Race and Place Newspapers
The Reflector
Newspaper InformationLocation: Charlottesville, Virginia Date of Publication: April 21, 1934 (Tuesday) Frequency: weekly
Article Transcripts
Page 01
Column 01 Negro Faith on Decline Transcript of Article
Several years ago a famous columnist of our race startled America when he released for publication in a journal of international
repute an article
entitled, "Black America Begins to Doubt". The author showed by facts and figures that church attendence was on the decrease,
that intelligence
had won over superstitution and, in short, that the new Negro was no longer willing to abide by the philosophy of his forebears,
which was,
"Take the world but give me Jesus."
Our church circles were shocked and immediately took exception to most of the charges made, while members of other races could
hardly
believe that a people who had done so much to keep Christianity in tact, was really its lack on this one obvious characteristic.
Hundreds of pages
flowed into press rooms all over the world, some lamenting this seemingly deplorable outlook of the Negro on a very essential
issue and others
attempted to justify the conditions by citing the disregard of "The brotherhood of man theory" which gives racial prejudice
the prominence that
should be allotted to The Golden Rule. Still another group offered entirely different version from the above-mentioned and
blamed the skeptical
attitude on a restless, jazz-crazed, insane society, fresh from the smell of blood on the battlefield of Europe, that had
forgotten God temporarily.
Is Negro faith really on the decline? Has church attendence decreased? Is science replacing religion in the Negro's life?
Does Cab Calloway or
Duke Ellington occupy a greater space in the heart of the Negro than Gabriel and his illustrious trumpet? Has the Negro's
hardships really shaken
his faith in God and His salvation?
The answer to the first question seems to offer an answer to those that follow.
There is a pet illusion, overworked by the people; it is those who are not in the church are somewhere else serving the devil,
or to put it another
way, every Sunday activity is an evil one except that of attending church. Church attendence is most assuredly decreasing,
if we are to believe
reputedly, reliable statements. Churches began failing twenty years before our last panic and have continued to do so at a
ratio of about
twenty-five for every one bank in our country. This is easily understood by the fact that there are many more churches than
banks, but this truth
proves at least that economic conditions did not interfere unnaturally.
Negro church attendence has decreased becasue the Negro's faith has declined not in God, but in a weak, insincere clergy,
incapable of
defending the vitally essential program, and lacking in the first requisite which the wise St. Paul so boldly declared that
he possessed when he said
"I know whom I have believed".
Summary of Article The author asserts that Negro faith has decreased "not in God but in a weak insincere clergy" who have urged blacks to be
content with the old saying "take the world but give me Jesus."
Column 03 Open Letter to the Washington Park Committee Transcript of Article
An Open Letter to the Washington Park Committee.
Honored Sirs:
It has been well over six years since Mr. McIntire gave the Negroes of this city tract of land on Preston Ave., known now
as Washington Park.
Just a few moments after the grant was made the City Council called you gentlemen together and informed you of the gift; it
was slight contention
at that meeting, we understand, over just what man would be best suited to head the committee or a matter to that effect.
We weren't there so
cannot discuss that phase of it at any length.
Shortly after satisfactory agreement was reached in your body, you proceeded to give benefit dances, accept club and private
donations and let
the grounds out for barbeques and other purposes in attempts to create a fund.
After the small show left the park grounds during the early fall of 1932, your interest apparently ceased and the most that
we have been able to
hear was a very indefinite statement made by one of your members in a mass meeting last last year concerning the promise of
the City Council to
help erect a building on the grounds.
Gentlemen, the City Council of Charlottesville selected you because of your merits and the Negroes of the city were well pleased
with its choice
because we felt you more than capable of doing the task entrusted to you.
Your six year reign however has been very unsatisfactory, and individuals are wondering about small donations given; clubs
are anxious for an
explanation and the citizens in general would like to know what you intend to do. Right here may we add, even if they weren't
wondering and
even if they didn't want an explanation, your position, one of public trust, would most certainly call for some sort of reckoning
after a lapse of six
years.
If you find it inconvenient to release a signed published statement in regards to the present financial standing of the fund,
your past activities and
your present plans, then why not call a mass meeting, rid yourselves of the obvious burden and give the people of Charlottesville
a chance to
show their appreciation for the generous gift of Mr. McIntire by appointing an active and capable park committee.
In conclusion may we add, this is not an attempt, gentlemen, to do but one thing, and that is, to start action that may lead
to the development of
Washington Park, a much needed project in our city that has apparently escaped your notice.
Summary of Article An article urging the development of Washington Park and lamenting that the City Council of Charlottesville had ignored the
area despite six years of ownership and several chances for development
Page 02
Column 01 Jefferson School Notes Transcript of Article
Century of Progress, Theme Patron's Day Exhibit.
Many and varied were the types of units worked out in the two Jefferson Schools. It was interesting to note the interest that
various classes showed in this work.
Early in the fall, the Principal, Mrs. C.B. Duke, named the unit, and expressed the desire that each teacher work her unit
on some phase of a Century of Progress. Then, those who were taking the course in Curriculum Revision, under Mrs. Rose Butler
Brown, Directress of the Department of Extension, began an intensive study of unit work.
There were various types of units, for example: The Senior Class concentrated on "A Century of Progress in Negro Education
in Charlottesville". The pupils collected pictures and data from venerable residents of the city. They wrote themes and made
posters to that effect.
The Junior Class worked out a unit entitled, "A Century of Progress in Democracy." Their activities included a visit to the
City Hall for statistics dealing with population and the evolution of the voter's interest.
The Sophomore Class had a unit in History and one in English. In History the pupils showed a Century of Progress in War. Their
scope covered the Civil War and the World War. To this end they built a sand table upon which they reconstructed a scene of
both Wars. They also made posters. For their English class, their unit was "A Century of Progress in Newspaper making". The
members of the class collected news papers dating from 1834 to 1934. Then they formed two editorial staffs, and edited two
newspapers, one called the Jefferson Chronicle and the other, The Jefferson Gazette.
The First Year Classes have been studying investiments, so their unit centered around "Miss Freshman's Boudoir", emphasizing
the fact that one should not buy beyond his means.
The Science Class concentrated on "A Century of Progress in the Conservation of life". The students made posters and wrote
themes to this effect.
In the Seventh Grade, they worked out a very interesting unit on Communication and the Sixth Grade on Transportation. They
used sand tables, themes, and posters to emphasize this.
In the Fifth Grade, the "Heart of Virginia, the Historical center of the Nation" was worked out.
In the Fourth Grade, the unit centered around "How the Indians Lived", and in the third "Holland and the Dutch People". The
second year worked on a health house and took for their theme the Preservation of Health.
Mrs. Dorcia B. Johnson's unit was centered around sewing and industrial arts.
Summary of Article An update on the latest activities of Jefferson School, focusing on a school wide project called "A Century of Progress."
Column 03 Delux Glee Club to Make Formal Bow, April 30th Transcript of Article
The Deluxe Glee Club, a male chorus of twenty voices, under the direction of Mr. J. Franklin Brown, will make its first public
appearance on Monday evening, April 30th at 8:30 in the auditorium of Jefferson High School.
This organization came into being during the earlier part of the year and has for its major purpose the presentation of Negro
Spirituals and Melodies in the original manner.
The various popular arrangements have been discarded by this club and at the debut in the Jefferson High Auditorium next Friday
night we shall hear a group of our best known and most beautiful songs rendered with the same rhythum and deep feeling that
placed them on a pinnacle in the world of music and caused them to be condeidered as one of the outstanding contributions
of our race.
No other work of art has undergone the humiliating changes imposed upon Negro Folk music. Various modern conceptions of jazz,
wild tempos and soulless renditions by artists, incapable of portraying the intended sincerity of the Spirituals and melodies,
tend to destroy the real purpose and mar the beauty and charm that so clearly bespeaks of a Race, its faith in God, and its
love for nature.
These songs are expressive of the slave in the field, the patient christian who had and still has faith in deliverance, on
the jolly, carefree stevedore, strumming his cares away.
The DeLuxe Glee Club is striving to preserve all of the original sincerity of purpose depicted in the Negro's most valuable
contribution to the world.
Summary of Article A commendation for The Delux Glee Club for presenting Negro Folk Music and "preserving all of [its] original sincerity of
purpose."
Page 04
Column 01 Old Dominion Dental Society Transcript of Article
(With apologies to Dr. J.A. Jackson for personal remarks)
Week before last, our city was host to the Old Dominion Dental Society. What an asset this convention was, to our city. If
nothing else were enumerated, the inspiration allotted to our young people is really worthy of note. Without any attempt at
exagg eration I have heard about ten young men and women express their desrie to become dentists. Dr. J.A. Jackson and Dr.
B.A. Coles deserve great credit for their unselfishness in planning the public meeting which gave the citizens a chance to
listen and learn from those experienced Doctors of Denistry, whose advice was really worth listening to.
A more intelligent and creditable looking group could not be found elsewhere. They deported themselves with a decorum, born
of culture and dignity. This in itself, made our young people square their shoulders, and emulate that which was displayed
by these visitors.
It is no secret to anyone within the city, about Dr. J.A. Jackson interest in young people. For the past four years, he and
Dr. Coles, both members of the Omega Fraternity, have presented to the graduate of Jefferson High, who has maintained the
highest average in English, a prize consisting of a five dollar gold piece. At present, through these two gentlemen, the members
of the Old Dominion Dental Society, is offering a five dollar prize, apart from the annual award to the graduating class,
to the pupi l in any grade who writes the best paper by Dr. Fred Moton, State Clinician, at the public meeting on Thursday
night. Word has been received that many are preparing essays for this contest.
I only wish that more people were visibly interested in the advancement of the younger generation. It is easy enough to say
"I love young people and am interested in them", but when it is a question of what have you done?, you must remain silent,
unless you remember your criticisms of youths running wild, without offering any substitute.
Now let us enumerate some of the visible signs of Dr. Jackson's interest. (1) I have been told by students that his outer
office is always available for groups who wish to study. (2) We know of his hard struggle to organize and gain recognition
for the local Boy Scouts, who use his farm in Union Ridge for a regular meeting place. (3) We have discussed the prize offered
jointly by our two dentists. (4) In the midst of his plans for the Old Dominion Dental Society, he made a place for the yound
people. If you want to know the man he is, talk with his children, and you'll find they are filled with him.
Summary of Article An article commending Dr. J.A. Jackson for his interest in, and action for the Black youth of Charlottesville, and a call
for other people in the community to support the youth in a similar way.
Column 03 Advertisment Transcript of Article
Jefferson
Home of the BIG Pictures
TODAY AND SATURDAY
KATHERINE
HEPBURN
He had no right to love her........but he couldn't resist! Neither can you, when she casts her spell!.......the witch girl
of the Blue Ridge, whose savage flames of love set fire to the mountains!
"SPITFIRE"
with
ROBERT YOUNG
RALPH BELLAMY
MARTH SLEEPER
Summary of Article An advertisement for the Jefferson Theater.
Page 05
Column 03 Boy Scouts Program Transcript of Article
The following program was rendered by the local Boy Scouts of America, Sunday, April 15, at the Ebenezer Baptist Church:
Boy Scout Prayer....Franklin Jackson
Poem-"A School Boy's Troubles"....James Wesley
Topic Discussion-"Follow Me"....Maurice Upshaw
Paper-"Helping Others"....James Gault
Selection..........Boy Scout Quintet
Poem..........Lloyd Quarterman
Boy Scout Oath........Roscoe Taylor
Paper-"Service of Boy Scouts"..Charles Taylor
Selection..........Boy Scout Quintet
Poem..........C.D. Allen
Poem..........Mr. Porter (Bard of Charlottesville)
Solo..........Mr. T.W. Edwards
A large audience enjoyed the program put on by the youngsters. Summary of Article A copy of the program given by the local Boy Scouts of America at Charlottesville's Ebenezer Baptist Church in April, 1934.
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