VOL. 42, No. 6 Editorials 395 that one day, while the lesser man was yet with Brooks had the role of a dignified West Indian the people, that he did bow pleasantly to the physician. One of his lines was, "I received my lesser man. M.D. from Howard University." At the time this And the lesser man was overjoyed. He knotted was a new high for even an allusion and was so his kerchief tightly and shouted Hosannah and described in the weekly press.'Since the NAACP- cried aloud, Let us not oppose the great one, lest Hollywood discussions, most of the new-approach he be displeased. films which have appeared have been in some way Now the lesser man was old and his eyes were concerned with medical elements. LOST BOUN- dim so that he could not see far and he had never DARIES was based on the life of a physician who heard of David and Goliath. had practiced with race unidentified for many But the lesser man had a son and the son had years in a New Hampshire town. HOME OF THE thought deeply on David and Goliath and he said BRAVE is essentially a psychiatric study in which unto his father, I must follow the truth, for is it the personality illnesses of a Negro soldier which not written that the truth is the light and the have resulted from his racial experiences, are truth shall make you free. Wherefore the son brought out by an Army psychiatrist. PINKY, in gathered up his loins and, like David of old, less direct allusion, has a white physician as a went to lie up the hillside through the watches central character symbolizing the true friend of of the night, for he saw that his hour was upon the family, and, the mulatto heroine devotes her him. inheritance to the establishment of a clinic and nursing training school as symbolic of the highest "PROBLEM" MOVIES possible purpose to which her bequest could be A few years ago Dr. Lawrence D. Reddick, the devoted. able former curator of the Schomberg Collection NO WAY OUT is the most recent and con- of the New York Public Library who is now the troversial of the new productions. It has received librarian of Atlanta University, made a check list the attention of being banned in two major cities. of approximately 100 films which have included This is preeminently a medical film. The central Negro themes or characters of more than passing character is a Negro intern in a large city hospital significance released since 1900. Of these 75 were whose appointment has been obtained by political classed definitely anti-Negro, 13 neutral (having pressure. The film brings out the insults to which both favorable and unfavorable scenes) and 12 he is personally subjected and develops with stark pro-Negro, a number which Dr. Reddick's scholar- realism all the situations which could develop ship reduced to 5. around a man in his situation. There is nothing Most of our readers will remember the deter- in the picture which the informed observer of mined representations to Hollywood by Mr. Walter medical developments among the Negro could not White of the NAACP which this state of affairs identify with parallels from his own experience. prompted. Some will recall the protests of some Of particular significance is a blow struck at the Negro actors who feared Mr. White's zeal might tendency for the Negro sometimes to regard him. injure the careers of a few. self as requiring special attention. When the Negro Hollywood has attempted to do something. No intern, Dr Brooks, thanks his chief resident for effort has surpassed the simple, powerful story of the "special" interest he has shown him, the senior INTRUDER IN THE DUST based on the novel doctor promptly rebuffs with the statement "I by William Faulkner, in which the Puerto Rican, have no more interest in you than in any other Juano Hernandez, gave a magnificent performance good doctor on my staff." in the starring role. Physicians will find particular Mr. Darryl Zanuck, who also produced IN- interest in these new productions because of the TRUDER IN THE DUST, deserves greatest credit frequency with which medical themes provide a for this fine, bold presentation. Richard Widmark vehicle for the realistic approaches now being is unforgettable in his portrayal of the implacable attempted. hate of a prejudiced white. Co-star Linda Darnell At the beginning of the 30's in the film version also gives a distinguished performance. Sidney of Sinclair Lewis' ARROWSMITH, Clarence eoitier, as the young Negro intern, shows himself 396 JOURNAL OF THE NATIONAL MEDICAL ASSOCIATION NOVEMBER, 1950 to be an actor of great possibilities. The Negro The remaining three years of study were done at the component of the supporting cast acquitted them- Howard University College of Medicine from which he received the M.D. in 1928. He took a rotating internship selves most creditably. This picture, so well worth in Freedmen's Hospital in 1928-29 and went to Houston, seeing, has not been without box-office problems. Texas where he was engaged in the general practice of The producers say they cannot afford films of this medicine from 1929-41. He spent the years 1941-43 as a type if people are going to stay away. Julius Rosenwald Fellow in Dermatology and Syphilology Just as in the past the identification of the at the New York Skin and Cancer Hospital. He returned to Houston in 1944 and limited his practice to derma- medical profession with the vital concerns of tology and syphilology. In April 1946, he opened offices birth and death, has made it an easy medium for the practice of his specialty in Washington, D.C. at through which to deal with the fundamentals of his present address, 2027 11th St., N.W. race problems, so in the future we may expect its Dr. Gathings is a diplomate of the American Board of Dermatology and Syphilology and a fellow of the similar use. It would behoove Negro physicians American Academy of Dermatology and Syphilology. to make special efforts to see these films, advise From 1941-49, he served the NMA as a member of its the producers of their critical evaluations and en- Board of Trustees, being chairman, 1947-49. He was courage attendance at the showings. first vice-president of the NMA in 1949-50. He attended his first NMA convention while an intern (Baltimore, 28), and happily relates that he has missed but one DR. JOSEPH G. GATHINGS, THE PRESIDENT ELECT convention in the past seventeen years. Dr. Gathings was for four consecutive years chairman of the Creden- tials Committee of the House of Delegates and has served the NMA in numerous other capacities as a member of various committees. Dr. Gathings is a member and chairman of the Committee on Programs of the Medico-Chirurgical Society of the District of Columbia. He was one-time president of the Houston Medical Forum and a member of the Lone Star State Medical, Dental and Pharmaceutical Association, in which he served a term as chairman of its Board of Trustees. He has been affiliated with the John A. Andrew Clinical Society of Tuskegee for many .|:I :.._J. I | years and has been guest lecturer and clinician at the meetings of various state and regional societies. F,6: .... ... -~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~... In medical school, Dr. Gathings was a member of Kappi Pi Honorary Medical Society by reason of his scholastic standing and on graduation was awarded the Marshall Ross prize in gynecology. He received a special award for outstanding work upon the completion of his internship. In 1936, he was presented with a plaque, The Dogan Pemberton Award in Houston and in 1945 was chosen Man of the Year (medicine) by the Houston Chapter of the Omega Psi Phi Fraternity. Dr. Gathings is himself a member of the Kappa Alpha Psi and Chi Delta Mu Fraternities and is an Elk, a 33rd Degree Mason, and a Shriner. He is a member of the National Medical Committee of the NAACP. From 1944-48, he served as clinical assistant in derma- tology and syphilology at Baylor University, Houston, Texas. While in Houston, he was employed as a clinician in the City Health Department and served as At the 55th Annual Convention Dr. Joseph Gouver physician in charge of venereal disease clinics both at neur Gathings was chosen to become in 1951, fifty-first the Central Clinic and a sub-center (interracial). In president of the National Medical Association. Dr. 1946 he was appointed clinical assistant in dermatology Gathings was born July 11, 1898 in Richmond, Texas, and syphilology on the faculty of the Howard University and received his early education in public and private School of Medicine and is now assistant clinical pro- schools in his native state. He prepared for medicine in fessor in that field. the College of Liberal Arts of Howard University. He He was married in 1924 to the former Elizabeth Parr took his first year of medical work at Meharry Medical of St. Louis and Washington, D. C. Dr. and Mrs. Gath- College in 1924-25, where he was president of his class. ings have one son, Joseph G. Gathings, Ill..