asset. An asset that will outrival much of the foreign trade which this nation is at present stifling its own agricultural business to obtain. The potential purchasing power of the rural Negro is a factor that the New Dealers of the South might welll think of as they plan for the future. If the South expects to enter fully into fulfillment of the ideaology of the New Deal as it applies to the great industry of agriculture it must be prepared to rid itself of many anti-social and un-American practices. Unless the South is prepared to do this it must be prepared to remain economically and spiritually mribund forever. Death Claims Boy In Channel Walter Butler, 13, of the 100 block of D Street, S.W., was a victim of accidental drownnig last Friday in the Washington Channel at the foot of Tenth Street. P.W. Martin of the No. 3 Engine Company recovered the body after nearly an hour. Efforts of the Fire Rescue squad failed to revive the boy. He had ben swimming with other boys. Haitians Rename Street For Roosevelt By Capital News Service CAP HAITIEN, HAITI. - Twentieth Street here will be renamed Avenue F.D. Roosevelt in honor of the recent visit of the President of the United States, it was announced by city officials here last week. The New Dealers in the South must forever turn their backs upon the misguided Negro leaders who are base enough to advocate or consent to wage differentials for the underprivileged black worker. The social reconstruction of all America will be delayed in the same proportion as the spirit of the New Deal is kept from entering into the humblest abode of the black man who toils in the rural areas of America. What Others Think Texas On The Spot In excluding qualified Negro voters from participation in the July 28th primary election, Texas Democratic officials put themselves firmly on the spot. In two decisions the United States Supreme Court has declared that Negroes cannot legally be prevented from voting in the Democratic Primaries in Texas. The United States District Court in El Paso has handed down a similar decision. Nevertheless Attorney General Allred of Texas, himself a candidate for the gubernatorial office, gave orders that Negroes should be barred from the polls. In many cities this was done. In reply to a protest from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People, the Department has asked to be supplied with affidavits from egro voters testifying to this exclusion on sole basis of color. The affidavits are being collected and some have already ben sent to the Attorney General of the United States. Two things can now happen. Either the Department of Justice will fail to act, which is very doubtful, or the Texas vote officials will be prosecuted which is very likely. It seems that Texas is definitely on the spot. If she can get out of this present predicament, she is a wonder. Pittsburg Courier PROGRAM OF THE NEW NEGRO ALLIANCE To improve the economic and civic status of the Negro through: 1. The securing of positions which will increase the earning capacity of our group. 2. The securing of opportunities for advancement and promotion in positions secured. 3. The uniting of the purchasing power of the Colored people to be used as a lever in securing economic advantages. 4.The creation of bigger and better Negro business through increased earning power of Negroes, through a better business outlook resulting from contact and experience with successful businesses now run by Negroes to higher levels of efficiency and service. 5. The concentrated support of all businesses which employ Negroes or in which Negro capital is invested. 6. Research and investigation which will discover and thoroughly anlyze the possibilities for Negro Business and Negro labor in new fields.
