S ngle parent
keepng bu y
By Vera WhIte
Valerie BeD, originally came
from Detroit, and has lived in
Three River for five years. She
received her GED in 1978 from
Three Rivers High School and
she is currently employed at I
Burger King- Restaurant, as a
Breakfast Manager.
Valerie is the mother of two
sons, Verges To bert, 14,.a
freshman at Three Rivers High
School and Jahmel Tolbert, 10,
attending elementary school.
Valerie previously worked at
River Forest ursing Home,
Lasco Industries, and was a
cashier at Fred' Supermarket.
Valerie is a single parent. It is
no easy task raising children
alone with the many problems
that exist today in a pennissable
society. Single parents face
many challenges, but Valerie
like many single parents, have
never had any major problems
with her 'ODS, and does not an­
ticipate any. She attends church,
and loves singing ¥ a hobby.
We salute V alerie Bell, keep
up the good work.
Three Rivers
womani
featured OW
speaker
The Three Rivers Chapter of
ational Organization of
Women, (NOW), held a special
program in observance of Black
Hi. tory Month, n February 18,
in Jones, MI. The program wa
presented to reveal the con- I
tributions Blacks have made to
build our Country.
Guest speaker was Mrs.
Maeten Lewis of Three Rivers.
Lewis spoke on the subject, "The
OUT
THREE
RIVERS
WAY
Black h�story stamp eries honors
·James Weld n 'Johnson
I
BALTIMORE - James Wel-
don Jolin on, the educator,
diplomat, lawyer, autho ,
lyricist, and civil rights I er
who served for ten years the
Executive Secretary f the
NAACP, has been se wed as
the 11th individual to be
me orialized in the Black
Heritage Series Stamp.
The stamp was officially
rel�ased by the Postal Service on
Tuesday, Feb. 2, and is now
available in postal facilities
nationwide.
The series has recognized
some of history's most influen­
tial African �erican leaders.
including Martin Luther King.
Harriet Tubman, Benjamin
Banneker, Whitney M. Young,
Jackie Robinson, Scott J oplin,'
Carter G. Woodson and Mary
McLeod Bethune.
J ohoson joined the staff of
the NAACP in 1916 as a field
secretary. In 1920 he was named
Executive Secretary, the first
Black in this position. He served
, un ·1 1930 when he resigned.
Under his leadership, there
was a revitalization of the
NAACP which had gone
through some trying days during
World War One and the post
war period. He improved its
finan ial position and increased
the umber of branches with
particular emphasis on the
South.
He spearheaded a concerted
anti-lynching campaign, spend­
ing long hours in tile halls of
Congress lobbying for passage
of the Dyer Anti-Lynching Bill,
which passed the House in 1922
I but died in the Senate in 1924.
All subsequent anti-lynching
legislation failed to make it
I through th Senate, but the
• NAACP, largely through
\ Johnson's persistence, had
February 28 -
�aised the consciousness of the
• ation to the horrible evi1 of
lynching.
He fought for voting rights
for African Americans, for
desegregation in federal depart­
ments' for federal aid to the
education of Blacks, for the
abolishment of jim crow in inter­
state travel, and for a host 01
other causes.
A talented writer and poet,
Johnson also encouraged yo ng
African American artis and
writer who were in part of the
outpouring of the creative works
during the 1920's and 30's known
as the "Harlem Renaissance."
In 1925, the NAACP
presented him with the highest
. honor it can bestow - the Spin­
gam Medal. .
Born in 1871, Johnson
received his undergraduate and
master's degrees from Atlanta
University. He served as a
teacher and later principal of the
Colored High School in Jack­
sonville, FL. There he read law
. in the office of a white lawyer,
and was admitted to the Florida
Bar in 1897 - the first Black to do
so.
With his brother, John, writ­
ing the music, Johnson wro e the
lyrics to some 200 ongs for
musical comedies and and light
operas. Hi rno t fam u and
lasting song, however, was in a
different vein - "Lift Every Voice
and Sing," which has become
known as "The Negro National
Anthem."
Before joining the NAACP
staff, he served in the U.S.
diplomatic service in Venezuel
and Nicaragua. After leaving the
NAACp4 in 1930, he was a
professor of creative literature
at Fisk University from 1930
until his death in an automobile
accident in 1938.
Persons desiring to obtain the
historic rust day cancellations
for the stamp should follow
these instructions. The James
Weldon Johnson stamp should
be affixed to an envelope. En­
velopes must be addressed on
the right side at least S/8 of an
inch (rom the bottom. Stamps
should be affIXed in the upper
right comer approximately 1/4
inch from the top and right
edges. Requests must be
postmarked by March 3, 1988,
and addressed: Customer-Af­
fixed Envelopes, J ames Weldon
Johnson Stamp, Postmaster,
Nashville, TN 37202-9991. No
remittance is required.
Renowned Det oit painter
C rI Owen , who recently un- ..
veiled his heralded portrait of
civil rights pioneer Rosa Parks,
will be feat ured at a Black art
exhibi and film festival at the
Harmonie Park Playhouse.
The exhibit, held March 5,
12 and i9, also will feature
. portraits and prints from
Detroit painter Habiba Owens
and wor s of Detroit sculptor
Richard Bennett.
Vintage Blac films: Paul
Robe on; "Murder on Lenox
Av nue", "Hi-De-He!"; and
"The Duke Is Top", 1938
mu ical comedy featuring
Lena Horne in her film debut.
Presented by the Harmonie
Park Pia h u. e, 27 E. Grand
River, and cc rdinatcd hy
Pyramid ..
Tickets for 'matinee are $10.
Dinner tickets, are $20 .. Films
will be shown promptly at 2:30
p.m. and 6:30 p.m .
all 964-4348.
Progress and Struggles of
Blacks". Lewis is very active in
St. Joseph County. She is a past
member of the S1. Joseph
esq uincentennial Committee,
the D.A.V., the A.A.R.P.,
NAACP, and the Carver Com­
munity .Center.
Eighteen women attended
the event. The organization has
a yearly agenda, and this was one
of the events included.
Black History
pro�ram to be he d
A special program, "Coining
Together in 88", will be
presented on Sunday, February
28 in observance of Black His­
tory Month at the George
Washignton Carver Center.
Rev. Sterling White Jr., pas­
tor of the New Jersualem Bap­
list Church, Rev. George H.
King, pastor of Grant Chapel
AME Church, and Rev. Luther
Chaney, pastor of the All Na­
tions Temple hurch of God In
Chri t Church, will all 'peak on
the current achievement of
Blacks.
A surprise presentation will
he made to M rs, Picc()la, helton
of Three River: for her Icon­
tributions to the community.
. The program is spon orcd by
the New Jersualem Baptist
Church and concerned citizens
of the community. pecial music
. will be pre entcd.
H.V.,
Roano ,V.
Dear H.V.,
I I think you were
telling her about her
and her best friend I under­
stand the pain that your . end is
going through and its very im­
portant that you are there for
her to talk with.
I
of
them-
Per hap you can help her to
understand "Susie" and realize
that she is no one's close friend
or sister. The fact that you tried
to put an end to the affair and
have a talk with "Susie=show that
you care for both friends and
want only the best for the both
of them.
It's not important that your
friends knows at you knew
from the beginning or that you
tried to talk with "Susie". Just be
there for her as a friend.
Best Always,
Erik Washington
OJ.,
Los les, Ca
Dear OJ., .
How about trying to be
honest with your old pen pal?
Write him a final letter and let
him know how your life has
-
changed. Tell him about your up
coming marriage and that all of
this will leave you little or no
time for writing anymore.
I am sure that your new hus­
band will not object to your
sending a birthday or Christmas
cards. You have the right to stop
writing at anytime you choose,
but do it with honesty. Your pen
pal deserves tha .
Sincerely,
Erik Washington
Got a problem? Nee-d n
answer? Or do you just want to
talk? Then write to Erik
I Washington in care 0/: The
Michigan Citizen, 16032 Wood­
want, Highland Park, MI4820J
or to: 'Dear EriJc� Tunes St[IUlI"e
Station, P.O. Box155, New Yorlc,
. New York 10108-lr7SS