“I said, ‘I wish he had sung, instead of said. That program needed some music to keep folks awake.’

“Joyce said, ‘Our forum was not intended for a musical. It was intended to see how we can work out integration.’

“I said, ‘With a jazz band, they could work out integration in ten minutes. Everybody would have been dancing together like they all did at the Savoy—colored and white—or down on the East Side at them Casinos on a Friday night where jam holds forth—and we would have been integrated.’

“Joyce said, ‘This was a serious seminar, aiming at facts, not fun.’

“‘Baby,’ I said, ‘what is more facts than acts? Jazz makes people get into action, move! Didn’t nobody move in that hall where you were—except to jerk their head up when they went to sleep, to keep anybody from seeing that they was nodding. Why, that chairman, Mrs. Maxwell-Reeves, almost lost her glasses off her nose, she jerked her head up so quick one time when that man you say was so brilliant were speaking!’

“‘Jess Semple, that is not so!’ yelled Joyce. ‘Mrs. Maxwell-Reeves were just lost in thought. And if you think you saw me sleeping——’

“‘You was too busy trying to look around and see where I was,’ I said. ‘Thank God, I did not have to set up there like you with the delegation. I would not be a delegate to no such gabfest for nothing on earth.’

“‘I thought you was so interested in saving the race!’ said Joyce. ‘Next time I will not ask you to accompany me to no cultural events, Jesse B., because I can see you do not appreciate them. That were a discussion of ways and means. And you are talking about jazz bands!’

“‘There’s more ways than one to skin a cat,’ I said. ‘A jazz band like Duke’s or Hamp’s or Basie’s sure would of helped that meeting. At least on Saturday afternoon, they could have used a little music to put some pep into the proceedings. Now, just say for instant, baby, they was to open with jazz and close with jam—and do the talking in between. Start out, for example, with “The St. Louis Blues,” which is a kind of colored national anthem. That would put every human in a good humor. Then play “Why Don’t You Do Right?” which could be addressed to white folks. They could pat their feet to that. Then for a third number before introducing the speaker, let some guest star like Pearl Bailey sing “There’ll Be Some Changes Made”—which, as I understand it, were the theme of the meeting, anyhow—and all the Negroes could say Amen!