The Houston Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 36, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 27, 1923 Page: 4 of 8
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I
PAGE FOUR
THE HOUSTON INFORMER, SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1923.
SOUTH’S GREATEST WEEKLY NEWSPAPER
THE HOUSTON INFORMER
SOUTH’S GREATEST RACE NEWSPAPER
“It Gets You Told—Nothing Else!”
Published every Saturday at 410 Milam Street, Houston, Texas.
Entered as eecond-elrss matter May 28. 1619, at the postoffice at Houston,
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"Swahile Customs”
The natives of German East Africa
are known as Swahiles. They are
sturdy in build, averaging five feet In
height, color ranging from genuine
African color to light brown and in
some instances, very light complex-
ioned.
Homes
Their homes are made of dried mud
with thatched roofs made from cocoa-
nut palm leaves. Each home has a
hall in the center with rooms on either
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(All Matter Copyrighted)
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HIS COUNTRY IS GOOD ENOUGH TO BE GIVEN A SQUARE DEAL
AFTERWARDS. NO MAN IS ENTITLED TO MORE AND NO MAN
SHOULD RECEIVE LESS. —ROQ8EVELT.
HOUSTON, TEXAS, SATURDAY, JANUARY 27, 1923
RACE PREJUDICE’S RAMIFICATIONS.
The action of President Lowell of Harvard University, in exclud-
ing a colored youth from the freshman dormitory of that erstwhile
reputed “fair” institution of learning, shows just about how
deeply rooted this peculiar species of American race prejudice has
become.
This action of the Harvard chief executive—the school that lays
proud claims to such distinguished colored alumni as Judge Robert
Terrell, W. E. B. DuBois, William C. Matthews, famous athlete;
Roscoe Conkling Bruce, orator of his class and father of the ex-
cluded student at point; William H. Lewis, former assistant at-
torney general of the United States; William Monroe Trotter and
a galaxy of colored graduates—is like the stab administered in the
back of the illustrious Caesar by his trusted comrade and friend,
Brutus.
But it does more than that—it shows in a manner that is un-
mistakable that race prejudice and its ramifications have ceased
to be sectional and that even in former Puritanic circles coloro-
phobia is becoming a pronounced social disease.
Coming on the heels of the edict against students of Jewish
extraction, it seems that “fair” Harvard is being dominated and
influenced by a certain “100% American” organization that is
thriving and flourishing like the bay tree in the South.
In years past colored athletes have brought undying glory to
the standards of the Crimson and even the late Dr. Booker T.
Washington was honored with a master’s degree from this famous
institution of learning, which throughout the years has stood as
a beacon light and sentinel for all those seeking educational en
lightenment without regard to race, creed or sex.
It is not far from the dormitory room to the recitation room,
and, if it is not good policy “to compel white students to reside in
the same dormitory with colored students,” then ere long it will
not be surprising to read that for “policy sake” (which, like a
Mother Hubbard dress, covers a multitude of sins), it is not deem-
ed advisable for white and colored students to associate in the
same class rooms.
Prejudice is not unlike lawlessness and epidemics. Permit it to
crop out here for some imaginary or apparent reason and soon it
will crop out yonder in a worse form for another reason, or no
reason at all.
If education and Christianity cannot remove nor minimize racial
prejudice and antipathy, then where will this thing end?
The Harvard affair is more than an incident, for in this crucial
stage of the game it is bordering on criminality for such an insti-
tution to dilly-dally and falter in the times that try and test men’s
souls—in' a period when intolerance, prejudice and bigotry are
threatening the very existence of this nation.
If such schools as Harvard, Yale and Princeton can not uphold
the traditions, principles, tenets and preachments of American-
ism, and if these and other institutions of learning so intimately
connected and interwoven with the life of this republic can not
execute the laregr program of race relations and obliterate race
hatred, then where can we turn for a solution, for aid and suc-
cor?
If the alma mater of the lamented Theodore Roosevelt fails to
Jive up to the doctrine it has enunciated and striven to follow all
these years, what must one expect of other schools?
America owes her black sitizens a huge debt and if Northern and
JCastern schools are unwilling for colored boys and girls to drink
deep of the Pierian spring within their classic walls, then it is up
to the friends of colored education to see to it that Southern col-
leges for training and educating colored youths are brought up
to the standard and endowed to the extent that this great work
can be carried forth without let or hindrance.
The black man has attempted to come up to the standard and
mark set by the American white man in education, religion, com-
merce, politics, industry and all vocations and avenues.
But it appears that where little is either desired or acquired, the
colored man suffers less persecution, proscription, discrimination
and segregation.
The moment the black man begins to aspire for the higher
things of life, despite the fact that he has proven his capability,
he stirs up a veritable storm of protest and a “tempest in a tea-
pot” is the usual, rather than the exceptional consequence, while
charges of “social equality,” “miscegnation” and other spurious
and baseless allegations are trotted forth by those who would deny
the race these opportunities and privileges.
The white church, particularly in the South, has been both dor-1 side. There are cots, made from dried
mant, lethargic, indifferent and too cowardly to tackle this job | palm leaves and branches, which are
and thus today so-called religious leaders and shepherds of the
flock are preaching a doctrine of hate and intolerance that has no
parallel in the annals of the modern or medaeval church.
There is one gratifying incident connected with President Low-
ell’s prejudicial action and that is the protest of Harvard alumni
and President Emeritus Eliot, under whose administration this
famed institution preached and practiced the “fairness” for which
this school has established a reputation.
It behooves our race to get all the educational preparation and
training while the getting is good, for in the not distant future
the majority of the old institutions of learning in the North and
East will, to all intents and purposes, close their doors in the face
of colored youths.
It is disgusting, if not disheartening, to note the demonstrations jor 67 do!alra and they get but three
| rupees or 90 cents a month, we can
, , . ,, , , , ,. 'appreciate the sacrifici
bears us out in the assertion that those who preach and practice |us ln „ouston this sacrificing 8pirit
this doctrine suffer more, ultimately, than those who are victims and the colored man will be freed
and objects of their hellish preachment and Hunnish actions. 'from the throttling of real estate
From all indications, there is a new order of things prevailing sharks-
in “democratic” America^ and it does not require the phophetic
wisdom and ability of a Daniel to interpret the handwrting on
the wall.
t While admitting that certain sections of this country are lessIh<nvever, is not true. The Swahiles
infected and infested with this dreaded American monster, preiu-1''eai f™m loin cIoths t0 civilized
dice, than others, yet our manifest duty is to organize and so|very artisticaily with Varigated ma-
line up our forces that we can combat this terrible evil, which isiteriais, the dress being in one piece
fast becoming a national disease, through orderly processes andtailli averaging seven or eight yards in
in such a manner that our group will be materially benefitted and lonRths- The favorite colors are white
by our very program make friends out of erstwhile enemies.
Let us not waste time in grumbling and complaining, but—
AFRICAN LIFE AND ADVENTURES
By REV. W. P. STANLEY,
Vicar St. Clement’s Episcopal Church
CIMBEE’S RAMBLINGS
not uncomfortable and do add an at-
mosphere of civilization.
Own Homes
A remarkable fact to be noted is
that three-fourths of the natives in
Dares Salaam own their own homes.
These so-called heathens have felt the
necessity of owning their homes in or-
der to be independent and outwit the
real estate sharks. Surely, we here in
Houston, living in a civilized coun-
try, ought to own our own homes.
When we recognize that these homes
cost the natives from 70 ruples, that
is practically 24 dollars, to 200 rupees
The carriage of the woman is said
by eminent missionaries and doctors
to exceil the carriage of debutantes
awaiting to see the king. They walk
erect and with a free, easy, but grace-
ful stride.
Language
The Swahile language Is chiefly
Arabic and is very musical. Say this
with me “Ouenda wapi we we,” where
are you going? Or better, this: “Nipe
neme chacula sosa,” give me my food
now.” Audiso ou, I learned it in a
month, my wife speaks it, so she can
answer when she thinks I am quar-
reling and my little baby boy, also
speaks a few words. It is a book lan-
guage and is the commercial language
of East Africa. Before learning the
language the natives rarely if ever
gave me my food on time and did just
as they pleased—but I was learning
the language secretly and one day,
finding my language in good trim and
my dinner late, said, Salim, Nomni
goni we we, nataka chacula sosi hevi”
—Salim, my servant jumped as though
he had been shot, for I had said,
“Salim, I want my dinner as soon as
possible, what’s wrong with you?
Needless to say I had no more trouble.
Water Brigade
The water
and ramifications of race prejudice in this country, but history Irupees or 90 cents a month, we can The water for cooking, washing,
J 'appreciate the sacrifice endured. Give c*eanlng and bathing comes from near-
I oy springs and an interesting sight is
to see the whole female population,
practically, carrying tins of water on
their heads—the woman, five gallon
standard oil tin and the girls with
tins according to their ability, age
and size. It reminds one of the Happy
Hooligan stunt. Even the mother with
the baby Jied on her back carries
a tin, which spills from time to time
giving the baby an unexpected bath.
Dress
Most individuals have the impres-
sion that Africans go a la Adam. Such,
“Let'us, then, be up and doing,
With a heart for any fate;
Still achieving, still pursuing,
Leam to labor and to wait.”
CHARITY BEGINS AT HOME.
A few days ago the Texas senate wired the governor of Louisi-
ana commending him for his stand in the Mer Rouge horror and
atrocity, but all the time these Lone Star State solons were ap-
parently closing their eyes to the evil and menace of mob-law and
gang rule within their own commonwealth.
During 1922 Louisiana staged three lynching fests, excluding
the Mer Rouge disclosures of mobocratic barbarism and brutality,
while Texas led the lynching league and copped the pennant of
the circuit with 18 lynching bees.
At the very time the Texas law-makers were wiring their con-
gratulations and felicitations to Governor Parker of the Pelican
State, our own Goose Creek was “strutting its stuff” and had just
attained the limelight with a bold defiance of constituted author-
ity, and Bishop, in the valley section, enacted one of the most re-
volting and barbaric atrocities in the history of civilization, when
Dr. Smith, former Wharton County race physican, was incarcerat-
ed, tormented, dismembered and his body cremated in a “myster-
ious” fire that destroyed the jail at this little Texas burg.
So often we fail to see our own faults and sins, but we are ever
ready to take cognizance of those of our fellow man.
The Informer is not condemning the Texas solons for commend-
ing the governor of another state for his stand for law and order,
but in the language of the Great Teacher, we wish to admonish
our representatives and governor, “Go thou and do likewise.”
Charity should begin at home and then spread abroad, and if
this be true, then Texas certainly needs to clean up her own
premises before lauding those of other states so vociferously.
Like the ostrich, we are apparently hiding our head in the sand,
all the while leaving our body exposed, yet such procedure does not
remove the fact one whit or change the situation one bit.
Texas is mob-ridden, mob-controlled and mob-infested, and un-
less the legislature takes due cognizance of this menace and
passes and enforces legislation to suppress this reign of lawless-
ness, outlawry and anarchy, we are in for ome perilous times.
Crimes are multiplying with painful regularity and the written
law is treated as a joke in too many quarters for the safety and
perpetuity of the commonwealth.
We need to get back to our first love, constitutional government,
and press the machinery of the state into service to the end that
all men will have the utmost respect for law and constituted au-
thority.
Resolutions of commendations will not alter the internal condi-
tions of our state, and if the solons are in earnest and not merely
playing to the galleries, they will show more interest in lynch
law at home and seek to correct and eliminate these evils.
Foreign missionary endeavor is all right, but home missionary
work should and must take pre-eminence over the former, for
charity begins at home and then spreads abroad.
Let Texas clean her skirts of the shame and disgrace of mob-rule
and then her representatives can consistently commend officials
of other states for their stand and action to remove the scourge
of mobocracy from the confines of their commonwealths.
and black, black with red dots, yellow,
with black stripes. There is very lit-
tle red used alone and red is not their
favorite color.
Sound Bodies
Missionaries have told us of the
weakness and physical debilities of
the African. They are partly true, but
very materially colored. I have seen
more blind and crippled people in
Houston than I have in German East
Africa, and in the city of Dar es
Salaam. The little boys and girls are
straight of limb and deep in chest.
ST. CLEMENT’S PROTESTANT
EPISCOPAL CHURCH.
2409 Hadley Street.
(Take Dowling Car)
The Rev. W. P. Stanley, same address.
Order of Services.
Morning prayer and service. 11:00 a. m.
Evensong and sermon...... 7:30 p.m.
Wednesday evening........ 7:30 p.m.
Father Stanley, returned last Wed-
nesday night from Austin, where he
had gone to attend the annual coun-
cil of the diocese of Texas. While
there he was the dinner guest of Dr.
Brooks, Pres, of Samuel Huston Col-
lege.
The services are being well attend-
ed. On Sunday evening, Jan. 14, at
7:30 p. m. Father Stanley baptized
Miss Henrietta Beel. The chapel was
filled.
Confirmation—Feb. 13, 7:30 p. m.
Public is cordially invited to attend.
OFFICER, WACO’S AT IT AGAIN!
Well, sir, what d you know about little old Waco, better known
as BarbecueviHC’” trying to maintain a monopoly on front page
publicity by the recurrent perpetration of such mysterious
ders?
mur-
Another one of these celebrated crimes, for which Waco has be-
come famous, was discovered a few days since and in this instance
both the man and woman were cold in the arms of death
Press reports state that the authorities are exerting every en-
ergy to apprehend the guilty culprit or culprits and bring them
before the bar of justice.
What has come over Waco that no “big, black, burly brute” is
charged with committing this brutal crime ?
Have all of the likely “Negro youths” either been lynched
burned at the stake or deported? It begins to look that way since
it seems that the “usual” colored man has not yet been found
upon whom to lay this latest crime.
Pshaw! What is the matter with the peace officers of Waco and
McLennan County that they can not apprehend the customary
scape-goat ?” J
Where is that “huge Negro” reported springing up from no-
where on those “lonely county roads?”
Can’t law-abiding and peaceful citizens of the community take
a little automobile ride out into the rural regions without being
ruthlessly and shamefully murdered ?
What kind of food is this upon which Wacoans feast that causes
them to commit these “peculiar” crimes upon “spooning” parties
under such “peculiar” circumstances?
Are these crimes perpetrated by envious and jealous-hearted
persons, or are they the result of depredations of “vigilantes” try-
ing to break up the practice of auto parties on “lonely country
roads?” *
There is something radically wrong in Waco and its environs
and the person in the woodpile does not seem to be a Senegambian.
However, if the authorities can not run down the criminal or
criminals, we would suggest that they fall back on their old “stand-
by” and nab some “Negro,” indict and convict him for the crime.
Why not go out and catch some colored youth, take him before
some relative of one of the deceased persons, permit said person
to riddle the unfortunate colored youth’s body with bullets, then
take his lifeless form, drag it all over the city and then burn it to
a crisp on the public square, while men, women and children ap-
plaud and cheer frantically and vociferously?
If this is not done, then Waco stands chances of losing the spot-
light to such insignificant places as Mer Rouge, La., Kirven, Tex-
as, and other one-horse burgs in Dixie.
“Yeth thur,” officer, Waco’s at it again, and we advise you to
throw out your dragnet and capture the “big, black, burly brute,”
and treat him to a dose of the celebrated and famous Waco mobo-
cratic concoction. Selab! ; -
Dear Gus:
We is wun mo’ weak closer ter de
end, I means de end uv Merikin civ.
erlazashun. I yuster think I wuz 2
ole ter liv ter see de brake up, but
I’m is fast cummin’ ter de kunklu-
shun dat ef I doant jine de hoast
whut hav’ awlreddy dun krost de jur-
din purty soon now, dat I’m slated ter
be er swif’ witness ter de diserlushun
in dis gran’ an gloryius merpublick.
When I sees er individjual disregard-
in’ de laws uv God an’ man, an’ heddln
lack er ’spress trane fer damnashun,
I noes rite erway, dat sum under-
taker is skeduled ter sell sumboddy
er pine box purty pronto. So ’tis wid
er nashun, lack ourn; I’s bin watchin
her gwine frum wun bad degree uv
grace ter er wuss wun fer lo dese
foughty odd yeers, an' fer de las’ 6 er
7 yeers it looks lack she’s pickt up
er turrible ermount uv momentum, an’
is oarly hittin’ de hi spots on her way
down ter perdishun.
I noes Gus, yu an ever uther hole
witted er half witted man er 'oomun
in dis kuntry dun seed de sines, an’
is jis waitin' an watchin’ fer de fun-
eral notisses ter be printed by George
Webster, an’ ter spin 4 bits fer sum
artifishal flours fer ter put on de
box.
“Whut am de sines?” Did I heer yu
ax? Well ef twuz er man whut I wuz
talkin’ erbout, an’ he wuz ferever an’
eturnilly eetin’ glass an’ drinkin’ ker-
bollick assid, I woodent hafter do no
mo’ den site ter yu whut his habbits
wuz and yu wood run on off an’ git
yo’ bes’ black sute prest an’ kleaned
up, by de Jones Tailor Shop, 2416
McKinney, an' git reddy ter ack as
pawl bearer. Now de saim thing is
true bout dis nashun, dey is fillin’ dere
bellies wid ground up glass, an’ swil-
lin' stuff wusser den inny kerbollick
assid dat wuz ever sold by de Jones
Pharmacy, 2604^2 Odin Ave., ef yu
doant bleeve me, let me call yo’ ’ten-
tion ter Miss Mer Rouge, Mr. Goose
Creek, Ant Herrin, (III.) an’ Unkle
Harrison, (Ark).
Fer yeers an’ yeers our po bline
Unkel Samuel wuz kuntint ter swill
kerbollick assid, in de form uv burnln’
de desendunts uv Ham, but dat dident
suffice, so dey dun added ter dere
menyu, de appertizin’ an’ energizin’
dish cracked glass by grindin’ up an’
saltin’ down wid black oil de very
elect Itself.
Yes, Gus, de end is nl; taint no yuse
ter hole no tracted meetina’ ner calf
fer no prayer servises, cauze w’en er
fellers’ belly is awl et up an’ ground
out, Fesser Coue ner Heater Ritchie
neether wun kin save him. De plzen’s
dun retch his brains, up dere at Wash-
ingtun. .His nurve sella is awl shot
ter peeces over here at Austun, an’
uther lack places, so taint nuthin’ me
an’ yu, an’ de res’ uv us good baptls’
kin do but git our reserlushuns reddy
ter reed over de ded corpse.
I sho’ hates ter see blud; data why
I never 'listed in de wurl’s war, w’en
so minny uv my race wuz wurkin’ de
'listment mens so hard. But bleeve yu
me, Gus, I dun seed it. I dun seed
de red blud uv dis gran’ ole Southland,
mingling wid de Puritun blud uv New
Englun’, flllin evry crick an’ b’y’o, an’
changin’ de culler uv de mitey ’Lantlc
an’ Percific ter er crimsun hue.
Es I dun sed, I caint stan de site
uv blud, so I dun countermanded my
order fer er ortermobeel an is ordered
er spechal maik uv airplane kunstruct-
ed whut kin overcum de trackshuns uv
gravertashun, an’ wen dat awful kon-
flick does opun, as she sho’ly mus’, I’m
gwinter flop my wings an’ try de air,
an’ ef dere’s inny sich thing es er-
nuther wurl inny whares In de yunl-
verse, whuts got inhabertunts on it,
wun uv dese brite mornins I’m is
gwinter be foun’ rappin' on wun uv
dere doors.
Yu is pufflckly wellcum ter cum
erlong wid me, Gus, but I tells yu
now; be ye awlao reddy fer yu no not
de day ner de ’our wen dis farewell
fHte is gwinter hav ter tuck place.
Keep in close tuch wid me, dat’s awl.
Herblne corrects biliousness, indi-
gestion and constipation. It is a fine
herbal medicine that drives out Im-
purities and restores healthy condi-
tions ln the system. Price, 60c. Sold
by Herbert’s Drug Store.
Once yon get a Franklin scalp and
hair treatment you will he satisfied
irith no other, because the FRANK-
LIN WAY IB THE RIGHT WAY. It
has stood the test and is known all
over the country as the best
!'i-
RAY YOUR POLL TAX NOW!
•••• •• •' :
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Richardson, Clifton F. The Houston Informer (Houston, Tex.), Vol. 4, No. 36, Ed. 1 Saturday, January 27, 1923, newspaper, January 27, 1923; Houston, Texas. (https://texashistory.unt.edu/ark:/67531/metapth523717/m1/4/: accessed June 21, 2024), University of North Texas Libraries, The Portal to Texas History, https://texashistory.unt.edu.; .