Richmond planet. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1883-1938, 1924-09-27

SEGREGATION cases before the courts
in five States in this country, and
the entire question of residential Sc
gregation OF colored people and 9th.
er groups in America, depend upon
tie case now being carried on appeal
before the Supreme Court of the
-'nitea States, by the National Assc-
c:atior for the Advancement of
Colared People. James A Cobb. ct
Washington, who is conducting the
care for the Advancement Asscc:a
ton, who visited the New York OF.
fce Of the N A. A. c. P. said that
similar cases were pending m st.
Louis, Ba 'timore, and In California,
hirhigan and Louisiana.
The key case" said Mr.. Cobb,
'is that OF Mrs. Helen Curtis who,
because of her color was enjoined
from taking title to property which
she had purchased from white pro.
perty owner on the ground that the
sale violated white property own.
ers' agreement not to sell to Negroes
Adverse decision having been rem
dered by lower court the case has
been taken on appeal to the Supreme
Court of the United States, where it
will probably he advanced on the
calendar.
''This case has aroused enormous
interest throughout the United
States. Practically every Southern
Congressman in Washington has ap-
piled for copy of the record of the
case and similar cases in other parts
of the country are being held to
await decision in this case.
what is involved is the question
OF residential segregation, not only
against colored people in America,
but against Catholics, Jews and any
other groups property owners may
care to bar out by agreement amongst
themselves. The present case, as
the N. A. A. CyP. has already warned
the colored people of America is
fully as important, as in fact it is
more important than the Louisville
Segregation case, on which decision
was rendered by the Supreme Court
of the United States in 1917. By the
terms Of that decision, no municipal
i.y may enact residential segregation
into law. But property owners are
now seeking to evade that decision
by writing their own segregation
law into agreements among them
selves, not to sell to colored peop.e.
If this color bar against colored
people Is sustained it would have
the practical effect of multiplying the
victory won in the Louisville case.
"Colored people throughout the
United States. therefore, have every
reason to be vitally interested in this
matter. Every co,ored property own
er or potential property and home
owner in America will be affected by
this decision, whether he is a man
of wealth or man of modest means.
For if this segregation should be
permitted, it would mean more crowd
ing in colOred residential districts
more exploitation Of co,ored tenants,
greater disregard and neglect of col
Ored districts, besides legal sanction
for siur upon colored Americans.
''It is not alone the colored peo-
pie who may be affected. II this
bar is sustained against them, there
is no reason whatever why similar
bars should not be invoked against
other minority groups in America,
such as Catholics, Jews, Japanese,
etc. 1t behooves all right minded
citizens to realize the importance of
this fight being conducted in their
behalf and to render assistance in
it, If they are able to do so."
Associated with Mr.. Cobb in the
conduct of the case are William n.
Lewis, of Boston, former Assistant