ACTIVITIES AMONG NEGROES
Mr. Gerald Marsh, who before her marriage on Monday evening, March 2 was Miss Jessie Lee Ridley, is the daughter of Mr. and Mrs. H. W. Ridley of Oakland. The bride is a recent graduate of State Teacher's college in San Francisco with the added degree A. B. She is an outstanding member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Rho chapter, University of California. She is an active member of Linden branch Y. W. C. A. The bridegroom is a graduate of the Berkeley High school and is the son of Lieut. Leon Marsh, veteran of the Spanish-American and the World wars, and for many years has been a letter carrier in Berkeley.
The bride's gown was made of egg-shell satin trimmed with an over blouse of ecru lace, a family heirloom. She carried a shower bouquet of white cyclamen, and lilies of the valley, with the tulle veil cape fastened with a wreath of pearls and rhinestones. She was attended by her sorority sisters who carried pink sweet pea bouquets and wore dresses of pastel shades of satin with side head dresses of white gardenias. They were: maid of honor, Miss Helen Ridley, her sister; bridesmaids, Miss Grace Hackett, Miss Elinor Carrington and Miss Emma Kimbro.
The best man was Wilfred Fields and the groomsmen were Howard Ridley, Ivan Allen, and Byron Rumford. Flower girls were Little Miss Thelma Taylor and Wander Abdeen. The ushers were Vernon Lothier, Nelly Wysinger, Edward Atkins and Seward Postemn. The ceremony was performed in Cooper A. M. E. Zion church, with Rev. W. J. J. Byers reading the regular service, after which the reception was held in the parlors of the church.
LEGAL VICTORY WON
A few weeks ago this column carried an account of resolutions which had been passed by the Oakland Council of Church women and also the California Federation of Colored Women Clubs in which they protested against a proposed bill to be presented to the California legislature discriminating against colored children using the public swimming pools and playgrounds. On February 16 in Los Angeles the West Side Property holders of colored citizens won a case through the courts granting colored children these privileges. According to the California Eagle and the California News, weekly newspapers, the following statements were made:
Prior to Aug 2, 1929. the Los Angeles playground commission enacted a resolution to prohibit colored children from bathing in public swimming pools with the exception of Central pool, 1357 East Twenty-second street, and Evergreen pool, 2839 East Fourteenth street on Monday of each week. Mrs. Ethel Prioleau, widow of the late Major G. W. Prioleau, retired. U.S. Army officer, sent her children to Exposition pool, 1980 Menlo avenue. They were refused admission to the pool because of their color. Mrs. Prioleau then took the matter up with the West Side Property Holders association, who employed the late E. Burton Ceruti as their attorney. Alter his death the association, under leadership of their president, Mrs. Bettie Hill, again began action against the playground commission with Attorney E.. C. Jennings volunteering his services resulting in a victory on February 16, 1931 which reads:
"We inevitably conclude from an examination of the authorities that all people irrespective of race color are equally entitled to the full and equal advantages, facilities and privileges of bath houses and all other places of public amusement subject only to the conditions and limitations established by the law and applicable alike to all citizens."
This was the final decision of Judge Walter S. Gates of superior court as he handed down his written opinion in the case of Ethel Prioleau vs. Board of Playground and Recreation Commission.
"Section 21, Article I of the Constitution of the State of California provides: "No special privileges or immunities shall ever be granted which may not be altered, revoked or repealed by the legislature, nor shall any citizen be granted privileges or immunities which upon the same terms shall not be granted to ail citizens.
Civil code, Section 51: 'That this right is clearly engrafted into our law is positive, definite, unequivocal and distinct terms there can be no doubt, and likewise it may be plainly seen that the same principle is plainly written and engrafted into our constitutional law as it stated therein in so many words
"Therefore if the Board under the above section of the charter of Los Angeles is, under the guise of regulation, discriminating against this petitioner in compelling her children to attend a certain designated bath house and bathing pool they are unquestionably depriving this petitioner or privileges which are especially given her by the constitution of our state and the laws made pursuant thereof.
"These rights are not only granted to her, but are expressly guaranteed to all citizens of our state irrespective of race or color. If the sovereign body, the people of the state of California, feel that they should be separate but equal accommodations for people of various races they must amend their constitution and then resort to their legislature or to a frequently used method the "initiative” to secure such legislation.
"If the people of this state desire to grant to the city the power to maintain operate and conduct public bath houses, bathing pools and playgrounds for citizens of African descent, their wishes may be accommodated by the lawmaking department of the government in accordance with existing constitutional provision.
"It is not the duty of the court to endeavor to write into our law something which is not sanctioned by our constitution nor countenanced by our status nor followed a course which is contrary to the legislative policy of our state. It is the business of this tribunal to interpret and construe the law as enunciated and not make new laws and furthermore it is that solemn and sacred duty of this court to ever safeguard, protect, watch over and care for and reserve the funds mental and inalienable rights which are guaranteed and afford all citizens of our state, irrespective of race or color, by our constitution and the laws made pursuant thereof.
JUNIOR N. A. A. C. P. MEET
The Junior National Association of the Advancement of Colored People, local branch, held their regular meeting February 22 which time a large membership was present. The principal speaker was Miss Linford. Others participating in the program were Julius Harris, Miss Lillian Mineweather and Miss Flossie Kindall. They will hold a meeting today, Sunday in Filbert street Y. W. C. A. The public will be welcomed. A fine program has been arranged.
ARMY OF MERCY
The Army of Mercy is making desperate efforts to reach their quota. It is most gratifying to note the sincerity with which the colored volunteer workers are making efforts to add to the sum for Community Chest agencies. Their task the year has been very difficult because many Negro workers are unemployed , Last Sunday many of the members of the "standing committee” of this group made very effective addresses in the colored churches, and will repeat the same today with another group of the committee carrying on.
NEGROES FURNISH MUSIC
The Harmony Four singers of colored boys, rendered the music for the Thursday Community chair luncheon, singing Negro spirituals.
Activities Among Negroes/Sun, Mar 08, 1931 08 Mar 1931, Sun Oakland Tribune (Oakland, California) Newspapers.com
