Newspaper Page Text
Big Local Business Is
Built by Advertising
in the Best Medium
Your Home Newspaper
VOLUME 35 — NUMBER 37
Florida Negro Authoress Hits
Court Desegregation Ruling
(From The Augusta Courier)
Zora Neale Hurston, a Negro
authoress living in the State of
Florida, says “I regard the ruling
of the United States Supreme
Court as insulting rather than
honoring my race.”
She made this statement in a
letter to the Orlando Sentinel of
Orlando, Florida.
This noted Negro woman au
thor says that they have as good
Negro schools in Florida as they
do whites’ and to say that her
race is discriminated against
means that it is absolutely essen
tial that Negroes have physical
association with the whites for
them not to be discriminated a
gainst.
Raps Supreme Court
She says in her letter that she
has “no sympathy nor respect for
the tragedy of color school of
thought” among the Negroes and
that she can see no tragedy in
being born dark.
She further points out that in
her opinion that the Supreme
Court decision in the segregation
cases was a deliberate effort to
destroy the constitution and the
government itself and to set up
a government by administrative
decree in this country.
Letter To Newspaper
Her letter to the Orlando, Flo
rida, Sentinel follows:
“I promised God and some oth
er responsible characters, includ
ing a bench of bishops, that I was
not going to part my lips con
cerning the United States Su
preme Court decision on ending
segregation in the public schools
of the South. But since a lot of
time has passed and no one seems
to touch on what to me appears
to be the most important point
in the hassle, I break my silence
just this once. Consider me as
just thinking out loud.
“The whole matter revolves a
round the self-respect of my peo
ple. How much satisfaction can
I get from a court order for
somebody to associate with me
who does not wish me near them?
The American Indian has never
been spoken of as a minority
and chiefly because there is no
whine in the Indian. Certainly
he fought, and valiantly for his
lands, and rightfully so, but it is
inconceivable of an Indian to
seek forcible association with
anyone. His well-known pride
and self-respect would save him
from that. I take the Indian po
sition.
“Now a great clamor will arise
in certain quarters that I seek to
deny the Negro children of the
South their rights, and therefore
I am one of those “handkerchief
head niggers” who bow low be
fore the white man and -sell my
own people put of cowardice.
However, an analytical glance
will show that that is not the
case.
“If there are not adequate Ne
gro schools in Florida, and there
is some residual, some inherent
and unchangeable quality in
white schools, impossible to du
plicate anywhere else, then I am
the first to insist that Negro
children of Florida be allowed
to share this boon. But if there
are adequate Negro schools and
prepared instructors and instruc
tions, then there is nothing dif
ferent except the presence of
white people.
“For this reason, I regard the
ruling of the United States Su
preme Court as insulting than
honoring my race. Since the days
of the never-to-be-sufficiently
deplored Reconstruction, there
has been current the belief that
there is no greater delight to Ne
groes than physical association
with whites. The doctrine of the
white mare. Those familiar with
the habits of mules are aware
that any mule, if not restrained,
will automatically follow a white
mare. Dishone st mule-traders
made money out of this knowl
edge in the old days.
“Lead a white mare along a
country road and slyly open the
gate and the mules in the lot
would run out and follow this
mare. This ruling being conceiv
ed and brought forth in a sly
political medium with eyes on
’56, and brought forth in the same
spirit and for the same purpose,
it is clear that they have taken
the old potion to heart and acted
Brantley County — Land of Forest Products, Naval Stores, Tobacco, Livestock, Honey, Hunting, Fishing — and Progressive People.
upon it. It is a cunning opening
of the barnyard gate with the
white mare ambling past. We are
expected to hasten pell-mell aft
er her.
“It is most astonishing that this
should be tried just when the
nation is exerting itself to shake
off the evils of Communist pene
tration. It is to be recalled that
Moscow, being made aware of
this folk belief, made it the main
plank of their campaign to win
the American Negro from the
1920’s on. It was the come-on
stuff. Join the party and get
yourself a white wife or husband.
To supply the expected demand,
the party had scraped up this
and-that off of park benches and
skid rows and held them in stock
for us. The highest type of Ne
groes were held to be just pant
ing to get hold of one of these
objects. Seeing how flat that pro
gram fell, it is astonishing that
it would be so soon revived. Poli
tics does indeed make strange
bedfellows.
“But the South had better be
ware in another direction. While
it is being frantic over the segre
gation ruling, it had better keep
its eyes open for more important
things. One instance of govern
ment by fiat has been rammed
down its throat. It is possible that
the end of segregation is not here
and never meant to be here at
present, but the attention of the
South directed on what was cal
culated to keep us busy while
more ominous things were
brought to pass. The stubborn
South and the Midwest kept this
nation from being dragged far
ther to the left than it was dur
ing the New Deal.
“But what if it is contemplated
to do away with the two-party
system and arrive at government
by administrative decree? No
questions allowed and no infor
mation given out from the admin
istrative department. We could
get more rulings on the same
subject and more far-reaching
any day. It pays to weigh every
saying and action, however triv
ial, as indicating a trend.
“In the ruling on segregation,
the unsuspecting nation might
have witnessed a trial balloon.
A relatively safe one, since it is
sectional and on a matter not
likely to arouse other sections of
the nation to the support of the
South. If it goes off fairly well,
a precedent has been established.
Government by fiat can replace
the Constitution. You don’t have
to credit me with too much in
telligence and penetration, just
so you watch carefully and think.
“Meanwhile, personally, I am
not delighted. I am not persuad
ed and elevated by the white
mare technique. Negro schools
in the state are in very good
shape and on the improve. We
are fortunate in having Dr. D. E.
Williams as head and driving
force of Negro instruction. Dr.
Williams is relentless in his drive
to improve both physical equip
ment and teacher quality. He has
accomplished wonders in the 20
years past and it is to be expect
ed that he will double that in the
future.
“It is well known that I have
no sympathy nor respect for the
“tragedy of color” school of
thought among us, whose foun
tain-head is the pressure group
concerned in this court ruling. I
can see no tragedy in being too
dark to be invited to a white
school social affair. The Supreme
Court would have pleased me
more if they had concerned them
selves about enforcing the com
pulsory education provisions for
Negroes in the South as is done
for white children. The next 10
years would be better spent in
appointing truant officers and
looking after conditions in the
homes from which the children
come. Use to the limit what we
already have.
“Them’s my sentiments and I
am sticking by them. Growth
from within. Ethical and cultural
desegregation. It is a contradic
tion in terms to scream race pride
and equality while at the same
time spurning Negro teachers and
self-association. That old white
mare business can go racking on
down the road for all I care.”
Wanik# Entaprist
MRS. BUTCH
ADDRESSES
OREMCO REA
The Honorable Iris Blitch ad
dressed an overflowing crowd at
the new gymnasium of Nahunta
High School in Nahunta, Georgia,
last Saturday on the event of the
annual meeting of the local elec
tric co-operative.
The occasion was the Annual
Membership Meeting of the Oke
fenokee Rural Electric Member
ship Corporation at which direc
tors are elected and business re
ports are given by the manager
and officers.
Re-elected to a three year term
on the Board of Directors were
J. C. Allen, J. V. Strickland,
Brantley county and J. D. Burn
sed, MacClenny, Florida.
Many electrical appliances were
given to lucky members in a
drawing during the meeting. The
reserve grand prize of an elec
tric water heater was won by
Mr. Jasper Johnson of Hickox
and the grand prize of an electric
range was won by Mr. Dock
Henderson of Nahunta, Georgia.
Calvary HD Club
Chicken Supper
Th® Calvary Home Demonstra
tion Club is sponsoring a chicken
supper Friday, Sept. 16. The pro
ceeds will go toward the comple
tion of their Community Center
which they have been working
on for about a year now.
All the Farm Bureau members,
Home Demonstration Club mem
bers and many others in the
community have been working
hard on this project. They have
the blocks laid and are ready to
put the top on as soon as funds
permit. . ■MI MA
The supper will be held at the
site of the new building. It will
start about 4:30 and last until
about 9:00. (Adv.)
Smyrna Cemetery
Will Be Cleaned
The cemetery at the Smyrna
Primitive Baptist Church will be
cleaned off Wednesday, Sept. 21,
it is announced by “Uncle Billy”
Strickland. All people interested
in the Smyrna Cemetery are re
quested to come to the burial
ground and help clean up on
Wednesday, Sept. 21.
BIRTHS
Mr. and Mrs. Roy Evans of
Athens, Ga. announce the arriv
al of a baby girl on Sept. 4. She
has been given the name, Vickie
Norene. Mrs. Evans will be re
membered as Virginia Edgy of
Waynesville.
Harold Burney Goolsby has
been named farm machinery spe
cialist for the Agricultural Ex
tension Service, College of Agri
culture.
SYMBOL OF PROGRESS — As the 50,000th meter was installed in the new George
H. Cross home at Valdosta by the Georgia Power and Light Company, those shown
above assembled for the occasion. Left to right, Builder B. H. Roberts; Mr. and Mrs.
Cross; John Hega, G. P. & L. meterman; Lex Curtis of Westinghouse Electric Corp.;
and John W. Lastinger, G. P. & L. president.
Brantley Enterprise, Nahunta, Ga., Thursday, Sept. 15, 1955
Election Is
Called for
Representative
A special election to fill the
unexpired term of William B.
Harris in the legislature, as rep
resentative from Brantley coun
ty, has been called by Ordinary
James N. Stewart.
The call for a special election
was made necessary by the resig
nation of Mr. Harris on account
of illness. The writ of election
from Governor Marvin Griffin
was issued Sept. 6.
The special election will be
held Wednesday, Oct. 12. Candi
dates for the office of represen
tative must qualify with the Or
dinary by 12 o’clock, noon, Sat
urday, Oct. 1.
Show of Oil
Discovered
Near Douglas
DOUGLAS — A show of oil
was discovered Tuesday after
noon at a test well being drilled
in Coffee county about 20 miles
north of Douglas.
The oil was found in a mud
formation at 2,482 feet in a well
the Carpenter Oil Co. of Augusta
is drilling on farm land leased
from Terrell Thurman northeast
of Broxton.
Company officials immediately
contacted an oil expert in Hattis
burg, Miss., who was scheduled
to arrive Wednesday to conduct
a drill-tern test. The test, which
is expected to take about four
hours, is designed to determine
whether oil is present in com
mercial quantities.
If oil is present in commercial
quantities, the Carpenter Oil Co.
will be in line for the state’s
premium offer of SIOO,OOO to the
first company striking oil in Ge
orgia.
Nahunta FFA Hold
Officers Election
The first meeting of our local
FFA Chapter was called for the
purpose of electing officers for
the new year. Competition was
keen and several candidates were
nominated.
Those coming out in the lead
were: Wade Morgan, pres.; Ger
ald Johns, vice-pres.; Robert Ja
cobs, sec.; Bob Hendix, report
er; E. B. Herrin, treasurer; and
Charles Allen, custodian.
Our Chapter has been busy and
we have entered one contest al
ready this year. On Saturday,
Gerald Johns, Robert Jacobs and
E. B. Herrin accompanied our ad
visor, Mr. Long to Swainsboro,
where Gerald entered the Dis
trict Tractor Driving contest.
Bob Hendix
Reporter.
L E BENNETT
DROWNS IN
BIG SATILLA
Loren Ezra Bennett, 30-year
old farmer of "Rte. 4, Waycross,
drowned in the Big Satilla River
north of Schlatterville in Brant
ley county about 1:30 Wednesday
morning, according to Brantley
County Sheriff T. E. Raulerson.
The sheriff said Bennett was
with a group at the river and that
Bennett and Brantley Herrin of
Brantley county were swimming
with their car lights turned on.
He stated that Bennett and
Herrin swam to the other side of
the river. Herrin swam back first
and then Bennett started across.
When he was midway the stream,
the sheriff reported, he yelled for
help, calling about three times.
Herrin swam back to Bennett’s
aid, the sheriff said. Jack Herrin
of Hoboken, a first cousin of Her
rin, helped in getting Bennett up
on the bank, Raulerson stated.
They gave Bennett artificial
respiration for 45 minutes and
when he didn’t revive they
brought him to a funeral home
here, the sheriff said. He was
then carried to a hospital where
he was pronounced dead.
Survivors include his wife, the
former Miss Bessie Strickland;
two daughters, Susie and Kath
leen Bennett, Rte. 4, Waycross;
one son, Ray Bennett, Rte. 4,
Way cross; his father, Ezra L.
Bennett, Rte. 4, Way cross, and
10 brothers and five sisters.
Funeral services will be held
Thursday at 3 P.M. in Pleasant
Valley Baptist Church. Burial
will be in Hepzabeth Cemetery.
Moody Bros. Sale
To Continue
Until Sept. 24
Tire sale being conducted at
Moody Bros. Furniture Company
is continuing this week and will
run until Saturday, Sept. 24,
when the drawing will be held
for the many fine door prizes.
Moody Bros. Furniture Com
pany is offering many bargains
in household furnishings during
the sale. Their store has been
visited by hundreds of people
during recent weeks and many
have availed themselves of the
opportunity to buy household
goods at reduced prices.
The drawing for the 16 door
prizes will be held at eight o’-
clock P.M. on Saturday, Sept. 24.
Card of Thanks
We wish to express our thanks
to all our friends who gave us
help and sympathy during the
illness and death of our husband
and father, Joseph S. Wilson. We
deeply appreciate all your kind
ness, especially the many cover
ed dishes and the floral offerings.
Your friendship as expressed
in all your words and deeds will
always be remembered by us
with grateful hearts.
Mrs. J. S. Wilson
and family.
OFFICIAL ORGAN BRANTLEY COUNTY AND CITY OF NAHUNTA
Wayne Sesqui - Centennial
Celebration Begins Saturday
REVIVAL NOW
IN PROGRESS
AT NAHUNTA
The revival at Nahunta Bap
tist Church is in progress this
week, with Rev. Harold L. Moore,
Pastor First Baptist Church, Haz
lehurst, Ga., bringing the mes
sages, and the Song Program in
charge of Bowman Barr. The
services will continue through
Sunday night, September 18,
twice daily, with the week day
services at 9:00 A.M. and 7:30
P.M.
The sermon will be preceded
each night with forty-five min
utes of song service by the con
gregation; Junior, Intermediate,
and Church Choirs, and other
special music. The pastor, Cecil
F. Thomas, urges that you come
to all the services, beginning at
7:30, but, if anyone is not able
to attend before 8:00, come right
on, for the sermon will not be
gin until 8:15.
A cordial welcome awaits all
who will come.
Mrs. W. R. Lee
Celebrates
64th Birthday
Mrs. W. R. Lee was honored
with a dinner and reunion of
members of her family on the
occasion of her 64th birthday at
the home of her daughter, Mrs.
M. M. Carter of Hoboken on Sun
day, September 11.
All fifteen of her children were
present. They are; Mrs. Frank I.
Lee, and Mrs. Walter Justice of
Waycross; Mrs. M. M. Carter,
John D. Lee, Barney M. Lee of
Hoboken; Silas D. Lee, Schlatter
ville; Mrs. E. R. Dowling, Black
shear; Mrs. I. J. Mclntosh, Hil
liard, Fla.; Mrs. Farley Crews,
Mrs. Fred Meadows and Mrs. E.
M. Fitzhugh of Jacksonville; Ray
mond Lee, Fernandina, Fla.; Mrs.
W. O. Sims, Atlanta; Lt. Jerome
Lee of Shaw A.F.8., Sumter, S. C.
Two brothers, E. L. Hickox of
Schlatterville and I. E. Hickox
of Waycross, and sister-in-law,
Mrs. Beulah Hickox of Nahunta.
There were fifty-seven grand
children present, thirteen great
grandchildren, step - daughter,
Mrs. Rufus Shuman, Hoboken;
step-grandchildren; Morris Alt
man, Hilliard, Fla.; Mrs. Curtis
Cobb, Savannah; Mrs. Horace
Dowling, Jacksonville and Alvin
Shuman and Donald Shuman of
Hoboken. Also a number of
friends called during the day.
Mrs. Lee was the daughter of
the late David and Sina Hickox
of Hoboken. She was born on
Cow House Island in the Oke
fenokee Swamp and came to
Brantley county when she was a
small girl in 1900 and has been
a resident until recent years
when she moved to Way cross.
She was one of a family of four
teen children and has twelve liv
ing brothers and sisters.
50,000th Electric
Meter Installed
By Power Firm
The 50,000th meter was install
ed recently by the Georgia
Power and Light Company to
spotlight the progress of South
Georgia during'recent years.
“As a measure of the rapid
postwar growth of this area, it
took us 42 years to install our
first 25,000 meters,” said John
W. Lastinger, president of the
utility, “and only eight years
more for the second 25,000, or to
reach the 50,000 meter point in
our growth which is continuing
at about the same rapid pace.”
Georgia Power and Light Com
pany has a background of 50
years of community service in 19
South Georgia counties, and to
properly celebrate the 50,000 me
ter installation, a special gold
meter was prepared for the oc
casion by the Westinghouse Elec
tric Corp. A television set was
also presented to the George H.
Cross family of Valdosta, in
whose home the 50,000th meter
was installed.
Let Your Home Newspaper
Help You to Invite
Your Home People
to Trade with You
Wayne County Sesqul-centen
nial celebration will begin Sat
urday, Sept. 17, and continue
through Saturday, Sept. 24.
Great programs depicting the
150-year history of the county
will be held each night at 8:15
at the Jesup ball park.
The theme of the celebration
is “Wayne Through the Years.”
The first program Saturday, Sept.
15, will be the Queen’s Ball.
Other programs are as follows:
Sunday, Sept. 18, Religious
Heritage Day.
Monday, Sept. 19, Armed For
ces Day.
Tuesday, Sept. 20, Youth Day.
Wednesday, Sept. 21, Negro
Spiritual Day.
Thursday, Sept. 22, Agriculture
Day.
Friday, Sept. 23, Merchants and
Industry Day.
Saturday, Sept. 24, Old Settlers
Day.
A motorcade of Jesup and
Wayne county people visited Na
hunta Tuesday to advertise the
celebration. Men and women
were dressed in historic garb, the
men with beards and cut-away
coats and the women in long
dresses and panteletts.
The Wayne county people
danced the old square dance in
the street near the Nahunta
courthouse and also sang some of
the oldtime songs. A big crowd
gathered to see them.
The first county seat of Wayne
county was at Waynesville, now
in Brantley county. A large part
of Brantley county was cut off
from the ‘ old Wayne county.
Brantley county people are es
pecially interested in the Wayne
county sesqui-centennial celebra
tion.
Pleasant Valley
Missionary Union
The Pleasant Valley Baptist
Church W.M.U. met Tuesday
night, September 6 at the church
and officers were elected.
President, Mrs. Ethyl Bennett;
first vice-president, Mrs. Hattie
Mae Smith; secretary and treas
urer, Mrs. Fulton Hagin; com
munity missions, Mrs. Bill Marr;
recording secretary, Mrs. Cora
Bell Sapp; program chairman,
Mrs. Alton Cason.
ROYAL
THEATRE
Nahunta, Georgia
TIME SCHEDULE:
MONDAY thru FRIDAY
8:00 P.M.
SATURDAY
7:00 and 8:30 P.M.
PROGRAM
THURSDAY, FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 15-16
“Stronghold”
With VERONICA LAKE
and ZACHARY SCOTT
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 17
“Cheyenne Takes
Over”
With ALL STAR CAST
MONDAY, TUESDAY,
SEPTEMBER 19-20
Miss Robin Crusoe”
With AMANDA BLAKE
and GEORGE NADER
WEDNESDAY, SEPTEMBER 21
“Gas House Kids”
THURSDAY, FRIDAY,
SEPTEMBER 22-23
“Princess of the Nile”
With DEBRA PAGET
and JEFFREY HUNTER
SATURDAY, SEPTEMBER 24
“Son of the
Renegade”
With J. CARPENTER
( i f
