America's African heritage; 7 And 8

If. You're. The National Association of educational broadcasters presents America's African heritage recorded in Africa by Skip Westfall program 7 the singing boatman of a crop. Here is Skip Westfall. It's early morning no sunrise on the bay of a cry off the coast of Gaza. Our ship the African Pilot is slowly creeping along between two other freighters anchored nearby and we're about ready to drop anchor. There are five ships already anchored here in the bay waiting to unload their cargoes. There is no port here to cry and all of the cargo must be taken ashore on surf boats paddled by African boatman. Ever since leaving New York members of our crew have been telling these stories about this unusual unloading operation and I've been looking forward to it with a great deal of interest. Until about two years ago

before the railroad was built between here and Thai karate they even brought automobiles to shore on the new surf boats at the owner's risk. The car was lowered from the ship onto a platform placed across two boats and the boatman would paddle their cargo to shore a distance of a mile and a half. The waters here are often very rough and more than one automobile never reached the shore. In fact on one trip two automobiles plunged into the waters to the bottom of the bay. One wonders how many automobiles and sewing machines and bags of flour are lying on the bottom of a crab Bay. Already we can see the boats approaching from the mainland. In fact two of our neighboring ships have begun unloading. There's a whole fleet of these small boats approaching from a distance they look like canoes. The bay is dotted with them. If we had not been told about this operation we could easily have imagined that we were about to be attacked by a band of gun of tribesmen.

In a few moments we should be able to hear their chant as they draw near. We're going to thank her. Now you should be able to hear the chant of the boatman. I've been debating whether I should venture ashore on one of these boats. However if the boat should upset as they quite often do the captain tells me it's every man for himself. The boatman would make no effort to try to save a passenger with a camera around my neck and then £18 tape recorder. Fraid it might be a most unhappy experience even if I should wear a life preserver. The boats are growing near no. Man what a beautiful sight. And the men are stripped to the waist some of the crews

all wear red trunks and red scarves. Others are dressed in blue or yellow. The blades of the petals are all painted white and the gleam in the sunlight has eight paddles rays in unison to the command of the head. Stern of the boat. I say. I think. I've. Loaded I just can't resist the temptation to get into one of these books Lopes the captain again arranged for him to give us a few minutes. We'll see we'll work out. Hear the splashing of the oars in the boat now. I had to climb over the railing shimmy down a 20 foot rope ladder by one of the crew lowered my tape recorder and camera over the side with a rope.

That bell like sound you hear is made by the man in the stern of the boat. He holds in his hand something resembling a cow bell. He has a heavy metal ring on one finger which he taps against the bell to get the boatman to pull in unison. Now they are about to begin their chant. Close the end. Loaded. Yeah ever. Was. There was some good harmony in that boatman's song wasn't there. Now that I'm in the boat I think I'll stay

with these boys for a while. We'll continue the recording after we get back aboard the ship. We're back on deck now all looking over the starboard right will be watching the loading of bags of flour into the boats. There's a good deal of competition between the various crews to get the cargo whichever boat happens to be in the right spot at the right time gets the cargo as it is lowered over the side of the ship. Sometimes a rough and tumble fist fight develops. I'm sure you can tell by the shouting going on that the competition isn't too friendly. The sea is quite choppy today and this floating operation is risky business. Quite often just as the net filled with 25 bags of flour is about to be lowered into the boat the craft lurches to one side and the whole load drops into the sea. By the

way and the flour bags are lined with plastic to keep the flour dry and also to keep it afloat. If the boat should upset will take time out now for a moment and then the minute one of these spills takes place we'll try to give you a description of it. There goes one now. Float a flower struck the side of the boat and spill the whole back into the sea. Both men are diving in the water to keep from being hit by tumbling far away. What a sight. Floating bags of flour and the bobbing heads of the swimmers they're making only now yet efforts to get that power back into the boat. This set is really dangerous work. Chief mate tells me that on the last trip when these boys were bringing bags of coke All right. The ropes slipped. And a load of a thousand pounds of coke was what I dropped on the heads of the boat

before they had a chance to dive for safety. Two of the boys were killed. There's a story behind your cup of cocoa and. A new chocolate candy bar. Perhaps we'll appreciate that a cup of cocoa a little. More when we realize. How these boatmen on the far away shores of Africa. Are actually risking their lives to bring our cocoa. To it. Let's move on down the deck and all the way from the screeching of the winches and the shouting of the man. I'd like to work in a bit of an interview at this point. The boys were singing that chant that we just heard are unable to speak anything but on board the ship. Here is a boy from a crime. Speaking the White Well perhaps we can ask him to interpret for us the song which we just heard the voice singing. Your name is Joe Wright. There's What is your name Joe what Joe has for his money.

Joe henchman your job on the boat is what would you do. It's actually a little if you tell a you keep a record of all the cargo as it goes to show the gold if you had your way you heard the voice singing out there in the winter I think you're pretty good singer Don't you think of the real. I think their harmony was beautiful. Now can you tell me give me an interpretation of the of the song The boys sang that first song they were singing. What were they singing about. Oh I don't give a gift of what they saw it was that the other 50 voters around and the don't watch the live of me my gal had been taken away from me by that there and oh why did the parents take the girl away from the boys but I have said they fired he might have had a quarrel with the parents. I should think so. And so they've taken the girl away and then the song continues. When I'm done my be you it my so to be that much

into the ghetto. Whether he maltreated or unmotivated again that's what I think I would think you know for me. He perhaps make the girl or didn't they have given up all of my time being in a form and I mean any more treatment just in one week and then it goes on to say that one of the good I've been taking I will from him he has nothing to do. It's all over. So in the chorus are doing to see that it's all over the wind noise are singing the chorus then they are singing it's all over it's all of our you might say he has worked at hands of the whole affair so that's rather a sad song isn't it. Here we are doing now that other song they were singing. Was that a sad song too it is just more more more. No more than the former one which the story of that song it was all about and often was left in the care of their uncle

and their yes to please the rest of the public. He made him a necklace of gold in the nick of dawn in the form of a new one in the form of a native drum. Why did he make this necklace for the boy when he wanted to be I mean there. What should he call it that he wanted everyone to think that he love you love the boy got his name and then what happened and then it happened that they had to travel and because of the traveling they came to a very big river before the uncle swam to the other side of the river. He put the rope up to do around there the weight of the boy a rope of Judah rope up to you what did you mean. I mean. By this period you know what yes oh he put a bad spirit into the rope.

Yes and well do not determine the by what approach do the board started dying years or so after he had crossed to the other end here try to cry to the other day and he was dying. So we started to sink in that software so that if he had been left in the care of the uncle the uncle wishing to please the public would own their gold necklace around his neck in the form of a need to blow. I know that you brought him around the river and put up with you in the form of a rock. And why do you suppose the uncle wanted the boy to die. My view that the uncle wanted to monopolize the whole of the. What you are going to hear it. They had things that he wanted aw they're going to go out himself. Now Joe these two songs that the boys were singing for me this morning

are both sad song once they are released. Don't the boys ever sing happy songs too. Will they do when do they sing the happy song in this NG is when they hear good news or is it up to the affinity the contract or the hour but if you need that one try to start to sing in blues there I mean happy songs. You mean at the end of the day's work was sometimes at the end of the day's work and sometimes when they are finished their contract entirely and about to return home to their home town where I could understand their job at the beginning of the day before they started done with the cargo from the ship. They had a lot of work ahead of them and perhaps they're not feeling too happy but after the ship is all unloaded then they're going back home to their families and they feel happy so they sing the happy sound right either. I know that I mean it is still sometimes though they sing the happy songs too while they're working don't cause yet they do. I suppose that helps to make their work seem a little easier. They

sing while they work. But you know it's been very interesting talking to you. And I thank you very much for taking the time out of your work to give me this interesting bit of information about these songs that have been most interesting to listen to the chant of the boatman and hear your interpretation of the meaning of the chant of the boatman here had a cry off the coast of West Nile. This has been a program seven of Americas African heritage. These programs feature recordings made by world traveler skip Westfall on a recent trip to Africa. The series is made possible by a grant in aid to radio station WOIO Iowa State College from the Educational Television and Radio Center. Production is under the direction of Norman be cleary. This is Reagan easy speaking for the National

Association of educational broadcasters. This is the end EBD Radio Network. The National Association of educational broadcasters presents America's African heritage recorded in Africa by Skip West 12. Program 8. We talk with a friend of George Washington Carver. Here is Kip Westfall. It often happens on a trip such as this that the most interesting people you meet are traveling companions. Friendly folk that you meet along the way. That was my experience on the train this afternoon during the journey from the tidy to Leopoldville. There is my good fortune to meet a gentleman from Atlanta Georgia Dr. Harry Richardson president of gammon

Theological Seminary in Atlanta. On our arrival in Leopoldville Dr. Richardson agreed to take a few minutes for this tape recording to share with us some of his experiences. What is the purpose of your visit to Africa Dr. Richard. Well Mr. Westfall my visit to Africa has three main purposes. First I came to share in a study that is being conducted by the World Council of Churches all areas of rapid social change. They're studying Liberia to see what the changes are and how they are affecting the lives of people in what the church can do about it. I shared in that study. Since then my interested to see something of a Christian mission work in this great continent. And then my third purpose is to see at first hand a little bit of African culture because as we know the culture of Africa has maybe an rich contribution to American life. And my purpose in coming here seems to be quite similar to yours Dr. Richardson for

I too I'm interested in Africa's contribution to American life. Now you mentioned that you had been in gun. Did you have an opportunity while there to visit any of the castles from which slaves were once shipped to America. Yes I visited the castle in Akra the capital of Goma in which the prime minister of Ghana now lives. I was very much interested in that because at one time that the castle was the compound where sleeves were stored before they were rolled out to the slave ships which were anchored for sure air vent there and I would have always been anxious to see a little bit of the slave trade in and get some understanding of it. And how do you feel that the coming of the slaves influenced American culture where on the sleeve. Tree brought to America millions of negro slaves

and these persons not only served America by by their economic contribution that is they they raised the cotton they did they fell the forests in the south they did much of the manual labor in establishing the basics of an economy but they also brought a rich music and they brought a very cultured way of living into southern and American line. It was even the colored mammy's who educated the children. Yes I think the one of the think the culture of the or rather I think the contribution of Africa to American culture can perhaps best be seen in the gracious Previn of living that characterized the Old South. We don't often think of but really must remember that that life was largely the work of the black mammy as

she is called That is the mistress of the Southern home who read to children who directed the household and who set the pattern for the behavior of Southern children and southern of doubt. They made a very gracious kind of living on which southerners still look back with lonely eyes or isn't it remarkable that the Negroes for the most part and educated at that time was able to make a contribution to the American way of life which is perhaps best seen in the gracious living and be yourself. Yes it is remarkable and I was very much surprised to find that although we think our African tribal life if it was uncivilized it is not cultured on refined for instance. I visited a number of tribes and in some cases stayed overnight and they were so kind and gracious to me so anxious to be friendly that they almost embarrassed me with their kindness.

Isn't it a pity that this beautiful contribution to American law it had to come through the bitter experience of the slave trade. I was told by the police officer whom I interviewed the other day at the mine a castle that over a million negroes died at the hands of the slave traders before they even reached the coast. That number is far too small to rest for long if you know it's been said that for every negro who reached the western hemisphere alive to die you know the journey across the ocean on the slave ship was terribly painful and hazardous. For instance in order to get as many slaves on the ship as possible the decks for only three or four feet high and sleeves could not stand on the journey. They were they were laid flat on their backs. Sit with their hands one way and they're the foot of another next to it. They were jammed in there. Hot stinking

holes of those ships like sardines and then lying like that day in and day out they were attacked by all kinds or diseases but particularly among which were of dysentery and fevers. They were brought up on dead periodically for exercise and for air and then they suffered so on the journey in the winter and the minute they would reach the deck many of them would voluntarily jump aboard. It had been sent down their schools of sharks would follow a slave ship clear across the Atlantic Ocean because they knew of it every little while one or more bodies would be falling overboard. I recall visiting an old slave ship some years ago it was on a tour at the time. I think it was in Boston and I remember how there was a space of only three or four feet between the decks. That certainly was a sad page in the history of world civilization. The cruel story of the slave traffic on the program.

Doctor it is and I recorded it on mine a castle I made the statement that these very dungeons from these very dungeons came the forefathers of great scientists like George Washington Carver. Would you agree with that statement. Yes I really believe in that completely. Dr. Carmon was the child of a slave mother and a slave father. He was a slave himself. You're sure he wouldn't know I was born a slave on the on the farm of Morse's car in Missouri that's where you got the name coward. Now you mentioned on the train this afternoon that you were personally acquainted with Dr. Carver. Yes I worked with him for 12 years I was with him when he died and I buried him after he died I worked at trustee Institute for 16 years. CHAPMAN Yes and you knew him for that time or you can you know 16 he was a deeply religious man wasn't a yes a very religious into tears. He used religious methods in his scientific studies. He told me that whenever he wanted to study an object to

find out its possibilities all its properties he would first sit down and then take the object in his hands and pray a little prayer. This was the prayer mystic creator. Why did you make it and he said he never arose from that prayer. An answer I have heard many stories about Dr. carvers scientific greatness and his complete devotion to human service. Do you know of any of these stories from. Your personal experience with. Yes I know many of them would you tell us one of them. Well this is one I tell it as quickly as I can. There was a man in there Georgia who had the knowledge can grow the trees began to get sick with the queer disease and they were dying. He tried some of the best surgeons in America and they couldn't cure the trees then you heard of Dr. Carr and he wrote him and told him that his trees were being attacked by this disease from.

He asked not to come if you could help him. I was with Dr. Carr at the time and I wrote this reply. He phoned up the car. He dictated the letter to Victor His hands were wet with something with which he was working and he asked me to write a reply The reply was that if you will send me a sample of one of the trees I will study it than see what I can suggest to accompany the man step it tremendous example he said almost a whole tree. Dr. Kalmar studied it and then he wrote the man a letter suggesting the use of certain chemicals and other veins and shortly after the man wrote back and said There there be in the medicine all the treatment was effective. That if there be he had checked the disease and that Dr. Carr had saved his fortune and he was deeply grateful he said. He asked there what will it cost me. And not a comma. I wrote him back and say this has cost you nothing but the price of the stamps on

your letter. Well he evidently had a little concern about that. He was absolutely unconcerned about money during the Depression through the one of the bank failures of that time Dr. Koplan almost forty thousand dollars which was his complete life savings and it didn't worry him any more than the loss of $40 would worry you or me. I remember one day the president of the bank was very much depressed he was contemplating suicide. He went to talk with Dr. Carver. He looked terribly disturbed when he went in Dr. carvers room when he came out he was looking much brighter and happier. And it surprised me that it was Dr. Carver who had lost the $40000 but he was comforting the banker instead of the banker going in to comfort him and the doctor crabbers Ross probably meant much more to him actually had been alive to the point it was only him. Now how would you describe Dr. carvers influence on American life after

years. I think Dr. Conrad stood in the shower as an example of the as a scientific pioneer and he was one of the early man to discover. New products in the south and above all new new uses for such products as they're worth you know for example that he got there. One hundred and fifty products out of sweet potatoes and over 200 out of peanuts. And he was easy. I think you read today for example this house is undergoing big British technological development in its history. I think Dr. converse oeuvre to stimulate much of that technological and scientific development. What's been most interesting to realize that from this great continent of Africa have come men of the stature of George worsened Gar. We had the time we could mention many other great American scientists educators and philosophers whose forefathers followed the better trail which led this way. Markets such as the one we

visited on the shores of the Gold Coast. Thank you for sharing this time with me Dr. Richardson and good luck to you on the remainder of your journey through Africa. Thank you Mr. Resco. At the conclusion of our interview Dr. Richardson suggested I retrace my steps about a hundred and twenty miles on the road to maternity to get a recording of the epi compares require we are now in the church at the mission training school in comparison. In a moment we will hear the choir singing in the Congo. Let us rejoice in the Savior. Yeah yeah yeah. Yeah

yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah. Yeah. This has been program eight of America's African heritage. These programs

feature recordings made by world traveler skip Westfall on a recent trip to Africa. The series is made possible by a grant in aid to radio station w all Iowa State College from the Educational Television and Radio Center production is under the direction of Norman B Clary. This is reggae easy speaking for the National Association of educational broadcasters. This is the end AEB Radio Network.