New Pittsburgh Courier from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania • Page 11

fn rm i i Stella Fmlev. n.J tirui, lis one 01 me reasons iv success of the Brorheii, Don Redman'a "Teah Man' now playing the Ix)ew theatwn in and around New York City. Mo Finley in private life is the wife of Ted Blackman, popular Lafayette theater manager. New York City. 'a 1 tece, line Rogers As To FLAYED! 4.

EUGENE O'NEILL en to see that they will get the fare they want, that ie, what they have been trained to think that Negroes are. If ever I live to see but one American film showing not only the depths, but s.lso the heights; not only the disgraces and the shortcomings, but the aspirations and the achievements of Negro life, become popular with the average white audiences then I will gladly take all tMs fcack Eugene O'Neill, I am firmly cod eals DISCHARGE EXTORTION SOSPECTS CHICAGO, Sept 2 VtThen Leon Thomas, Russell Williams and William Hardy told Judge Thomas Grer in Felom court that a plot to have been concocted by them to cr.tOrt $200 from John Burnett, was only a "practical joke," Judge Green, who can appreciate a good Joke, discharged the young men. BarSy and Williams were alleged to have conspired with Thomas, an employe of Burnett to kidnap Thomas and induce Burnett to pay them $200 for the return of Ihonr.as. Burnett grew suspicious and had the boys, jailed. Even after their discharge, he failed to understand ihe joke part REWARD FOR FUGITIVE CHICAGO, Sept (ANP) A reward of $500 bus hee offered jointly by tje governor's office and Lha com nUsione jf Banks coun 1 tv for the caDture ffMack James.

cor vie trusty who wcaped recent ivas serving a 20 year ocfc ior jr.a'";, imposed In 1V32. 1932, sentenced iio IT yt sV3 for asi av was pa 1'03'i Sine latest es cap it char "hat he murdered a wifr r. oman. A bird on a do! in the bushes. is worth two Emneror Co erce Secy Attests To Progress Of Oar Race Tells Philadelphians of Rosy Future For Race As.

He Talks On "The Negro's Opportunity and Responsibility In National Recovery." An address by Hon. Daniel 'C. Roiier, Secretary of Commerce: PHILADELPHIA, Sept; 28 Permit me, first of all, to thank the Columbia Broadcasting System for making it possible for me to address, upon this the Seventieth Anniversary of Negro Emancipation, those in attendance tonight at the Convention Hall in Philadelphia, and, also, through this radio medium, to speak to the entire Negro population of our country. I am gratified personally to have the opportunity of sending this message to you, because I have always been a close and sympathetic student of your problems, and I am keenly desirous of aeeist ing at this Ume In the proper handling of the same. Today marks a treasured and historical mile stone in the progress of the colored people of this country, and It Is fitting' to recount some of the accomplishments of the race and to consider the greater responsibilities you will be expected to assume in the future.

In celebrating the Seventieth Anniversary of your Emancipation, It is intereeting to remember that only a few years have "passed since the SOOth Anniversary of the first appearance of the Negro in the English Colonies of America in 1619. Thus it Is that the history of the Negro on this continent spans virtually the entire past history and development of this country. At the time of the issuance of the Emancipation FroclamnUon by President Lincoln, seventy years ago, approximately four million human beings of African descent were given their freedom. Today, the Negro population within the ConUnental United States Is approximately thirteen million. Along with thla growth in the colored 93 se PRAISED! PAUL ROBESON appear In master class role where whites are But one asks, how long will box Jones Prejudice Portraying Nordic Says Movie Which White America Is Now Raving Over Represents Defeat and Pessimism Refrain of "Nig Nigger, Nigger" Repetition Objected to, vinced, doee not know tho Negro.

He shows that clearly in both this play and in "All God's Chillun Got Wing." Had he, say the knowledge of John L. Spivak, author of "Georgia Nigger," or of E. B. Renter, and even of T. S.

Strib ling, on this subject he would, with all his dramatic skil, have produced a far less successful play. In that case he would have had real facta to' work on, and would, in all probability have produced characters that would 'have sat heavy on the stomachs of a prejudiced and generally uninformed 'white public. In short, Mr. O'Neiil would not have been a box office attraction so far as writing oh the Negro was concerned. Let us get this following fact straight: The Negro was brought to America for his labor.

One of the weapons used lhs keeping him at. a stage where his labor and the sex life of his womanhood, could be exploited most effectively, wa.i propaganda. Today, three certuries later this propaganda is being carried on for the same purpose. Hence, the stage Negro the crapnshooter, the gin bibber, the good, happy go lucky darkey still lives on. Tj much is certain: take any book, play, or picture about Negroes, regardless of the color of tbe author, and it will be found that if fit la popular with the whites, it Is not so with the self respecting Negroes, and vice versa.

It Is an unwritten, rule 'vf up To) ae theatre that a Negro must B4ii IU" continue th erl 1 A STTIIuAMEIE George S. .4. Schuyler Author of "mack No SIore," "SUvca Today" and "Georgia Terror IV Aiinff; A THE' LEVEE II L. Attracted STELLA ENLIVENS "YEAH MAN" STAGE HIT 1 r. Of Pretty SrowirGirl 0 Is CHAPTER I I Torrents of rain were drenching the Mississippi 'i atryside.

Kain in ceaseless Pounding down on 'roafs of Hippville. Streaming dowh over window panes. Tie streets were rivers of muddy water. The roads were enable. Here and there a lone pedestrian, wrapped in dripaing raincoat, hurried along bent double to escape the CoVtlie elements.

rvj everywhere. tica, oiacx It Oczy, gummy mad that at booW and shoes. Tena amd that spattered automo 1 an1 hlim.n The Bkv was gray no The sun, realizing the ity its lask hao 'einingly tie hope penetraUng VtiAel oi forbidding clouds "it ia over countryside. 'a had come to to Mississippi. gat turbulent river, held a ly the mountainous green la, on Us way down Orleans "and the Gulf of litxico i accepted it.

Rippville 'ta ttd to it. Hlppviiie's two 'wand cH and flv hundred forte were lnoora for the most Ijirt. Tbft streets were practically liu rUi to the driving rain and it e.n of gooey black mud. Cring Rieabt. 'rain.

and mud, al fnyi iia I. but spring also meant lwinj and planting of cotton, jiisj tf the Delta. I inFiXguson's barber shop 4 half '(3KB Kti'o farmers sat around pot bellied iron stove. Bokifg. chewing and talking.

Two dd sn, worn with the toll of ny ars, sat before a checker Kiiri pushing tne wim ptrfol, work worn black Angers. y.i mm Ferguson, a stately, mid te ag man with graying hair, asiy trepped a razor. Isjuh heard th' newsl" he said, ieakiag to no one in particular. Viut news, Amos?" aaked on the aged checker playera. The tin men ceased their conversa and listened.

"Gotdtiaies comin'," announced with the relish ot tha re jtvter. "Gonna ba uh big Job hyah stct'y Construction; JNiggflj tole jur' this mo'nin. Big job. That means good times, don't ar Hit aiaybfj does," commented hi of tbe men by tha stove. "Ua itiib's hit, hyah.

Don't sompin' uppei right quick Ah doan Ttnow fhut niggahs gonna do. Ahm Ftun tihed of dat ole Red Crosa jf tcah." "Tacn't you," said another. "Us fitiaaed of hit VV'ite folks gittin' ics1 on it as hit is." 7" "Dey sho is." exclaimed a wiz black man. dat job ioti me hyah, Ahm sho sonna ftm aome wuk. Dey sho Gawd lia't money no mo' in armin'." "Dey sho ain't," an dat'a da trufe!" the other checker player.

"W'ito fo.k gits t.ll de money hesih." "Yean," said a ag, "an ant keep on gittin1 hit" "Ujjkah shouted Fergu cs, pointing out of tho front win fow. "tMdn Ah told See dat Tar! Ah tola Jtfc." Tbe others roie and went to the 'Bduw. Lurching down tha mud the rain streaming off It, a large, bespattered touring ar In the front seat waa an an ther officer. A large, brawny was driving, with difficulty 'iiig his way around, the ruts. white men sat in the rear seat fa uh Gov'munt man, all rht said one of the Negroes.

aiuddy touring car came to cp at Upshaw'a store diagonal aaosj the street from Fergus's barber shop, at watched the passengers f'tcut and scamper into the sael of Hippville'a largestemporlum. "Aiai oin' on ovahTdah," ex or.e oi the Negroes, "an Vnut whut." He dashed out i5 rplajhed" across the street Ts tr three others followed him. Tae torrential rain continued un a hiio Hippville huddled ki stoves and fireplaces. At a residence, the Jnxst r( house in town, "there brilliance, comfort warmth HezTJpshww was hia guests. toe iarge.

ornate front room in front of the blazing log Liemenant James Fofdney, engineers; U. S. Army, tall, fc p. lp a rhair next to him was nson, ner of the Henon 4 'ttuctien Corr.pr.y of Memphis, jn. cadaverous man of about "nil haired, with heavy irowsri 100 ciose logeiner.

etrson. his foreman, droop eyed, burly red faced and red necked. 01 man upsnaws 6 in a corner Hex Up p. short, squint eyed, with cruel yes that looked through you shck' of dark gray ak, on th mantlepiece. Ga.

OUie." Mr. Upshaw Ah hain't seen you 'flat knows wen To foh so' eves. We'n voall yoall sta aroun' heah?" I lf4iM set' .1 is. ,1 ez we kin git th' said Mr. Henson.

liable! tuh r. an nit, of course." said Upshaw, lurn ii orricsr, "Jtm iayiUft' yuh to stop right heah. with, us. Got uh purty good shack heah. To welcoma tuh stay.

Yo caln't fln no bettah place in HlppvlUe. Wont coa" yuh nothlnV Be'mah guest." He exchanged a. significant glance with IXenson. i "That's awfully nice of you, Mr. JJpshaw, said the officer.

"Thanka so much. waa wondering where I could stay. I don't fancy living in tents. Mr. Hensoa aaya he likes the tents but prefer little more comfort I gueee I haven't been out of West Point long enough to enjoy roughing It yet" "Wal, yoh eho welcome heah," Upshaw repeated.

"Got ah fine rom upataihs. TouH like It" They talked on In similar vein for aeverai minutes. Mr. Upshaw waa most attentive to the officer, most cordial. Henaon showed his apprvaL ire knew Upshaw well.

The. contractor had had a job near Hippville several years before and the twa men had worked together. Upshaw had supplied "hie commissary with groceries 'and clothing, which he had sold to his 1 Negro workingmen at flffy per cent profit Upshaw, ho knew, stood ia with the local planters, supplying their black tenants with ratrons and tools a exorbitant price, to th vast profit of both himself and the planters. He could do good business with Upshaw, what with a big job like thia where aome two hundred Negroes would be worked. Finally they sauntered In to din They were all feeling pretty good.

Mr. Upshaw had been generous with1 hi excellent corn liquor. Lt Fordney told of his experiences at West Point and at the two army posts at which he Ead served before being detailed on this The others glistened, respectfully. Across the table from the lieutenant was Mabelle Upshaw, a very plain, rvwky young woman of perhaps 25, with stringy, straw colored hair, watery hjue eyea, petulant lip's and a weak. chin.

hung on to every word uttered by the handsome officer. Love and romance had passed Mabelle Upshaw by. Eligible young men of her class were scarce around Hippville. Those that existed had never given her much attention; She was a white elephant In a country that breeds pretty womon. Scarcely had she lid eyea on the officer than her' hopes rose.

She 'giggled in a sill way at his jests, seeking to dra.w his attention to her. Hit saw her and he didn't Lt Fordney," for all his youth, had judgment. where women are concerned. He liked them beauti 0 Weill's Master Flayed By J. A.

Negro, Type'; App Claims Picture, Disguised Under Heading of Art, Is Commerciajism of Worst Sort Charges Author of Play Dees Not Know Negro Praises Work of Negro Artists, But Says Plot Fetched. By J. ROGERS Noted Columnist, Lecturer and Author of "From' Superrnan to Blah.1' Writing about 'The Emperor Jones" in 1921 1 said that while i enjoyed immensely rue plh in so far as it was regarded as, portraying, not a Negro, btjt a member of the human family, trying to escape his hunters, real and ghostly, that I did not like the play for fundamental reasons. Now twelve i years later, after having aeen the movie version, it is mye unpleasant task to say that I nnu still stronger causes for disliking thiis alleged masterpiece of Eugene CCNeill. My objections are clear and definite, and I am going to state them even at the risk of being considered a philistlne by the party, emancipated chappies.

First "The Emperor Jones" represents defeat and pessimism, which ia not; true of the Negro, for in spite of persecutions that would crush many ether, people, he presses buoyantly on, hoping and working for a better day, even though thei o'is no sign of it on the horizon Apropos, it will certainly be objected that the play, Is not intern led to be typical of the Negro life, Maybe not but let ua look at the next reason first: This is that nearly all the old eto in trade as" crapabooUng, gin guzzling, immorality, cutting, killing, fear of ghost anl other supf posed Negro. characteristic ara i i XI Ho I ul, voluptuous and yielding. Mabelle Upshaw was yielding enough, be could see, but almost ugly, and it pained him to look at ugly women. He devoted most of his attention to Mrs. Dora Upshaw, a dainty, plain, lovable little white haired lady with exquisite manners and an earnest open countenance.

It seemed incongruous that she should be married to a man like Upshaw and have a daughter as unpalatable as Mabelio, i The Oificer turned his attention from old lady only when the door from the kitchen opened and the vaitress came in. He straightened and eyed her frankly and un abashed. He told himself She was the most beautiful creature he had ever seen. Henson followed the officer's gaze and shared his It required a second glance to detect that the girl waa colored. Slender, perfectly formed, stately, her skin was the color of old ivory, her Hps coral pink, her jet black eyea like deep pools of liquid.

She moved swiftly and competently about the table, removing dishes and bring in others. Fordney noted her wealth of wavy black hair, the arch of her neck, the broad expanse of her high forehead, her tapering pink tlppei fingers, and he was moved with admiration and desire. "Who is that?" he said when the girl' went' out of the room and he had sufficiently composed himselfH to appear unconcerned. "Rather a good looker, isn't she?" Mabelle Upshaw visibly flushed and her blue eyes narrowed. She looked down Into her dessert.

Mrs. Upshaw eyed th young man sharply. (Conti wueol on Page Three) nne artistry oi naries ou dragged in in heavier quantities than usual, not to mention the refrain of "Nigger, nigger, nigger," which runs through the whole piec4 from beginning to end. single departure from the old, old Negro stereotype is when Jones overhears his white boss on the private car planning with an associate to put over a crooked deal on the stock market and promptly talks up for a share of the loot Otherwise the play Is on the whole but a repetition of the things said by Thomas Dixon, Vardaman, Tillman and others of' a generation ago who harped so much on this single string. These writers and politicians used to boast of their friendliness for Negroes, and unless I am mistaken, so does Mr.

O'Neill. Again, this picture, though it pretends to be art is commer cial Lsm of the worst sort The audiences, who 'will see it, are mosU ly and care has been tak 1 'c I 1 a i to HIGHLIGHTS AS SECRETARY OF COMMERCE LAUDED HEGR0 PROGRESS Joss a lew of the many pointed excerpt 1st tbe epochal uIiInm nt SMmtwr of Oimm nrivi Daniel C. Roner. hisviVb nrvoM VW uwI.m.m A TiTii TmaiiiMnsiHAal tea Hima vusjbjp mjm VI ulbo Iumi eassaa vi awiv nay tva vm FhlaadelplA lsn veeek, foUow: hav always been st close and sympthelia to dent of your problems; and I sun keenly delrus ot assisting at ths ltmeln the proper handling of tbe sune." ith groat atead testates your people have emulated the Ideals of Dwmocraoy, such as founding homes, educating your ohUdmn, and jondering psAriotie earriee to your governxnoct" Tlva potenttalltaee of tbe colored race for ecanomlo and soda! development in tbe future are eevesUed by the outstanding record and remarkable strides attained in the field of eduonr tion and 1 "One of the most important objectives to be attained by the colored rase today Is the estobUahment of the Negro business man in his rightful place in our; economic system, thus enabling him to operate bis business effldenitly, multiply his wouiaat and earnings, and expand his buying power to such an extent that it wiU be of eveta gseaser help end Influence upon himself and tbe economic life of our country, ri "The loyalty and patrtootMam of your people guarantee a sustained, cooperaUve attitude on your part in meeting the challenging task that faces us alL" population, there has been a paral? lei development and improvement in the Negro's social and economic conditions. With great steadfastness your people have emulated the Ideals of Democracy, iuch as founding homes, educaUng your children, and rendering patriotic service to your government You have made many significant and worthwhile contributions to American life.

Illustrative of this, I call attention to the fact that you have been primarily responsible for the development of American cotton growing, for, without you this great industry would have been seriously retarded. Your talents la affability, in song and other music, have really created unique masterpieces that stand as artisUo achievement ia our national life. One of the greatest needs in the Increasing complexities of modern life is sane, clean and wholesome entertainiment which many of your people are wonderfully endowed tj temperament and natural gifts to pi vide. If I were asked tonight to njn what In my opinion is cne of ths greatest cultural opportunities lor Negroes with the necessary gifts and in the Immediate future, I would unhesitatingly plac near tbe top of the list the cultivation of your gifts for the contribution of wholesome music, song and lit erature. The potentialities of th colored race for eccnomio and social development in the future ar revealed by the outstanding record and remarkable strides attained in the fields of education and economics.

It hs been estimated that at the dose of the Civil War not more than five per ctnt of the Negroes of the Country could read and write. In 1900, the percentage of illiteracy htd een ree iced from 95 cent to 44.5 cent; th', ha decreased to 30.4 per cent 1910, and to approximately 26 cent In 1930. I doubt whether this progress in education has been surpassed by any other race, I cite the fact that your scion's beyond the grammar school grac have Increased from 15 in lSbt, to ever 800 In 1930; th number of Negro churches increased from seven hundred in 1863 to forty two thousand in 1930;" homes owned terion of not only good art but of truth In America? Again, is it not about time that tb whit producers and th dramatists, out of artistic self respect If not from a sense of realism and honesty, stop dragging about the battered mummy of this stage As to the work of the actors, all of whom are Negroes, sav one, it Is and in parts even excellent But it is no phenomenon. After such pictures as "Hallelujah, and the Cne work of Clarence Muse, as well a that of foreign Negroes Af i a Cubans, French West Indians, and others, we know that the Negro group has as good movie actor material as any other group. What would be amazing, however, would be to have seen these Negroes showing enough salf sacrifice by refusing to use their talents in a play that was serving to make it harder for their struggling group.

No matter what is said, it cannot be denied that th term "nigger," is one of contempt In America. There is not a single one of those actors who were hurling "nigger" over the screen at the audience who would not be offended if so called by a whit pet son. Uncle Tom's body lie a mouldering in th grave but bis soul goes marching on. Here's a test Paul Robeson deserves every whit of th praise showered on him Yy the whit criUc for his acting in this film. Let: Paul come to New York, however, epes.

theatre, and glv the 00 grew from twelve thousand In 1865 to seven hundred thousand in 1930; and farms operated by Negroes now number approximately nine hundred thousand as compared with twenty thousand in 1800. These accords constitute a striking testimonial to your people and to th leaders, both black and white, who have co operated 'in foe aspects of your educaUonal and social life. Frew my study of the Federal Censvv statistics as they reveal th TsJ VTft'm nrncrrejim In Hujii nM cite on significant feature, seldom stressed. I refer to vour sue ccssful commercial ventures In the larger urban communities. Ne gro me.

chants, operating retail stores in fifteen of our largest cit ies, are said to thus serve about two million people. Ther are in these fifteen cities over 5.700 retail stores with approximately 10,000 colored proprietors and employee. The net sales of these retail stores have run as high in a given year as $27,000,000. This ap precieble expansion in business in dicates the vast potentialities for future developments in this field. I feel that this feature ia business for Negroes should be stressed along with agricultural pursuits, dentistry, medicine and such oth er industrial and professional lines as required for complete service to the race by representative of the race when and if deaired colored people.

One of the most Important objectives to be attained by the colored race today is the establishment of the Negro business man in his rightful place In our eco fiomlo system, thus enabling him to operate fiis business efficiently, multiply resources and earnings, and axpand his buying power to such an extent that it Kill be of vea greater help and in fluenc himself and the eco nomio 'f of Our country. It wui characteristic of civilization that som srroun nr'dlvlatnn the human race is constantly engaged in a struggle for 1 some ilnd of freedom and Independence. If do not keep this fact prominently in mjr.d, ther is danger of becoming too self conscious and (Continued on Page Threr) plays which I know deep in bis soul he wishes to put on. showing the aspiring and constructive sid of th Negro life, and great as hie genius and popularity are, he would playing almost to empty houser Theoretically, the actor, like the lawyer, should play, what he is called on to, it Lx for or against his group. But when the game is unfair, he's a foot If he does play.

For instance, if in France I see a Negro actor playing a despicable role. I think nothing of it because Negroes also play, th superior parts, th great Seaeffalese. actor, always appears In a role in which be is the equal, and often the su perior of th whites In th cast and he would accept tio other. That is be appears as one one cl the master class, while In America, no matter how capable the Negro actor is "he must of tbe servant class, unless his rol Is burlesquo, or he Is defeated finally, as la ths play in rieUon, This situation will never be corrected oaUl th Negroes develop their own theatre for the presentation of their own life, aa they know It Am for th play, itself, while It is highly dramatic in spot, there is, en th whole, nothlag extraordinary about it as drama. Not only is It far fetched, but It ended in a welter of non teas and confusion at which I found royse'f yawning and tb audlenc.

salck ering..