Jackson Advocate

"STRAIGHT AHEAD"
By JULIUS J. ADAMS

NEW YORK (GLOBAL)—They gave a party for a nice guy in New York's Capitol Hotel on February 28. He is William Stevens Bryant, Jr., more familiarly known as Willie Bryant. His friends turned out several hundred strong and, knowing they were coming, the sponsors "baked a cake."

There were several significant things connected with the dinner party. Willie had only recently been voted the most popular Harlemite for 1951 in a newspaper poll; second, he is said to be only the third Negro in show business to have had a dinner given in his honor; and third he is believed to be the first Negro ever to receive the Negro Actors Guild Award.

The elite of show business and New York's night and civic life were on hand. General Sessions Court Judge Jonah Goldstein co-chairman of the dinner was there. Governor Thomas E. Dewey sent a letter of congratulations, and Mayor Vincent R. Impellitteri declared February 28, "Harlem Day."

Many friends brought greetings, with principal speeches by Milton (Uncle Miltie) Berle and Barry Gray television and radio stars respectively.

The Willie Bryant story is more than just a success story. It is a striking example of what industry, intelligence, honesty and determination can accomplish for any American with a courageous heart and a championship spirit.

As a thin, personable and happy-go-lucky youngster in Chicago years ago, Willie earned money to help his parents by carrying out ashes at ten cents a bucket for residents on the streets and in the alleys of the Windy City. He performed these chores in the early morning hours, then shined shoes at the corner of State and 31st Streets until evening when he sold candy at the Grand Theatre, one of the city's famous landmarks and port of call for the greatest Negro actors of the period.

Chorus boy, comedian, straight man, dancer, actor, bandleader, disc jockey, community worker, father and inspiration for juveniles. Willie Bryant has emerged a well-loved favorite of folk from every strata of our society from Coast to Coast. Harlem has honored him by electing his "Mayor."

Today, Willie, along with his partner, Ray Carroll, is a disc jockey heard nightly over radio station WHOM with the "After Hour 'Swing Session" originating from the Baby Grand Cafe on West 125th Street.

The fact that Willie and Ray Carroll are partners is an indication of the new "Mayor's" mind on the subject of integration.

"I met Ray, liked him and decided I was going to practice what so many people preach," Willie says. Today, as far as is known, they are the only interracial disc jockeys in the country. Willie calls Ray "a one-hundred percent guy." Evidently the feeling is mutual.

To those who have known Willie only as a theatrical personality, his selection by the people of Harlem as the leading Harlemite in 1951 might have come as something of a surprise. Willie has always been modest. He has not sought to exploit the good deeds he has done for the community, especially for youth.

For the past seven years, Willie has held three annual holiday parties for the kids of Harlem in Loew's Victoria Theatre—Thanksgiving, Christmas, and Easter—under the auspices of the Police Athletic League. The kids receive free gifts and see movies free. In addition, at Christmas time, Willie dons a Santa Claus suit and tours various hospitals with gifts for stricken children. Each Christmas with his radio partner Ray Carroll, he gives 200 baskets, donated by his sponsors, to the various Harlem police precincts for needy families.

A terrific guy, a wonderful personality, and a man who has always answered "here" whenever his adopted community of Harlem called on him, William Stevens Bryant, Jr., sits well under the mantle of "Mayor of Harlem."

Walk up to him any time and ask him his hobbies. He'll say, "My hobby is making people happy."