The broad ax., 1904-12-31
THE HEALTH OR THE SANITARY
CONDITION OF THE NEGRO IN
CHICAGO.
BY Doctor George c. Hall.

In attempting to address myself TO
the subject, THE Health of the Negro
in Chicago" there at once opens be-
fore me a theme deserving of larger
notice that there is time at my dis
posal.
In consideration Of this most impor-
tant subject. health, call your atten. !
ton to the fact that in Chicago. the |
one city of the United States, that
prides itself upon its low morality, the |
Negro death rate is more than double
the death rate of the whites.
This condition of itself should not
only alarm the Negroes, but all other
classes of citizens. 1t not only ap-
peals to the thoughtful Negro, but to
his friends and neighbors in all sec
tons of the country where he resides.
The measures adopted to eradicate
the cause of the rapid depletion IF
the ranks of any class of citizens
should be the concern of all.
That the death rate of the Negro
in Chicago has been on the increase, is
a fact known to all who take the most
superficial interests In vital statistics.
In some instances it is shown that
there are more deaths than births, a
situation at once grave, and threaten
ing the perpetuity of the race.
When one class of people live, thrive
and are seemingly immune from GER
tain class of maladies and another
class in the same city are becoming
rapidly extinct, it becomes the duty
of every citizen to seek out the causes
which have led to the betterment of
the one, and the destruction of the
other, and to apply whatever remedy
there seems to be indicated to extir-
pate the evil.
Acting upon this proposition the
Negro of Chicago and his friends
cannot longer shut their eyes to the
conditions surrounding him in this
city.
Anyone familiar with the facts
knows that in Chicago the colored
residents are herded together in sec
tons where none but the color live.
Negro settlements. as a rule, are
entirely undesirable as residences.
1st, they are usually in the poorer
sections Of the city and without the
improvements necessary to santa
ton.
2nd. buildings are old and in i'll re-
pair. and in no way modern, and yet
every Negro, no matter what his con
dition may be, how much culture or
refinement he may possess, is onered
by all the real estate agents a house
in Just such sections.
Prejudice Of landlords and agent:
render it almost impossible for hin
to take up his residence in a more
select quarter of the city or il
more healthful or enjoyable sur
roundings.
Again, compulsory Negro settle
ments are undesirable because thos
of the race who are DESTROYS OF I'm
nroying their general condition ar
preyented to a great extent by be
ing compelled to live with those Q
their color who are shiftless. dissc
Int and immoral. For the younge
generation now growing up. this
esneciaIlv bad, and there can be n
ouestion that as long as these col
ditions exist the Negro populauo
will make but little advancemer
along moral, ethical or sanitary line
with such surroundings and col
tinual influx of Negroes from IN
South. for, every burning. every al
NJ violence and intimidation OF III
Negro there, means an addition 10 u
problem here.
How great an extent is this tr'
will he realized when tell you IN
the Negro population has increase
11o per cent in the past ten years.
large proportion Of these poop
have no idea of ventilation. SAINT
+Ion or even the rudiments OF u
simple rules Of health. and "nl
the Negro physicians Of Chicago
public lectures and private teachin
are doing a good work, and "hl
the nurses from Provident Hospi'
and from the Visiting Nurses AS
citation are daily teaching PRAGUE
lessons of hygiene and sanitauO
thew reach comparatively SIN
number. Personally, and speak
one who in the past IL years Il
come in contact and visited tnousan
Of the people of my race In tn
homes, / am appalled, at the rear
ravages diseases are sometimes
lowed to make and the apparent
concern of those in authority "n'
q. .s IN nreyent such G