Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1923-03-17
Recommendations AND SUMMARY OF THE
CONFERENCE ON NEGRO MIGRATION HELD
BYFEDERAL COUNCIL, CHURCHES OF CHRIST

Race Relations of the Federal Council
of Churches called together on Febru-
airy %. 1928, some of the church lead
ers from tire principal northern cen :
ters for Il days conference to exchange
experience and information on Negro
migration. The purpose was to get
some consensus of opinion on things
which the churches and other agencies
in these local centers may do to serve
the newcomers better than heretofore.
Not knowing how many of the church
leaders would be willing to come no
attempt was made for a large confer
ence. The Commission asks particular
" that the step be not considered Us
formal or inclusive
There were present church leaders
from eighteen cities in the states OF
New York, Pennsylvania. Illinois, IN
diana, Ohio District Of Columbia:
Michigan and New Jersey, represent.
ing several denominations and includ
ing representatives from church FEEDER
ations in five cities, the Council Oh
Women for Home Missions, and the
Directors of Negro Work in the North
from four of the large denominations
Two sessions of about three hours
each were held.
AT the opening of the Conference a
Committee on Summary and RECON-
mendations was appointed which SAT
during the conference and kept record
of the discussions. These dealt with a
number Of important topics involved
in the coming of Negroes into north
ern centers. At the close Of the confer
ence this committee was authorized to
make the following summary and rec
concentrations from the discussions
and to send them out to all persons In
terested:
While there is no way of ascertain
ing figures that show the extent OF the
movement Of Negroes to the North dur
ing the past welve months. there are
definite indications which justify the
conclusion that there will be large
movement during the spring and sum-
mer of 1923-larger than during the
last two or three years.
Negro population Of Southern birth
in the North has increased each dec
AIDE at the net rate of about 10000 per
year except during $4,000 when the
average annual increase was more
than $4,000 per year. The present
per cent immigration Law will contlI
ue at least until the Congress OF next
winter. The immigration figures OF
last year give the impression that III
stead of about 40 per cent expected In
flux of the immigration Of pre- war
years only about IL per cent Of foreig'
ners came in. Northern industry,
therefore, will be short of labor. AS is
already evident this is leading many
industries to admit Negro laborers in
large numbers.
Reports from such industrial GEN.
tiers as Detroit Cleveland, Chicago,
Pittsburgh, Philadelphia, Buffalo 4;
Bridgeport, Hartford, indicate that Ne
groes are being employed in industrial
plants in such numbers as to lead to
the belief that the migration of Negro.
es to these northern centers has been
proceeding above the usual number
and that it will increase. Several of
the bishops Of the A. M. e. D., c. NJ. f.
A NJ. E. Churches and leaders Of 9th
er Churches have reported that large
numbers of their constituents have
left the rural districts the past fall
and winter for the North.
Migration of Negroes has taken
place during the past fall and winter,
which is unusual. We may infer what
an increase there will be with the com
ing spring and summer. The large in
crease of Negro population in many
northern centerS that has already tax
en- place, and the facts which indicate
a probable large migration in the i'm
mediate future make additional act
ion by white and Negro churches urg
ent.
1. We recommend that as rapidly as
possible local federations or councils
of churches, woman's missionary fed
eratiOns and local church leaders. co
operate with other community agen.
cies-social civic and commercial
to form general interracial commit
tees in northern cities to deal with
the questions of race relations.
2. The question Of relations Of the
races has a fundamental religious sig
nificance and must be solved by appli
cation Of the principles Of brother.
hood. We recommend, therefore that
these race relations committees AMI
the church and other agencies bring
the leaders Of the two races into con
ference in order that they may get a
better understanding of each other;
that they may know the facts of their
relations and may develop the atti-.
tude OF cooperative goodwill The
white and colored leaders, through
these channels. may work together
not as Independent races working sep
nrately each to its own advantage,
but Jointly as friendly neighbors of
their common community. White and
Negro ministers hold the key to this
situation and upon them rests great
responsibility for the initiative. The
white and Negro churches can help
Negroes to become related to the com
munity on all sides of the common
life.
3. We recommend that in every city
some colored person or persons be def
nitely appointed as workers to aid
Negro travellers. and that this be done
in cooperation with the National TRAY
elers Aid Society that definite ar
rangements be made for relating such
travellers to the community through
local churches or declarations and coun
ellis of churches; and that special az
tention be given to locating them IN
suitable homes and neighborhoods.
A. Realizing the vital relation be-