Jackson Advocate

College Park Auditorium Dedication Marred By Reports Of Racial Policy Forcing Cancellation Of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Show

Speakers Cited Need For Greater Work For Inter-Racial Cooperation And Good Will In City

JOHNNIE JONES INSTALLED AS MANAGER OF AUDITORIUM

The dedication and official opening of the New College Park Auditorium, last Sunday, built by the city of Jackson at a cost of more than $300,000 for the use of Negro citizens of the city in answer to their protest against the refusal of the use of the Municipal Auditorium and the denial of admission to attend cultural and artistic program presented at the Municipal Auditorium, was marred by the reports and the absence of many prominent Negro Citizens was noted among the large number of vacant seats, as a result of reports and rumors during the week preceding the dedication that the racial policy to be followed at the New Auditorium had forced the cancellation of the annual affair set for March 15. of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority and organization of state and local Negro College and University women.

The racial policy set up for the College Park Auditorium prohibits the performance of white actors on its stage before Negro audiences.

What forced the cancellation of the annual affair of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority was the fact that they had engaged the Lamon-Goings Dance Troupe, an all-white group of the city for this year's annual affair, and that when it became known that the group had consented to headline the Delta Sigma Theta affair, the City Authorities; without benefit of an existing City ordinance, instituted the rule that white actors would be prohibited from performing before Negro audiences at the New Auditorium.

The annual affair of the Delta Sigma Theta Sorority is held for the purpose of raising funds for the support of several worthy projects, among them a library at the

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Oakley Training School for Negro boys.

An officer of the Sorority stated that the organization was busy this week returning the money for hundreds of dollars for tickets sold throughout the state which had to be done following the forced cancellation of the affair.

Meanwhile the dedication ceremony proceeded as per schedule the main feature of which was the introductory remarks by Mayor Allen C. Thompson, the dedicatory address by Dr. W. B. Selah, Pastor of Galloway Memorial Methodist Church, the leading and most historic white church of the city named in honor of the late Bishop Galloway and the responsive remarks by the President J L. Reddix of Jackson College.

Both Dr. Selah and President Reddix drew rounds of enthusiastic applause from the audience as they cited the need for working for better and closer inter-racial cooperation and good-will between the races in the city.

City Park and Recreation director George Kirk, who acted as master of ceremonies presented the keys to Johnnie Jones, officially installing him as manager of the College Park Auditorium.

Following the program both Mayor Thompson and Mr. Kirk was approached by regarding the policy banning white actors from appearing on the stage of the Auditorium.

The Mayor indicated that he would be willing to discuss the matter with a Negro group at some future time; while Mr. Kirk stated that it was a matter which rested in the hands of the city authorities.