booklet at a popular flea market and bought it. Yellowed from age, the booklet is titled The Negro and subtitled Achievements of the Race.
For twenty five cents, you get the “essential information of the Negro.” On the cover is a photograph of George Washington Carver and there are bullet points of what is inside. The editor was Frederick W. Bond and it appears that other family members were also involved. Thomas J. Bond was the president and Anna Bond Johnson was the treasurer. The surprise for me was that the journal was printed right here in St. Louis by Midwest Mutual Publishing, located then at 4300 St. Ferdinand. St. Louis American’s Farley Wilson may even have a photo of these ambitious folks.
What was even more surprising was that the journal came out during World War II and gave insight into some of the issues of the day facing African Americans. The booklet was a compilation of reprints and information by famous black folks. One article titled, “Bill Would ‘Gag’ Biased Politicians” talks about a bill introduced by Senator Guy Gillette ((D-Iowa) to prevent political candidates in the 1944 Presidential race from appealing to the “racial and religious prejudice of voters.” Sounds familiar. Also known as the Gillette Propaganda Exposure Act, it required that all printed literature must state on the front the names of the people responsible for the writing, financing and publishing. It seems that anonymous racist campaign literature was flourishing and had to be put in check.
Several articles talked about the gallant role of blacks in the war and were quite critical of the status of blacks as second-class citizens at home. One raised the poignant question of “how about a little homegrown freedom for our own loyal American Negro? The American Negro was never known freedom from want; and he has also known fear at first hand…” There was internal debate among African Americans as to whether they should continue to push for justice and equality during the war or put all their collective energies into fighting WWII and then take back up their own struggles after the war. That debate raged throughout the war and was never settled.
Another article talked about how a large eastern war plant had hired 300 white women and no black women, despite the fact that 100 had been referred to the company. The explanation given by management was that the jobs required handling of small mechanics and blacks were rejected because they “all had ‘sweaty’ hands.”
An article by Frederick Douglass urged colored men to explore the skilled trades and new technology. Douglass warned blacks to “find new employments; new modes of usefulness to society or …decay.” While other articles talked about the “Negroid Stake in the 78th Congress” or how Southwestern Bell in Kansas City refused to sign a government contract agreeing to hire colored workers, or gave the inside story of the Detroit race riots, the most compelling article is “What the Negro Wants.” It challenged the continued denials of economic opportunities and political power to a sizeable portion of American’s population. The examples given of the conditions of blacks were all too familiar.
Unfortunately, not a whole lot has changed. The issues in the winter of 1943 - over 60 years ago - are still relevant today. The fight for freedom, justice and quality are alive and well. I thank those who came before me and wrote about our achievements (or lack thereof) so that we have a sense of history in order to better plan for the future.
“I hope that Americans as a whole will one day acknowledge the true of origin of this holiday, and remember the pain, loss, and agony of the Indigenous people who suffered at the hands of the so-called ‘pilgrims’…Let us face the truths of the past, and give thanks that we are learning to love one another for the rich human diversity we share.”
John Two-Hawks, The Thanksgiving Myth
Our History with Native Peoples
November, 1997
The indigenous peoples of North American have a unique relationship with those of us of African descent in this country. Africans have interacted with Native Americans from the time we were stolen from Mama Africa and brought to these shores as cargo. Most people don’t know that all the land in the western hemisphere was once populated by millions of so-called Indians, whether they were Eskimo, Cherokee, Inca or Mexican. Their numbers, of course, have been decimated by the invasion and subsequent genocide by Europeans.
In contrast with our mixed heritage with Europeans, most of which was forced, the liaisons with Native Americans were often of mutual consent. Runaway slaves regularly found refuge in the red people’s tribal societies. We fought with the red people against continued conquest of their lands by Europeans. The Seminole Indian War in Florida between 1835-42 is a good example. We were also found with our red brothers in the union army against the Confederacy. Africans intermarried with members of most tribes. Even when Africans fought against Native Americans, they were respected as true warriors and given the name Buffalo Soldiers.
Some notables who shared their lives with red people are Jean Baptiste DuSable, founder of Chicago. He joined the Potawatomi tribe and married Kittihawa. Matthew Henson, North Pole explorer, married an Eskimo woman and set up home there for a while. James Beckworth and others who went West also enjoyed special relations with Native Americans. So, whether as Afro-metizo or zambo, our roots are definitely woven with those of our red brothers and sisters.
This background gets me to the point of this article. With Thanksgiving coming up, we need to reflect on the struggle of Native Americans. We need to kick the good pilgrims’ story to the curb. As African Americans, we should be shoulder to shoulder with the Red tribes (that are left!) in the struggle for their land, dignity and human rights. We should be appalled that the fairy tale of Columbus “discovering” America is still being taught in our schools. We should be equally offended in regard to Indian stereotypes. They are similar to the racist ones we constantly have to confront in the media and in the general society.
Africans in this country need to join forces with Native Americans who are calling for the end to the use of the red people’s image as mascots and other caricatures. When Dr. Bernice Jackson was in town recently, she referred to these images as red sambos. We know all too well, the grinning, patronizing images of the black sambo-types in our own history.
I’m asking that we all think about the images of native peoples, particularly at Thanksgiving time. They, too, have a proud history although they are portrayed in U.S. history books as heathens and savages. As they fight to protect their culture and history, even to this day, our red brothers and sisters should expect - and receive - our support and solidarity. There is much we have in common. Remember this on November 27th.
Lift Every Voice, Then We Can Sing
March, 2000
You all know by now that I don’t stay between the lines. For example, I believe African people in America can celebrate their story any time and any place. This month, I want to tell you about Lift Every Voice and Sing. It is a phenomenal project that highlights the life and times of 100 black St. Louisans.
Ann Morris and Doris Wesley were responsible for the writing and editing of the powerful narratives told in the words of the chosen few. Award-winning photographer, Wiley Price, brought the text into visual form by capturing the subjects’ moods and personalities in black and white photos. You will recognize a few household names and sometimes their story - people like William Clay, Sr., Bernie Hayes, Ora Lee Malone, Percy Green, Donald Suggs, Betty Thompson, Mae Wheeler, Oliver Sain, or Pearlie Evans. There are also many unsung heroes and sheroes.
Their stories are not only inspiring, but make you want to do more research and study. They could be a really cool teaching tool, especially because many of the “Voices” are still alive. Kids can actually meet and talk to them in the flesh.
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