The Birmingham age-herald., 1924-07-03
Forum or The People
The Negro and Home Owning
E Editor of The Age-Herald

To the Editor of The Age Herald
 Whatever might be said relative to my people leaving the South, the fact still re- mains that the South is the natural L0ne and eight-tenths of them are always going to remain right here in Dixie. Now since that is an undeniable truth, would il nut be a step forward to encourage these struggling people to build for themselves and their pOSterity a moral character that will stand the test of the ages? And there is only one way to do that, and that is through the me- dium of q campaign that will touch the life of the most humble-"Own your own home" When u man can stand and point to q place that he can say, This is my home; have bought and paid for it." don't you know that man is on the road to character building that will mean honest, reliable citizenship that will not be moved by every wind and doc Urine that may come within his hearing!
 The masses are not reliable and honest to the point that they will stay put because they are living as a general thing below the economic line of life, having nothing more than q suit case or trunk, spending every cent they make for the things that give but little satisfaction to life and it's onward march of Christian progress. If the leaders of this Southland would root out crime, and do away with disease among the masses of the negro race, as must be taught the higher pr1nClpleS O1 nannOOu aIlu~ WOudHHOUu, HS every wel-thinking Anglo-Saxon know, that crime is nothing more than a disease, and it can be prevented through educational vel fare uplift, and nothing can lift man or a woman higher in the scales of moral, in- dustriaI, efficient manhood and womanhood than to teach them industrial economy, which in the last analysis means Owning their own home" It takes both justice and opportunity, backed by an educational cam paign, Own your own home" to lit the masses where they can hold their wills at the working point beyond the satisfying of their purely. animal needs. We are asking that the Re alEstate Board of Birmingham get busy and with the cooperation of other lead ing factors start such q movement as it will nrove the salvation of the masses of the ne gro race.
 As I go over the district holding these industrial educational meetings l have noted the results even to q great extent have been handicapped because of funds, and with the cooperation of the great daliles and some of the leading civic bodies ot this greater city. am sure you have no idea what real good can be accomplished. As we be- lievc that you are interested in such move ment and just word now and then as the old people used to say, from the white peO- ple,' will mean much, and we shall he lls- tening to hear from you on this laudable proposition.
 Buying home is the greatest investment one can make. and it is one that will always enhance in value in building great indus trial. moral character that will pay not only to tho negro race, hut to the white people as well. for crime will be brought to min imum and the mnsses will rise to a higher standard of reliable. honest. industrial man. hood and womanhood. Help us to put stop to the killing of each other. That you can do if you will subscribe to this movement.
 REV. r. COLFAX RAMEAU, PhD.,
 Afro-American Racial Conference.
 Birmingham. Ala. July 1, 1924.