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THE PANTHER
DECEMBER, 1944
tk panther
A Journal of Negro College Life
Published by the Students of Clark College
Vol. 1 Atlanta, Ga., December 1944 No. 3
STAFF
Editor in Chief William E. Thompson ’46
Associate Editors Ora Jeanne Bohannon ’45
Anna Marie Rice ’46
Feature Editor Marcella Cain Janes ’47
Sports Editor Jack Bell, ’48
Literary Editor.... Genevieve K. Ferguson ’46
Associate Literary Editor.. Mason Wilkes ’47
Gossip Editor Peeping Tom 19??
Art Editor Cynthia Perry ’46
Associate Art Editors Emma Jefferson ’47
Jackie Adams ’48
Exchange Editor Benjamin F. Bradford ’46
Associate Exchange Editor Ruth Jones ’48
Business Manager Calvin H. Johnson ’47
Secretary To Editor Thelma Barnhart ’45
Staff Typist Katherine Johnson ’46
Advisors To Editor Ora Jeanne Bohannon
Marcella James Calvin H. Johnson George C. Allen
Faculty Advisors Mrs. Stella Brewer Brookes
(Leave of Absence)
Miss Cecil C. Posey
Subscription $1.00 per year
Published Monthly
Editor’s Note
Attention has been called to the fact that much club and organizational
news has been omitted. The Editor wishes to remind all readers of the
“Panther” that the paper is a student publication without partisan thoughts.
The staff will not assume the responsibility for any news which does
not appear in print, given to any staff member other than the Editor. All
news should either be left in the Staff Office or given to the Editor. Before
blaming the Staff for neglect see your reporter first—perhaps they forgot
to give it in.
Dedication
The third and Christmas issue of the “Panther” is dedicated to the
fighting Panthers who held the Clark banner high during the past football
season, the Band, Majorettes, Pantherettes, and the entire student body for
parts played in the Homecoming Event. “The Panther” is also dedicated to
Miss Perry (Miss Clark), her attendants, Misses Anna Rice and Portia
Thomas, and the Fraternity Queens, Misses June Daniels and Virginia Cage,
for the excellent showing at the Homecoming Game.
An Editorial
What has become of the Negro spirituals—the Negro’s outstanding con
tribution to the development of a culture? Have they become obsolete with
the advancing of new ideas and thoughts or are we as Negroes ashamed to
sing them because of the past which we try to forget?
The Negro spirituals had an important development for they were born
when our forefathers in America were fighting for the right to live. Today
in our churches and schools they are something almost unheard of; it seems
the only time they are sung is, when white visitors are around. Have we
become so amalgamated that we feel to continue to sing these spirituals will
prevent our complete adjustment? Do we feel they remind us of a dismal
past covered over by the thoughts of slavery and persecution ?
The spirituals represent faith, hope, determination, and patience of our
parents who died to give us freedom. It is our responsibility and duty to our
posterity to pass on the spirit expressed in “Swing Low Sweet Chariot” or
“Deep River.” The Negro has made one contribution to society which still
remains his—the Negro spirituals. Arise, o’ ye modern generation of youth,
and sing forth in this new day the songs that brought hope to an oppressed
people.
Christmas Editorial
The story is told of an artist who had completed a painting for exhibi
tion. His friends reminded him that his picture depicted Jesus Christ with
a lantern in one hand and knocking on a door without a latch with the other.
In reply to his friends’ question—the artist reminded them—that was the
door to the human heart. The idea presented by the artist is summarized
in the thought—that unless we open the doors of our hearts, Jesus cannot
enter.
Another Christmas Season advances to bring on the time when the early
story of Joseph’s search for a lodging place will be retold in our Christian
Churches. As Joseph struggled with his wife, Mary, astraddle an ass he
went from place to place in the city of Bethlehem seeking for a lodging place.
After being refused he was finally given a place in a barn and there amidst
the cattle Jesus Christ was born. The doors of the inn were closed to Joseph
and his wife because they could not afford the price of the room.
Today that child born in a manger roams throughout the hearts of men
everywhere for a lodging place. Just as the doors were locked to Joseph so
are they locked to Jesus, for we find the world which boasts of Christians
divided by war, hatred, jealousy, and discrimination. Jesus stands knocking
gently to come in to bring into our hearts the message of peace and good
will as proclaimed by the angels.
Christmas is the time for Santa; it is the time to exchange gifts; it is
the time of mince meat pie, Christmas carols; but more than any of these
it is the celebration of the birthday of “Him who has come that'we might
have life.” No greater gift could we receive this year than the gift of the
Son of God. Through the acceptance of this gift we joint with the angels in
singing, “Glory to God in the highest. Peace on earth, good will toward men.”
Amen
The Staff wishes for the administration, faculty, and student body a
Merry Christmas and expresses the wish that the New Year will prove to
be a momentous one.
i
From My Chapel Seat
Genevieve K. Ferguson
Dear God, as we young men and
women pace these sacred walls to
enter into your Blessed Sanctuary
each day, make us realize that such
meetings are to draw us closer to
you and that our education will be
of little use if we cannot let the light
of Christianity shine through that
knowledge which we do have.
Summary of Chapel Programs for
the month of November:
Nov. 1-6: President Brawley deliv
ered a dynamic kick-off speech for
the beginning of Homecoming week;
Mr. Gideon, principal of David T.
Howard High School, re-emphasized
the meaning of the word, “Spitzer
Rinctum,” as it must apply to the
Clark Panthers; “Miss Clark,” Cyn
thia Perry, challenged the Fighting
Panthers to defeat the Maroon Ti
gers. The attendants of Miss Clark.
Portia A. Thomas and Anna M. Rice
were introduced. President Brawley
climaxed all Homecoming activities
with a final victory speech to the
undefeated Panthers and all mem
bers of the Clark family in diligent
ly working toward this victory.
Nov. 7: The Reverend G. Murray
Branch, pastor of the First Baptist
Church in Madison, New Jersey, ana
a worker with students utider D.
Wartime Emergency Service of the
Student Division of tthe Y. M. C. A.,
visualized the many achievements
Negro students can attain through
Christian organizations such as the
Y. M. C. A. and the Y. W. C. A.
Nov. 8: National Education Week,
having been set aside some 24 years
ago, was reawakened in the student
group by Dean A. A. McPheeters
and Mrs. Ann Cochran, Prof, of Ed
ucation at Morris Brown College, a
specialist in the field of elementary
ana secondary education, and a lead
er m the State Health program n
secondary schools and many colleges,
mrs. Lochran spoke on “Teachers
Are Needed.” The Father J. Hyde
rerry, St. Mark Episcopal Church,
Birmingham, Ala., gave remarks, out
ot wliicn was, “Young men and wom
en, education and intelligence are the
two most important weapons which
must be used in combating racial dis
crimination and segregation.”
Nov. 9: The Negro Youth Congress
was represented by Mr. Louis E.
Burnham, organizational Secretary o±
die Southern Negro Youth ooii fc ic UI
tor the past three and one-half years.
His address centered around the im
portance of registration and voting
m breaking down class distinction.
Students showing interest in the
youth Congress are Rosalyn Tonsil,
Bortia Thomas, Alton Adams.
Nov. 10: Clark College Beta Ps,
Chapter of Omega Psi Phi Frater
nity was presented in National
Achievement Celebration, at which
cime Calvin Johnson led devoid.
Dr. J. J. Dennis introduced the
speaker, Dr. B. R. Brazeal.
Nov. 13: Dean McPheeters read,
“From Young and Fearless Propn-
ets,” after which he talked on mid
term examinations and their sigma
cance. The football victory over Ten
nessee State was commented on by
President Brawley and Mr. Wright.
Nov. 15-16: Days set aside for
clubs and their activities. The Ohio
State Cfub, under the direction of
Mr. Curtis V. Holland, presented its
first program for the year. Miss neo
Parker, the club speaker, chose for
her subject, “A Mighty Fortress Is
Our oGd.” Miss Mae V. Simpson
sang, “None But the Lonely Heart,”
and the officers were introduced uy
its director, Mr. Holland.
Nov. 22: Reports from the Paine
Conference were given by Miss Thel
ma Barnhart, Miss Ogust Delaney
and Mr. Benjamin Bradford.
Nov. 23: The Home Economics
Club, sponsored by Mrs. Flora Grn-
fith, gave opportunities to the student
body to ask questions pertaining to
nutrition or health after having
heard the helpful talk of its sponsor.
Clark Receives Gift
Clark College became the recipient
of one thousand dollars when the es
tate of the late Mr. Edward H.
Greene was settled a few weeks ago.
This amount was made available to
the College through the will of the
deceased, his interest in Clark Col
lege having begun when Mrs. Lottie
Carraway, a niece of Mrs. Greene,
was a student at Clark. Mrs.
Carraway, who now resides in Chi
cago, lived with Mr. and Mrs. Greene
and became their foster-daughter. She
graduated from Clark in June, 1926.
In appreciation of what Clark College
did for Mrs. Carraway, Mr. Greene
made this bequest to aid worthy stu
dents in attendance at this Institu
tion.
Make Them Remember
This Xmas Somewhere
In the Pacific
Dear Mom:
It sure seems funny to be writing
a Christmas letter with the sun beat
ing on my helmet and the smell o*
the jungles across the clearing all
warm and green and deep. Looking
out from my tent I can see the roll
ing turbulence of the Pacific and the
dotting of palm trees. It’s funny how
it takes actual travel to make you
realize how dear home is.
Right now I can close my eyes and
see every one of you at home just
as clearly as though thousands ol
miles and several oceans weren’t be
tween us. I can see Bonnye with her
pigtails just clearing her shoulders,
.laving one of her tantrums because
you wouldn’t let her play “tab” foot-
oall with the guys down the street.
Brice was such a young sprout
, nen I left home that I still think
of his panting because he couldn t
have a paper route, but by now he's
probably bringing in enough money
m buy his own Christmas presents
this year. And Grandma—I can see
ner wheedling Dad into letting me
nave the car on Saturday nights, am.
whenever I dream of Sunday dinner
at home I think of those canned
peaches she puts up every fall.
I can see Dad sitting in his old
chair smoking (or does he smoae
now?) and reading the editorials. He
is a great guy, Dad is! And I can
see you sitting in iront oi tne fine-
place, sewing buttons on the shirts,
telling Dad to turn on the radio be
cause it’s time for “FiDber McGee aim
Molly.”
I’m not remembering these things
because I’m homesick or scared u.
anything, but because I want to ask
you to do sometnmg lor me that s
kind of hard to explain. it's an
mixed up in my mind with Uhrisi,-
mas at home, the war, and how i
want to be there but can't be. Ana
men i got this idea about how I couiu
be with all oi you—almost, anywa,.
There’s a fellow out here that 1
call my buddy. He’s a heckava swell
guy. His name is—Joe—Joe Perry,
xie likes to hear me talk about an
oi you. I guess right now he Know 0
as much auout you as I do. He comes
irom Chicago and hasn t a laiuny,
so he’s kind of adopted mine. Well,
anyway, Joe is leaving tor the States
in a lew days because ne got a eui
let wound m his leg irom a Jap snip
er and is discharged until it heals.
Now, Mom, this is it, I’ve told him
he should spend Xmas with you. He
won’t be a stranger because he knows
all about our iamily. And I figure
mat having him there m my place
would be just as though I were with
you myself. But it's important that
you do everything just tne way we
have always done it, and at the same
time.
You don’t know how much that
will mean to Joe, and to me out here
who will be thinking of it on Xmas
Eve. He’ll do everything just as I
used to do. He won’t be a bit shy
with you and there won’t be any
hurting of hearts about my not being
there, because I will be. And then,
at 10:30 I’ll look at my watch and
I’ll know that it’s time to start lor
church. The pavements will be crusty
with ice and the kids will be sliding
a little and pelting each other with
snowballs. After the children say
their “speeches” and you all sing
Yuletide carols, everyone will feel
good and hungry.
After you get home Bonnye will
play with her new brown doll while
Brice is busy setting up his train.
Dad will bring his new globe over
near the window and Joe will show
him the tiny dot where I am. And
then before you know it, dinner will
be ready.
Do you understand what I mean,
Mom? Don’t you think it’s a good
idea? I’m going to be with you every
single minute of that day and it’s
going to be a happy Xmas for all ot
us. For you and the family, because
you’ll like Joe so much. And be
cause, in a real sense, Joe will be
me, home with you. For Joe, because
he will have for his own the kind
of a family he’s always wanted. And
for me, because everything that
Christmas means to me will be here
with me in the thought of all of you
doing those things together.
A few days after you get this let
ter Joe will be opening the gate.
You’ll know him because he limps a
little.
Merry Christmas, Mom—and thank
you for everything.
—Bill.
(Written by Ora J. Bohannon;
In order to perpetuate the memory
of Mr. Greene at Clark College, and
to help a large number of students,
a revolving loan fund has been es
tablished from which each year a
few needy and worthy students may
borrow and return within a short pe
riod so that others might be aided.
This part of the administration of
the will was executed in the Office
of the President of the College a few
days ago by Mr. Albert E. Jones of
Atlanta, a business man and a life
long friend of Mr. Greene. Mr. Jones
is the Executor of the estate of the
deceased, who passed December 3,
1943. Attorney Rachael P. Herndon
of Atlanta served as the legal admin
istrator.
MISS RUTH TAYLOR SPEAKS
AT VESPER
(Continued From Page One)
destructive and constructive reform.
Reformers in most instances would
work to destroy the conditions which
they dislike. Reform, she believes,
really means reshaping; control. She
advises the building of walls of un
derstanding to hold hate out. “Mutual
understanding,” she pointed out,
“leads to mutual trust, and in trust
there is no hate.” Floods of hate, she
suggested, can and must be damned
back with education.
The Y. W. C. A.
By Genevieve K. Ferguson
The Young Women’s Christian As
sociation having successfully carried
out its membership drive in October,
is proving that universal brotherhood,
through Christianity, can yet be at
tained. The Clark College branch of
the Y. W. C. A. has for its officers
this year: President, Marcella James;
Vice-President, Katherine Johnson.
Miss Coffin, the traveling agent for
the World Student Service Fund, a
graduate of the University of Maine,
held an informal discussion with the
Y. W. C. A. immediately after chap
el at which time questions were
raised on ways through which the
Y. W. C. A. can assist in giving «..a
to the unfortunate students all over
the world. Miss Coffin ended the dis
cussion by saying, “Due to the fact
ihat we are to be the leaders of our
people and are fighting as brothers
lor one common cause, we, therefore,
as Christians, should help each
other.”
The cabinet of the Y. W. C. A. was
entertained at the James Cafe on
Saturday night, November 25. Dr.
Ethna B. Winston and Miss R. E.
King were the two faculty members
who enjoyed the dinner with the cab
inet. On Sunday night, November 26,
the Y. M. C. A. of Morehouse Col
lege cordially greeted the Y. W. C. A.
members of Clark College to one of
their social meeting hours.
Prayer Meeting in
Davage Auditorium
Lolita Guinart ’48
One light in the northeastern cor
ner of the auditorium, one speaker
on the rostrum, one solemn hymn call
ing to worship the weary soul heavy
with the cares of the foregoing day,
and finally one silence permeating
the enormous room, which immediate
ly served as a driving force and an
incentive to prayer, praise, and hu
miliation before our Divine Redeem
er.
Yes, it was prayer meeting in Dav
age Auditorium. The one time during
the week of hurrying and scurrying
which was truthfully conducive to
profound prayer, repentance, and to
ask the forgiveness of our ever-
mounting sins.
As the chords of “Sweet Hour of
Prayer” softly, sweetly, serenely rang
forth through the silence and stole
cunningly into every soul, tears slow
ly came into my eyes; my heart beat
quickened and a great lump closed
my throat. Yes, I was remembering
the minutes, the hours, the days, the
years I had spent in vain folly, fol
lowing life around like a vagabond
and gambling with the sordid store
of earthly manifestations as they pre
sented themselves.
“Breathe through the hearts of
our desires, Thy coolness and Thy
balm” . . . that wonderful, that so
very beautiful and timely hymn,
overflowing with the truth of gootf
Christian living, overflowing with ex
amples of the brighter, finer phase of
life. Oh, if it had been my time to
go, if I had been next in those mo
ments, it appeared then to have been
a matter of merely stepping across
to Hallowed Ground. I had been lift
ed high above the stormy blast of
human conflict into a stratosphere of
celestial beauty and comfort beyond
human imagination.
Now, the time for prayer, silent
prayer; afterwards a six or eight-
sentence prayer beseeching Almighty
God to enlighten us, to bless us, keep
us and protect us, to give forth that
understanding which passeth all
knowledge, to show us His tender
mercies and loving kindness.
Another hymn, the last hymn, even
more impressive than the first, and
finally going back home with an eye,
a heart, a soul better fit for living
in God’s World!
The Seniors Speak!
We, the glad Seniors, of the class
’45 pride ourselves in the knowledge
of two prominent distinctions that
differentiate us from all the senior
classes that have gradauted from
Clark. We were the first freshmen
to enter school here on its new site;
hence in June we’ll be the class that
spent the first four years on the new
location in the University center. I
recall quite vividly a statement from
the President’s address to us, when
we were freshmen. President Brawley
said that he was a freshman too—
that year 1941 marked his first ex
perience as President. Yea, Dr. Braw
ley was a “fresh president,” and Dr.
McPhetters was a “fresh dean” and
we were “fresh college students.”
Would you or would you not say these
are distinguishing facts?
In October 1944 the class organized
under the effective leadership of alert
Bernice Miller as president. We are
proud to say that Miss Miller’s scho
lastic and executive abilities aid in
making her our efficient class leader.
We have selected Dorothy Payne as
our vice president; Hariette Bailey,
secretary; Inell Brown, assistant sec
retary; Eula Williams, treasurer;
Lloyd Middleton, business manager;
Thelma Barnhart, reporter.
This year we have numerous re
sponsibilities before us; we have be
gun making tremendous financial and
other necessary plans that will make
this, our last year as students on the
campus, a successful one. Our high
objective is to continue doing things
that make a class “second to none,”
so that we will be considered as one
of the best senior classes in the his
tory of Clark College.
Thelma Lucile Barnhart.