Henry Ford & George Washington Carver One Hundred Years- Henry Ford And The Negro By Albert Dunmore* Associate Editor-Michigan Chronicle The mutual respect that Henry Ford and George Wash ington Carver held for one another has had far - reaching effects not only on the Negro students at Tuskegee Institute and the Ford Motor Company, but also on the Negro- in Am erica. This relationship between these two great geniuses also had a definite effect on the United Negro College Fund. Henry Ford was long a target for Negro college presidents seeking financial support for their schools. Among those who had audience with him was Major R. R. Moton, successor to Booker T. Washington, founder of Tuskegee, one of the truly great educational fund raisers of the early Twentieth Century. Ford, however, was attracted to Tuskegee by the genius of Dr. George Washington Carver whose experimental work with the soybean had gained inter national repute. When Ford heard of this great scientific mind, he felt that something could be gained to help in the development of his great in dustrial empire. He recalled Major Moton’s invitation to visit Tuskegee and arranged a trip there while in the South land in March, 1988. This was one of several meetings between the two men, two of which were on campus. Several Detroiters, now in positions of prominence in De troit, recall this visit to the Tuskegee campus and the im pact it had on the student body. Among this group is Joseph Williams, a top civic leader and an employee of the Michigan Employment Securities Com mission; R. Conrad Vaughn, president of the Booker T. Washington Trade Association and A. W. Curtis, president of the A. W. Curtis Laboratories. Williams and Vaughn were student leaders at the time and Curtis was assistant to Dr. Car ver. Vaughn recalls that he was officer-of-the-day on the first visit to the campus. Mr. Ford visited the campus a second time to visit Dr. Car ver with Mrs. Ford. “The campus was jammed with visi tors, among them many white persons who had never set foot on a Negro college campus pre viously,” Vaughn recalls. “They had come because it had been announced that Mr. Ford was visiting the campus. When the WHEN YOU’R IN CHICAGO Be Sure And Visit GERRI’S PALM TAVERN A Place Where Old Friends Meet 446 EAST 47TH ST. CHICAGO. ILL. great man arrived, driving a mud covered Ford, and not one of his latest models, with his ohauffeur (seated beside him, we who had envisioned this leg endary figure arriving in some thing elaborate like a gold cov ered, specially built automobile, were disappointed, “This disappointment soon vanished, however, when we stu dents, later in the chapel, heard our school, Booker T. Wash ington and particularly Dr. Car ver extolled by this great man. “We heard also that he would give students an opportunity to get on-the-job training in his plant in Detroit during the summer. This was an incentive to all of us. We felt that this blessing was an ultimate recog nition of Tuskegee. “Later when we saw these two men, Dr. Carver and Henry Ford, walking about the campus we all felt we had come in con tact with men who had reach ed their destination with great ness. This inspiration, alone, served many of us through the years.” Joseph Williams also recalls the impact this visit had on the student body. He also recalls that Ford kept his word and sent Willis Ward shortly after achieving greatness in football at the University of Michigan along with Don Mar shall, then connected with the Ford personnel department, to Tuskegee to recruit students for summer program at the Ford Company. It was this contact with young men and women in the deep South that played a great role in the subsequent migration of many Negroes to Detroit. Not only had they heard of the great opportunities in the auto capital of the world, but Henry Ford, himself, had seen fit to visit Tuskegee .... then a citadel to thousands seeking educational and economic im provement in the black belt of the Mississippi valley. Vaughn, particularly, recalls Alcorn A. & M. College Prof. Authors Book The Reverend Dr. George A. Sewell, recent author of a book under the title, A Motif for Liv ing and Other Sermons, has been professor of Sociology at Alcorn A. & M. College and pas tor of the local St. Peter A. M. E. Church in Port Gibson, Mis sissippi since 1962. An articu late and energetic minister and professor, Dr. Sewell has writ ten several articles for leading journals and magazines. He is now preparing another volume to be published in the near fu ture. Dr. Sewell received the Baoh elor’s degree from Morris Brown College; the Bachelor of Sacred Theology, Master of Sa cred Theology, and Ph. D. de grees from Boston University. He has served as Dean of Tur ner Theological Seminary, At the tremendous physical re semblance of the two men. “They were lean and tall and had a hawk-like look as thev were continually searching be yond the known into the future.” Many who knew of this rela tionship felt that Dr. Carver could have profited financially if he had taken advantage of this mutual respect held with Ford. Those close to the great industrialist feel however that much greater riches were gain ed for the race because of the respect held for Dr. Carver by Henry Ford. It is known that hundreds of students were brought to De troit at the insistence of Mr. Ford. Willis Ward explains that one of his prime assign ments during his brief tenure v/ith the company, at the per sonal instruction of Mr. Ford, ^ as to have students brought from Tuskegee and see that they were given on-the-job training summer assignments. R. C. BROWN, SR. iA*. JACKSON'S LEADING CREDIT CLOTHIERS ££| R. C BROWN Says — buy now-and Buy Your Christmas Clothes For The Entire Family On One Credit Account R. C. BROWN, JR. NO MONEY DOWN NO INTEREST-NO CARRYING CHARGES I PAY NEXT YEAR I The Easiest Credit Terms in Town! Dress Your Loved Ones In True Style For The Coming Christmas Holidays - and you can simply Select what you need and take your purchase home with you - - • and remember you don't have to pay on LAY*AWAYS at R. C. Brown. 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The author’s Motif for Living is a book that will interest all who are concerned with the na ture of human behavior and the commitment to social living in today’s world. Dr. Sewell is to be commend ed for his scholarly and refresh ing work which gives a unique approach to problems of our day. ' !f! Information On Social Security John F. Pate, district manag er for social security in Jack son, said today that a little known aspect of the social sec urity law is the use of military credits. According to Mr. Pate, when a veteran who has had active military service between Sep tember 16,1940, and December 31, 1956, retires, dies, or be comes disabled he may receive credit of $160 a month wages SAFETY PAYS for each month of such military service. This military credit does not automatically appear on the in dividual’s earinings record and can be established only at the iime a claim is filed. This litlle known aspect of the social sec urity law has helped many vet erans to become entitled to soc ial sceurity benefits. Beginning January 1, 1957, all military personnel were brought under the law and de ductions are being made from their pay. Mr. Pate pointed out that veterans and their families should be aware of these pro visions. In order to receive these credits, a veteran or his survivors must present, at the time of filing a claim, proof of military service. The most ac ceptable proof is a discharge certificate or other official document showing the period of service. Any veteran or his survivor who has already applied for social security benefits has had this provision of the law ap plied and this type of credit established in determining his benefits. More detailed information on veterans and the social security law can be found in Pamphlet No. 31a, available without cost at the social security district office at 502 North Street, Jackson, Mississippi. 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