Race and Place Newspapers

The Reflector

Newspaper Information
Location: 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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