THE BETTER WE KNOW US • • by Albert A. Campbell fflGH POINT - Mrs. Letitia B. began viewing life from i different Feeling that she still had not developed well-placed advice, she chose the I.R.S. Johnson, wife, mother and career perspective. She quickly found that first to her full potential, “ Tish” entered During the 1973 Summer, Mrs. woman. A rare combination among of all, there were no jobs for the North Carolina A&T State University in Johnson accepted an opportunity from today’s demands of specializations. untrained, especially for blacks, and that 1970 to study accounting. While a the I.R.S. and attended Basic Revenue From high school drop-out to GS-9...all simply sitting at home was just not full-time student, she also maintained her Agents Training in Atlanta, Georgia. because of attitude! Mrs. Johnson is a enough. By September, 1963, she had role of wife and mother as well as a That exposure, along with instructional living Cinderella testimony. decided to return to high school and get part-time job. In 1974 she graduated advice, made her more aware of the A product of “ The Projects” (Daniel her diploma - which she received in June summa cum laude and No. 1 in the School better opportunities with the I.R.S. She Brooks) in High Point, Letitia attended of 1964. of Business & Finance. She also found had already worked in a Cooperative the now defunct Leonard Street Her first employment was in a factory time for the Alobeaem Society, Educational Program as a Revenue Agent Elementary School before entering the working in a dull, dead-end job that had Accounting Club, and two honor Intern during her senior year at A&T. former William Penn High School. no future. Not giving up her dreams, she societies; Alpha Chi and Alpha Kappa She began employment with a During her senior year, “Tish” soon began seeking other employment Mu. She was one of only four females in classification of Grade 4 (GS-4). she (childhood' nickname) chose marriage and later was employed as bookkeeper the graduating class of Accounting in stusequently took three more courses in instead of graduation and dropped out of and secretary at Friendly Leader Broom 1974. Tax Law and quickly advanced to GS-9. school in 1959 seeking to become a wife Factory. When that business moved its Immediately, job offers came from all Because there were only a few females and an seemingly ever-escaping “ adult” . operation to another city, “Tish” was over the country. Two of which were frm in the Greensboro District of the I.R.S. After discovering that adulthood then hired at B&C Associates as a the General Motors in Detroit, Michigan, and she was the only Black woman, the carried along with it certain responsibili­ secretary. She later went to work for the and the Internal Revenue Service. But ties, of which she did not have, “ Tish” City of High Point as the first Black clerk. because of what “ Tish” felt to be THE TRIBUNAL AID VOLUME m, NO. 39 WEDNESDAY, FEBRUAKY 18,1976 $5.00 PER YEAR CENTS PRESS RUN 8,500

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A VIABLE, VALID REQUIREMENT The 1976 Editions of THE TRIBUNAL AID past should be interwoven into the fabric of against us, yet we have been able to live many history books. RESPONDING TO will be dedicated to America’s bicentennial our civilization, because we are, except for the through them and fight back. This is living We will strive to give readers. Black and Celebration, with emphasis on contributions Indian, America’s oldest ethnic minority. proof of our history. white, many little-known facts about our past BLACK NORTH CAROLINA our Race has made in the making of America, We have helped malBlack Church “ Lost-Strayed-Or Stolen ” In the area of Religion seemed that the churches institution of slavery. For to the problems of the Black tions, except Roman Catho- to crowd the problem of the the Black man showed the of the New Nation would example, in 1784 the population. The American licism was busy organizing Black man off the church Extracted From most determined efforts to insist upon complete inte- Methodist declared that clergy, loyal to England a wing of its church that scene, and this in part lead secure real independence gration of the Black man slavery was “ contrary to THE NEGRO ALMANAC caused many Americans to would be entirely separate to the establishment of in the post-revolutionary into the religious life of the the golden laws of God” insist upon church disesta- from its European sponsor, separate churches for by Fay Ashe period. For a time, it Nation and attack the and gave their members blishment. All denomina- These preoccupations tend Blacks. eft o B QOQ'BO PoogoooooocaooooAo twelve months to liberate Black Baptist churches their slaves, but Virginia began to spring up during Black history In the Western Hemisphere most and other Southern states the War of Independence. probably begins with the discovery of the New Worid forced a suspension of the GEORGE LIELE, a Black by Christopher Colombns in 1942. Blacks are known to resolution. Many churches leader, founded a Baptist have participated meaningfolly In a nomber of later accepted Blacks after the church in Sanannah Geor­ explorations made by Europeans in various parts of the war, but whites were afraid' gia in 1779. Later LIELE United States and Spanish America. Facts snch as that a too liberal a policy left the country and settled these at once fashion a new dimension for Black history would be disastrous to the in Jamica, but the work of within the mainstream of American history. Inasmuch effective control of slaves. this church was continued as one of the primary purposes of this feature Is to It was thought by Whites by his understudy, AN­ record some historical achievements of the Black, It that Black ministers and DREW BRYAN, who becomes most important to offer the reader church officials would preach to Whites as well as chronological accounts through which he exercise too much authority Blacks. At the end of the conveniently familiarize himself with the broad sweep over slave members and war Whites sought to close of American Black history. The years covered here are cause trouble on planta­ the church by whipping the 1492-1954. tions. members and imprisoning 1785: WILMINGTON, 1787: PHILADELPHIA The churches in America BRYAN: but his master NORTH CAROLINA Prince Hall organizes the were having trouble of their supported him and finally it Birth of a black abolitio­ first Black Masonic Lodge own, and they found little became the nucleus for the nist David Walker who in in America - African Lodge Andrew Bryan time to devote any attention Daniel Coker organization of Black Bap­ 1827 establishes a second- No. 459 tists in Georgia. Blacks in hand clothing business in T Virginia organized Baptist Boston and, two years churches at PETERSBURG later, writes “ Walker’s Historical Landmarks' in 1776, RICHMOND in Appeal", an open call to | 1780, and at WILLIAMS­ revolt in the South. The I O f Black America ! BURG in 1785. In some of document creates such a I Extracted From these instances they had furor among slaveowners the cooperation of White that at least one Southern THE NEGRO ALMANAC ministers. legislature makes circula- | by Fay Ashe In Northern communities tion if it a capital offense. Blacks went farther along No more substantial testimony to the role of the Black the lines of establishing 1786: VIRGINIA growth and development of America can be independent churches, the James, the slave of than the numerous historical landmarks in work of RICHARD ALLEN William Armistead, is freed regions of the country which are associated with and his followers is the best by the state in recognition Americana. Many of these-like the Alamo and example. ALLEN demon­ of his spying services for Hill-are not conventionally known as sites strated his determination General Lafayette. involving chapters of Negro history. by saving enough money ARIZONA, SPRINGFIELD: with which to purchase Born a slave in 1845, 1787r PHILADELPHIA Apache National Forest himself from his Delaware John Swain went to Black preachers Richard Site, in the White master in 1777, he was also Tombstone in 1879 Christopher Rush Allen and Absalom Jones Mountains, where troopers * “ James Varick converted in the same year. organize the Free African of the 10th Calvarv Within a few years he was , . . “j! John Slaughter, who was Society. captured Mangas Colora- preaching and winning later to become sheriff of das on September 18. 1886. favor of Bishop Asbury. this town. Swain was an 1787: northwest territory Coloradas was one of those Allen moved to Philadel­ expert rider, and only one Congress forbids the fierce Apache chiefs who phia in 1786, where he of several Blacks to work extension of slavery into fought desperately for began to hold prayer for Slaughter. this area by virtue of the choice grazing lands for his meetings for his own In 1884, Swain fought Northwest Ordinance. people. Today the reserva­ people. He proposed the and lost a one-round boxing tion at Springerville con­ '■ ^ 3 setting up a separate place match with John L. BIBLIOGRAPHY tains millions of acres of of worship for Blacks, but Sullivan, then heavyweight Drotning, Phillip T, A fertile land, the legacy of was opposed by Whites and champion of the world. He Guide to Negro History in the tenacious resistance of some Blacks. It was only died just three months America New York: Dou­ the Apaches. after the officials of St. short of his 100th birthday, bleday and Company, 1968 George Church, where he ARIZONA, TOMBSTONE: and was buried with honors' Katz, William Loren frequently preached, pro­ John Swain [Slaughter] by the citizens of Tomb­ Eyewitness: The Negro in posed to segregate the Grave in Boot Hill stone. A special tablet America New York: Pitt- large number of Blacks who stands on the grave site, man Publishing Corpora- Kaiser. E r?**T he Negro came to hear him, then it tion 1967 commemorating the close Alamanac New York: Bel- became clear to him and ties between the two men. Ploski, Harry A. Phe luether Company Continued on Page 8 Absalom Jones Richard Allen ^ ^ P I ^ ^ P I P nnnnoDOHOfB^ooof ( 1776 Honoring America's Bicentennial 1976