52

that the other-worldly theology with its emphasis upon life after death

was very influential among Negroes. Other significant titles of adm dresses, debates, and so forth indicate the concerns and aspirations of the students. They include “The Bennett Budget,” l'The Homeless Poor,“ "Resolved, that an Illiterate Man Should Be Disfranchised,“ “Aim High,” “Wisdom is Wealth,“ and “The Slow Tread to Eminence,”37 James Corrou thers related that he and five of his friends organized a club called "The Six Jims," and gave numerous entertainments. At one time they, with three young women assistants, were even allowed to go to High Pohfi to entertain. Their mixed audience, crowded into the local opera house, gave them full attention.38 The "political“ abilities of the students showed up on their fateful nineteenumile trip back to Greensboro following the High Point appearance. Exactly as their High Point friends had predicted, the local railroad ticket agentw-on this own “rule," for no railroad rule or state law supported his actionaurefused to sell them tickets from the regular window, ordering each person to go around to “the nigger's windoflr“ After all efforts to outwit the agent, the students boarded the train without tickets and recounted their experience to the conducw tor who, though sympathetic, insisted that extra fare must be charged to all. The boys paid the fares for the girls, but in light of this additional injustice, refused to pay their extra fare, got off the

37"JointLiterary and Musical Entertainment," l89l, printed program in the Archives, Holgate Library, Bennett College.

38Corrothers, 23. 213'9 pp. l09~ll0o