The SPHINX | Spring February 1955 | Volume 41 | Number 1 195504101

OFFICIAL ORGAN

OF

FEBRUARY INC.

VOLUME 41

1955 NUMBER 1

Vivid Stories and Pictures Depicting Scenes and Actions At The 1954 Convention

February 1955 Volume 41, Number 1 The best available copy of this issue was scanned The following pages have sections cut out: 3,4,5,6,21,22,25,26 and pages 35-36 are missing

ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITY, Inc. GENERAL OFFICERS

SPHINX STAFF

EDITOR-IN-CHIEF General President: FRANK L. STANLEY, SR., Box 1558, Louisville Defender, Louisville 1, Ky. W. Barton Beatty, Jr. Western Vice-President: SAMUEL P. DeBOSE. 2671 Lacuesta Drive, Hollywood 46, Calif.

ASSISTANT MANAGING EDITORS Southwest Vice-President: J. S. CHANDLER. lllVz South Second Street, Muskogee, Okla.

J. Rupert Picott, W. Byron Rumford Midwestern Vice-President: JULIUS C. JUDKINS, JR., 240 Colonial Building, Richmond, Ind. FUN EDITOR Eastern Vice-President: J. RUPERT PICOTT, Clay Street at Fourth, Richmond 19, Virginia.

O. Wilson Winters Southern Vice-President: LEWIS O. SWINGLER, 546 Beale Avenue, Memphis, Tennessee.

EDITORIAL DIRECTOR—Milton S. J. General Secretary: JAMES E. HUGER. 4432 South Parkway, Chicago 15, Illinois.

Wright. ASSISTANTS—Hugh M. GlosGeneral Treasurer: MEREDITH G. FERGUSON, 925 Eleventh Avenue, North, Nashville 8, Tenn. ter. Rayford W. Logan, Howard Long, Editor-in-Chief. THE SPHINX- W. BARTON BEATTY. JR., Box 352, Phoebus, Virginia Frank L. Stanley, W. Wesley Whetstone, Thomas W. Young.

Director of Educational Activities: WILLIAM H. HALE, Clark College, Atlanta, Georgia.

General Counsel: BILLY JONES, 342A East Broadway, East St. Louis, Illinois.

STAFF EDITORS—Edward W. Brooke, Robert P. Daniel. John Hope Franklin, Historian: CHARLES H. WESLEY. Central State College, Wilberforce, Ohio.

Jacob R. Henderson, Lionel H. NewChairman. Audit Committee: W. D. HAWKINS, JR., Fisk University, Nashville, Tennessee. som, J. Saunders Redding. A. Maceo Chairman, Budget Committee: KERMIT J. HALL. 5000 Woodland Avenue, Philadelphia 43, Pa. Smith, Charles V. Willie, Stephen J. ASSISTANT VICE-PRESIDENTS Wright.

WESTERN—Carlton A. A. Dias, 947 Broderick Street, San Francisco, California • SOUTHERN— CONTRIBUTING EDITORS—Carlton H Brodes H Hartley Jr Florida A. and M. University, Tallahassee, Florida • EASTERN—Jerome Lee, E. E. Alexander, Robert J. An W Lindsay. Howard University. Washington, D. C. • SOUTHWEST—H. Rudolph Sims, Box thony, Rufus B. Atwood, Waldo W 9414, Southern University, Baton Rouge, Louisiana • MIDWEST—Alvin H. Townsel, 293 Eliot E. Blanchet. Oscar C. Brown. Archi Street, Detroit, Michigan. bald J. Carey, Felton G. Clark, Hen ry M. Collier. Jr., Edgar Epps. Wit JEWELS liam L. Fitzgerald. Nelson R. Free Henry A. Callis. 2306 E. Street, N. E.. WashALPHAS 1955 FOUR man, Rudolph Henderson. George W, ington, D. C ; George B. Kelley. 1-113th Hunter. Nelson C. Jackson, Francis POINT PROGRAM Street, Troy, N. Y.; Nathaniel A. Murray. 2151 J. Johnson, Francis A. Kornegay, Mar West 21st Street, Los Angeles 18, Calif.

Pay for National cus A. Mahone, Horace W. Melvin. A, OMEGA: Charles H. Chapman, Robert H. J. Polk, Ramon S. Scruggs, Clarence Headquarters.

Ogle, Vertner W. Tandy, Eugene Kinckle B. Shelton, C. E. Simmons, Jr., Leroy Jones.

Reclaim Brothers.

A. Simmons, Everett Singleton. Robert CHAIRMEN. STANDING COMMITTEES L. Smith, Walter D. Spann, H. Theo Pay National Tax. Tatum, J. G. Thornton.

EUDGET—Kermit J. Hall. 5000 Woodland Ave., Register and Vote.

Philadelphia 43, Penna.

AUDITING—W. D. Hawkins, Jr., Fisk University, Nashville, Tenn.

GENERAL COUNSEL—Billy Jones, 342A East Broadway, East St. Louis, 111.

OTHER CHAIRMEN—Chairman for the Election Commission and the following committees will be chosen later during the year: Housing, Programs and Recommendations, From: T h e Director of Educational Activities Charter Achievements and Awards, and Ritual.

Memo to: All Chapters and Brothers Subject: Our Education and Citizenship Campaigns

DEADLINE DATE «

May Issue The Sphinx «

APRIL 1 1955

NATIONAL EDUCATION CAMPAIGN Dates: Sunday April 24 through Sunday, May 1, 1955 Theme: "Knowledge: The Basis of Freedom" Behind the selection of this theme is the notion that people cannot be ignorant and free. It has been repeatedly demonstrated that the liberation of man's mind is a necessary first step in the freeing of his body.

NATIONAL CITIZENSHIP CAMPAIGN Dates: Sunday, October 23 through Sunday, October 30, 1955 Theme: "Citizenship Ignored Means Citizenship Lost."

Here the emphasis is upon the assumption of the responsibilities of citizenship in a democratic society. Eternal vigilence and action are still the safeguards to right.

Education and Citizenship are hand maidens of freedom. One of our responsibilities as a Fraternity is to encourage them both. Bring these dates and themes to the attention of all the Brothers in your chapter and keep the idea constantly before them.

Begin today making plans for the most effective campaigns ever waged. " Discuss the themes in Chapter meetings, appoint a committee and see that a good program of activities gets underway. If the good society we all envision is to become a reality we who have been privileged to enjoy the benefits of education must help to achieve it.

DEADLINE FOR SCHOLARSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP APPLICATIONS, SATURDAY, MAY 7, 1955.

Official VOLUME XLI

Organ

of

Alpha

Phi

Alpha

Fraternity,

Incorporated

FEBRUARY, 1955

Pattern of Life In America for A Century Has Been Changed

NUMBER 1

UJou

IvluSn

t

I ll'iSS . . .

Page

Fraternal address to the Fortieth General Convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Miami.

Florida, December 28, 1954.

By JEWEL BROTFIER HENRY A R T H U R CALLIS X ^ T this Convention of the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity in Miami, we might be expected to exult in a gay celebration of May 17, 1954. The occasion of the unanimous decision of our Supreme Court against segregation in publicly supported schools warrants rather that we pause to consider the implications of this historic decree. Under the Constitution of the United States of America this judicial act has all the force of law from which there can be no appeal. The pattern of life in America for a century has been overturned. Segregation in education underlay all other forms of racial discrimination in our country, extra-legal as well as legal.

For us now the important consideration is reflection upon our immediate course and upon our opportunity in the remote future. For this deliberation, an examination of the post-reconstruction period and of the present social factors which support the new freedom are essential.

Reconstruction in the South failed when, in the first month of Hayes' administration, as the compromise president, the last Federal troops were withdrawn in April, 1877. In 1883 the Supreme Court declared unconstitutional the Civil Rights Act enacted by Congress in 1875. By 1901, in all of the states of the former Confederacy the freedmen again had no rights that a white man was bound to respect. Lynch law was a national disgrace. The North was intoxicated by the ill-gotten wealth of an unprecedented industrialization.

Industry and organized labor both ignored the Negro as a worker except as a strike-breaker. Both the North and South were skeptical of all learning and agreed that a very limited education for the "inferior" Negro was sufficient. The responsibility for his improvement was largely his own.

In 1905, on July 9, twenty-nine courageous men met stealthily at an island hotel on the Canadian side of the Niagara River. They issued the first manifesto of full manhood rights for the Negro. In desperation, a turning point in the affairs of the Negro was forced.

Out of the Niagara Movement grew the National Asso<iation for the Advancement of Colored People. Out of the Niagara Manifesto grew Alpha Phi Alpha. The intervening half century has been a long, slow, up-hill fight for full manhood rights. The conscience of the American people was given no rest.

(Continued on Page 36) FEBRUARY, 1955

Pattern of Life In America for a Century Has Been Changed

By Jewel Brother Henry

1

I. Callis

From the General Secretary's Desk

2

Swats with Swingler

7

Realities and Ethics of Integration

By Brother H. J. Richardson Future of All Life Hangs in Balance

By Brother Roger Youmans

12 20

Fortieth Convention Nominates President....

25

NEXT DEADLINE APRIL 1. 1955 Publication Office: 522 East Bute Street, Norfolk 10, Va. Address all news matter to Editor-in-Chief: W. BARTON BEATTY, JR. Box 352, Phoebus, Va. SUBSCRIPTION PRICE â&#x20AC;&#x201D; $2.00 PER YEAR Published four times a year, in February, May, October. and December. Entered as second class matter at the Post Office at Norfolk, Virginia, under the Act of March 3, 1879.

Acceptance for mailing at a special rate of postage provided for in Sec. 1102, Act of October 3, 1917.

Individual chapters will be billed for cost of engraving pictures submitted and used.

About the Cover 1 HE CONVENTION PICTUREâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;We took the chance and published it . . . were you there???

PAGE 1

'plant, t&e tyenenal Secietaiy & gDe&& I R O T H E R S in Alpha: 1 greet you in this first issue of the SPHINX a n d wish lor each of you a most successful new year.

W e have just completed one of t h e most interesting a n d significant conventions ever held by Alpha Phi Alpha. T h e brothers in Florida, under the leadership of Brother Dr. I r a P. Davis, Florida's most fabulous host, went all o u t to be certain the visiting brothers a n d their guests w o u l d remember "By t h e Shore i n 5 4 " — T h e i r efforts certainly were n o t in vain, lor it was wonderful.

F'irst of all before we give a summary of t h e Convention, we take pride in a n n o u n c i n g the election of Brother Frank L. Stanley of Louisville as o u r General President.

T h e theme of the C o n v e n t i o n " T h e Realities a n d Ethics of I n t e g r a t i o n " was constantly before t h e brothers as we deliberated t h e m a n y pressing problems facing America today.

Brother Dr. Charles H . Wesley set the theme in action with a masterful address before a packed church at the O p e n Meeting using as his subject, " T h e Concept of Progress." A t this meeting Dr. Mary McLeod Bct h u n e . President-emeritus of BethuneCookman College, Daytona Beach, Florida was presented Alpha's Medal of Honor.

F o r m e r General President A. Maceo Smith, w h o was accorded great honor for his o u t s t a n d i n g contributions to Alpha P h i Alpha, h a d appointed a Special Committee on H u m a n Relations which drew u p a basic desegregation program that t h e convention adopted. Said retiring General President Smith, " O u r g u i d i n g ideal must be the complete destruction of the iron curtain of j i m crow in this country. T h e evil, bitter fruits of injustice, based on color must be torn from the trees of American Cult u r e . " W i t h this p a t t e r n .established Brother Smith t u r n e d the helm of Alpha Phi Alpha over to Brother F r a n k L. Stanley.

Brother Dr. Rayford W . Logan, t h e b a n q u e t speaker, continued on t h e general theme of the Convention a n d ( b a r g e d Alpha to forever continue the light for first class citizenship for all m a n k i n d .

Brother Logan was given t h e Alpha Award of H o n o r a n d Beta N u C h a p t e r of Florida A. a n d M. University, Tallahassee, Florida was awarded t h e u n d e r g r a d u a t e c u p for o u t s t a n d i n g activities d u r i n g the year.

PAGE 2

By B R O T H E R J A M E S E. H U G E R The Convention, in keeping with the deliberations, awarded $2,500 to the N A A C P to h e l p in the fight for full integration.

Two very significant changes at the 40th General Convention were: (1) T h e changing of t h e Constitution to show u n d e r g r a d u a t e representation on the Executive Council as Assistant Vice-Presidents r a t h e r than Lay Members a n d the n o m i n a t i o n for General President of Brothers Myles A. Paige, Frank L. Stanley, W a l t e r H . Williams a n d W a l t e r M. Booker to be voted on by the entire financial b r o t h e r h o o d d u r i n g this year.

Detailed information will be sent chapters a n d published in the SPHINX concerning this new process.

New Creneral Officers for 1955 Frank 1.. Stanley, General President, P. O. Box 1558, Louisville 1, Kentucky; Samuel P. DeBose, Western Vice-Prexy, 2671 Lacuesta Drive, Hollywood 46, Calif.; J. S. Chandler, Southwestern Vice-Prexy, 111 Vi S. 2nd St., Muskogee, Okla.; J u l i u s C. fudkins, Jr., Midwestern Vice-Prexy, 240 Colonial Building, R i c h m o n d , Ind.; J. R u p e r t Picott, Eastern VicePrexy, Clay Street at F o u r t h , Richm o n d 19, Va.; Lewis O . Swingler, Southern Vice-Prexy, 546 Beale Ave., Memphis, T e n n . ; James E. H u g e r , General Secretary, 4432 South Parkway, Chicago 15, 111.; Meredith G. Ferguson, General T r e a s u r e r , 925 1 l t h Ave., N., Nashville 8, T e n n . ; W .

Barton Beatty, Jr., Editor, T h e SPHINX, BOX 352, Phoebus, Va.; William H . Hale, Director of Educational Activities, Clark College, Atlanta, Ga.; Billy Jones, General Counsel, 342A East Broadway, East St. Louis, 111.; Charles H . Wesley, Historian, Central State College, Wilberforcc, O h i o : W . D. Hawkins, Jr., C h a i r m a n , Audit Committee, Fisk University, Nashville, T e n n . ; Kermit J. Hall, C h a i r m a n , Budget Committee, 5000 W o o d l a n d Ave., Philadelphia, Pa. Assistant Vice-Presidents Carlton A. A. Dias, Western, 947 Broderick Street, San Francisco, California; Brodes H . Hartley, Jr., Southern, Florida A. a n d M. University, Tallahassee, Florida; J e r o m e W .

Lindsay, Eastern, H o w a r d University, Washington, D . C ; H . R u d o l p h Sims, Southwest, Box 9414, Southern University, Baton Rouge, La.; Alvin

H . Townsel, Midwest, 293 Eliot St., Detroit, Michigan.

Regional Conventions Southern — April 8-9-10 — Knoxville, Tennessee.

Southwestern - April 22-23-24 Marshall, T e x a s .

Western - May 29-30-31 - Los Angeles, California.

Eastern - April 8-9-10 - Boston, Massachusetts.

Midwestern to be held in T o l e d o , O h i o — Dates to be announced.

Reclamation Chapters are urged to set u p RECLAMATION COMMITTEES to get as m a n y brothers financial as possible before May in order thai they might participate in the election of the General President this year. Only brothers h o l d i n g t h e current year's pass card will be sent a ballot.

Vice-Presidents a n d Assistant VicePresidents will be in contact with t h e chapters concerning program, problems a n d other items of interest to all concerned.

Guides I b i s office has sent t o each chapter a G u i d e for Vice-Presidents, Assistant Vice-Presidents a n d a C h a p t e r M a n u a l of Procedure. I t is urgently requested that this information be given serious consideration.

Additional information on the Convention a n d the p r o g r a m of Alpha Phi Alpha will be forthcoming.

Important T h e 40th General Convention went on record as confirming the elimination of all S W A Y I N G while singing the H y m n . Regional officers, delegates a n d visitors were requested t o pass the word to all chapters.

RESOLUTION EDITOR'S N O T E :

This

resolution

rem drawn and adopted by the Miami Convention ivorkshop on Human Relations led by Brother Charles H. Wesley.

Brother Rayford Logan, past general president, drew the resolution on behalf of the committee.

w,

H E R E A S t h e Charter of the U n i t e d Nations provides for t h e political, social, economic a n d cultural (Continued on Page 5) THE

SPHINX

Frank L. Stanley, New General President Brother Frank L. Stanley, publisher ol the Louisville Defender and VicePresident of the Defender of Publications was elected Genera] President ol Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., during the 40th Annual National Convention held in Miami, Florida December 27-30, 1951.

A native of Chicago, Illinois, Brother Stanley attended Central High School in Louisville a n d matriculated in Atlantic and Cincinnati Universities for u n d e r g r a d u a t e a n d graduate work respectively, majoring in English and m i n o r i n g in journalism.

Brother Stanley was a school teacher lor five years, serving as the head of the English D e p a r t m e n t of Jackson College, Mississippi and later Central High School, Louisville, Kentucky.

At AU, Brother Stanley, in rapid succession, became all American quarterback, editor of the Scroll, captain of the football a n d basketball teams, president of the Student Council, president of his class, and a varsit) debator.

Pursuing a first love, Brother Stanley became feature and editorial write] ol the newly organized Louisville Defender in 1955. T h r e e years later, he became publisher a n d editor.

As one of the founders of the National Newspaper Publishers Association, Brother Stanley became vicepresident at its inception. During the war years, 1941-45, Brother Stanley directed Negro Newspaper Week a n d originated World-wide broadcasts featuring Negro war correspondents.

In 19 15. he was elected N N P A president and served two years.

Some of the achievements of his administration were the accreditation of Negro correspondents to the Senate Press Galleries, and the D e p a r t m e n t of State: the development of a nationwide news service; the establishment of the Willkie Awards; the organization of editorial, advertising and c he illation societies within the N N P A ; lobbying in behalf of Democracy lor all Americans and closer unity of the Negro Press; elimination of segregation in the Navy a n d the Veterans Administration.

In May, 1946, Brother Stanley was named by the Secretary of W a r as chairman of the first group of Negro newspapermen ever commissioned to inspect American troops in occupied E u r o p e a n d to make an official report to the W a r D e p a r t m e n t . During the same year, he was n a m e d as the only Negro on President T r u m a n ' s Emergency Food Famine Committee.

In March. 1947, the Louisville DeFEBRUARY,

1955

New General Prexy

In March, 194H, u r o i n e r Stanley was commissioned to make a second inspection tour of occupied E u r o p e by the Secretary of Defense. His report condemned segregation in the armed forces.

In civic life. Brother Stanley serves many Organizations. H e is a m e m b e r ol i he board of directors of R e d Cross Hospital, Alpha Phi Alpha and Sigma Pi Phi Fraternities, Southern Regional Council, National Newspaper Publishers Association, and Associated Publishers, Incorporated; vicepresident of the Louisville Oouncil of Public schools.

T h e Louisville Defender spearheaded the fight for admission of Negroes to higher institutions of learning in Kentucky. In 1950, Brother Stanley authored an a m e n d m e n t that successfully passed the Kentucky General Assembly which prevented Kentucky from becoming a part of segregated

regionalism and paved the way for the opening of eight schools to Negroes. In recognition of the contribution made to integrated education, the Kentucky Negro Education Association cited Brother Stanley a n d presented him the Lincoln Key for O u t s t a n d i n g Achievement in 1951.

Brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha predict that the reign of Brother Frank Stanley as president will advance the cause al Alphadoni.

UNDERGRADS!!!

The S P H I N X is first of ail your Magazine!

Let us hear from youâ&#x20AC;&#x201D; what about football, basketball a n d track stars???

APRIL 1 DEADLINE! PAGE 3

With Five Outstanding Vice-Presidents!!

T h e national organization of Alpha P h i Alpha Fraternity is structurally divided into (5) geographical areas.

For each area a vice-president was elected d u r i n g the 40th A n n u a l Convention of the fraternity held recently in Miami, Florida. T h e following Brothers were elected to till the office of Vice-President: Brother [. R u p e r t Picott, Executive Secretary of the Virginia Teachers Association, for the Eastern Region; Brother Lewis Ossie Swingler, Publisher of the Tri-state Defender Newspaper, for the Southern Region; Brother J. S. Chandler, Physician, for the Southwestern Region; Brother Samuel P. DeBose, counselor in the Los Angeles city schools, for the far Western Region; and Brother J u l i u s C. fudkins, Jr., Lawyer, for the Mid-western Region.

LEWIS O. SWINGLER â&#x20AC;&#x201D; South

T h e s e vice-presidents are all outstanding Brothers in their professions. T h e y have exhibited over the years leadership to worthy community projects. In order that all Brothers will have the o p p o r t u n i t y of knowing the five vice-presidents a little better tin- S P H I N X is presenting a quick glance a n d t h u m b nail sketches ol the vice-presidents.

lems and development program necessary to accelerate Alpha Phi Alpha in the Southern Region.

L E W I S (). S W I N G L E R Publisher and Founder of the T r i state Defender Newspaper, with headquarters in Memphis, Tennessee a n d co-founder of T h e Memphis World, a semi-weekly newspaper, represents the vocation of Brother Swingler.

He is a graduate of Nebraska University, Lincoln, Nebraska, 1931, holding the Journalist Certificate, a n d the A. B. Degree. T h e second Negro student to complete the Journalism course at N . U. Brother Swingler is a native of Crittenden County, Arkansas, but spent virtually all his boyhood in O k l a h o m a at T u l s a , where he completed the Booker T Washington High School.

He organized journalism courses at LeMoyne College, 1939, a n d taught at that institution for three years.

Called into the Armed Forces, a n d spent a year at Fort Benning, Georgia where he did special assignments for the War D e p a r t m e n t on the Special T r a i n i n g Unit, an outfit composed of five battalions of educationally under-privileged servicemen who had to be taught to lead and write prior to m a n n i n g arms or taking military orders.

In 1935, Brother Swingler was elected Editor-in-Chief of the S P H I N X Magazine. U n d e r his leadership as Editor of the S P H I N X , the magazine PAGE 4

J. RUPERT PICOTT â&#x20AC;&#x201D; East

went through its greatest stages of development. W e q u o t e from an editorial of the S P H I N X Magazine, TRIBUTE TO LABOR WELL D O N E , October, 1951. " N o issue of the S P H I N X Magazine to be published now or in the future could be released to brothers of the Fraternity without full cognizance of the early years when its editorial program was developed. New editors a n d new members of the Sphinx staff now achieving for a better publication must always be mindful of the fact that any degree of progress toward these ends can be a t t r i b u t e d in p a r t to the leadership given the magazine

by Brother Swingler."

Brothel Swingler is an old warhorse in the annals of Alpha Phi Alpha History and will be in a position to give dynamic leadership to the prob-

J. R U P E R T P I C O T T Brother |. R u p e r t Picott received his educational training at Virginia Union University (B.S. a n d D.Pd. degrees) and H a m p t o n Institute in Virginia; T e m p l e University (M. Fd. degree) Philadelphia, Pennsylvania; New York University, New York City: and H a r v a r d University, Cambridge, Massachusetts.

His professional experience began as a high school teacher in South Boston and Newport News, Virginia lor seven years; and college teacher at H a m p t o n Institute.

H e served on the staff of two newspapers, including the well-known J O U R N A L and G U I D E (AssociateEditor and Branch Manager), which has nationwide circulation.

Beginning in 1944, Brother Picott was elected Executive Secretary of the Virginia Teachers Association, Richmond and editor of the Association's publications, including the V I R G I N I A E D U C A T I O N BULLET I N . T h e V T A is the official professional organization of the si\ thousand five hunched teachers in the public a n d private schools ol the Commonwealth.

Brother Picott served as C h a i r m a n of the Survey Committee which in 1950 prepared an exhaustive report of the entile public school system ol D u r h a m , North Carolina and Chairman of the committee which in 1951 made a survey and prepared a report of the entire public school system of Wilmington, North Carolina.

Author of numerous articles on THE

SPHINX

T lioi She Al, so< of off !»r< Ir;<

"o

of ba is! to gri V-ilni.xA iin^rtiiiic ami o m e r national, state a n d local publications.

Recently elected Vice-President of the National Educational Association, Brother Picott holds many memberships on national a n d state-wide committees.

His honors include recognition in 1950, by the Afro-American (newspaper) as one of the ten o u t s t a n d i n g Virginians for that year. Awarded plaque (1052) by H a n o v e r County (Virginia) Teachers Association for "unprecedented service to the teachers of Virginia." Awarded a citation (May, 1954) by the New York City Intci-cultural Education F u n d for "leadership in h u m a n relations in the South." Presented a citation (October, 1954) by the Virginia Teachers Association for "distinguished leadership of the teachers of Virginia a n d the South." l i s t e d in W h o ' s W h o in the South and Southwest; in Who's W h o in Commerce and Industry; in W h o ' s W h o in Colored America; and W h o ' s W h o in American Education.

Brother Picott has since the December convention, begun p l a n n i n g the execution of the 1955 program lor Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

l ne r«u-wc»iciii iiLL-jjiLJiui-iu, Brother Samuel P. DeBose is a counselor in the Los Angeles city schools.

He took u p residence in Los Angeles alter completing his elementary a n d secondary training in the Houston, T e x a s public schools. H e was later an h o n o r g r a d u a t e of Samuel Huston College in Austin, T e x a s where he received his A. B. degree. T h e J. S. C H A N D L E R Master of Science degree in counselBrother |. S. Chandler is a prac- ing and guidance was awarded by ticing physician in Muskogee, Okla- the University of Southern California. homa. He served prior to his election Aside from his important role in the to the vice-presidency as Regional guidance problems of the public Director d u r i n g the administration of schools in California, Brother DeBrother H u m e Williams.

Bose finds time to continue his study Brother Chandler completed his toward the Ph. D. dgree. public school training in Jamaica, T h e Far-western vice - president, New York and received his B. S. is serving his second term in this degree from H o w a r d University in office and has brought distinction to 1954 and finished bis study of medi- the program being e x p a n d e d in the cine in 1939 at Meharry Medical Far-western area. H e is a m e m b e r of FEBRUARY,

1955

Resolution (Continued from Page 2) development of non-self governing territories a n d of trust territories, a n d Whereas the President of the United States, the Secretary of State a n d the former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern a n d African Affairs have re-asserted the traditional policy of the U n i t e d States to oppose colonialism a n d to p r o m o t e selfgovernment for non-self governing territories.

Be it resolved that, the President of the U n i t e d States, the Secretary of State a n d the former Assistant Secretary of State for Near Eastern and African Affairs be c o m m e n d e d for (Continued on Page 8) PAGE 5

tees and feature editor of the school

paper.

Five brothers, one from each region, were chosen as Assistant Vice Presidents at the A n n u a l Convention in Miami. The u n d e r g r a d u a t e s chosen, include: Carietoi) A. A. Dias, Western; Brodes H. Hartley, Jr., Southern; Jerome W. Lindsay, Eastern; II. R u d o l p h Sims, Southwest; and Alvin H . T o w n s e l , Midwest.

C A R L E T O N A. A. DIAS Brother Dias, Western m e m b e r of the youthful group, is a senior at San Francisco State College, majoring in political science. H e is a former stud e n t at San Francisco State College where he was active in student gove r n m e n t , serving on the Student Council for two semesters, a n d as secretary of the Inter Fraternal Council for one semester.

H e is now president of the Central PAGE 6

District Advisory Board of Alpha.

T h e C. D. A. B. consists of representatives from the four chapters in the Bay area, a n d its function is to coordinate the efforts of the four chapters. Dias is also vice-president of Delta Omicron Chapter.

BRODES H. H A R T L E Y Brother Hartley was elected from the Southern region. H e is a j u n i o r at Florida A. a n d M. University, where he is vice-president of Beta N u Chapter. He was president of both his freshman and sophomore classes, is a member of the FAMU marching a n d concert bands, governor of a campus residence hall, m e m b e r of the Student G o v e r n m e n t Association, C a m p u s YMCA, treasurer of the biology d u b , advanced R O T C student, a m e m b e r of various student commit-

Hartley's major is pre-med and he states his ambition as, " T o become a renowned physician a n d surgeon."

H. R U D O L P H SIMS Brother Sims, Southwestern Assistant Vice President, is a j u n i o r at Southern University in Baton Rouge, La., majoring in political science a n d m i n o r i n g in music.

D u r i n g his high school career in Memphis, T e n n . , Sims was an honor student a n d a recipient of several scholarships a n d awards. At Southern, he is a m e m b e r of the Men's Glee C l u b , debate team, Digest stall, and news c o m m e n t a t o r on the weekly campus broadcast. He is also j u n i o r representative in the advanced course of the R O T C a n d vice-president of Beta Sigma Chapter.

M A I N H. T O W N S E L Brother Townsel, Midwest Assistant Vice-President, is a native of Portland, Oregon, a n d attended school in Birmingham, Alabama. H e is a student at Wayne University in the college of Education. Townsel was initiated into Beta Upsilon Chapter, Alabama State College, a n d is now a member of Alpha Upsilon Chapter, W a y n e University. [. W I L B O R N LINDSEY, J R .

Brother ]. Wilborn Lindsey, Jr., H o w a r d University, Washington 1, D. C. Born: April 7, 1932, Columbus, Georgia. G r a d u a t e of Spencer High School, Columbus, Georgia. J u n i o r in School of Engineering a n d Architecture, Howard University. A member of the Cook Hall Tutorial-Advisor Staff.

T H E SPHINX

SWATS WITH SWINGLER l".\ B R O T H E R L. O. S W I N G L E R

O brothers who attended the great Detroit convenlion in 1953, climaxing their visit at the fabulous Sheraton-Cadillac Hotel where the closed banquet and Alpha Formal spoke more eloquently than words the social impact ol the session, ii was difficult to conceive ol any other city rising to the occasion of serving as the official host.

Thanks to a chivalrous southern gentleman and brother from the Southeast, Miami did!

Brother Dr. 11a I'. Davis, General C h a i r m a n , the immediate hosts of Beta Beta Lambda Chapter, and the Alpha membership at large over the State ol Florida were the "open sesame" to many doors leading to the wonders ol this beautiful, tropical land by the sea.

Racial barriers were not merely lowered Inn completely vanished before this oncoming clan ol Alpha men whose convention theme, " T h e Realities a n d Ethics of Integ r a t i o n " cut through southern traditions like a twoedged sword.

A B O U T SUCH A N O R G A N I Z A T I O N What is ii that t a n draw h u n d r e d s ol' men, both iIn young and old, from their firesides during die most joyous season of the year for lour or live days in convention deliberations? Some coming at great sacrifice and expense to themselves, professions, or business.

Miami, as did Cleveland and Detroit in the immediate years before, provided the answer. T h a t is lor those of us who lay claim to the fundamental principles of Alpha Phi Alpha. T h e impelling Alpha spirit challenges men to give good account of their stewardship . . . to move ahead and out, if necessary, into the •wist " u n k n o w n " to explore new regions of h u m a n relation.

Fhe Alpha brotherhood from the outset has been the testing ground for much of the' leadership thai resulted in many of the victories in the courts, including the historic Decision outlawing racial segregation in the public schools of this country. T o implement these c o n n victories with techniques thai will make them demonstrable facts as well as letters ol tin law is one' of our unfinished tasks as Alpha men.

Speakers ai the Miami session, in their various approaches to the convention (heme, " F h e Realities and Ethics of Integration," reached similar conclusions as lo the task al hand.

General President A. Maceo Smith, in his valedictory message before the delegation, put it in these words:— " H e r e gathered together in historic assembly, in I he southern-most part of the deep south, arc some ol i In most compelling minds of the 20th Century. We have met here lo discuss problems, complex and urgent; to transform, as far as we can, a nation and world of hale and conflict into a nation and world of peace, justice, and love; renew our ancient faith in the true ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha; and to formulate a program which will meet the changing needs of our membership and besl serve- m a n k i n d . " Dr. Charles H. Wesley, historian of the Fraternity. and for nine years its General President, set the theme' ol the meeting at the Public Program, and later made a comprehensive report to the brothers in closed session as chairman of the Committee on H u m a n Relations.

In his address al Bethel A. M. E. Church in Miami, he FEBRUARY,

1955

told his audience that, " W e must press forward or be pushed backward. " Fhose who seek progress can not be contented and satisfied that changes will take place of diemselves or because a decision must be made by the courts.

Social change does not come of itself, ll is motivated in individuals and persons who often g r o u p diemselves because of their similarities of beliefs.

Integration in the schools will be a continuous process of achieving cooperative association of children who share competitive goals and values. T h i s inusi be motivated by whites and Negroes who exercise imagination lor die belter day, who will work out their plan and not sit a r o u n d lor someone to turn u p who will have courage, who will not be satisfied with things as they are and who will speed u p the transition from slavery to second-class citizenship and to freedom a n d first-class citizenship."

DR. R A Y F O R D W. L O G A N Brother Dr. Rayford W. Logan, Past General President and a former Director of Education, charged Alpha to forever continue the fight lor first-class citizenship for all m a n k i n d Recipient of the Alpha Award of H o n o r during his appearance as banquet speaker. Brother Logan spoke wiih authority of the internationalist, a slat us he has achieved as a world-traveler, scholar, and a u t h o r on foreign affairs.

BROTHER ROGER Y O U M A N S ll was most significant thai included in die roster of guest speakers clown in Miami was an u n d e r g r a d u a t e while brother of Kansas University, Brother Roger Youmans. His appearance marked the firs) eaueasion ol the fraternal bond to address an Alpha Convention, and what he had lo say . . . in lhe very heart of the southland. reaffirmed our unequivocal stand against racial segregation. " O u r racial difficulties are only a manifestation ol our inability to love and get along with other people," Brother Ybumans asserted, " I hese are the symptoms ol maladjustment to God. Love, in the Christian sense, is the cure. I am offering no panacea: ibis pulling the welfare ol other people on an equal plane with your own is difficult.

It is a difficult medicine lo take.

Is integration worth p l a n n i n g and working for in a spirit of love? You men of Alpha are the leaders ol a ureal portion of our society. Where will you lead them? What tracks will you leave?

Fhe nation, die world, history, and even God the Father Himself, are all anxiously awaiting your next move!

T H E VICE-PRESIDENT'S REPORT Now that a n n u a l regional conferences have been established as a reality, the roles of die regional vicepresidents are becoming increasingly important.

This was very much in evidence in Miami where each of the live regional leaders made reports which disclosed lo what extent they have had lo exercise a leadership that transcended and extended beyond their respective membership circles. O u r national program gets a recharge as i( flows into each of die live jurisdictions In way of the oil ices of ihe vice-presidents. T h e vicepresidents interpret the objectives, as indicated bv Brother Dr. Hooker's report in Miami: — " F h e fringes of integration which are serving now only to open our eyes to the possibilities lhat lie within (Continued on Page 10) PAGE

7

General Presidency of Alpha Phi Alpha

By A. MACEO SMITH Past General President HE SPHINX Editor requested me lo T. do an article evaluating the position of General President of Alpha Phi Alpha in the light of the new election procedure, providing for membership referendum in the selection ol the Chief Executive Officer.

Now that the organization is blessed with a sound fiscal policy, with appropriate administrative personnel to carry out the managerial details of the fraternity's business, the role of the General President, necessarily, becomes that of affording spiritual leadership and guidance at the policy level. The General Convention, being the chief legislative body, sets the policy; thus providing statutory mandates consistent with the Genera] Constitution and By-Laws. The Executive Council performs the services of a Board of Directors during the interim of general conventions. The administrative details are performed by the General Secretary. Hence, the General President is relieved of ofEice detail which must be performed by the General Secretary. Opportunities are thereby afforded the General President to extend himself in the area of public relations and fraternal stimulation of the entire Brothel hood. Such a system would require thai the influence and dignity of the office of General President be maintained at a high level.

I have often marveled that the Brothers usually come to their feet when the General President enters the meeting hall. In my judgment, this is done out of respect for the office, rather than for the incumbent.

However, the officer is constrained to so behave that he will continue to merit this respect for leadership.

The office of General President is one of sacred trust. T h e incumbent holds the leadership-mantel over an assembly of the nation's greatest minds. The incumbent leader, to be successful, must he strong enough to lead, and humble enough to follow.

He must be resourceful, courageous, dynamic and versatile. While he will achieve honor and acclaim, he must also understand that these are not ends in themselves. "Honor and fame in no condition rise; Play well thy part, in there the honor lies," said the poet.

The office of General President is one of distinction; also it is the staPAGE 8

PAST PRESIDENT GREETED Brother Maceo Smith and wife leave plane in Miami to be greeted by Brother Ira Davis, chairman of the Miami Convention Committee.

tion of labor in the "vineyard of love and service." It is a fitting reward that comes as a climax to a season of service to the Brotherhood. I have always said that the office should seek the man rather than the reverse. It is my judgment that the present election system will do more to encourage this than ever before.

At the same time, the incumbent is challenged to render greater service to justify the national acclaim of a devoted Brotherhood. Meanwhile, as your immediate Past General President, I exhort each Brother to give the present administration your unstinted support and loyal cooperation.

Resolution (Continued from Page 5) their previous statements, and Be it further resolved that the incumbent officials use their good offices with the nations holding nonself governing territories, trust territories and overseas provinces in Africa to promote their achievement of sell-government.

Whereas the new Prime Minister of the Union of South Africa has proclaimed an even more rigid policy of segregation and disfranchisement on non-Europeans than that advocated and practiced by predecessors, and Whereas the ad hoc committee of the United Nations has published a detailed, documented report of the deplorable plight of non-Europeans in the Union of South Africa and (Continued on Inside Back Cover)

Gamma Phi Is Bigger and Better WE realize that we haven't appeared in the last two issues of the SPHINX, but, nevertheless, Gamma Phi Chapter is striving for bigger and better things. We shall attempt to bring you up to date on the happenings here.

To begin with, twelve aspiring brothers passed into "Alpha Land" last November. They are brothers: Wesley A. Dade. Robert E. Elder, Reddick M. Goode, Eddie W. Harris.

George W. Hatchett, Elvin C. Hubhard, Billy Pitts, David H. Nunnally, Remus C. Rhodes, III, Clenith C. Rolle, Horace E. Stevenson, and Joe D. Wilson. Gamma Phi also made welcome in September, ten transfer brothers from various chapters. As a result of the increase in membership, Gamma Phi is now bigger and better.

We brothers of Gamma Phi have joined the ranks of other chapters in changing "Hell Week" to "Help Week." We sponsored a clothes drive in which we collected old clothings and presented them to the needy.

This was planned to be a state-wide function. Letters were sent to each chapter in the state of Alabama, suggesting the idea. Enthusiastic reports were received. Through the SPHINX, we would like to extend the same idea to other chapters.

Six brothers attended the 40th An(Continued on Page 9) THE SPHINX

Accept the General Presidency

BY B R O T H E R F R A N K Alpha Phi Alpha has been blessed with a long line of distinguished (.eneral Presidents, who have m a d e distinct contributions to our beloved fraternity. T h e i r stature may be likened to that of a mighty eagle sweeping ever u p w a r d toward the blue of the sky, while soaring against the swiftest wind a n d t h r o u g h the bitterest ice a n d snow to find his home a m o n g the m o u n t a i n crags.

I l n s e brothers' spirits have truly soared like eagles in the quest for freedom and h u m a n dignity.

It is in this great heritage that I humbly accept the responsibility a n d challenge of Alpha's highest office. I shall do my best to rally those forces within myself which can h e l p me to emulate the noble example of my predecessors. As one elected to carry out your wishes in an executive capacity, I have no desire but to retain your confidence a n d support in working toward greater fulfillment of the high ideals of Alpha Phi Alpha. T o ihis end, I shall need your complete cooperation a n d ready counsel Some one has said, "there can be no hive unless the bees work as a colony and on the lines of m u t u a l aid."

So it is with Alpha Phi Alpha. Every brother must regard himself as a member of that colony of Alphas w h o are determined that we shall go forward with progress.

We have a tradition, a philosophy, a program and a passion. Yet if we are to move forward, il we are to continue to make contributions to society, we must plan for an even greater future. T h a t future will be eventful and productive only in proportion to the collective action of Alpha m e n evcrwhcre.

What kind of fraternity do we want in I95(> when this great experiment in cultural g r o u p life will be 50 years old? O r in 2006, when A l p h a will be 100 years old? Fuller realization of out aims depends indeed u p o n the plans we make today for that future.

For in fact, o u r future is now.

T h e greatest preparation we can make for the task before us lies in the strengthening of o u r ranks, both in quantity a n d quality. Quantity, if we are to more adequately meet the cosl "I enlarged necessary fiscal operations. Quality, if we are to achieve and succeed, inspire a n d aspire, serve and transcend.

T i m e and history have doubled back on us, and we must demonstrate anew that we are "servants of all".

FEBRUARY,

1955

STANLEY

As the Inheritors of all of o u r group's past, we are also its trustee of the present, and the architect of its future. W e must give to the world not an over-abundance of sparrows, but more "mighty eagles". Mighty eagles which in the face of storm a n d strife will struggle ever u p w a r d a n d onward to the highest position possible.

As we set the 1955 Ship of A l p h a to sea, under the shadows of Alphas "Mighty Eagles" of the past, we plant G O D in our foremast, S E R V I C E in our hull. I N T E G R I T Y in our bow, A L P H A as o u r flag, T R U T H as our cargo, and P R O G R E S S as the direct ion on our compass.

Gamma Phi (Continued from Page 8) nual N a t i o n a l Convention held in Miami, Florida. T h e brothers participated in most of the u n d e r g r a d u ate workshops. D u r i n g these sessions, helpful information was exchanged.

Everyone in attendance took h o m e many ideas which help to better his chapter.

Brothers a t t e n d i n g were: Leon Bowles, Boykin W. Gartrell, David N . Geiger, Clenith Rolle, Robert Smith, a n d J u l i u s D. Washington.

G a m m a Phi holds its o w n a m o n g the leaders of the student body here at Tuskegee.

Brother Cornelius

Blount, o u r chapter secretary, is president of the Agricultural F o r u m , president of the U n i t e d M e n Congress, vice-president of the Choir, a n d is a J u n i o r Counselor.

Brother Boykin W. Gartrell, Editor in Chief of the Yearbook, vice-president of the Fire Squad, a n d a J u n i o r Counselor.

Brother Joseph A. Jones, o u r Chapter president, is president of T u s k e gee's C h a p t e r of the Veterinary Medical Society; Brother C o n n i e V. Miller, president of Interfraternal Council a n d Parliamentarian of the Industrial Arts C l u b ; Brother David H .

N u n n a l l y , president of the Student R e d Cross C h a p t e r a n d vice-president of the Sophomore Sunday School.

Brother William H . T h o r p e , o u r C h a p t e r T r e a s u r e r , is president of the Fire Squad, vice-president of the band, business m a n a g e r of the Yearbook a n d is a J u n i o r Counselor.

Brother J u l i u s D. Washington, o u r C h a p t e r vice-president, is vice-president of Tuskegee's C h a p t e r of the NAACP; Brother J o e D. Wilson, president of the Student Baptist Union.

Five brothers w h o m a d e W h o ' s W h o in American Colleges a n d Universities were: Cornelius Blount, Boykin W . Gartrell, Joseph A. Jones, C o n n i e V. Miller, a n d W i l l i a m H .

Thorpe.

T h e s e are some of G a m m a Phi's accomplishments u p to now. W e are still striving a n d will accomplish m a n y more things t h r o u g h o u t the rem a i n d e r of the year. W e will n o t slop this year, but will continue to advance each vear.

CONGRATULATIONS ARE IN ORDER Brother President Stanley receives warm greetings from wife . . . Brother Davis and Brother Robinson of Buffalo, New York.

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Swats With Swingler (Continued from Page 7) and about us for decent living ma) soon give away to lull and equal participation in die affairs of tin's country at all levels."

And in tlie message ol Brother Dr. Lloyd H. Williams, of the Southwest Jurisdiction:— " W e arc glad that in all the forty-eight years, the record reveals that Alpha has always been in the vanguard as a champion of social justice and an unrelenting prosecutor of social function."

Brothers W. H. (Duke) Williams, of the Southern Jurisdiction; Brother Samuel P. Debose, of the Western Jurisdiction; and Brother William H. .Smith, of the Midwestern jurisdiction, sounded similar note and calli d for conquest ol new horizons in the field of h u m a n n lation.

Delegates weighed the import of messages delivered by our Founder. Jewel Henry A. Callis, who gave the Fraternal address: and such convention stalwarts as Brodier Charles W. Greene, former Past Southern VicePresident, the Convention Address; and Brother Attorney Henry J. Richardson, the keynote address. Delegates checked figures with those in the reports of Genu a l Secretary fames F. Huger, General T r e a s u r e r ; M. G. Ferguson, C h a i r m a n of the Budget Committee, Kermit I. Hall, and Convention Auditor, W. D. Hawkins.

Brother Dr. Milton S. |. Wright, r o u n d i n g o u t his third and final term as Director of Education, urged a continuation of financial support to u n d e r g r a d u a t e members through grants of scholarships.

Brother Dr. William H. Hale, of Clark College, Atlanta, Ga., was elected to succeed Brother Wright as Director of Education. \s he entered his fourth year as General Secretary of Alpha Phi Alpha on a lull-time basis. Brother H u g e r pointed out that the office has become the "Nerve Center'' of the Fraternity. T h i s is especially true with the purchase of the Alpha House in Chicago as p e r m a n e n t headquarters.

Among other pertinent developments in Miami were these:— 1. Approval of the proposal to establish a Fellowship at Howard University School of Law to be awarded through competition. The Fellowship would be named in honor of the Late Brother Charles H. Houston, who initiated the first series of successful lawsuits to break down racial segregation as Counsel for National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

2. The granting of $2,500.00 to the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

3. That seven of the scholarships to be issued in 1956 to deserving students be named in honor of the Seven Founders.

4. Prosecution of an aggressive campaign, as set forth by the formula recommended by the Committee on Human Relations, designed to help effectively implement the U. S. Supreme Court Decision outlawing racial segregation in the public schools. This would mean placing each chapter in the forefront of the all important "fight for freedom."

5. Awarding of the Medal of Honor by the Fraternity to Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune. president-emeritus of Bethune-Cookman College, for her devoted service to mankind for more than a half century. Dr. Bethune four years earlier was recipient of the Medallian Award presented in 1950 by Nu Chapter, Lincoln University. Pa. 6. Awarding of Undergraduate Trophy to Beta Nu. Florida A. and M. College, for having carried out the host allround program during the year.

7. Dedication of the Alpha Headquarters in Chicago during the 1955 Convention in the Windy City.

8. Execution of newly adopted system of electing General President. Four nominees were named in Miami. One will be elected through the system of referendum. Ballots cast by active brothers through local chapters and same submitted for count at 1955 General Convention.

BROTHER S T A N L E Y T A K E S HELM T h e Miami Convention represented the greatest turnover in national officers since the post-war session in Chicago, 1945, nine years ago. Seven major changes in all. Brother Frank L. Stanley succeeded outgoing Genera] President A. Macro Smith, of Dallas, Texas, a>, head of the Fraternity. It was a relativel) smooth transition, made without bitter rancor which had been characteristic of many of o u r elections in recent years.

T o the lasting credit of Brother Smith who was not eligible to succeed himself after his third term, the atmosphere in which our officers were elected was lice.

T h i s high decorum lor convention election was in keeping with the entile administration of Brother Smith.

Brother .Smith made a distinctive contribution as General President, and prior to going to that office as Vice-President. T h e newly elected leader of Alpha Phi Alpha is cognizant of that fact. Brother Stanley has spearheaded many of the lights to eliminate segregation in higher education through his newspaper, T h e Louisville D e ' e n d c . As president of the National Publishers Association, Brother Stanley made two trips overseas lor the War Department to investigate treatment of Negro troops stationed in Germany, His present position as head of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity climaxes also many years of devoted service, lie has served as president of .Alpha Lambda Chapter, Associate SPHINX Editor, Midwestern Vice-President, and General Chairman ol the 1941 Convention which n u t in Louisville, K\.. his home. So while setting u p his program lor the year, Genera] President Stanley is sure to keep in closest touch with his predecessor for guidance and inspiration as he faces the great task ahead.

T h e Alpha Wives .Auxiliary carried out a brilliant social calendar of events which included a "Meet Your D a t e " at Mary Elizabeth Hotel Flamingo R o o m ; Bridge Luncheon on the Lawns of Mrs. James Simmons and Mrs. Daniel Francis. A Lawn Party was given by Friendship Garden and Civic C l u b ; a Motorcade, sponsored by the Northwest J u n i o r C h a m b e r of Commerce, and the Cocktail H o u r at Bayliont Park Municipal Auditorium.

Dinner Key Auditorium was the scene of the AllGreek Party, and the setting for the banquet and closed Alpha Formal was the Bayfront Park Municipal Auditorium.

Alpha Psi Engineers Successful Projects J E F F E R S O N C I T Y , Mo. — A recapitulation of Alpha Psi C h a p t e r situated on the campus ol Lincoln University would show a considerable n u m b e r of successful projects have been completed since the 1954-55 PAGE

10

school year began in September.

O n their return from R . O . T . C . summer camp, Alpha's were listed a m o n g the top cadets, which totaled 867 in training. Brother George Enlow made the highest academic av-

erage on the final examinations with a 280 score out of a possible 300 points. Brothers G u r n i e G u n l e r and R o n a l d R a g l a n d also earned high ratings at Fort L e o n a r d W o o d .

H o l d i n g the rank of second lieut e n a n t in the advanced corps arc (Continued on Page 32) THE

SPHINX

Delta Lambda Honors Brother: Senator Cole BALTIMORE Brother-Senator Harry A. Cole, who on N o v e m b e r 2, 1954, was elected a member of the Maryland State Senate, was h o n o r e d ai a testimonial b a n q u e t January 19 by fellow members of Delta L a m b d a Chapter.

Brother Cole's election was historic in that h e is the first colored senator to ever take a seat in the 179-year old Maryland Assembly.

H e won over his white o p p o n e n t , Bernard Melnicovc, by a narrow margin of 87 \otes.

Brothers in Alpha claimed much ol ihe credit for Senator Cole's victory. Active in his campaign were Brothers Carl M u r p h y , H e n r y Parks, McQuay Kiah, R o b e r t D u n m o r e , Robert Watts, Emerson Brown, Jr., R. V. Haysbert a n d Cliff W . MacAay. "Representation must transcend racial, religious a n d party lines if it is to be effective," Brother Cole lold the more than 160 guests who h a d assembled for the b a n q u e t .

H e viewed his election as a "great o p p o r t u n i t y to prove that persons of color can also represent those of the white race."

T h e Fourth District which he represents is comprised of a b o u t 5'5 per cent white voters to 47 p e r cent colored.

T h a t Alphas are playing an increas-

ingly active role in Maryland politics was shown by the presence on the program of Brother W a l t e r T . Dixon, one of the leading candidates for a seat on the Baltimore City Council.

Brother Dixon installed the newlj elected Delta Lambda officers.

T a k i n g their oaths of office were T o m Hawkins, president; J. Bruce Ecleiny, vice-president; Clifton R. Jones, corresponding secretary; Frederic A. Jackson, financial secretary; Robert D u n m o r e , treasurer; Cliff W .

Mackay, associate editor to the Sphinx; Miles Connor, chaplain; and Clench J o h n s , sergeant-at-arms.

Brothel R o b e r t B. Watts, law partner of Senator Cole, presented the Delta L a m b d a achievement award to the honoree in recognition of the successful fight he made to overcome the opposition of a politically-entrenched machine.

Frank Ellis served as chairman of the affair, while Emerson Brown, Jr., another of Brother Cole's law partners, was toastmaster.

Brothers a t t e n d i n g the banquet, the majority of them accompanied by their wives were: Clifton R. Jones, J o h n W . King, Henry Parks, L u n a i Mischoe, Stewart Pennington, A r t h u r R a n d a l l , John Procope, A r t h u r Spencer, R. Clarke Davis, Cliff Mackay; Orville Swa Hotel, Clifton T a t u m , A. J. Walker, Orris Walker, Robert Watts, J. H. Winder, Isaiah Woodward, Joseph Yates, R o b e r t Coleman, Simon Carter, Osborne Dixon, Brady Golden, Robert Diggs;

R a y m o n d Carpenter, Earl Britt, Royal W h i t e , F u r m a n T e m p l e t o n , N a t h a n Pitts, Joseph Bracey, Bruce Alleyne, Emerson Brown, Jr., Berkeley Butler, J. H i r a n Butler, Lucius Butler, Charles Campbell, George Carroll, Miles Connor; Pierre Davis, Frederick D e d m o n d , William Ennis, David Driver, Bruce r.elemy, William Fitzgerald, Otis Froe, Liston George, William Griggs, Rufus Hackett, T o m Hawkins, R. V. Haysb e n , Frederic Jackson, Glendi Johns; James Persons, H o w a r d M u r p h y , McQuay Kiah, D. O. W. Holmes, (Continued on Page 28) â&#x20AC;˘

Founders Day Is Celebrated By Alpha Nu Lambda T U S K E G E E I N S T I T U T E , Ala. T h e Brothers of Alpha Nu L a m b d a C h a p t e r , their wives a n d sweethearts gathered in the Pine R o o m of Dorothy Hall on the campus of Tuskegec Institute, on the evening of December 6, 1954, lor their First A n n u a l Founders Day Banquet.

After a most delectable dinner, Brother W. C. Ross, president of the chapter, welcomed the visitors a n d guests and introduced the Toastmaster ol the occasion, Brother Ira L. Ferguson, associate professor of Edu(Continucd on Page 28)

CINCINNATI CHAPTER USHERS IN GAY HOLIDAY SEASON WITH DANCE The traditional singing of the Alpha Hymn by members of the Cincinnati Chapters evoked these rapt expressions. More than 2000 attended the dance at Cincinnati's most beautiful Castle Farms Country Club.

FEBRUARY,

1955

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Realities and Ethics of Integration

By B R O . H. J. R I C H A R D S O N , JR. 1 ndianapolis A ttorney EDITOR'S N O T E : Brother Richardson, a lawyer practicing in Indianapolis, Indiana, gave the Convention address during the Miami Convention — The sound thinking and historical research contained in the address warranted convention approval for it to he published in the SPHINX

magazine.

JL H E realities a n d ethics of integration—the theme of o u r convention involves the past, present a n d future status of Negro Americans on this continent. Its importance is of such grave magnitude—I s h u d d e r when I look at the record b u t I am given new hope a n d vision with some apprehension—when I think of the eternal faith a n d courage of some of o u r white brothers a n d o u r Jewish f r i e n d s - b u t I am also reminded how on three (3) occasions in history, the Jews dissipated their freedom a n d were re-enslaved.

T o face realities, we must admit that the sporadic moves to integrate the Negro into American life have been a consistent pattern of inconsistent expediency a n d compromise, with ethics and molality playing feeble roles. His role has been a rugged road of bloodshed, indulgence, condescension, face saving a n d exploitation.

T h e symbols of morality a n d ethics involving the lights of the Negro, as collateral national issues, have appeared on o u r historic horizon only three (3) times since 1619. First in 1857 in the Dred Scott decision involving h u m a n rights, then in 1862 when abolition of slavery became a forced legal a n d social issue a n d objective of the Civil W a r ; and finally on May 17, 1954 when the U n i t e d States Supreme Court h a n d e d down its decision dealing with the morality and ethics of racial segregation in public schools.

At this point in history we are faced with the pertinent a n d vital question of b u i l d i n g an ethical and democratic framework for the implementation of the Supreme C o u r t decision as the first positive a n d wholesale movement to integrate the Negro into America's culture a n d social order.

O u r objective at this point raises many i m p o r t a n t questions a n d challenges: (1) W h a t kind a n d type of AmeriPAGE

12

can culture and social order are we lighting to be i m p l e m e n t e d into?

(2) W h a t is o u r m o r a l a n d ethical objective for integration?

(3) Do we wish to accept the status q u o of the present social order which has barred o u r admission or do we wish to strengthen the same by putting into practice o u r democratic concepts and ideals; or d o we propose to give lip service to o u r precepts?

(4) Or, shall we become integrated a n d take on the weakness of o u r civilization a n d get lost as driftwood in the cesspools of social disorder, platitudes a n d disintegration?

T h e s e are challenging, soul searching issues a n d questions we must lace a n d decide as we ride the crestwaves a n d tides of social change as a race.

O n e philosopher of ethics said that the key to the future is found in the past. T h e reality of our past is a n incongruous evolutionary social process wherein all of o u r progress has been a by-product of national issues, of politics, economics, wars or religion. For the first time in o u r history, the ethics a n d morality of the Negro's existence as a h u m a n is a positive collateral national issue of o u r social order. B u t let's not fool ourselves nor become e n a m o u r e d with any magic hope that Utopia has arrived or that we are near the promised land. Many n o r t h e r n communities have h a d integrated public schools for more t h a n half a century a n d in these communities many Negro Americans have arrived a n d excelled at the Jordan River a n d a few have crossed over b u t n o n e have been able to lead an exodus of members of his own race into an integrated society.

Let us look at the past as the key to the future for integration in America.

At this stage in o u r history we have come t h r o u g h three (3) historic periods of social change from chattel property to second class citizens; a n d we are now on the threshold of the fourth. T h e fifth historic social change based u p o n the morality a n d ethics of the individual citizen will be a revolutionary conversion a n d is imperative for normal, lasting a n d wholesome integration; it is far away and yet to come—for white America is not integrated yet.

O u r first period of social degeneration from 1619 to 1863, will go down in history as the blackest blot on western civilization—an era of demagogues, leaders w i t h o u t con-

science, with infested minds. W e saw h u m a n bondage, a barbaric pirateer's game, become a condoned, contrab a n d enterprise a n d rise to an institution of American aristocracy. O u r Holy Bible was used to justify slavery, our constitution was perverted to sustain slavery a n d o u r national economy was anchored to the profits of h u m a n suffering and bondage as collateral a n d chattel. In 1830, slavery reached its most profitable stage in o u r economy and became the feudal system of our social order with all the political, social a n d economic arteries necessary to sustain the south a n d southwest a n d with a weak, but nevertheless active pulse of the n o r t h which found profitable collaboration with the south in its bartering a n d exchange of fugitive a n d c o n t r a b a n d slaves. D u r i n g this same prolific a n d debase period, the American I n d i a n was one of o u r most evil profiteers in slave holdings a n d trade.

T h e acquisition by America of the Louisiana T e r r i t o r y in 1803, the resulting Missouri Compromise of 1820, tlu pressured Compromise of 1850 a d m i t t i n g California as a stale and the i n h u m a n D i e d Scott decision of 1857 are the casting molds a n d cornerstones of o u r present racial caste system in America. T h e black and w h i t e Portuguese, the English, French, Spanish, Dutch, Irish, Scotch and G e r m a n s set u p the molds a n d profited in k i n d a n d in time. T h e p r o a n d anti-slave forces operated agreeably and sanctimoniously u n d e r the Missouri Compromise of 1820 a n d ibis gentlemen's agreement flourished, prospered a n d e x p a n d e d slave h o l d i n g territories until it was partially nullified in 1854 by the KansasNebraska Bill.

This bill in substance left the question of slavery u p to the respective states. T h i s was the beginning of the famous a n d infamous eternal struggle of the "States R i g h t s " proponents versus the p r o p o n e n t s of a collective system of federal government. D u r i n g this nefarious period, the slave Negro was absorbing bits of culture from his master, escaping a n d buying his liberty, protesting, rebelling, praying a n d h o p i n g for a day of freedom. M u c h spotted progress was being m a d e by the abolitionist forces a n d a few God-fearing Christians w h o dared stand u p for righteous justice. T h e period a n d time of possible social change which set back the clock fifty (50) years came THE

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FALL PROBATION The fall probation line at Alpha Zeta Chapter. West Virginia State College. From left to right: Alfred L. Armslead of Cleveland Ohio Roscoe Swann of Huntington. West Virginia. James Heath, of Charleston. Joseph R. Jones of Charleston. Eugene Austin of Montgomery, James Braxton of Beckley and James Morrison of Bluefield.

in 1857, when Dred Scott, a slave from Missouri, having been sold to a citizen of New York—a non-slave state, sued in the federal court for his freedom as a freedman.

This case went to the U n i t e d States Supreme Court upon the issues of the morality of slavery, the h u m a n a n d legal rights of a slave and the constitutionality of the Missouri Compromise of 1820—the legality of which had never been tested. Died Scott's suit Idi freedom was dismissed by the Supreme Court and Justice T a n e y , in one of America's most immoral, barbaric a n d blasphemous decisions, said that Dred Scott as a slave or descendant of a slave was not a human being but a chattel property a n d had no h u m a n , social or legal rights.

T h i s decision of the Supreme Court sustained and justified the position of J o h n C. Calhoun, the father of the s o u t h s radical view of its inherent right to slavery a n d that a slave being property it was the constituted chuv of congress to protect property of the states a n d not destroy a n d prohibit it. T h e same' old question of the moral rights of government was before the court anew in the famous N A A C P public school cases recently decided. T h e moral issue being "A government must of necessity be too strong for the liberties of its own people or too weak to m a i n t a i n its own existence."

FEBRUARY,

1955

T h e Missouri Compromise of 1820, laid the foundation, the D r e d Scott decision of 1857 cast the die a n d the Joint Brown's slave revolt at Harper's Ferry in 1859 kindled the sparks of the Civil W a r in 1861. It must be admitted that the Civil W a r laid the potential foundation for the collateral issue of the Negro's first step towards American citizenship.

But the Negro's citizenship was a byproduct and it must be remembered that the civil war issue was over the extension a n d not the abolition of slavery. T h e democratic party, having hopelessly split over the issue of slavery, made possible the election of Abraham Lincoln as a compromise presidential candidate by the R e p u b lican Party a n d his election was upon the condition that slavery would be excluded from the territories, allowed to exist in existing slave states and there would be a stern enforcement of the fugitive slave law. After Lincoln's election, the pro-slave forces pressured for extension of slavery in the territories, the compromise failed and led straight to civil war. President Lincoln was slow to accept the policy of emancipation of the slaves as a war measure. Lincoln's final acceptance of the issue of emancipation of all slaves as a war objective was necessitated to solidify his support at home, because of pressure from a powerful minority of religious and

abolitionist leaders and partly to secure international support which was badly needed to obtain war goods a n d materials—which were not forthcoming from E u r o p e , unless the issue of e m a n c i p a t i o n became a civil war policy a n d objective, thanks to the Quakers a n d the powerful moral a n d ethical religious groups of E u r o p e and America. T h e admirable part was that President Lincoln stood his g r o u n d a n d gave his life for what he believed r i g h t T h u s for the first time, the morality of slavery became a positive and collateral issue in America and the first potential seed ol citizenship integral ion was sown.

But the irony of history, which makes the emancipation of the slaves a n d their citizenship integration in any form a weak by-product of America's bloodiest conflict, was that President Lincoln, after being re-elected lor a second term, sustained the conclusion that he had been pressured into e m a n c i p a t i n g the slaves — by proposing a generous plan of re-constructing the conquered south, and shortly before his death he proposed (hat congress a p p r o p r i a t e four hundred million dollars to assist the south in its economic recovery a n d to compensate for the loss of its slaves.

President Lincoln did not recommend nor propose any ethical or moral standards for integrating the PAGE

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e m a n c i p a t e d Negro n o r the appropriation of one cent for back pay or integrating resource. So a b o u t three million Negro w o u l d - b e citizens were figuratively set free a n d t u r n e d out to w a n d e r a b o u t w i t h o u t any moral or ethical framework of integration. You will note hence in my speech that the absence of morality a n d ethics of the majority of that era has h a u n t e d N e g r o Americans as a black shadow of the past a n d prohibited his integration into normal patterns of American life. T h e ghost of the sadistic D r e d Scott Decision still rides.

It is interesting to note that in lHfiO, South Carolina led the revolt a n d secession of eleven (11) states from the u n i o n a n d Georgia became its co-conspirator against law a n d justice. It is ironical, however, for a period Georgia became so Holy that it ratified the F o u r t e e n t h Amendment iwice. T h e reality of the past as the key to the future tells us t h a t South Carolina a n d Georgia will be co-conspirators a n d partners in crime against the morality a n d ethics of

the decision of the Supreme C o u r t on May 17, 1954 a n d will lead the social revolt in America against the i m p l e m e n t a t i o n of the decision. W e can expect that if any of the brothers from Georgia or South Carolina happen by chance to get to heaven we can look out for trouble u p there.

T h e second historic period of social change t h r o u g h which the Negro stumbled was between 1863 a n d 1880.

D u r i n g the first 12 years of this period he was the political goat of the most vicious conspiracy ever known from which he has not recovered, especially i n the south.

The next fifteen (15) years found h i m confused, uninformed a n d easy prey digging u p a n d burying A b r a h a m Lincoln every four (4) years. After 1880, he showed some elements of starting to m a t u r e in spots and grow u p politically, b u t at the same time he was being exploited by his own leaders a n d his b i r t h r i g h t was a b o u t as sale as a meal-house g u a r d e d by a hungry h o u n d .

Ilie period between 1863 a n d 1880 will go down in history as the experi-

mental Negro ageâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;for every social, political, philosophical, biological and diabolical idea a n d scheme used the Negro d u r i n g this period as a test tube. In 1866, the Federal Civil Rights Statute was passed over President Andrew Johnson's veto.

This statute a t t e m p t e d to integrate the Negro as citizens on paper a n d in the eyes of the law b u t was soon buried a n d stayed b u r i e d for a period of seventy (70) years. T h e T h i r t e e n t h A m e n d m e n t to the constitution which dealt with the freedom of slaves was ratified in 1865. T h e Fourteenth A m e n d m e n t dealing with the Negro's legal tights as a citizen u n d e r the law was ratified in 1868 and the Fifteenth A m e n d m e n t dealing with his political rights was ratified in 1870. By 1877, the T h i r t e e n t h , F o u r t e e n t h a n d Fifteenth A m e n d m e n t s to the constitution h a d been scuttled and buried by the famous " H o m e R u l e Compromise" of President Hayes' administrationâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;wherein by agreement between the immoral a n d unethical democratic a n d Republican leaders of the day the federal troops were with-

BETA GAMMA LAMBDA CHAPTER, ALPHA PHI ALPHA FRATERNITYOBSERVED Founders Day Sunday, December 5, 1954 at the Mt. Carmel Baptist Church, Richmond, Virginia. . . Bro. Dr. E. D. McCreary, Jr., minister oi the church delivered the third in a series of sermons on integration "The Road to Integration." Those in attendance at the 11:15 A. M. worship service pictured above . . . Front row (left to right) I. L. Nixon, Roland D. Ealey. chapter president, R. Harrington . . . Secondrow S. G. Madden, Joseph H. Ransome. Franklin Crawford, H. O. Freeman, Frances Brinkley. J. M. Beverly . . . Third row A. Henderson, C. A. Crocker. Milton F. Hill, James H. Bryant, Marshall J. Reese. H. T. Benn.

Fourth row: J. Green. James Cotton. James E. Cole. U. L. Oliver. H. G. Knight, W. W. Pollard, E. D. McCreary. Jr., F. Swann. . . Fifth row: J. Lawson. W. A. Hall. F. Black, W. L. Banks, E. Butler, G. E. Ellis and James Ziegler.

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FLORIDA A. AND M. ALPHA CHAPTER SELECTED "CHAPTER OF THE YEAR" OF ALPHADOM The 40th General Convention selected Beta Nu Chapter as the "Chapter of the Year" for 1954. (The cup is the award given) . . .Left to right: Charles Maxwell. Junior, Music; Earl McCrary. Senior. Mathematics; George L. Mims. Senior, Agriculture; Vernon Lee. Junior. Sociology; Lawrence Moman. Junior. Biology; Sylvester Shannon. Senior, Psychology; Levi Johnson. Sophomore, Industrial Arts; Calivan Gladden, Junior, Pre-Medicine; Gerald Burke, Senior, Pre-medicine; Eugene Cromartie, Sophomore. Secondary Education; Alvert Biddle. Sophomore. English; Howard Aaron, Sophomore. Music; Joseph Woodard, Junior. Biology; Robert Burke, Senior, Pre-medicine; J. Harold Lovett. Alumnus; Ralph Flowers, Sophomore, Music; Wilbur D. Williams. Sophomore. Chemistry; Earl Van Farrow. Junior, Biology; Roger McCloud, Sophomore. Pre-medicine: Edwin DeMeritt. Sophomore. Biology; Edward Nolan, Junior. Business; Earl Allen, Sophomore, Music; Center: Richard Bernard McGriff. Senior.

Chemistry; Samuel Washington, Senior, Secondary Education; Brodes Hartley, Jr., Junior, Pre-medicine.

d r a w n from the south a n d the slave masters were again absolutely in the saddle without federal interference.

T h e Negro was relegated to a state of semi-slavery a n d riots, lynchings a n d banishment was the order of the era. T h e Supreme C o u r t h a d perverted a n d cut the heart o u t of the Civil Rights Law of 1866 a n d had declared null a n d void most of the other federal civil rights statutes.

Many movements were on foot during this period to r e t u r n the Negroes to Africa a n d colonize them on desert territories and islands. I n a desperate a t t e m p t to survive the Negroes b o u n d themselves together in every imaginable type of fraternal organization which served to give t h e m some type of pride and being a n d which also served as a means of exploitation by white hypocrites a n d pseudo-leaders of their own race. All Negroes in the south were expelled from public office a n d education was at a premiumâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;The American Missionary Society a n d many religious groups, with few exceptions, provided t h e m the only educational opportunities above high school. By 1880, potential integration of the Negro into American Life was at its lowest e b b since 1865.

T h e t h i r d historic era of social implications of potential integration t h r o u g h which the Negro travelled was between 1880 a n d 1932. T h i s period may be referred to in history as FEBRUARY,

1955

a period of political expediency, economic compromise a n d social rebellion and resentment. T h e night riders of the south h a d expanded their activities to the n o r t h a n d the Kit Klux Klan a n d similar organizations began operating in the border northern states. T h e thousands of Negroes w h o h a d migrated from the south to the n o r t h were confronted with the same type of tyranny they h a d attempted to escape in the south. During this period, some of the past political, economic a n d social experiments were re-appraised a n d a new crop of Negro a n d white leaders interested in the Negro g r o u p a p p e a r e d on the national horizon, many of whom h a d more hindsight t h a n foresight.

Various conscience-stricken white religious a n d civic groups began re-appraising a n d taking inventory of their standards of morality a n d ethics a n d treatment of the Negro who was referred to d u r i n g this period as "the white man's b u r d e n . " T h i s new interest in the Negro was motivated by some degree of moral concern but largely because of his increased voting and economic strength in the northern states. As a result of litis increased strength, eleven (11) border eastern and midwestern states passed civil rights statutes without teeth b e t w e e n ' 1880 a n d 1905, of which few were enforced. T h e great exodus a n d influx of Negroes, though

politically advantageous, created an economic problem in the northern industrial labor markets a n d their competition built u p strong a n d violent resentment a n d bloodshed.

It was d u r i n g this period that the Negro became union wise a n d began knocking at the door of labor unions for admission. T h e southern labor market was controlled by cheap Negro labor, sharecroppers a n d semi-slave labor.

Many isolated, though, vigorous legal efforts were m a d e d u r i n g this period t h r o u g h federal courts to resurrect the Federal Civil Rights Statute of 1866 a n d to revive the buried T h i r teenth, F o u r t e e n t h a n d Fifteenth A m e n d m e n t s to the constitution but with little success. T h e increased n u m b e r of Negroes in the n o r t h created a social problem a n d the issue of amalgamation a n d intermarriage of the two races became the topic of the day a n d the hush hush ghost of every closet. As a result, fifteen (15) states passed prohibitive intermarriage laws between 1860 a n d 1905 and many of these were the same states that h a d placed on their law books civil rights statutes protecting the Negro.

1 he Negro's increased v o t i n g strength, increasing public educational opportunities a n d the civil rights statutes gave the lovers of democracy a n d morality some symbol of h o p e for (Continued on Page 28) PAGE

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Louisville NAACP Pays Notable Tribute To Very Distinguished Alpha Member Address of Brother C. W. Anderson. Jr.. Louisville, Ay.. in presenting Award of Appreciation to Dr. J. A. C. Latlirnore, a Brother in Alpha. for fifty years of service to the community.

J l H E Executive Committee of the Louisville Branch of the N a t i o n a l Association for the Advancement of Colored People a n d A l p h a L a m b d a C h a p t e r of A l p h a P h i A l p h a Fraternity are taking this o p p o r t u n i t y at the a n n u a l N A A C P Meeting to pay tribute a n d appreciation a n d h o n o r to a very distinguished m e m b e r w h o has served as a m e m b e r of the Executive Committee of the Louisville Branch of the N A A C P for approximately forty years.

T h e m a n w h o m we are to h o n o r today was b o r n in the rural section of N o r t h Carolina a n d received his early education in the rural schools of his native state, and graduated from Bennett College in Greensboro, N o r t h Carolina. From there he went

to Nashville, Tennessee, where he attended Meharry Medical College, a n d graduated from that institution in 1901.

Immediately after his graduation he was undecided just where to settle for the practice of medicine, b u t by reason of a great admiration for Bishop Clement, he was persuaded to come to Louisville, Kentucky, a n d so in the fall of 1901 he began the practice of medicine in the City of Louisville.

Alter coming to Louisville, he soon entered into the civic a n d fraternal life of the community, a n d very early in his practice of medicine he became a dynamic a n d aggressive civic a n d fraternal leader. H e is a charter m e m b e r of many of the organizations which were formed more t h a n forty years ago not only for the progress a n d racial advancement of N e g r o citizens of Louisville a n d of Kentucky, but h e was equally interested in all organizations for the progress of o u r State a n d City. W h e n the Louisville U r b a n League Board was

organized some time d u r i n g the period a r o u n d 1917 or 1918, he became a m e m b e r of that Board a n d has served continuously ever since the Louisville U r b a n League Board was established in this community. W h e n the Louisville Branch of the N A A C P was formed somewhere a b o u t 1915, he became an active m e m b e r of that organization, a n d has continued his m e m b e r s h i p on the Executive Committee of the Louisville Branch of the N A A C P continuously for the past forty years. Alpha L a m b d a C h a p t e r is the oldest g r a d u a t e chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, and shortly after the chapter was established in the City of Louisville, he became a member of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity and has been active in the fraternal affairs of that organization.

His leadership, energy a n d ability have been felt in many fights for the racial advancement of the Negro people not only in the City of Louisville, but t h r o u g h o u t the C o m m o n w e a l t h of Kentucky. It w o u l d take considerable time to relate all of the various racial fights a n d progressive movements in which the honoree has been a participant. However, I shall pause briefly to cite a few of the major fights in which he participated.

I am sure that most of you recall the Boyd-Fleming lynching a n d trial at Madisonville, Kentucky.

H e was a m o n g those w h o went to Madisonville a n d to the Office of the Governor, a n d labored with m a n y civic groups to see that Boyd a n d Fleming h a d a fair a n d impartial trial by

jury.

Brother Anderson presents merit plaque to Brother Lattimore. Brother Anderson also made nominating speech ior Brother Stanley.

PAGE 16

Back in 1911 w h e n the City Council of the City of Louisville passed an ordinance which p r o h i b i t e d Negroes living in any block in which whites were residents, a n d which also prohibited whites from living in any block in which Negroes were residents, it was the honoree here today w h o joined with others in waging a vigorous a n d successful fight against that city ordinance. Most of us retail today the case of W A R L E Y vs.

B U C H A N O N which grew o u t of the challenge against the city ordinance just mentioned. T h a t case was fought t h r o u g h the Circuit Court of | HI ITSOU Comity. Kentucky, to the Court of Appeals of Kentucky, a n d on to the Supreme Court of the U n i t e d Slates, a n d in 1917 the U n i t e d States Supreme Court h e l d the city ordinance to be unconstitutional, a n d as a result of that, Negroes today live on South Parkway in Chicago, Connecticut Aven u e in Washington, D. C , Western Parkway in Louisville, a n d many other streets in various cities on which they could n o t have lived if it h a d not been for the decision of the Supreme

THE SPHINX

Court in i he case of Warley vs. Buchanon; and within the past three or lour years the U n i t e d States Supreme Court in further b r o a d e n i n g its decision in the case of Warley vs. Buchanon, also outlawed restrictive covenants in deeds.

Some years ago the honoree took an aggressive a n d vigorous interest in obtaining better housing for Negroes of I lie City of Louisville, a n d he joined with other citizens in going to Washington for conferences with Senator Alben Barkley, the President of the U n i t e d States, a n d various housing officials at the seat of o u r national government to see that Negro residents in the City of Louisville would have housing projects when he learned that the Federal Government was going to build various housing projects in the City of Louisville, and it was t h r o u g h his foresight and his aggressive leadership that we now have Beecher T e r race, College Court, Sheppard Square a n d Cotter Homes H o u s i n g Projects in o u r community.

Some many years ago prior to the establishment of Louisville Municipal College, there was a b o n d issue sponsored by the Board of Aldermen of the City of Louisville a n d the Mayor of o u r city. At that time, and at the time the citizens voted for the b o n d issue there was a promise thai if it passed, there would be a college established for Negro students. T h e bond issue was passed, a n d after several years, n o t h i n g was accomplished.

T h e n the Mayor a n d the Board of Aldermen proposed a second b o n d issue, and when this became known, the honoree here today led a fight in the Office of the Mayor of the City of Louisville a n d the Board of Aldermen, and waged a vigorous fight in the community against the b o n d issue unless die city officials stipulated and specified that if the b o n d issue passed a college would be established for Negro students; a n d by reason of this vigorous fight on the part of the honoree a n d those associated with him, when the b o n d issue was favorably voted upon, the City of Louisville established Louisville Municipal College for Negro students. Of course Municipal College is n o longer in existence because Negro students are now a t t e n d i n g the University of Louisville a n d University of Kentucky, but at that time the honoree, while always ambitious a n d hopeful that Negro students w o u l d be able to attend the University of Louisville a n d University of Kentucky, he felt that the establishment of Municipal College was merely a temporary measure of progress until the FEBRUARY,

1955

DR. J. A. C. LATTIMORE Physician 1432

WEST WALNUT S T M I T JA 1763 LOUISVILLE 3. KV.

December 14, 1954

Attorney Charles V". Anderson, Jr. 608 Fest Walnut Street Louisville, Kentucky Dear Charlie: Your true greatness was revealed to me when I heard you speaking last Sunday and I wondered for a while who could be worthy of such noble words and such grand delivYou were surperb. The way you made me seem like a wonderful person when all I have done is endeavor to serve my community in my meager way â&#x20AC;&#x201D; But a long U f a does make a long column that can be adaad to a fair sum - I was glad to hear the contributions tallied for one doesn't realize until such a time that good acts also count.

Your kindness will always be remembered and believe me when 1 say that I am sincerely thankful.

Very truly yours,

i|C.

more,"M.D. Lattim

JACL:nal.

greater goal of educational equality could be achieved.

O u r honoree has h a d the privilege of serving u p o n various committees a p p o i n t e d by various governors of the C o m m o n w e a l t h of Kentucky for racial progress a n d cooperation a n d to see t h a t Negroes in this State, as well as in the City of Louisville, received proper recognition and h a d a greater participating part in the affairs of o u r government.

Early after his arrival in Louisville he took an active part in the Pythian Lodge a n d in the building program of that great lodge. W h i l e most of you may not r e m e m b e r it, m a n y years ago the Pythian Lodge built the Pythian T e m p l e Building which now stands at T e n t h a n d C h e s t n u t Streets, which was a building in which the residents of Louisville looked with great pride, a n d t h o u g h the b u i l d i n g was lost by reason of the depression a n d has since

been sold, it r a t h e r broke his heart when the Pythian Lodge lost the building at T e n t h a n d Chestnut Streets. A p a r t from his participation in the affairs of the Pythian Lodge, he was also active in the affairs of the Elks Lodge.

In his own profession he has been honored a n d recognized as an outstanding physician a n d surgeon, and he has served as President of the Blue Grass a n d Falls City Medical Association. In 1947, in recognition of liis outstanding ability as a physician and surgeon and by reason of his leadership a m o n g the members of the medical profession t h r o u g h o u t the U n i t e d States, he was selected a n d elected President of the N a t i o n a l Negro Medical Association. I n spite of a busy medical practice a n d his activities and service in fraternal affairs, he has always found time to devote his energies to his C h u r c h , a n d (Continued on Page 20) PAGE

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Brother and Mrs. Frank Stanley (top); seated at table during garden party in December . . . Mrs. John Biniord Smith of Detroit; Mrs. W. Barton Beatty. Hampton; Mrs. A. Maceo Smith. Dallas: and Mrs. Myles Paige. New York.

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"THIS !S ITâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;WITH ALL THE TRIMMINGS" Center oval Dr. and Mrs. Ira Davis. Miami; President Moore.

Eelhune-Cookman College.

THE SPHINX

FEBRUARY, 1955

Top right, retiring President A. Maceo Smith congratulates new President Frank Stanley. Far rig] Coca-Cola's Broiher Moss Kendricks . . . Below: Mrs. James Huger. Chicago; Mrs. William Hart. Hampton; and many other charming ladies.

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Future of All Life Hangs In the Balance Says Bro. Roger Youmans In Address in Alpha, I consider it a real honor and a pleasure to stand before you today. I think any man would consider it an honor to address you, and I consider it a pleasure because what I have to say to you lies close to my heart. I am now convinced that your future and my future, the future of all, hangs in balance, depending upon how seriously you take this message. History is being written in these days in which we live. Not only history in Alphadom, not only history in our modern world or of Western Culture, but history is JOROTHERS

being written in terms of man's relationship to his fellow man and to his God! Show me another era, another culture, another situation in which man has attempted with such insight to establish proper relationships with his fellow man; to establish this fellowship with man, we are discovering the necessity of fellowship with God. Fellowship with God and man is the purpose of our existence; it is the purpose of Alpha, also. Recall our hymn: "Manly deeds, scholarship, and love for all mankind," and "First of all, servants of all, we shall transcend all."

UNDERGRADUATE LEADERS at the Miami Convention extend congratulations to Brother Roger Youmcns, medical student at Kansas University. Lawrence. Kas.. following his inspirational Undergraduate Address on the topic, "Our Problem." It was the first time in Alpha history that one of its Caucasian members had ever appeared at a General Convention as scheduled speaker . . . Shown with Brother Youmans at the Miami Carver Hotel are from left: Brothers Lloyd H. Williams, of Texas Southern University, Houston, retiring Lay Councilman: William Simms. Southern University, Baton Rouge. La., incoming Assistant Vice-President of the Southwestern lurisdiction (Formerly Lay Councilman); Jerome Lindsey, Howard University, Washington. D. C. incoming Assistant Vice-President, Eastern Jurisdiction; Brother Youmans, Brothers Brodus Hartley, incoming Assistant Vice-President, Southern Jurisdiction; of Florida A. and M. College, Tallahassee; and William Reid, retiring Lay Councilman, of Michigan State College, Lansing.

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But wait, Brothers! What have I just said? What is the purpose of Alpha? Does "First of all" mean that Alpha is the greatest of fraternities and has special privileges to be first?

If so, then what does "servants of all" mean? I have heard our motto discussed without hearing any reference to service. I think that the last phrase, "we shall transcend all" helps to clarify the meaning of the first quite a bit. What makes George Washington a great figure in our history? What makes Albert Schweitzer or George Washington Carver great?

Is it not their service to others—the colonists, the Africans, the Southern farmer? What makes our nation great? Is it not her dedication and (Continued from Page 21) •

Louisville NAACP (Continued from Page 17) shortly after coming to Louisville he was named a Trustee of Broadway I emple A.M.E.Zion Church and for over fifty years has been an active member of Broadway Temple A.M.E. Zion Church.

In conclusion let me say that the gentleman whom we are honoring here today is not only an outstanding gentleman and scholar, but he is a citizen of the First Magnitude, a beloved friend to all mankind; a man who has lived well — who has served liis race, his country, his State and the Noble Cause of Equality of All Mankind. He is a man who has so lived in his community that no one can ever say that either in private life or in public life he has uttered an unkind word about any of his fellow (iti/nis. He has lived a life of love, affection and devotion for his fellowman, a noble heart, a man of humanitarian spirit, and I say to you in conclusion that North Carolina suffered a loss when he did not reI in n to his native State, but because of the fact that he came to Louisville and settled in this community, Louisville has been a better place in which to live by reason of the fact that there has lived in this community for more than fifty years our honoree, Dr. I. A. C. Lattimore, and in consideration and appreciation for his outstanding services to his race, State and Nation, the Louisville Branch of the NAACP is happy to present to him this award of appreciation, and Alpha Lambda Chapter of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity is also happy to join with the Louisville Branch of the NAACP in presenting another award in appreciation for his noble and outstanding service to his race, State and Nation.

THE SPHINX

itcf *?i CM WINTERS, ST

Editor

MORTEMS

gers on. Back into Alpha history has 11 but the memory remains and all iring threadbare the story ol Miami. ns. And I am just as loquacious as

uO Lucy Uicoui

T o better u n d e r s t a n d them, I think we should consider the last one first.

W h a t is love? Does not " t o love" mean the p u t t i n g of the interest a n d welfare of the beloved above the interest a n d welfare of the one who loves? Is not love patient a n d kind?

"Love is not jealous or boastful; it is not irritable or resentful. Love bears all things, believes all things, hopes all things, endures all things. Love never fails." A n d what is it to love all mankind? W h a t is the best interest of all people?

Is it love for all m a n k i n d lo allow a g r o u p of people to be abused a n d trodden underfoot? Is it love to witness h a t e w i t h o u t opposing it? O n the other h a n d , is it love to all mankind to o b t a i n social equality at the expense of bitterness a n d fear? Is it love of all m a n k i n d to coerce agreem e n t before there is u n d e r s t a n d i n g or desire for agreement? N o m a t t e r what we do or say, there are some w h o will not u n d e r s t a n d ; there will be some who h a t e a n d fear a n d resent any course of action we follow. B u t we must understand the tenacity, a n d even sincerity, with which some people cling to their prejudices a n d ignorance. W e must fight the destruction of personalities, regardless of race, creed or color, b u t we must not degrade the personalities of even those w h o would oppose us in o u r efforts to elevate h u m a n dignity! W e (Continued on Page 22) FEBRUARY,

1955

visit to the South was m t u n u LÂŤVO days before he mustered u p nerve enough to say Miami. Miami sounded too intimate so in his contacts with the "other folks" h e always referred to it as " Y o u r - A m i . "

DR. O. WILSON WINTERS

T w o d r u n k s walking back from the rate tracks at T r o p i c a l Park took to the railroad tracks. T h e y headed for Miami crawling on hands a n d knees over the railroad ties. "Geez," said one, "I've never seen so many stairs in my life." T h e other guy said, " I t ain't the stairs that's getting me down, it's these low bannisters."

The Floridians are quick wilted. I i \ best to be quick willed m a i n times io survive the southern wrath. A farmer reported one of his prize pigs missing. Immediately a road block was set u p outside the city limits. Presently. two natives with the pig came driving down the highway. Seeing the cops in the distance they p u t the pig on the front seat between them, tied a neck tic a r o u n d its neck and put an old hat on its head.

The officers viT\ grulTlv halted the ear and asked each fellow his name. O n e said "Jerry H o l d e n " the other said. "Sam Wallace." l o o k i n g at the pig in the m i d d l e the cops said, "Boy! what's your name?" T h e driver d u g his elbows into the pig's libs anil it squealed out " O i n k . " T h e officers sent t h e m on a n d said to their assistants, " T h a t ' s not the car we want.

O n e fellow was named Jerry, another was Sam a n d a n o t h e r guy, the ugliest Nigra I've ever seen in m\ life kept saying his name was " I ' n k . " IMPARTIAL In weighing the merits of any dispute W i t h a m i n d unbiased a n d j u d g m e n t W i t h u n e r r i n g insight, I always see My own viewpoint exclusively.

acute

T H O M A S USK.

H e (explaining a baseball game): "First of all, Blondie, ball-playing is done on diamonds. R e m e m b e r , now, there's a connection between playing ball a n d d i a m o n d s . " (Continued on Page 27) PAGE

21

Future of All Life (Continued from Page 21) must pray for those who persecute us, and do good to those who hate us and despitefully use us! It is a hard thing which I am saying, but it is a faithful truth and by applying it we ina\ truly transcend all.

Let me illustrate this point with an experience of a very close friend of mine, a minister in a Chicago chinch, Rev. Roland Brown. There was a man in his congregation who was deliberately blocking and thwarting ever) move the pastor made, "if there was any trouble brewing, any malicious gossip set in motion, I could nearly always put my linger on its source," he said. I'm sure all of you have known some person like this, a person who tries deliberately to frustrate every plan you make. This man was neurotic and unhappy. He gave no evidence of any sweetness or love; he was as hard as pig-iron, cold, cynical and puritanical.

One day Roland's wife suggested that he try acting like a Christian toward this man. Then Roland realized that he really didn't want to love the man at all. Roland felt at first that he had met his Christian Waterloo, but finally decided to risk his faith on God's ability to change this man. Against this "unchangeable rock" of a man, Roland pitted his Christian beliefs to be strengthened or broken.

"I began hesitantly and feebly to turn love on him," Roland explained.

"I tried not to judge him by the obvious outer appearances. I tried to think of him constructively, as Jesus would think of him. Then finally there came a day when prayer was easy and my love for him was real. â&#x20AC;˘With this I was no longer concerned as to whether he was changed or not â&#x20AC;&#x201D;that was God's concern. I had already had my attitudes changed. But the miracle was that his attitude toward me was changed! A short time after this, he said to me at the door of the (lunch: 'Pastor, that was a powerful sermon you preached this morning. It seemed especially for me.' Eight years have past, and not once has the man caused me any difficulty." It is amazing, but God can and docs change other people and their attitudes when you let Him first change yours. Let us try practicing our purpose; let us truly have love for all mankind!

Returning to the aims of Alpha again, where do manly deeds and scholarship fit into this Love about which I have been talking? We must (Continued on Page 24) PAGE 22

Service, The Core Fiber of Our Fraternity Says Chairman of Undergrad Relations

By BROTHER OTIS SIMMONS I T H I N the matrix of our fraternal endeavors should constantly blaze the fire of SERVICE. This is to say that as Alpha men we are inextricably committed to render genuine service to others. Of course, we have only to look in retrospect upon the historical achievement of our founders as attestments to this statement, for it was they who, almost 50 years ago, banded together to render effective service to struggling humanity.

Now the type of service to which we allude here manifests itself in many ways. The chapter which encourages its young men, from the day they became Sphinxmen until they leave college as actives, to render service to others by affiliating with some worthwhile campus organization or by donating blood for the suffering, is doing the kind of thing our Jewels had in mind when they founded our beloved fraternity.

As a member of a particular campus organization, each Alpha man should constantly have the support

of his brothers. Congruently, he should sense his responsibility keenly and contribute with thoroughness and with dignity his peculiar talents to the task assigned him. If he does this, whether he be only a lay member or the executive officer, then he places himself in a position to be elected to even higher positions. It is my firm belief that the thing which makes Alpha men great leaders is the fact that they can do the job assigned them more thoroughly than can many other men of like talents.

If our Sphinxmen can be made to understand from the time they enter our organization that, first and last, Alpha Phi Alpha stands for service, then we will realize stronger chapters with higher ideals.

It occurs to me that much of the confusion between undergraduates and graduates comes about as a result of a basic confused conception of what Alpha is all about. When in doubt as to what Alpha stands for, always return to the unshakable mudsill of SERVICE. Certainly there constantly exists a grand opportunity for all of our chapters to use as the THE SPHINX

center-piece of their yearly programs some worthwhile service project.

Leave service out of your chapter program and the emphasis shifts to negative activities which in no way help build character in young men.

Would you believe that on some campuses the emphasis during a school year is entirely on probation week?

It is true. In fact, some chapters are known to spend a good deal of their valuable time â&#x20AC;&#x201D; which could be more effectively used in replying promptly to correspondence from the regional vice-presidents, the general secretary and others â&#x20AC;&#x201D; discussing which active has broken the most paddles across some probate. Possibly these brothers have never considered the tremendous prestige which they could bring to their chapters through having their probates render some specific community service such as having them give blood to hospital blood banks or collect clothing for the needy, or help in city-wide clean-up campaigns.

There is more to this matter of placing emphasis wrongly. Take, for example, the case of the active who asked a certain probate to define a

vulgar word. When asked his reason for indulging in such absurdity, he simply shrugged his shoulders and timidly answered "It's hell week."

This is the type of cancerous condition which is beginning to eat at the very heart of our great fraternity and cause first one, then many undergraduate chapters across the nation to wither and decay.

Turning briefly to the matter of how we might improve our chapter meetings, the following plan is herewith submitted for your consideration: 1. Open the Meeting with Prayer 2. Sing Some Peppy Fraternity Songs 3. Take Up Business. a. Discuss methods of improving relations between Undergraduate and Graduate chapters. b. Discuss various ways in which the chapter can render greater service on the campus and in the community. c. Discuss various phases of the ritual in an effort to carry on more impressive initiations.

4. Have Each Brother Prepare a

Three-Minute Informal Talk on Some Timely Subject 5. Have a Discussion of Current Events 6. Have Spontaneous Singing 7. Adjournment In the matter of housing, the most effective plan seems to be the one in which a committee composed of an equal representation of undergraduate and graduate brothers is set up to handle the administrative affairs involved. Such a group could negotiate directly with the general organization for a down-payment on a house, and recommend effective ways in which funds could be raised to meet monthly payments on it. Some fund-raising projects which have proved exceedingly successful are: (1) various balls, (2) formal dances, (3) concerts by renowned artists, (4) jabberwocks and the like.

Finally, Brothers in Alpha, why not leave this convention resolved to make SERVICE the core fiber of our chapter program? If you do this, you will renew again man's faith in the brotherhood of mankind under God, who is the Father of us all.

TRANSITORIAL . . . WILLIAMS TO SWINGLER Transitorial meeting called for Memphis, Tenn. by retiring Vice-President William H. Duke Williams . . . From left seated: Brothers Williams, of Jackson; General President Frank L. Stanley, Newly Elected Southern Vice-President. L. O. Swingler, and Brother John L. Brinkley. Jr., President of Alpha Delta Lambda . . . Back row, standing: Brother E. L. Lipscomb of Jackson. Miss.,"retiring Public Relations Director for the region; Brother James Johnson, President, Beta Xi Chapter, LeMoyne; Brother Robert F. Jacox, of Ripley, Tenn.; Brother A. B. Owen. Secretary, Alpha Delta Lambda: Brother Dr. Leland Atkins, recently appointed Regional Director; and Brother James Green, Public Relations for the Southern jurisdiction.

FEBRUARY, 1955

PAGE 23

Future of All Life (Continued from Page 22) study a n d learn and take o u r place in socict\: we must labor tirelessly for soi ial equality, we must enact laws that guarantee legal justice! W e must do these things as the studied means ol showing a fuller life to all men.

We must strive for more complete integration regardless of obstacles, but in ilu process, let us keep o u r own hands (lean of the injustice a n d hate which we a b h o r in others. Let us light the sin, but love the sinnerl It will take scholarship to see accurately what needs to be d o n e to benefit all m a n k i n d , a n d it will take manly deeds to carry out what we conscientiously believe is right.

In asking me to speak to this convention, Brother President Smith indicated that he would like for me to discuss integration and interracial fellowship. Perhaps you think I've been preaching a sermon. Maybe I have.

I wish that I could give you a simple formula or a pat answer that w o u l d solve our racial problems, b u t I cannot. I can say that it is your attitudes that will make or wreck interracial fellowship. T h e attitudes you have as you pursue your newly acquired, but long overdue, freedom are crucial. Affiliate as closely as you can with interracial groups whose activities and interests ate similar to

your own. Smile at the slights you receive, a n d overlook a n d forgive the ignorance of people who deliberately attempt to make you feel u n w a n t e d .

It is a difficult thing to do. It is far easier to tolerate abuse than to love the abuser. Perhaps you say that I know not of what I speak. You may say that I have never k n o w n the abuses you have, and you are partially right.

II you think Lawrence, Kansas is unprejudiced, allow me to point out that, among other things, Negroes arc not allowed in the Barber Shops, and cafes all post signs concerning their right to refuse service. T o be sure-, Lawrence is not as bad as many towns, but I did not find it easy to stand apart from my friends in this community. It was difficult to meet the scorning eyes or hear the hushed questions whispered b e h i n d my back.

T h e people who were h u r t i n g me were not strangers, they were my friends with whom I had grown u p . T h e s e were classmates whose parents had warned t h e m to avoid me. A girl friend from grade school days called to break her date with me when she heard that a flaming cross h a d been planted in the yard of the Fraternity House. She said she didn't want to be involved in race relations. Of course not! N o one likes to be different! N o one likes to be misunderstood.

Nobody wants to stand

COUPLES GALORE IN MIAMI Brothers from all over the nation came with their wivesâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;Brother and Mrs. Swingler, Brother and Mrs. Lionel Newsome and just gobs of others.

P A G E 24

alone, but somebody must. My closest friends asked me constantly why I joined a p r e d o m i n a n t l y N e g r o fraternity. W h a t was I trying to prove?

My parents and brothers wondered, a n d they could not u n d e r s t a n d . Perhaps you also wonder why.

If I have talked to you so long, a n d you still d o not u n d e r s t a n d why I h a d to demonstrate my love a n d concern, then I have wasted my time. If you do not know t h a t I earnestly want you to have the happiest, fullest lives possible, then I have wasted your time also. But if you do understand, what further reason d o I need for pledging myself to you?

Because I am the U n d e r g r a d u a t e Speaker at this convention, I would like to say a little bit a b o u t o u r undergraduate chapters. I would like to point out that the n u m b e r of members is not a criteria of an organization's value. N e i t h e r is the efficiency of an organization an a d e q u a t e standard by which to judge. W e must look to see w h a t is the effect on the m a n in the organization also â&#x20AC;&#x201D; does the g r o u p help the m a n to be more mature a n d of more service? O n the basis of this I would like to propose that o u r u n d e r g r a d u a t e chapters adopt a system of operation which gives all of the members a chance to work together, a n d where each member is responsible for performing his share of the work. I w o u l d like to see the men plan out their own menus, cook their own food, do their own dishes, keep their own books, a n d purchase their food themselves.

I don't mean for each individual to do every job, b u t I mean for the men in the chapter to select from among themselves the persons for each task.

T h i s is not only leads to better understanding a n d b r o t h e r h o o d , not only to the m a k i n g of the m a n , but by reducing the expenses it makes it possible for m a n y capable m e n to be a part of o u r fraternity w h o would not otherwise be able to afford it.

For two years I lived in a house with 35 other students which was organized on this basis, a n d we operated for only $40 per m o n t h for room a n d board. Last year while I was living in the Upsilon C h a p t e r House, we set u p this system, a n d we operated with a b o u t 12 participants at the rate of $7 per week for food a n d $3 per week for room. I know that this system can work, a n d that it can produce the results which I have described. W i t h the coming of integration, there is a decreasing need for a fraternity on o u r campuses devoted to the social unity of the Negroes there.

Let A l p h a recognize the new need (Continued on Page 26) THE

SPHINX

Fortieth

>

Nominate

T h 40th A n n u a l Convention held in Miami, Florida in keeping with the constitution of Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity, Inc., n o m i n a t e d four (4) Brothers to be voted u p o n by the financial membership of the Fraternity. T h e ballots were to be circularized from the General Secretary's office in cooperation with Brother H.I..

Dickason, Past President a n d Chairman of the Election Commission.

T h e ballots are to be r e t u r n e d by mail a n d placed for safe keeping and counted d u r i n g the 41st A n n u a l Convention to be held d u r i n g the last four (4) days in December 1955.

I'lie S P H I N X felt that it would be a good idea for Brothers to know something regarding the background a n d work experiences of the nominated Brothers. T h e convention n o m i n a t e d Brother W a l t e r Booker, Brother Myles A. Paige, Brother Frank Stanley, and Brother W a l t e r H e r m a n Williams.

BROTHER WALTER

BOOKER

Brother Walter Booker, Professor and Head of the D e p a r t m e n t of Pharmacology, H o w a r d University, has distinguished himself as a teacher and educator and one who loves A l p h a Phi Alpha. For the past three (3) years he served successfully as Eastern Vice-President a n d initiated d u r i n g that period many programs that have been profitable a n d beneficial in the Eastern jurisdiction. Brother Booker holds membership in the American Physiological Society, the International College of Surgeons, a n d the Association of Endocrinology.

Brother Booker resides in Washington, D. C , with his family, consisting of Mrs. Booker, a son, a n d a daughter.

BROTHER

MYLES A. P A I G E

Brother Myles A. Paige, J u d g e of the Court of Special Sessions of the city of New York, is a g r a d u a t e of H o w a r d University a n d C o l u m b i a University with a degree of Bachelor of Arts and Bachelor of Laws. A pioneer in the field of political science, J u d g e Paige also holds the honorary degrees of Doctor of Laws, a n d Doctor of H u m a n i t i e s .

Brother Paige is a veteran of W o r l d W a r I and went on reserve after W o r l d W a r II as a Colonel of Infantry. H e is a m e m b e r of n u m e r o u s c o m m u n i t y organizations including the following: president of the Comm u n i t y Association, first vice-president a n d c h a i r m a n of Executive Board of the Brooklyn B r a n c h of the N a t i o n a l Association for the AdFEBRUARY,

1955

BROTHER STANLEY

vancement of Colored People, a n d other civic groups.

Brother Myles Paige was born into Alpha Phi Alpha as the nephew of Mrs. Anna Singleton, who has been officially designated as the Mother of Alpha Phi Alpha. T h e fraternity was founded in her h o m e in Ithaca, New York, just off the campus of Cornell University.

Brother Paige resides in Brooklyn, New York with his wife. T h e y are the parents of two (2) daughters.

B R O T H E R FRANK STANLEY Brother Frank Stanley, president General President of Alpha Phi Alp h a Fraternity, Inc., is u p for reelection. T h e h a r d working journalist a n d committee leader's virtues a n d training have been outlined u n d e r the caption, " F r a n k L. Stanley, New General President."

BROTHER WALTER HERMAN "DUKE'' W I L L I A M S Brother W a l t e r H e r m a n " D u k e " Williams was born in the state ol Arkansas where lie received e a r h educational training. Later he received his B. S. a n d M. S. degrees from Clark College and the University of Wisconsin, respectively. F u r t h e r graduate work was clone at Columbia and Northwestern Universities. Brother Williams was initiated into the- fold ol Alpha through Alpha Phi C h a p t e r in 1928; he reactivated Alpha Epsilon L a m b d a C h a p t e r in 1929, serving as president until 1934. Brother Williams again became president of the chapter in 1952 and still serves in this capacity. H e was delegate to the '52 convention and was m a d e Southern Vice-President a n d was cited for his leadership u p o n his resignation PAGE

25

CONVENTION CAUCUS Brother Major Gauze (center) chats with two brothers before election . . . Brother Billy Jones (left) was elected without opposition, general counselâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;'nutf said . . .

some lad, tall and slender. The boy's Eace was drawn and tense, his shoulders slumped forward, and his eyes stared blankly at the judge. It seemed that several weeks ago he had been to a parly with some of his friends, and they had had a few drinks together before parting. The next morning he was accused of having run down and killed one pedestrian and having injured another, both of whom had been standing in a safety zone. The youth had not the slightest recollection of the accident, but the battered fenders of his car and the account of a witness were convincing evidence. The lawyers had argued the case, one for leniency toward this unfortunate youth, and the other for the safety of the citizens in the community. The jury had found him guilty and the judge proPAGE 26

nounced the sentence of fifteen years in prison. But before the judge's gavel could adjourn the court, a well dressed, middle-aged business man pushed his way toward the front of the courtroom, and as he turned and faced the courtroom, the pathos in his eyes glued each person to their place. The man was James E. Goodrich, a respected and successful citizen in the city and the father of the convicted boy!

"I made my son a criminal," he began. "Fifteen years ago I took Jim into the country with me, and left him in the car while I stopped a minute to call on a customer. The house was down in a valley among a grove of trees. When I had finished my business I took a short-cut back to the car. I then discovered that Jim was gone. The snow on the ground had fallen fresh that morning.

My tracks were the only ones that led from the car. I walked around the car several times with fear mounting in my heart. Then I noticed, coming out of the grove of trees, stretching his tiny legs to match my strides, carefully putting each little

loot in the print which I had made, was my boy.

"It has always been this way. He has always followed my paths. He has always imitated me as best he could. He has seen me drink many times, but I left no tracks to lead him beyond that pitfall. He is now undone by my folly. I made my son a criminal."

Each of us is leaving footprints in the snow, and somebody is following in the path that each of us leaves.

The question is, where do your footprints lead others? I have tried to indicate where I believe they should lead, and the rest is up to you.

Our racial difficulties are only a manifestation of our inability to love and get along with other people, and these are the symptoms of maladjustment to God. Love, in the Christian sense, is the cure. I am offering no panacea; this putting the welfare of other people on an equal plane with your own is difficult. It is a difficult medicine to take. Is a healthy society worth it? Is integration worth planning and working for in a spirit (Continued on Inside Back Cover) THE SPHINX

FRATERNITY (Continued BlOndie: "Sure, I know all about He: " W h a d d a ya mean, va know Blondie: "Well, my boss says if diamonds."

FUN

from Page 21) ii." all about it?"

I'll play ball with him, I'll be wearing

Florida Bon Mot — (found on a napkin in the Miami Carver Hotel cafe).

A woman sees through a man by intuition. Man always needs the sun to see t h r o u g h her.

When some men get a kiss, they tr) to make a meal of it.

Janitors might be railed floor flushers.

A good salesman is the fellow who can convince his Wife she looks fat in a fur coat.

A girdle is an uncomfortable item that makes women look comfortable.

Life is an everlasting struggle to keep imiiin coming in and teeth and bait from coming out.

W o m a n ' s chief asset is man's imagination.

T o d a y is the day you worried about yesterday.

A raisin is a grape that had too many worries.

A man has so many more temptations than a woman because he knows where to go and find them.

A honeymoon is the thrill of a Wifcthne.

I met a girl named Passion And asked her lot a dale I took her out to d i n n e r And, gosh, how passionate!

Some cocktails make you see double and feel single.

Conceit is a form of " I " strain.

Dr. Green gained distinction throughout Florida for his research in Sterility and his experiments in pituitary extracts. Many families were made happy a n d brighter because of the little bundles of sunshine he enabled the stork to deliver. O n e day a Seminole Indian Squaw came to his clinic.

"Squaw w a n t u m baby," she blurted out to Dr. Green. He asked her several questions, then instructed her to disrobe, lie on the examination table and cover herself with a sheet.

"I'll be back in a lew moments," he added, " a n d then we'll sec if you can have a baby." " N o , no," she objected strenuously, "me w a n t u m Indian baby."

Miami was surcharged with hospitality. Even Brother Ira Davis' chauffeur w h o was placed at the disposal and behest of ex prexv Macco Smith showed his attention to dutv by smartly saluting whenever Brother or Mis. Smith entered (he Fleetwood Cadillac.

O n e evening, alter sneaking in a few cocktails while the Davis, Stanley, Beatty, Paige a n d Smith party cavorted at the Dinner Key Dance, friend chauffeur in addition to the salute, grew bold enough to attempt the hailing sign. Brother M a t e o overlooked the sign, incorrect as it was. T h e n the grip was attempted, first squeezing the elbow in the region of the luiniv bone, n o recognition; next he stroked the wrist, no dice, finally he used the old, old country sehoolhouse greeting. W i t h his forefinger he tickled him in the palm of the hand. After that Fanny made Maceo wear gloves.

T h e r e was a lot of excitement in one of the hotels where some sorority gills were located. During the middle of the night a lire broke out in the wing where most of these gitls were quartered. Many of the Alpha Brothers turned in to help the firemen. It took the firemen an h o u r to p u t out the fire. T h e n it took the hotel authorities another hour to p u t out the Firemen and the Alpha Brothers.

I W I L L N E V E R SOON F O R G E T — Kermit Hall's clisplav of sartorial splendor.

— Maceo Hill matching him suit for suit.

— Moss Kendriek's Coca-Cola generosity and all a r o u n d suavity.

— Prof. Charles L. Williams as banquet Em Cee — sounding exactly like Mr. Conklin (see " O u r Miss Brooks" T . V . Program).

(Continued on Page 32) FEBRUARY,

1955

Brother Carey Guest Speaker F L I N T Mich. — Sunday, fanuarv lii. Flint was honored by the visit of Archibald J. Carey, Jr. Brother Carey spoke at the Court Street Methodist Church in the interest of the building hind lot the O u i n n Chape] A. M. E. C h i n c h , whose present site is being taken over lot the new Flint Civic Center.

Brother Carey held his audience spell-bound as he explained the operation ol the United Nations. As a former alternate delegate to the United Nations General Asseinblv the aims ol (he UN were clearly set forth as a means to prevent war a n d to secure lor all people' everywhere in the world, the dignity of first class citizenship. His crowning point was the m a n n e r in which he' drove home the fact that all the money spent on aid to foreign countries did not do .is much good in preventing communism as die' Supreme Court's decision to outlaw segregation in public schools.

Brother Carey called on all people lo stand u p and be counted lor fail play. T h i s is the one wav the lav men can help combat (he spread ol

communism.

T h e Brothels of Fpsilon Lpsilon Lambda turned out in numbers to cheer Brother Carey on to greater heights. T h i s marks the first public appearance- of the members of the chapter since the election of the ofIicers for the coming year.

President Stanley Aids Transfer M E M P H I S , T e r m . - T h e transitory meeting of the Southern Jurisdiction, Alpha P h i Alpha Fraternity, took place in Memphis, Tennessee Sunday, January 2.". when Brothei W. H. Duke Williams, of Jackson, Mississippi, turned over his gavel and records to Lewis O. Swingier, ncwlv elected vice-president of the area.

In attendance al the historic and amiable meeting were Brother E. L. Lipscomb, of Jackson, Mississippi; Brother Robert F. Jacox, of Ripley, Regional Director; J o h n L. Brinklev, Jr., President of Alpha Delta Lambda; A. B. Owen, Secretary of Alpha Delta Lambda; James Green, and General President Frank L. Stanley, of Louisville.

Brother Swingier made- announce(Continued on Page 32) P A G E 27

Delta Lambda (Continued from Page 11) Frank Ellis, R o b e r t D u n m o r e , Walter Dixon, H a r r y A. Cole a n d Osborne D i x o n .

Brothers of Delta L a m b d a were lutsv on other fronts. Brother Clifton R. Jones was n a m e d to the advisory council to the H o u s i n g B u r e a u of the Baltimore H e a l t h D e p a r t m e n t . . .

Brother H o w a r d M u r p h y was elected chairman of the Baltimore chapter, Americans for Democratic Action a n d also c h a i r m a n of the board of Provident Hospital.

Brother T o m H a w k i n s o n J a n u a r y 23 resumed a weekly half h o u r television program, " T h e F o u r t h M a n , " devoted to r e m i n d i n g the Baltimore c o m m u n i t y that one-fourth of the city's p o p u l a t i o n is composed of colored citizens . . . Brother Cliff Mackav was a m e m b e r of a g r o u p of p r o m i n e n t Marylanders flown by the l ' . S. Air F"orce to Mitchell Field, N . V., to inspect the h e a d q u a r t e r s of the 26th Air Defense C o m m a n d , which protects 44,000,000 residents of the Eastern states.

Brother Waters T u r p i n directed Delta Lambda's presentation of the Morgan State College Players in the drama, " H a i t i " for the benefit of the chapter's scholarship fund . . . Brother Mi Quay Kiah, as c h a i r m a n of Baltimore's Committee for Racial Equality through vigorous protest methods, Forced 40 d o w n t o w n eating places to a b a n d o n their 'white only' policy and serve all persons regardless of race.

Brother L u n a i Mischoc of Morgan State College, will journey to Oxford University in L o n d o n this s u m m e r on a F u l b r i g h t Fellowship to do special research in nuclear mathematics . . . Brother John J. Oliver was presented an engraved gold watch by Brother Carl M u r p h y , president of the Afro-American Newspapers, in recognition of his 20 years' service as superintendent of the A F R O mechanical d e p a r t m e n t . . . Brother Wbodley Lawrence, H o w a r d law graduate a n d real estate dealer and a true Alpha, joined the Omega chapic i in December. H e will be missed.

- C . W.Mackay

Founders Day (Continued from Page 11) cation and Hygiene at Tuskegee Institute, a n d secretary of the chapter.

Biot Iter Ferguson gave a beautiful description of the occasion before introducing the m a i n speaker of the evening.

T h e Anniversary .Address was given PAGE

28

by Brother I. A. Derbigny, vice-presid e n t of Tuskegee Institute a n d a form e r president of the chapter. Speaking on the subject, "Fraternities Face Integration," Brother Derbigny outlined many of the challenges now facing Alpha as well as other fraternities in the wake of integration. H e urged the best efforts of all to h e l p make integration work as painlessly a n d as rapidly as possible.

Alpha Nu L a m b d a also sponsored its A n n u a l Christmas Basket Giving to the needy families of Macon County a n d the Tuskegee C o m m u n i t y . As has been true in recent years, the Brothers gather the names a n d addresses of the most needy families, a n d at Christmas time see that they are remembered with a p p r o p r i a t e (Continued on Inside Back Cover)

Integration (Continued from Page 15) possible consistent a n d stable integration of the Negro into American life.

T h i s new h o p e was soon blasted by two (2) historical blunders a n d sins against h u m a n i t y , one philosophically social a n d the other legal. Of these two events, the first may be considered sincere a n d unwittingly, t h o u g h short-sighted a n d compromising, a n d the other malicious a n d premeditated a n d both can properly be called the cloak and a r m o r of the ghost of the D r e d Scott decision.

I n 1895, the ace Negro leader of the day a n d the m a n of the hour, Booker T . Washington, m a d e his famous A t l a n t a Exposition speech in Atlanta, Georgia,

VICE-PRESIDENT SPEAKS Dr. I. A. Derbigny, vice-president of Tuskegee Institute and a former president of Alpha Nu Lambda Chapter, delivers the First Annual Founders Day Banquet address, December 6, 1954.

FRATERNITY

FUN

(Continued from Page 27) Maceo Smith's loquacious evidence' of administrative relief at the banquet.

Charles (Dawg) Anderson's kaleidoscopic raiment — hickory cane, gouty big toe and n o m i n a t i n g speech.

Barton Beatty's supervision by an FBI agent known only as Norvella.

Lucien Brown's consummate recreational joy.

Pedagogue Picott's punctilious Workshop.

Gothams gilt to Alpha decorum — Frankic Dec: and "Shorty" Atwater.

H o w a r d University's c o n t r i b u t i o n to fraternal dignity in Drs. W a l t e r Booker and Rayford Logan.

Brother Ellis and Rev. Francis Davis' phillipic speeches which delivered the coup de grace to A C H R participation.

Brother Roger Youman's masterful speech which proved A P h i A's sound venture in inlet racial b r o t h e r h o o d . a n y t h i n g that happened, anyone I met, nor any of the many nice things lots of folks said a b o u t Frat F u n a n d ye olde Friende—Oliver Wilson Winters.

THE

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which is referred to by historians as the " A t l a n t a Compromise."

Booker T . W a s h i n g t o n designed the framework a n d engineered the social structure t h r o u g h his brilliant t h o u g h ignominious philosophy of the limited a n d non-social aspiration of the Negro a n d thereby indoctrinated America with the disease of the "separate but e q u a l " misnomer a n d dignified the art of begging on one knee.

O h , how the majority of white America loved Mr. W a s h i n g t o n and embellished his leadership with glory.

T h e y relished a n d digested his impoverishing, social compromise of a half-a-loaf of sufficiency a n d satisfaction a n d gave moral a n d financial support to his preemptory theory of industrial education as a screening vacuum. Mr. Washington's philosophy did not include the academic elements of political, legal a n d social implementation of the Negro as a first class citizen; his doctrine served a useful and limited period, beneficial to a small percentage of his race. His philosophy, being fundamentally a n d basically unsound, was contrary to our democratic concept of citizenship a n d served as a block to the Negro's integration.

O t h e r Negro leaders of that day and era—the W. E. B. DuBois of New York, the M o n r o e T r o t t e r s of Massachusetts, the Phil Dobneys of Ohio, the George Stewarts a n d Knoxs of Indiana, the R o b e r t S. Abbotts of Illinois a n d the Disciples of Frederick

Douglas violently disagreed with Mr. Washington's compromise a n d referred to it as a sell o u t of the race.

T h r o u g h their musketeering efforts, lectures a n d writings, they crystallized a strong minority American school of thought, "Negro citizenship must be a living reality of respect, a n inclusive enjoyment of every social, legal a n d economic right of all facets in o u r American social order—without compromise." O u t of this moral a n d ethical school of thought—The N a t i o n a l Association for the Advancement of Colored People was born, the seed of the U r b a n League was sown, the civil rights section of the National Bar Association was formed a n d the civil liberties division of the Elks was created and similar positive action groups took root t h r o u g h o u t white a n d Negro America.

America's social philosophies, legal scholars, and educational panaceas were divided into two camps with battle formation; the Booker T .

Washington apostles, of the " F o u r Horsemen of Apocalypse" versus the Frederick Douglas, DuBois, a n d T r o t ter disciples, with the battle cry of " T h e Three Musketeers": "All for one, one for all or none lot any—never—no compromise for seco n d class citizenship."

T h e Booker T . W a s h i n g t o n Aposiles recruited many naive, sincere a n d insincere Negro leaders as converts.

Many seeing the golden o p p o r t u n i t y to beg with dignity on one knee,

grabbed all available sources a n d resources of ingratiating grace with the pseudo white friends of the N e g r o and created a new social era of legal, economic a n d political compromise t h r o u g h expediency a n d exploitation.

U n d e r the color of a beneficent philosophy of building race pride, as well as to meet the depraved cultured and overplayed illiterate status of the Negro, colored branches of the YWCA's a n d YMCA's, overseeing a n d screening Negro settlement houses prospered in social ghettoes and won many battles for second class citizenship of "separate b u t equal." T h e y infested the n o r t h with the southern philosophy "that the Negro is not ready for first class citizenship a n d he must be kept in his place as a race." T h e necessity of a social ghetto a n d vacuum screening of preparing the Negro for the enigmatic status a n d ignominious role of a first class person with a second class social citizenship, unfortunately is the dedicated ideal of m a n y sincere though shortsighted educators a n d social philosophers today. I n 1954, a g r o u p of these disciples of W a s h i n g t o n a n d well m e a n i n g leaders from I n d i a n a , T e x a s a n d other states maneuvered t h r o u g h the eighty-third (83rd) Congress, a federal charter u n d e r the corporate n a m e "Board for F u n d a m e n t a l E d u c a t i o n " to legalize their philosophy a n d program of a buffer social a n d economic vacuum t h r o u g h which u n f o r t u n a t e minorities should orien-

BROTHERS CHAT WITH RETIRING SOUTHWEST PREXY Brother Hune Williams discusses Alpha Phi Alpha future with delegates at the convention headquarters in the comfortable lobby of the Carver Hotel . . .

FEBRUARY,

1955

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29

tate io become ;i firsi rate person in a second class social status with the remote possibility ol eventually graduating OUt of his (lass.

This social experiment will dela\ integration of the Negro into American life and will be used In m a i n o p p o n e n t s ol the Ma) 17th S u p r e m e Court decision as a n e f a r i o u s social l i n g e r system of

stops, valves a n d controls.

In 1896, the Supreme Court of the United States in the Famous Plessy \s. Ferguson decision, gave sane lion. legal stains and social dignity to the Washington doctrine of "separate bul e q u a l " ; and. from that date to May 17. 1954, the Washington social a n d mental disease plagued America a n d h a u n t e d hourly the life of every black man a n d the n a m i n g of the brilliant, though shortsighted Mr. Washington to the flail of Fame only added fuel to the fire.

The fourth historical social period of experimental integration of the Negro a n d the threshold of change from a second to a first class citizenship began in 1983, when the famous President, Franklin I). Roosevelt, appeared on the scene with his new and revolutionary social experiments of brotherhood, unity and good Samaritan philosophy. T h e Magna Charta was re-read, the bill of rights was rehashed, the United Nations formed and the Fourteenth and Fifteenth Amendments were allowed to sit u p and take nourishment and were used effectively as a two-edged sword; the Negro's economic opportunities became a game of cat and mouse and the talk of social equality outside the chawing room was taboo. T h i s period can be referred to in history as the new freedoms and moral era and new deal for all minorities and oppressed peoples ol the world. T h e background leading u p to this period with historical events affecting Negro America has been scholarly recorded by brother, Dr. Ravlord W .

Logan, in his receni book. " T h e Negro in American File and T h o u g h t . " Even Alpha man and leader, the intellectual architects of scholarship and brotherhood, should read I his book as the foundation and background ol our new moral era of 1933.

O u r current history from 1933 u p to date is a matter ol common knowledge as the Negro lor the past twenty (20) years has been one of the main topics of discussion through all mediums of communication: " W e couldn't keep him down on the Farm, he is becoming educated last; he is no longer docile a n d meek but a d a m a n t and d e m a n d i n g a n d his demands are far beyond o u r expectations. W h a t are we going to do PAGE

30

A sectional view of the First Annual Founders Day Banquet o! Alpha Nu Lambda Chapter. fuskegee Institute. Alabama. December 6. 1954.

with him?" And the conversation further goes, "he is taking over the cities and forcing the u n f o r t u n a t e white people io move to the suburbs. H e lias hoodwinked the United States Supreme Court and he is a regular (rime menace and we just do not s e e m to be a b l e l o e l e c t a p r e s i d e n t w h o will s t o p h i m a n d n o w h e w a n t s

equality of all social rights. Oh my Lord! What are we coming lo?" T h i s conversation which is currently abreast and adrift in the American air is developing wholesome results and causing many Americans io X-ray their moral philosophies and ethics.

T h e crystallizing thoughts of a large percentage of our American populous was I'octisscd on the American public. which was rocked out ol its indolence and complacency by the Supreme Court on May 17. 1954. Alpha Phi Alpha feels very proud as this historic decision is the brain child in the main of Alpha men, including our distinguished President, Brother A. Maceo Smith.

T h a n k God â&#x20AC;&#x201D; the ethics and moral philosophy ol the' Musketeers have won their first big battle over Booker T . Washington's " F o u r H o r s e m e n " ol moral and social decay.

'Fhe challenge ol implementing this historic decision as to ways, methods. means and lime schedule is the topic of the hour.

Fhe challenge is terrific and engulfing lor we can not afford and must not make some of the mistakes of the past when a pattern of potential integration is in sight. I recommend to every Alpha m a n brother Dr. H. L. Dickason's, "Supreme Court Decision on Public Schools and Its Eleven Point Social Action Steps." to wit: (Recommend-

edâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;"The American Council on Human Rights.")

(1) T o reaffirm the objective ol eliminating segregation from all phases of American life and adopting as a major target the implementation of the Supreme Court decision in your community a n d a smooth but rapid transition from segregation to integration in public education. N o de-la\ is necessary. Baltimore, Maryland, a city which has prided itself on its "southern traditions" and has treated its minorities accordingly, has acted to integrate its schools completely by September, 1951.

(2) Each council and chapter should seek quickly to inform itself on all aspects of the school problem in iis community. (a) A committee should be appointed io collect the background information and the facts with particular attention to school districts a n d the slants and tenure of all teachers. (b) A mimeographed sheet should be prepared summarizing these facts and distributed as widely as possible. (c) An action g r o u p should be formed to plan and execute a program to effect the transition and to cooperate with any other groups in the community w h o are interested.

'Flu's program should at all times be developed after prior consultation with your local N A A C P a n d with the aid and advice of teachers and parents. (d) A thorough discussion of the entire problem should be had in local council, local chapter a n d other (.reek-letter meetings. Special meetings should be (ailed if necessary.

(3) Alter the local Greeks have properly informed themselves a n d deTHE

SPHINX

veloped a program, other community organizations should be consulted a n d asked to cooperate.

(4.) A public meeting by the Council or in cooperation with other organizations should be called to help inform the public of the issues involved a n d to develop community support for the p r o g r a m .

(5.) Similar action should be taken this s u m m e r or fall on all college campuses to especially acquaint future teachers with the basic issues a n d to develop in their minds a p r o p e r attitude toward the new situation to be faced. (fi.) Special attention should be given to the integration of teachers to assure that merit a n d fitness be the criteria in the transfer, hiring or dismissal of teachers. T h e school boards a n d administrators should be warned against any discrimination and the public should be assured that n o n e w ill be tolerated.

(7.) Every effort should be m a d e to prevent the gcrry-mandering of districts to prevent integration. T h i s has been d o n e in some n o r t h e r n cities where illogical and ridiculous lines have been drawn to p e r p e t u a t e segregation.

(8.) Negro parents and children should be urged to conduct themselves witli dignity a n d forebearance at all times for we desire friendship and u n d e r s t a n d i n g as well as we do integration. R e m e m b e r t h a t children have n o racial hostility that is not acquired from othersâ&#x20AC;&#x201D;usually adults.

T h e r e is n o reason to believe or to expect any friction will develop if parents a n d teachers, b o t h colored and white, h a n d l e the problem properly a n d fairly.

(9.) W e should help o u r constituents to see that a l t h o u g h in m a n y areas it w o u l d be difficult to communicate with all white citizens, the example we set t h r o u g h o u r conduct in this period will surely not be lost on them.

(10.) Interracial committees for special purposes should be created as rapidly as possible. Mixed parentteacher groups with persons of goodwill in the leadership would be most effective in facilitating the change.

It is not necessary a n d may not even be desirable to wait for official sponsorship. Someone must take the iniative.

(11) Committees should call on ministers, newspaper editors and opinion molders of b o t h races to seek their cooperation in the general program.

W e must activate, by participation in o u r local communities, the six (6) FEBRUARY,

1955

BETA CHI CHAPTER AT PHILANDER SMITH Brothers Lee Morris. Albert Solari, James Becom. James Vault. Walter Long, and Emery Washington entered Alphadom in December. Brother Lee Morris. Brother James Becom, Brother Albert Solari are basketball players from Mounds. 111. Lee Morris, a three year first team man made two All-conference teams. Brother James Vault, a senior from Little Rock, Arkansas, is the Editor in Chief of the school paper. Brother Walter Long and Brother Emery Washington are very active in Dramatics. All members of Beta Chi Chapter boast average above 2.0. The Sponsor of the Chapter is Bro. Otis D. Simmons.

suggestive patterned implementation steps outlined and released by the NAACP on December 11, 1954, towit: (1) T h e N A A C P branches continue the stimulation of discussion by such responsible groups as churches, civic organizations and trade unions in order to prepare the community lot acceptance of desegregation by September, 1955.

(2) T h a t school boards be encouraged to take a firm a n d positive position for early compliance with the u n a n i m o u s decision of the U n h i d States Supreme Court on May 17, 1954 holding segregation in public schools unconstitutional.

(3) T h a t active support be given to individuals a n d groups w h o seek to implement the Supreme C o u r t ruling.

(4) T h a t , in the absence of organized Negro civic units in a community, state units of the N A A C P assist the local people.

(5) T h a t efforts of outside groups to prevent integration a n d the role of bigoted elements in defiance of the Supreme C o u r t decision be exposed.

(6) T h a t the total resources of the N A A C P , including legal action where

necessary, be utilized to achieve integration.

I w o u l d like to call to your attention a Seventh p a t t e r n e d step, which is now in a formative state a n d which will be the imperative foundation for the Fifth historic period through which the Negro must pass before h e can arrive at any semblance of n o r m a l a n d wholesome first class citizenship.

"Wholesome motivation must be the heart of all action, morality of necessity the soul of all life and ethics should be the master of all endeavor." T h e Negro's objective lor integration must be wholesome, constructive a n d as he travels the precarious road of change from the old to the new, he must expect disappointments a n d heartaches b u t he must not be deterred from his cause by communism or by the flesh pots of compromise, opulence, materialism, arrogance or self sufficiency. His faith in the fatherhood of C o d a n d the brotherhood of m a n must sustain a conduct of tolerance, forbearance a n d patience a n d at the same time give courage and strength in his ever zealous search for t r u t h a n d the advancement of justice. T h i s seventh plank must become a p a r t of (Continued on Page 33) PAGE

31

Alpha Psi Engineers (Continued from Page 10) Brothers G u n t e r , Enlow, R a g l a n d , Bob Wyatt, H a r o l d Manson a n d Little Brothers Marion Richie a n d Irvin Kennedy. Kennedy a n d G u n t e r are last year's o u t s t a n d i n g cadets.

On October 28, Miss Shirley Lipscomb. senior Business Education major from St. Louis, Mo. was chosen chapter sweetheart by the undergraduates. A d i n n e r escort was next on the social calendar with their sister A.K.A.'s and a lour way re-union was held the following night in the Rec. hall.

Alpha m e n also showed their aims by taking part in various campus organizations a n d excelling therein.

Brother G u n t e r was elected to the presidency office of the Student Council in the spring and his leadership merits all thanks for the installing of the first T.V. set on the campus. G u n t e r , a senior pre-med major, is o n e of three persons on the campus elected into Beta Kappa Chi scientific h o n o r a r y society. H e is also a m e m b e r of A l p h a Kappa Mu national academic honorary society a n d a varsity basketball player along with Brother Willie Scott.

In the senior class, Brother Enlow is vice-president and Thomas Brooks is the class treasurer. Brother Harold Manson is the editor of the "Archives," the school yearbook. Manson is now being considered as a candidate for a project calling for European travel this summer for the purpose of feature writing.

The Junior Class is presided over

by Brother Carl Smith, who is also a representative at large to the Student Council.

Brother Joseph J e n k i n s is the president of the Sophomore Class.

Allen H a l l , a sophomore men's dormitory, can also boast of the Alpha interest in counseling. T h e y are: Sam Clark (Sphinxmen), president; Brothers John Cutts, vice-president; Kenner T i p p i n s , assistant secretary; Marty C a i r i n g t o n , treasurer and John Prince, chairman of the social committee.

T h e "Lincoln Clarion," a weekly student publication, is staffed by Alpha men in many key positions. Harold Manson is the former editor, managing editor, campus a n d sports editor. Brother Manson is currently the Clarion feature editor. Brother Melvin Streater serves as campus editor at the present after holding the sports editorship job. Brother Strcalor is also the sports editor of the 1955 "Archives.

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32

In the world of sports, A l p h a Psi salutes Brothers Charles Alexander, Bill T i p p e r , Bob Wyatt a n d Dick Billingslea. T h e first three players have closed their football careers at Lincoln but the gridiron record, assisted by these Brothers finished with 28 wins, 5 losses a n d .'5 ties lor a four year span.

Christmas gifts were given to the Brothers by the AKA's in surprise fashion December 9 in Bennett H a l l , a senior women's dormitory.

The

Chapter Ke yN unibers WESTERN REGION Graduate* 217 166 137

Undergraduates 26 35 79

186

27

207

235

66

301

EASTERN REGION 104 106 111 112 116 123 125 130 132

Graduates 136 142 145 147 159 161 167 174 175

115 117 129 139 140 149 151 153 157

Graduates 162 165 173 181 184 185 195 205 206

101 102 103 105 108 109 113 121 124

Graduate* 128 131 135 138 150 160 168 170 171

107 110 114 118 119 120 122 126 127 133 134 137 141 143 144 146

Graduate* 148 152 154 155 156 158 163 164 169 172 176 177 180 183 188 192

178 190 199 200 203 214 220 223 225

Undergraduates 1 17 83 2 22 93 3 25 94 6 32 97 7 45 110 47 302 12 14 75 305 16 78 308 500

SOUTHWEST 208 211 212 216 221 229 231 233 236

Undergraduates 4 46 67 19 54 70 30 61 87 31 62 96 34 64 99 39 65 304

MIDWESTERN 179 182 189 191 193 210 218 230 501

Undergraduates 5 29 73 8 33 74 10 37 82 11 40 84 13 41 300 15 44 303 18 51 306 20 52 310 23 55 71 28

SOUTHERN

194 196 197 198 202 204 209 213 215 219 222 224 226 227 228 232 234

Undergraduates 9 58 86 21 59 88 24 60 89 36 63 90 38 68 91 42 69 92 43 72 95 76 98 48 77 50 49 53 80 307 56 81 309 57 85

GENERAL ORGANIZATION Graduate 201 Total Chapters Inter.

Graduate Undergrad.

Western Western 6 6 27 24 1 Eastern Southwestern 27 18 Midwestern 26 28 1 Southern 49 35 Graduate Chapters 135 Underjiraduate Chapters 111 Interme diate Chapters 2 1 Genera! Organization

— — —

249

Brothers escorted their sisters to the University a n d served them dinner.

In i n t r a m u r a l activities, the AlphaSphinx captured the basketball title for the second time in the last three years. T h e Alpha winning spirit was conducive in bowling over all comers in their first n i n e games. O n l y oneset back, lost by one point, mars an 11 and 1 record.

T h e chapter held its 48th observance of Founder's Day of Alpha Psi December 5. Cyrus " B u t c h " Taylor, president of the local graduate chapter, Beta Zeta L a m b d a , was the main speaker at the occasion.

T h e two chapters entertained the program audience at a reception in Bennett Hall's living room.

Fall probation was highlighted by an Alpha ship, 19 strong neophytes, who were as follows; R a y m o n d Taylor, N o r m a n Chambers, Kenner T i p pins, Andrew Simpson, Joseph Jenkins, John Cutts, Marty Carrington, Robert Reid, W a l t e r Franklin, Louis G a r d n e r , O. W . Montgomery, J o h n Price, Granville Christian, Joseph Ray, George H o w a r d , A r t h u r Truss, J. T . Wilkerson a n d Erskine Ryan.

•

President Stanley (Continued from Page 27) ment of these staff members selected at press time. T h e y include Regional Director, Brother L e l a n d Atkins; Regional Director, West Tennessee; Brother Wesley W. Whetstone, Alabama; Brother Leroy Frazier, N o r t h Carolina; Brother R. W . Anderson, South Carolina; Brother Brodus Hartley, Assistant Vice-President, of Florida A. a n d M. College; Brother A r t h u r D. Shores, of Birmingham, Alabama, Regional Counsel; Brother James Green, Director of Public Relations; Brother R o b e r t F. Jacox, and Brother W. H . (Duke) Williams, Advisors.

Brother Swingler discussed the outline of the program for the Southern Jurisdiction, including such topics as the forthcoming regional conference to be held at Knoxville Easter week end; reclamation of d e l i n q u e n t brothers, a n d the possibility of making funds available to Negro leaders w h o are being pressured for their aggressiveness in p u s h i n g for integration in the public schools in accordance with the verdict of the United States Supreme Court.

Brother Stanley, General President, spoke impressively of the proposed program of Alpha to develop a well r o u n d e d program lor both the graduate a n d u n d e r g r a d u a t e brothers to help them retain members. Fie also (Continued on Inside Back Cover) THE

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Integration (Continued from Page 31) I he living philosophy of every Alpha m a n and we must innoculate America—our fellow citizens of all races a n d classes, with o u r belief by actions a n d deeds. T h e opportunities for this wholesome type of discipline are u n l i m i t e d in every community in America. T h e way is being paved by declarations of new shadows of morality, ethics a n d new concepts, by religious, civic, social, educational and labor organizations across America. W e must actively participate as members and prove our merit a n d metal for leadership in every phase and facet of our society.

O u r Fifth historical step towards integration is yet to come a n d is the most challenging of all. T h i s involves the integrator and the integratec a n d their motivated objectives of the development by b o t h of a homogenous social order of peace, b r o t h e r h o o d and morality. It will be referred to in history as the age of the rebirth of spirituality, morality and ethics.

It will be the preceptive foundation of individual and collective social integration — of normal attitudes of being accented as a h u m a n and brother. I am of the opinion that it will be 2000 A.D. before we arrive at the threshold of this new era.

It will come and must come as a m a t t e r of necessity if o u r civilization is to survive a n d A l p h a Phi Alpha must light the way. W o r l d conditions, threats of wars, suffering h u m a n i t y , e q u a l educational and economic opportunities, increased church membership a n d p u t t i n g Christ back into Christmas, plus man's realization that he is his brother's keeper and that he is only a trustee of worldly foods, will hasten our entry into the fifth era of a wholesome integrated, homogenous social order. Some may say that this is wishful t h i n k i n g b u t il they look at the record they will realize the possibility and probability of its a t t a i n m e n t . T h e record is as follows: O u t of the sixteen (16) basic religious philosophies of the world today, fourteen (14) are committed to the tenet beliefs of b r o t h e r h o o d as the yardstick of man's ethical conduct a n d behavior. F'ifty-six (56%) percent of the total population of the U n i t e d States are church members committed to some tenet beliefs of religious philosophies inclusive of morality, ethical standards of living a n d social justice a n d equality of all.

If the other forty-four (11%) percent of o u r population will adhere to the constitution only, which is fundaFEBRUARY,

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mentally Christian, the fifth period of an integrated society worth living a n d dying for will become a reality. Alpha Phi Alpha is now faced with its greatest challenge of leadership and o p p o r t u n i t y for service.

T h e Negro's history begins with a mystery — a ship without a name. It Hew the Dutch flag a n d h a d the appearance of an armed trader, b u t that does not say much. Appearances were not to be trusted at sea in 1619.

T h e vessel may have been sailing under false colors. She may just as well have been a slave ship or a privateer.

Whatever her n a m e or nation, however, her deeds are known a n d recorded.

T h a t is the ship which brought the stolen Africans to the shores of America, and it is in that beginning that we have o u r roots.

For nearly '500 years we were held in bondage by slavery and millions gave their lives to break the chains of slavery. God was displeased a n d heard our fore-parents' prayers, a n d we were emancipated from some of the shackles of h u m a n bondage.

Their sacrifices were useless and their prayers in vain unless we appreciate, value a n d protect o u r freedom made possible by their blood and tears. Freedom can become a yoke, an unleashed Hood of indulgence a n d selfishness. It can be as a two-edged sword, it can protect a n d destroy. Lest we forget, the children of Israel forgot their heritage a n d the price of freedom and were forced back into slavery.

If we can only learn the simple formula a n d believe that the principles of integration and reformation do not change one's sins or mistakes of yesterday, for that which is past

can never be changed. W e should not try to change our history, but overlay it with new growth of unselfish service — t r u t h a n d ethics, a n d o u r past will be blotted out, a n d new life will begin.

Alpha Phi Alpha must lead the way.

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Beta Chi Chapter Promotes Project L I T T L E R O C K , Ark. - Feeling a need for a greater a n d closer relationship between the students a n d the college community, Beta Chi C h a p t e r of Alpha Phi Alpha at Philander Smith College decided to promote a yearly community project.

Recently u n d e r the sponsorship of Brother Otis D. Simmons, Chairman of U n d e r g r a d u a t e Relations for the fraternity, Beta Chi decorated the interior of the d i n i n g room of the Stud e n t Union Building, as its service project for the year.

T h e officers of Beta Chi Chapter are as follows: Brother R a l p h King, a junior from Mounds, 111. is the president of the chapter, president of the J u n i o r Class, president of the Pan-Hellenic Council, a m e m b e r of the Student Council, a n d a member of the college varsity basketball team.

Brother Alvin Seals, a j u n i o r from Lexington, Ky., is also a very active m e m b e r of the chapter. H e serves as vice-president of Beta Chi, vicepresident of the House Committee, president of the Men's Association, a n d T r e a s u r e r of the Student Christian Association.

Brother Wilfred Seals, a twin broth-

BROTHER PRINCE HONORED Alpha Sigma Lambda presents twenty-live year chapter award to Brother Robert Prince.

Left to right. Brothers Williams, Smith. Prince. Mrs. Prince and Prince. Jr.

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er to Alvin, is also a junior. H e is the pledge trainer of Beta Chi, vicepresident of the Student Christian Association, vice-president of the J u n i o r Class, president of the H o u s e Committee, a n d the State T r e a s u r e r of the Arkansas State Methodist Student Movement Both brothers participated in football a n d the college choir.

Brother H e r b e r t T h o m p s o n , a junior from Kansas City, Kansas, serves as secretary-treasurer a n d assistant pledge trainer of Beta Chi. H e is treasurer of the Pan-Hellenic Council, make-up editor of the college paper, m e m b e r of the Student Christian Association, a n d a m e m b e r of the college basketball a n d tennis team.

BROTHERS ! ! !

Let us have your Copy THE DEADLINE! For the May Issue APRIL 1 No Fooling!!

Founder's Celebration As A Highlight In Chapter's Yearly Activities DALLAS, Texas - T h e Brothers of Alpha Sigma Lambda Chapter, are proud of the fact thai those G r a n d Biotlieis of yours had die foresight and the ability to create such an outstanding organization for all of us as the Alpha Phi Alpha Fraternity.

H o w many Brothers do we have today who would be willing to d o so m u c h and yet, ask so little in return? T h e least we can do as true Brothers, is to continue the perfect dream which they caused to become a reality. We must realize, however, that the aims and true spirit of the fraternity are so great, that it demands the efforts ol ALL Alpha men. T h e n , let no Brother be too big or too small to answer the call of duty.

Celebration o u r first goal was to reemphasize the spirit of Alpha to the Brothers. We enjoyed church worship Sunday at New H o p e Baptist Church, Brother Rev. Mcrrel Booker, Pastor.

T h e r e was a semi-formal Founder's Banquet for Alpha Wives a n d Sweethearts at which time the South-western Vice-President, Brother L. H .

Williams was the speaker. T h e General President, at that time Brother A. Maceo Smith, presented a 25 year C h a p t e r Award to Brother Robert Prince, Si. Brother F r a n k Stanley spoke at the banquet a n d later became General President. Brother C. P. Johnson, District Director was present.

O u r next goal was to emphasize T h e Brothers here in Dallas, T e x a s Alpha's Citizenship Program to the are proud ol our former General C o m m u n i t y . We held a forum at the President, Brother A. Maceo Smith. Y. M. C. A. of which Brother W. D. l i e is a working member of Alpha Combs is Executive Secretary. All Sigma Lambda Chapter. local talent was used a n d recognized.

In p l a n n i n g our Founder's Week T h e r e was a song by Miss T h e l m a

BETA XI CHAPTER. LEMOlfNE COLLEGE. MEMPHIS Bela Xi Chapter, during late fall initiation last year, not only brought their membership up to strength but included among its neophyte brothers some of the most outstanding students on the LeMoyne Collegs campus. Shown here are the brothers following their Annual Founders Day program in the college assembly. Brother Lewis O. Swingler. newly e'ected Vice-President of the Southern lurisdiction. was guest speaker. . . . Shown seated, from left: Brothers Stephen C. Black, chapter secretary; Lewis O. Swingler, Charles E. Tate, retiring chapter president; Dr. W. W. Gibson, acting president, LeMoyne College; and Charles S. Boyle . . . Standing, from left: Brothers William J. Hawkins, Carl E. Johnson. incoming president; Herman W. Henning. George W. Cox. Lawrence C. Greer. Ulysses L. Campbell, Jerry L. Taylor, and William H. Cross, one of the two chapter delegates to the Miami Convention.

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THE

SPHINX

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Resolution (Continued from Page 8) tailed for a planned program of amelioration of this plight, Be it resolved that the U n i t e d States strongly support the action of the United Nations in its efforts to ameliorate that plight and, Be it further resolved thai the United States use its good offices with the U n i o n of South Africa to the e n d that it honor iis signature of the Chattel of the United Nations which calls for '•respect for h u m a n rights a n d fundamental freedom lor all without distinction as to race, sex, language or religion."

1. Move adoption of report 2. Copy to the President, Secretary of State, Assistant Secretary of Stale for Near Eastern a n d African Affairs.

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Future of All Life (Continued from Page 26) of love? You men ol Alpha are lite leaders of a great portion of o u r society. W h e r e will you lead them?

What tracks will you leave? T h e nation, the world, history, a n d even God the Father Himself, are all anxiously awaiting your next move!

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Founders Day (Continued from Page 28) Gift Baskets of food, fruit and other commodities.

This project has received wide community approval, and favorable comment from several other sources.

The chapter is off to a splendid slart in the new year, and envisions anothei year of continuing service.

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President Stanley (Continued from Page 32) called attention to plans to meet with high officials relative to the treatment of natives in South Africa, particularly representatives ol the Man Man group.

NEXT ISSUE DEADLINE APRIL 1 1955

OUR 1 9 5 5 PROGRAM 1. Each brother reclaim a brother 2. Contribute to the National Headquarters Fund 3. Motivate, when possible, desegregation 4. Work for and support United Negro College Fund, NAACP and Urban League 5. Plan now to attend our Fiftieth Convention, summer of 1956 6. Vote in every election, whether local or national

Best Wishes for a Successful, Healthful and Prosperous 1955 to all brothers in Alpha Phi Alpha.

THE SPHfNX STAFF