Buffalonians Remember Andrew J. Smitherman

Mrs. Thelma Hardiman
Garnet Wallace
Ulrica Mesiah
Prof. Jesse E. Nash, Jr.

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Mrs. Thelma Hardiman
August 22, 2007(conversation)

Mr. Smitherman was a man that in my estimation was a gentlemen, I respected him to the highest at that time that I worked with him, I would describe him as; he walked softly and carried a big stick, if I could describe him I would describe him as a gentlemen who walked softly but carried a big stick; a gentleman, a man who was a humanitarian; that’s one of the ways I would describe him.  I thought that he was just a very quiet, very brilliant, and he was a quiet gentleman;

I didn’t work there too long; but when I had my stroke, I was here and I didn’t go back to Buffalo.  Joyce moved me and I had; I was trying to figure out if in my things I brought back from Buffalo, I had any of his papers.  I kept a lot of the papers when I was writing for him. 
If I’m not mistaken, I volunteered to write for the paper.  I didn’t write too long; I didn’t get paid.  I just did it because I liked Mr. Smitherman because I liked him and I liked his paper.  Writing the column in the 60’s or so.  I’m glad that you are writing about him.  He was a beautiful man. 
 
Garnet Wallace (correspondence)
August 22, 2007

Although I did not know Mr. Andrew Smitherman personally, I knew of him though his newspaper, the Empire Star, which he used as his voice and that of others to raise our self esteem and to combat social injustice.

Ulrica Mesiah
August 22, 2007

Mr. Smitherman lived downstairs at 310 Purdy Street and my family lived upstairs.  I was about 11 years old and his daughter, Aprilynn and I were very good friends.  Mr. Smitherman was a very impressive man.  He always loved to talk about history, black history in particular.  His wife, hard worker, generous southern belle; she was a part-time social worker;   she was always a kind person and a very serious person; he was into politics; he always had something to say about Black history; lived in that space where the Star was printed; But he was always available to talk to the youth of the time; he had political posters around in is workshop; he was rarely at home; would always be at the shop.

Mrs. Smitherman would tell you more about the riot.  She was adamant about getting an education.  I think that the fighting that took place took something out of him.  Made him extremely un-trusting; blacks had unified together and put their money together; had a wonderful community.  But he did not see the same unity in other towns.

Mr. Smitherman would come aroused about Black History; very knowledgeable about black history; when people would come around asking about him; they would never say go to the paper, he’s there; there would come a time when things would be better; but can’t remember if he was democratic or not’  Mr. Smitherman was always working; at the shop, never around’ only came home in the evenings; during negro history week was very animated; talked about the Scottsboro case; always make sure that you always try to be lawful, because when you’re lawful; if you’re lawful do have some protection, because as a negro you’re doomed when you :never give anybody a brick to break your head” keep your nose clean. Always seemed to be at the paper; way after dinner when he’d appear at the house.  Seemed to be a healthy man; never seemed to get sick; lived and breathed the newspaper.  He always had an NAACP connection.

Mr. Smitherman was politically active; ran for political office; not a “glad hander” but very active; didn’t win.  Mr. Smitherman loved Black History; that he would talk about Black History to the kids; and Mrs. Smitherman was a real southern lady; she was a lady of the teas; wonderful mothers and wonderful spirit.  We lived on Purdy Street, 310; lived upstairs and the Smitherman’s lived downstairs.

Professor Jesse E. Nash, Jr.
June 4, 2006

Mr. Smitherman and my Dad were friends.  I do not know when I met him, but it was probably in the 1930s, when I was 6 or 7 years old.  I do no not know when he moved to Buffalo.  He was friendly, gentle, focused and principled. He always seemed to have an ‘easy’ smile.  He was about average height and medium build.  He seemed to be a ‘thinking and thoughtful person.’  I believe that you will find this reflected in his editorials in the Buffalo Star.)  I think that Mr. Smitherman worked closely with Bishop Burke of the Roam Catholic church to affect political ends.  I am not certain about this, at all.  It is quite possible that the Democrats used Mr. Smitherman’s newspaper to reach’ Black Buffalonians, in any event.  His newspaper was a counter to the Republican-oriented Buffalo Criterion.  I would not call him a community activist.  His action, however, was in and with the written word, especially through his editorials.  It was a fine-looking newspaper; well laid out and substantively relevant to many important community issues.  I do not know of any publications, by Mr. Smitherman, other than the newspaper.”