The Kansas City sun. (Kansas City, Mo.) 1908-1924, 1919-05-03
THE NEGRO HOUSING PROBLEM


a people without ambitions, without
aspirations, without ideals, ignorant,
and unmindful of the things which go
TO make life more beautiful, more
healthful, and more happy, there
would be less friction between our
ueighbors and ourselves. AS long as
we were the occupants of the log cabin
or the one-room ut common in the
South, especially during Booker T.
Washingtons early career, where five
and six members-male and female
of tn same family lived, cooking, eat.
ing, sleeping all in one room where
sanitary conditions were most appall'
ing, we we're not molested, neither
were we the objects of envy.
When such question arises in a
place like Kansas City as to where,
and in what kind of dwellings, the en-.
lightened element of our race shall
live, just how much convenience, com.
fort and happiness they shall enjoy
where they may reside in peace and
rear their families under wholesome
influences, the gross ignorance of the
opposing parties is hopelessly expos.
ed. 1t shows that this particular class
Of people is not aware of the fact that
we are being awakened to higher
ideals. We are responding to the
necessity of cleanli ness, the boon
companion of godliness. We are re
spending to the same laws to which
they respond, believing that they are
also essential for the preservation OF
the health of our bodies and minds
They are unmindful of the fact that
these principles reach us through the
same channels by which they are
brought to them. We are becoming
better and more healthful through the
mediums of the schools, the churches
the public press, and through the var
ious organizations engaged in welfare
work and the general uplift of the
masses. Our opponents must agree
that all of these are most potent fac
tors in arousing men and women from
lethargy, awaking them to a knowl
edge of what they owe themselves anC
their families
With this great expansion of the
mind and soul comes a discomfort witt
things which formerly seemed to sat
isfy ordinary needs. Like the tendrils
OF the plant which reach out and up
ward to enjoy the sunlight and the
pure air, so we, having grown diScon
tent with the foul odors arising from
alleys clogged with refuse, the impure
air blowing from the gutter and clog
ged sewers, are reaching upward. W.
are seeking better and more conven
lent accommodations.
Will Kansas City's populace solve
this question by resorting to threats
of violence, by the use of dynamite
or by the employment of means who'll!
unbecoming to citizens of this enlight
ened day? Such actions will onl!
. serve to make bad matter worse. Tt
say to those who are convinced tina
they are acting from principle, "Thu
far shalt thou go and no farther" il
but to arouse a spirit of antagonism
and a stubborn determination to pres
beyond the line of demarkation. Wer
health, comfort, and happiness thing
TO be enjoyed by one particular rae
and wholly denied to the other, on
might be able to look upon such foil.
with at least slight degree of tolera
tion.
The thing for this city to do to he'll
materially to solve this Negro Housing
Problem is to erect houses with mod
ern improvements, and adequate aC
commodations, in districts that ar
conducive to both health and goo
morals, and rent them to our peopl
at reasonable prices. If this be done
there will be no need of Protest Meet
ings" where measures of violence ar
discussed to prevent our peoples OF
cupying the dwellings fho which the
have paid their hard-earned money
If we are provided with the kind @
homes which we want and are willin
to pay, we will prove ourselves jus
as independent as those who oppos
Us. We will prove to them that wha
we want is not Social Privileges or 81
cial Equality, but Civil Rights, pur
and simple.
Mrs. ]. r. Williams,
2418 Vine st.