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Race and Place Newspapers
The Reflector
Location: Charlottesville, VirginiaArticle Transcripts
Date of Publication: December 16, 1933 (Wednesday)
Frequency: weekly
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Transcript of Article
Lest We ForgetI picked up a newspaper yesterday and, while scanning the pages, I noted advertisements stretched from one end to the other of several pages displaying "Xmas" specials. Just who is "X" and what does Xmas mean? Once upon a time, Christmas was observed in celebration of the nativity of Christ. The wisemen brought precious gifts and laid them reverently, at the feet of the little child who was distined to bring light and understanding to a world that was darkened by doubt, misgivings, misunderstanding and cruelty. He came with no thought for personal glory or self-aggrandisement, he asked for no material compensation or recognition, he loved man and in the light of that love, he wanted to make good the plan of salvation.
Lest we forget: We call this important day, Christmas, because we are mindful of Christ's birth. We moderns, in the mad swirl of reducing everything to its simplest form, to receive the most with the least expenditure of e nergy, I fear, are losing sight of the significance of the word and heedlessly call it Xmas. "X" may mean anything but the beauty and reverance in the sacred name of Christmas which reminds us that He was born for our redemption. We may substitute "X" for an unknown quantity in Algebra, or "X" for an unnamed "village" but let us, in faith, give the day celebrating the advent of our Saviour, full, unmitigated respect and, as far as possible remembrance and call it Christmas.
Lest we forget: Sir Launfal beheld in the grimy beggar "an image of Him who died on the tree". It would probably seem too ideal to remember the blessed day of the year, but in memory of His birth and His divine goodness, le t us forget gift for gift, let us close our eyes to materialism and take the "X" out of Christmas and put a dime into the hand of the needy, in the name of Christ.
Summary of Article
Reminds readers that Christmas is a religious observation not just a marketable holiday.
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Transcript of Article
Dr. Clarke Forman's Advice to the NegroDr. Foreman was formerly associate director of the Julius Rosenwald Fund. He resigned that position after being of great service to the Negro race, and at present he is employed in the department of Secretary of the Interio r, Harold L. Iches, as Adviser on the Economic Status of the Negro. This enables him to render an even greater service to our race.
Last week, he made a speech in Greensboro, North Carolina, that coincides in many respects with that which "The Reflector" has been preaching since September. In part it was as follows: "Of the three billion dollars set aside for relief through its various channels, the government has already distributed two hundred million dollars. None has been asked for by Negroes". This means, of course, that we are allowing opportunities to pass that may never come again. Some Negro communities will realize this and take the proper steps to secure the funds for libraries, welfare club houses, sidewalks, new streets and to pay off mortgages of long standing and back taxes.
That kind of help is well needed in our city. We could use better streets, real sidewalks that would aid in the brightening of our residential sections and make them better places in which to live and at the same time, provide employment for hundreds of men who are now idle. But there is a primary step that must be taken in Charlottesville. Men and women must think together and act together in order to realize the advantages of community organization. The sure way is through an AMERICAN CIVIC LEAGUE.
Summary of Article
Calls for the people of Charlottesville to follow the advice of Dr. Forman, of the Julius Rosenwald Fund, and "think together and act together" in the creation of an American Civic League.
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Transcript of Article
Do You Know This One? Answers on Page 5 Column 3
1. Who is Kelly Miller?
2. What Negro composer recently wrote a symphony?
3. Who is Claud McCay?
4. Who is Nathaniel Dett?
5. Who was the first American to shed blood in the American Revolution?
6. Which one of the Romantic Poets wrote an ode in honor of a Negro General?
7. How many grade A colleges, for Negroes, are there in Virginia?
8. How many Negro men and women are engaged in journalism, in America, as a means of livelihood?
9. How many lynchings have occurred in the United States since 1927?
10. Does Virginia have an anti-lynch law on her statute book?Answers
Summary of Article
1. Dean of men at Howard University also an author.
2. Professor Dawson of Tuske and submitted the same to the Philadelphia Symphony Orchestra.
3. Negro short story writer of note.
4. Former head of department of music at Hampton Institute famous composer and arranger of Negro Spirituals.
5. Crispus Attuchs, runaway slave and volunteer soldier who was struck by a British soldier for making an insulting remark to the group of farmer-soldiers who had gathered to oppose the king's troops. He was shot down after doing this. There is a monum ent erecteed in his honor on the British Commons.
6. William Wordsworth. In 1803, he wrote a short ode commemorating the famous Negro General, Toussaint L'overture.
7. Three. Virginia State College, Union University and Hampton Institute. There were four until last year when Virginia Seminary was dropped from the list of accredited colleges.
8. There are three thousand, four hundred and fifty-two Negro men and women in journalism as editors, feature writers reporters and instructors.
9. The known lynchings since 1927 are one hundred and nineteen. One hundred and four were Negroes, and the remaining fifteen, whites.
10. Yes. The bill was passed and became effective in 1928.
A quiz on influential African Americans and other information important to Charlottesville's black community.
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Society Notes of CharlottesvilliansDr. and Mrs. J. A. Jackson, Mrs. Roland Poindexter, Messrs. Charles Thomas and Jack Jackson and Miss Love Jackson motored to Lynchburg Sunday. Mrs. Jackson addressed the Elks at the celebration of their "Day of Sorrow."
Miss Ione Seay Edgar has returned to this city after having visited relatives in Richmond, Va.
Mrs. Maude Bell, who has been indisposed at her residence on Sixth St. is convalescent.
Mrs. Roberta Woolfolk, who has been ill for some time, is improving.
Mr. and Mrs. Horace Moon left this city Tuesday for Florida where they will remain during the winter.
Mr. Robert Sellers, who has been quite ill at his residence on Tenth Street is able to be out again.
The "Smarter Set" had a call meeting at the residence of Mrs. E C. Heiskell last Monday afternoon for the purpose of making final arrangements for the holiday dance.
In the "Cake-walk Contest" held last Friday night in Cabell Hall at the University of Virginia, Mr. Aston Barbour and Miss Rosa Fagans were winners.
Mrs. Nellie Jefferson entertained the Dorcas Club Friday evening of last week at her residence on 101/2 St.
The funeral of Mr. Thomas Carey was held Saturday at the J. F. Bell Funeral Home.
Mrs. Mary Fields visited friends in Washington Sunday, December 10th.
Those who visited relatives at Saint Emma Institute in Rockcstle, Va., Thanksgiving day were: Mr. and Mrs. Samuel Scott, Mr. William Scott, Mr. Albert Ahart, Mrs. Sophie Harris, Mr. and Mrs. Stewart Fuller and Misses Rosezellia Fuller, Pearl Douglas, Ara bella Houston, and Fannie Fuller.
Mr. and Mrs. Nelson and Miss Martha Price are the houseguests of Mr. and Mrs. Walter Gilmore at their residence on Tenth Street.
Miss M. Otelia Abbott is ill at her residence on Dice Street.
Messrs. Thomas Martin and J. O. Banks spent Sunday in Bolling Green, Va.
Mr. and Mrs. William Myers and their son, Wm. Jr. were the guests of Mrs. M. B. Taylor, at her residence on Sixth St. They returned to their home in Petersburg, Va., Sunday night.
Miss Wana Williams of Connecticut, is the houseguest of Miss Fannie Whindleton of Booker St.
Those who formed the party which motored to Gordonsville Sunday are: Misses Constance Kelly, Evelyn Jones, Virginia Brown and Mr. Ivan Brown. They were the guests of Mrs. Dora Walls, formerly of this city.
Mrs. Bertha M. Sloan, who has been visiting her mother, Mrs. Linda Kelly and sister, Mrs. H. K. Henderson of Page Street, has returned to her home in Baltimore, Md.
Miss Audrey Abrams is indisposed at the home of her parents on Anderson St.
The M. M. S. C.'s met at the residence of Mr. Charles Fagans last night.
Mr. George L. Johnson, music specialist from New York City, has been training a choir of approximately two hundred voices. These rehearsals will culminate into a music Festival which will be staged in Cabell Hall, University of Virginia, December 20.
Mr. Charlie Roberts of Booker Street met his death suddenly last Monday.
"The Jolly Twenty-Four Social Club" met at the residence of Mrs. Cora H. Brown last Monday night. After the business meeting the guests partook of refreshments served by the hostess.
Messrs. James Henderson, Ashur conn, and Hunter Jasper, spent Thanksgiving with relatives in this city.
Mr. Charlie Becks of Washington, D. C., spent Thanksgiving with his mother, Mrs. Geo. Meade on Gordon Ave.
Summary of Article
Various local announcements detailing the activities of Charlottesville's black community, such as family travel plans, members in the community who have been ill, and choir rehersals.
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Transcript of Article
Jeffferson School Notes-A Christmas StoryNancy Hendred stood gazing into the toy shop, wide-eyed with admiration. How she should like to have a dress and a book or two for Christmas. Sister Alice would surely like a dolly and mittens and Baby Pug, as John was cal led because he had a little pug nose, needed a cap and would be perfectly satisfied with a toy car or a "choo-choo" train. But most of all, Nancy wished to give her mother the extra-small set of shelves with half dozen cups, saucers and plates. How deli ghted and suprised her mother would be. It was priced at two dollars and fifty cents.
Little Nancy's face fell as she remembered father away working in a camp and mother struggling at home to make ends meet. The little desolate figure presented a very pathetic picture as she stood in front of the bright toy shop. She unconsciously attracted much attention as any little girl of ten looking wistfully in a toy shop window would attract attention. Nancy was startled out of a reverie when a kind looking lady put her hand on her shoulder and asked her to take c are of the dearest little baby in a very pretty carriage while she, the mother, was shopping in the toy shop. She promised to give her a quarter for her trouble. Nancy's eyes fairly shone with anticipation. She would do that every day, only she wouldn' t wait for the people to ask her. She would go up to them and timidly say, "the store is so crowded today, mam, will you have me watch your baby while you are inside shopping".
Each day she would, as she told her mother, take Pug out for a little walk. Her real purpose for carrying Pug along was to appeal to the sympathy of her "customers". And it worked, for Nancy made as much as seventy-five ce nts one afternoon. So, by Christmas eve, she had almost a fortune. She counted her money and found out that she had eight dollars and thirty-five cents! Just think! Two weeks' work and $8.35. And how many babies had she cared for while their mothers were shopping? As far as she could count, it amounted to about thirty or forty babies.
On Christmas Eve, daddy came home and took Nancy and Alice with him to do the shopping. When Nancy confided to him what she had done, he was overjoyed. She had enough to buy nice gifts for all and on Christmas day, she ha d the pleasure of seeing all of her family visited by Santa Claus.
Summary of Article
A charming story about an industrious young girl who saves Christmas for her family.
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Open Forum- The Strange Case of Mr. XIn a certain little town of around three thousand Negro inhabitants, an empty handed but ambitious lad of nineteen or so, started a peanut and shinestand business. All odds, to begin with, were against this youthful merchan t. His peanuts had to be purchased in small lots and they were often stale when he finally had sale for them. This did not encourage the unfortunate buyer to stop that way again. His second-handed shine-stand was wobbly and made threatening sounds when ever any one sat on it. His little shop was just a hole, but because of its location, the rent was very dear and the landlord was deaf to excuses. Yes, he started with the odds against him. However, this chap was a spunky kind of fellow who took all of the rotten breaks for jokes and kept saying to himself that things would surely brighten up, and they did.
The peanut eaters of the town began to realize that even though stale, the peanuts bought at that little shop tasted better than those purchased elsewhere. Maybe it was the lad's cheery smile; or maybe it was his apparent indifference to hard times and bum breaks or perhaps "the brotherhood of man" spirit was creeping into the hearts of the passersby. Anyway, his peanut business began to pick up. Fastidious men and women noticed, at the same time, that his shine on their shoes were more brilliant and that the gloss lasted longer. So, despite protests from the wobbly old shine-chair, that groaned and creaked when one sat upon it, his shoe-shine business increased also.
Mr. X, reader of all Negro journals, Sunday School teacher and as he colossally described himself "a one hundred percent race man", noticed the long line of church goers waiting for shoe shines early one Sunday morning, as h e was on his way to teach his Bible class, he decided that he would stop in, on his way back. So, as he was getting his usual Sunday shine, he asked the lad about the general conditions of his business. Bubbling over boyish gless at his success, the lad answered, naming a small sum as his weekly profit.
Mr. X left the shop that morning, but on the following Monday, he did not stop in for his weekly bag of peanuts, nor did he get his Wednesday night shoe shine, in fact, he never came to the shop again. It was a mystery to the lad until a friend solved the problem of Mr. X's conduct by repeating a statement made by the "one hundred percent race man". "That boy is doing fine in business. Why he makes nearly as much as I do. Well, no more of my nickels will help to make hi m rich." And Mr. X was true to his vow.
Summary of Article
An allegorical story about Mr.X, who doesn't help his fellow laborers due to fear of competition.
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