of I i ¡st Shows Notables Winners By GEORGE F. BROWN /^N JULY 11, 1958, one of the most momentous conven- tions in the history of the NAACP was drawing to a close in Cleveland, Ohio. L'-’O&W Prominent people from all over America were in at­ - :■»J tendance, but the cynosure of all eyes was a group of 1 ill earnest teen-agers led by a charming matron, Mrs. Daisy Bates. They were there to be honored. Six girls and three boys who had grittily stuck out the in­ famous Little Rock, Ark. riots at Central High School where integration was being carried out according to the edict of 1958 WINNERS—Mrr Daisy Bates and the Little Rock Nine received their award at the the U.S. Supreme Court. They NAACP convention in Cleveland, Ohio. bore the brunt of emotional out­ bursts that did little credit to 1915, the winners of the cherish­ indulged in over-publicizing the ONLY ONCE in its 43 years anyone. ed award reads like a list of award. has a Spingam Medal failed to Mrs. Daisy B^es, courageous Who’s Who in Negro America. be awarded. That was in 1938. president of the Arkansas State • Early winners have been The Spingarn Medal was in­ The batting average is high and NAACP, also had braved the the late great actor Charles S. stituted by the late J. E. Spin­ the choices for the medal fury of legal and lawless ele­ Gilpin, composer Harry T. Bur­ garn in 1914. He was chairman usually gain public assent. ments bent on blocking the leigh, Major Charles Young, of the board of directors of the There are no restrictions as to order of the Supreme Court. U. S. diplomat A. H. Grimke, NAACP and he proudly pre­ awarding the medal but achieve­ scientist George Washington sented the gold medal every ment is a must. ■ year until his death in 1939. Carver (1923), singer Roland Many illustrious names are FOR THEIR bravery in a his­ Hayes, historian Carter G. His will included a fund to con­ tinue the award to “perpetuate on the roU as winners of the toric moment this group of ten Woodson, author Ch.’^des W. Spingarn Medal and those who from Arkansas was to receive Cnestnutt, actor Richard B. the lifelong interest of my brother Arthur B. Spingarn, of have won it have earned the the coveted Spingam Medal, Harrison, educators Mary Mc­ accolade. Because of its non- rightly the Nobel prize of Leod Bethune and Robert Russa my wife Amy E. Spingarn, and of myself in the achievements controversial nature and be­ Negro achievement, the 43rd Moton of Tuskegee. cause it cannot be won by award since it was instituted In more recent years distin­ of the American Negro.” in 1914. politicking, the Spingarn Medal guished winners have included His wishes have been car- —in an age when awards are Their citation read: singer Marian Anderson, sur­ ried out to the letter. given at the slightest whim—is • “Seldom, if ever, has a pow- geon Louis T. Wright, author Although numerous NAACP a glowing tribute to the Negro srful nation owed so great a Richard Wright, labor leader personnel have won the award, men and women who strive for ;debt to such youthful citizens A. Philip Randolph, scientist the field is open to anyone and their people’s place in the sun. I as the nine heroic children of Charles R. Drew, lawyer Thur- if anyone meets the require­ Somewhere in valhalla J. E. The late James Weldon Little Rock. Their pioneer role good Marshall, chemist Dr. ments of the nine-person com­ Spingarn smiles at the choices Johnson won the award in in upholding the basic ideals of Percy L. Julian. mittee selected by the board of those who carry on his work 1925. Johnson was secre­ democracy in the face ... of Still other recent winners of directors of the NAACP. The and his faith in the ultimate constant threats of bodily in­ have been Atty. Charles H. award is democratic because triumph of democracy over tary of the NAACP, author jury entitles them to the grati­ Houston, nurses’ leader Mabel and U. S. Consul to Vene­ nominations for the Spingarn bigotry and discrimination in a tude of every American who K. Staupers, architect Paul Wil­ Medal can be submitted by any free America. zuela and Nicaragua. The believes in law and order, equal­ liams, dermatologist Dr. Theo­ person or organization. Final Many of those who fought award was made at Den­ ity of rights and human de­ dore K. Lawless, publisher Carl selection, of.course, rests with will be wearing the Spingarn ver, Colo. cency . Throughout ■ their Murphy and political scientist the committee. Medal. ordeal they were fortunate to Dr. Ralph J. Bunche. have the inspiration, encourage­ Open African ment and guidance of the tire­ less, dynamic and courageous ONE OF the most touching Labor College president of the Arkansas State occasions was the presentation KAMPALA, Uganda — Sven NAACP, Daisy Bates, who to baseball star Jackie Robin­ Courier Verse son by television star and col­ Fockstedt of Sweden, J. Odero- never once wavered in her firm Selected By determination to end segrega­ umnist Ed Sullivan at the — Jmvi, Kenya economist; George tion in the public schools of Roosevelt Hotel on Dec. 8,1956. -----------Gloria Pritchard ——- F. McCray, American Negro trade I Little Rock. The citation read: “A brilliant and versatile unionist, and A. E. Lewis of the! “In grateful acknowledgment Wooly Heads British Trades Union Council, of their courageous self-re­ athlete, John Roosevelt Robin­ son has for a decade been an staff personnel, in ceremonies straint in the face of extreme What’s happening to wooly But these mild things were not provocation and peril, the Na­ inspiration to the youth of the here marked the beginning of a nation and especially to Negro heads; enough; new era in Africa’s free trade tional Association for the Ad­ And so, as time went by. vancement of Colored People youth for whom denial of op­ That go with skin that’s union movement when the portunity has been a source of brown? We took to using heat, and ICFTU’s African Labor College proudly presents to Mrs. Bates filled; and to each of the nine young frustration. The entire nation With thicklish lips, and spar­ opened its first course with 37 is indebted to him for his pio­ Our heads all full of lye I participants from Aden, British pioneers at Central High School kling teeth; of Little Rock, Ark., the Spin­ neer role b breaking the color Cameroons, Gambia, Ghana, bar in organized baseball . The finished work—a “Process,” Kenya, Mauritius, Nigeria, North­ garn Medal, awarded annually For which we are renowned. Hair that’s twisted like a to a Negro-American for dis­ Throughout his career, he has We started brushing wooly ern Rhodesi«; Nyasaland, Sierra been keenly aware of his re­ bowel. Leone, Somalia, Sudan, Uganda tinguished achievement.” heads; What’s happening to wooly For the first time in its illus­ sponsibilities as a citizen of a To make them more like and Tanganyika. democracy and has been par­ heads? trious 43-year-old history the down. They’re underneath a towell Spingarn medal was jointly ticularly helpful in efforts to Then added oil so we could be; NEW AMAZING 'BALLPOINT GUN' awarded. avert juvenile delinquency.” The sharpest in the town. CARL CLAIBORNE ■ Robinson had won the 41st Spingam Medal and his selec­ Ode to Rain THE SPINGARN MEDAL Is tion was overwhelmingly ap­ Novel and different! Looks not awarded capriciously. Every­ To hell with the thirsty earth! This rain has ruined my plans. like a ballpoint pen . proved by the public. writes like a ballpoint pen. one who has wor. the award The day is spent now in my Drown! the fields and sink the But—cleverly built into the leg« other end Is a .22-caliber has really earned it. berth. lands. pistol. Airmailed completely »ostpald • From the time Prof. Ernest FEW WINNERS ever realize Curse the rain and flood the assembled from our factory they are in the running for the It should have waited for me in Europe. Send S5.95 cash, money order, E. Just, head of the depart­ first, storm. or check to; ment of physiology at Howard Spingarn Medal. The commit­ Dear God, why must it storm? HOLLYWOOD IMPORT CO. University, won the award for tee works quietly in making its Before asking God to quench 2925 Summerdale Ave., Dept. PC-11, Chicago, III. biological research on Feb. 12, annual selection and has never its thirst. —ALFRED G. BROWN 2 November 22, 1958 Courier Magazine Section.