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N£ £o' i rr r , . . > < - '• •' t LIB 3 An v A Vol. 3 1 1 , J Augustan Recalls Childhood Life With Famous Uncle-Booker T. Washington By Andrea Cohen Mrs. Margaret Washington Barrington is a resident of Augusta. However, a native Alabamian, Mrs. Barrington grew up in Tuskeegee where she spent “one-third” of her childhood days in and around the home of her famous uncle, Booker T. , Washington. Mrs. Barrington’s memory is richly filled with occasions and experiences shared with Dr. Washington. Here is Mrs. Barrington’s account of her uncle’s life: I knew Booker T. Washington as an uncle, brother of my Father, John H. Washington. As a child, it never occurred to me at this time that he was an unusual uncle, as I shall continue in this article. He was a man of great vision not only for his race-the Negro people-but for all people all over the world. I remember him as a builder using the raw products as a foundation just to realize his dreams. I knew him as a father whose family always came first. But this would not be realized by others because of his unselfishness to others. I can remember so well how in the summer months, how he would take many trips to various rural community areas in the Black Belt of the South (Macon Countyjtaking the message of the need for education there because of the inconvenience of those people to come to school. This was always a very gala affair for these people and they looked forward each year to these affairs. Later, he influenced Julius Rosenwald, one of the greatest philanthropists of this country, to build schools in these areas. Upon graduation from Tuskegee Institute, competent teachers were placed in these schools. Booker T. Washington was misunderstood by many people who thought his reasons were to keep the Negro in Vocational Training. But his idea was to educate the hands, heart, and head so that thousands might advance to higher levels. He believed one should first learn to | Fire Claims Life Os j I Mary Lazenby I A raging fire swept through a two story frame house at 1229 Pine St. Monday night claiming the life of an Augusta woman. Mrs. Mary L. Lazenby, 42, who was believed to have been asleep at the time of the fire, died as a result of the blaze. The Augusta Fire Department reports receiving a call to the scene at 11:25 p.m. and found the body in the front room of the northeast comer of the house. The fire was brought under control at 12:45 a.m. The cause of the fire has not been determined. A native of McDuffie County, Mrs. Lazenby lived in I aUII A I &71 Mrs. James Brown (R), Wife of the famed entertainer, is pictured in her home donating a box of clothes to the Better Infant Birth organization. Mrs. R.S. Weston receives contribution for 818. V PLEASE! PLEASE! PLEASE! 4 ■ We want to print your news. But we MUST have 4 Jit by NOON TUESDAY in order for it to be! >printed that week. There can be NO exceptions.! ■ Please co-operate with us so we can better served f you. ■ NATIONAL BLACK NEWS SERVICE MEMBER Augusta for 9 years. She was a member of the Cedar Grove Baptist Church in Columbia County. She is survived by a daughter, Thomasena Lazenby, and a son, James Roy Lazenby; her parents, Mr. and Mrs. Tom Lattimore of Grovetown; and one sister, Allene Belton. The funeral will be held on Sunday at 3 p.m. at Cedar Grove Baptist Church William and Dotson Funeral Home is handling the arrangements. Burial will in the churchyard cemetary of Cedar Grove Baptist. Rev. W.W. Williams will officiate. P.O. Box 953 skillfully lay bricks before one could become a foreman, a contractor or an architect. This form of education was adopted by the white race and they took advantage of it--hence-today they hold the top positions in these vocational fields. I think now the Negro people have realized this and are rapidly developing along these lines. He thoroughly believed in higher education for those who could afford it as exemplified in sending his daughter (Portia Pittman) as a very young girl to one of the best preparatory schools in Framineham. Massachusetts, she later studied music for two years in Germany. To me Dr. Washington’s private life was of a high calibre. His home was one of elegance consisting of fifteen rooms and three baths. The furnishings were of the best quality and taste coming from several foreign countries as well as the United States. His daily living was simple, but very dignified having in his home a valet, housekeeper and a girl who had full charge of the preparation of meals. They at some time attended day or night school. He got this idea from homes of the wealthy where he visited when securing funds for his work. He started his day riding his horse “Dexter” over the campus making observations, eating breakfast, feeding his poultry, looking after his garden, then he proceeded to the office. After the evening six o’clock dinner he would wind up the evening with his wife discussing the future of Tuskegee Institute and the Negro. He was religious, going to the chapel every Sunday morning, very dignified in his dress which consisted of a complete morning attire. I would not identify Booker T. Washington as an intellectual as we look on intellectuals today, that is, a man of many degrees (even though in later years, Harvard University conferred a Doctorate upon him for the work he had done. But his interest ZJSF k fl J Dignitaries Pay Tribute To Dr. Thomas Kilgore J’CK t- J V < I <a (Left to Right): Mayor I'om Bradley; Mrs. Coretta S. King; Dr. Thomas Kilgore; and Mrs. Kilgore; and Dr. Benjamin Mays. Dr. Thomas Kilgore, Jr., pastor, Second Baptist Church, Los Angeles, was lauded as a ‘Roadruimer tor Mankind’ by over 1000 dignitaries, clergy, congregation and friends at a luncheon held in his honor at the Marriott Hotel. Mrs. Coretta Scott King, a long time friend of Dr. Kilgore, served as honorary chairman and delivered one of the triad of keynote speeches. The other keynote speakers were Dr. Benjamin Mays, President-Emeritus of Morehouse College and Dr. Alvin Rudisill, University Chaplain at the University of Southern California. Los THE PEOPLE’S PAPER Angeles Mayor Tom Bradley was also on hand for the tribute and after a few brief remarks, presented Dr. Kilgore with a resolution from the City of Los Angeles. In further recognition of his many church and civic activities, Dr. Kilgore received a host of plaques and tributes from persons and organizations representing all sectors of the community, business and state and local government. An extremely moving tribute, this luncheon was sponsored as part of the Tenth Anniversary honoring the services of Pastor and Mrs. Kilgore in Second Baptist Church. Augusta, Georgia and sincerity inspired many men to advance in this direction. One person I refer to is Dr. St. Elmo Brady, who for many years was one of the the five Negroes who held a doctorate degree. His degree was in chemistry. Dr. Brady later chaired the Department of Chemistry at Howard and Fisk universities for over 40 years. This is only one instance of Booker T. Washington’s interests in higher education. Indeed, he was very fortunate in securing the interest of the most highly educated and monied people of this country which accounts for the rapid growth of Tuskegee Institute, which is still one of the largest institutions which has been staffed by Negro educators. Tuskegee had its infancy in a church on Zion Hill and today it has almost 200 large buildings with he very best equipment. The human relationship between the two races at Tuskegee Institute has always been unusually harmonious. During his lifetime, 1 never knew of any serious disagreement. Some of the highlights that I can remember are visitations of two Presidents-in-Office and many other notable persons in the nation to Tuskegee Institute. Not only did he include the famous and monied, but he never forgot the humble and poor. For example, one evening a poor white man, without money to buy seed from a store, which refused him credit, drove up and told Dr. Washington his case. Dr. Washington gave him a note to take to the bank where he received the sufficient amount of money to buy the seed. Booker T. Washington believed in everyone working. As a child, I could not understand why I should have to work without renumeration. But now I can realize what he meant when he said every Negro should make a contribution to Negro education. Many of the important organizations he initiated still survive. Namely: The National Negro Business League, National Negro History Week, National Medical and Pharmacudical Association, The National Negro Health Week, The National Negro Music Week and The General Board Foundation of Education. All of these were stared at Tuskegee Institute. In the middle of November 5, Dr. Booker T. Washington was taken ill in New York City. Naturally he wanted to return home. A special private train car was secured for his return arrival at Chehaw, Alabama, which is five miles from the Institute. He was met by he students and faculty and placed in an ambulance drawn by horses. Torches were burned so that as many ruts as possible could be avoided. He died, in his bed, about seven o’clock the following morning. He was given the same honor as is today given a President. The student band and students marched to the Institute Chapel for the funeral. Then he was moved to the grave next to the Chapel. Booker T. Wmshington was kind, lovable, generous and a man of great vision. I am proud to say he was my uncle. I would not dare in this article to withhold paying tribute to my Father, John H. Washington whose devotion, love and interest to his brother’s work at Tuskegee Institute was unlimited and who was known as “The Man Behind The Gun” and to Booker T. Washington’s successors: Robert R. Moton, who followed the founder’s pattern and did much to advance his ideas; Dr. Frederick Paterson, who went steps upward to higher education, and at present, Dr. Luther Foster seems to embrace each of his predecessors to make it possible for all people. Nonpartisan Election Information Richmond County Board Os Education In order that our readers may be better informed about the candidates in the board of education election, we are presenting as a public service the questionaire prepared by the League of Women Voters. The League prepared the questionaire and the candidates supplied their responses. The responses of the candidates are printed word-for-word. The League does not endorse candidates but urges every citizen to vote for the candidate of his or her choice. RICHMOND COUNTY BOARD OF EDUCATION Term: 4years Salary: 51,200. The Board of Education appoints a Superintendent of Schools, approves a budget, sets tax millage for school operations, authorizes purchase of supplies and equipment and is empowered to call for bond issue referedum; supervises operation of Richmond County public schools. QUESTIONS ASKED CANDIDATES: EDUCATION: OCCUPATION: TRAINING AND EXPERIENCE: Please describe additional training and experience that add to your qualifications for the office. STAND ON ISSUES: 1. Do you favor having the four quarter system for Richmond County Schools? 2. What would you especially like to accomplish during your term on the Board? 3. What ideas do you have tor maxing the poorer schools more attractive so that teachers would be more willing to teach there and parents more willing to send their children? 119th District Barbara W. Allen (no age given) 2418 Sumac Drive EDUCATION: Attended Campbell College. Graduated Peace College. OCCUPATION: Part Time Mew’s Auto Parts TRAINING & EXPERIENCE: Junior Choir at Church. 5 years Girl Scout leader. 8 years PTA. Clinic Chairman, homeroom chairman, substitute (in Richmond County Public Schools) teacher over 2 years. A concerned mother with two children presently attending Richmond County Public schools. ISSUES: Mrs. Margaret Washington Barrington EDITORIAL ONLY SIX B ! ACK FIREMEN Federal Judge Anthony Alaimo recently took very significant action to end discrimination in hiring and promotions within the Augusta Police Department. In addition to ruling that one Black must lx* hired for each white until the city’s approximate 50-50 Black to white population is reflected, he ordered a Black Affirmative Action Officer, responsible to the Court, to see that Blacks are not further discriminated against. And most recently Judge Lawrence rescinded promotions made by the Civil Service Commission this week. We, of course, commend these actions. This is the only way that the injustices of discrimination will be ended. Nevertheless, we must go further and end all discrimination. Augusta's Fire Department, which is also controlled by the Civil Service Commission, has a much worse record than the police department. Out of 140 firemen, oidy 6 are Black. None of,them hold rank above private, and only one ranks as a class “A” private. Augusta cannot continue to close its eyes to discrimination such as this. The requirements for becoming a fireman are a high school education, good character and physical soundness. Nothing but discrimination would keep the percentage of Blacks in the fire department at sucfpa disproportionate level. 1.1 am definitely opposed to a four quarter system. 1 firmly believe that nine months a year is enough for any small child or teenager to be in school. 1 believe wholesome recreation and Bible School mean much more to our youngsters than attending school for 12 months. As for the utilization of the school property itself, there are several things school buildings and property can be used for during the summer months, especially recreation. This I would encourage. 2. The events of the past several years of executive and judicial interference with what I considered a good school system in Richmond County caused a lot of chaos, confusion and inconvenience. Transfer of many of our children to schools other than where they were going has taken a lot of initiative out of these young people and has also tremendously affected the mothers and fathers. Being very active in parents, student related programs in our schools, and working with our children, 1 am greatly concerned that parent participation is not as evident today and understandably so. hopefully 1 can help regroup many of our parents and persuade them to get involved again as they were, because I firmly believe that the more involvement of the parents the more progress their sons and daughters will make in school. Naturally I want to see our teachers receive adequate salaries along with our lunchroom workers, bus drivers and other personnel and for us to continue expanding our faculties to take care of the ever pressing needs. 3. Up until several years ago we operated under the neighborhood concept in our school system. I am sure there are some schools that are better than others, especially the physical facilities, and many of our teachers had taught in better schools for years and overnight found themselves teaching in other areas with students they did not know and were not familiar with their families. 1 could say “tear the schools down and build new ones”, but 1 realize our tax structure would not allow us to demolish all of them at the present time, but here again I think if parents would become more concerned and involved working with the teachers, giving them more encouragement, reprimanding their own children more when the need arises it would be of great assistance and would encourage more teachers to the poorer schools especially during this transition. Mrs. Carl Roland (Age 49) 1803 Rose Lane EDUCATION: Graduated from high school, Wilkes County public school system; attended business school. OCCUPATION: Homemaker TRAINING & EXPERIENCE: Chairman so Volunteer Reading Tutorial Program in Richmond County public schools. Served as a member of court-appointed Bi-racial Committee. Member of State of Georgia RISE Committee to promote “Reading SEE BOARD OF EDUCATION Page 5 November 1, 1973 No. 33 ((zocn