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THE MAROON TIGER
Negrito- -By J- Mason Brewer
J. Mason Brewer has made a genuine contribution to
the folklore of the Southwest in his book Negrito. It is
a 100-page hook of Negro dialect poems, just off the
the Naylor Press, (San Antonio, Texas).
The title Negrito selected for the volume is a term
used by Mexicans living in the Southwestern states when
speaking of Negroes, “the little black.” The uneducated
Negro who has not only furnished the material for a
distinct, rich and racial literature, but has also been the
silent and unheralded force most responsible for his
progress.
After you catch the swing of the dialect in Negrito
you will be both amused and enlightened. The poems
include t)q>ical illustrations of the life of the crude Ne
gro of the Southwest, who after all, is the embodiment
of the Negro soul. His philosophy is portrayed in his
natural response to his environment through his emo
tions, aspirations, sentiment and thoughts. The author
has captured and impounded this in these simple poems,
every one of which is written in the uneducated Ne
gro’s own speech.
The author is head of the Romance Language De
partment in the Samuel Houston College for Negroes at
Austin, Texas.
Dr. L. W. Payne, Jr., who is professor of English
in the University of Texas, author of “History of
American Literature,” “Selections from American Liter
ature” and “Southern Literature reading,” has written
the preface to Negrito and is ample authority for Pro
fessor Brewer’s qualifications to depict the Negro.—We
quote: “The dialect is accurate, the verse natural, smooth,
and rhythmical, and the thought content true to the
facts of the life which he attempts to portray. The un
derlying humor, good-nature, happiness, and hopeful
outlook of the Negro are here clearly and cleverly pre
sented. There is little moralizing, no rancour, no im
moral suggestiveness, but much truth, patriotism, and
good sense in these verses. As Kipling said of the Brit
ish “Tommy,” so Brewer might say of the uneducated
Negro who is the spokesman in these verses.”
An’ it’s Sammy this, an’ Sammy that,
an’ anything you please,
An’ Sammy ain’t a bloomin’ fool—
you bet that Sammy sees.”
The book is divided into four (4) parts. The first
with thirty-seven epigrams of Negro characters of the
Southwest—the “section han’—the vocational pursuits
down to the “Grand Master” of the Lodge—each a gem
in themselves. Part Two—consists of poems depicting
the life of the Negroes in the country—and well does
Brewer do this. Among the twenty-one here—“Dat’s un
Norther’” “Keep uh Gwine,” “The School Patron,” “The
Prodigal,” are probably the outstanding, although each
will more than hold your interest.
The Town Section (Part 3) carries twenty-two from
“Dese Sweepote,” to “Love’s Pledge.” Here’s a typical
quotation.
“Needen be walkin’ wid yo’ head hung down,
Evahbody knows dal you nebber lef town.”
The last section is devoted to twenty-four Negro prov
erbs in Epigram. To use a slang expression, they are
really a ‘scream.’
The book is illustrated by Tom Smith, and he too,
has attained that rare ability to characterize his race.
From his very first:
“HI”
(Hello)
Ah don’ lak uh lots o’ sham
Ah’m jes plain ol’ common Sam.
to his
“SOLONG”
(Goodbye)
Hones’ tuh Gawd, ain’t tellin no lie,
Gonna live souf, babe, till ah die.
Brewer has a volume that will certainly take its place
among the literature—depicting the typical Negro of the
Southwest.
FROM J. MASON BREWER'S
“NEGRITO”
Football Player
In football time he’d alius
Be absent rum his class—
De reason dat dey flunked ’im
He missed uh fo’ward pass.
Politician
He struts befo’ de brethren,
An’ make de sistren think
Dat he am one biff race man.
Den sells ’em for uh drink.
City Preacher
He preach de gospel once uh week
Put Christuns in de sky—
Drives ’is Packard ebry day
An’ pass de needy bv.
Washer Woman
She washes fer uh livin’,
Ne neighbuhs calls huh fool,
But dat am how huh chillun
All finished up in school.
Crap Shooter
He alius gits out some how
An’ manage fer is bail,
But ’fo’ long he gits lonesome
An’ Ian’s right back in jail.