Detroit tribune. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1933, 1933-06-10
SEGREGATED INSURANCE

Large numbers of Negroes carry policies with the
Metropolitan Life and other white insurance companies
We paronized these for years and have
therefore helped make them rich and prosperous YET
these companies seldom if hire Negro as an agent
Inspector office clerk branch manager to handle their
coored business In instances they employ
oored antor elevator operator but such cases are
exceptions the rule. White insurance companies,
rule, willing to j oud lives, but are UNI
willing to give jobs whereby to earn living.
In the second place, colored pocy-holders are not
usually the advantages rates and special IN
considerations that other racial groups receive
We almost always made to higher premium rate
than required of other classes of policy al
though many of people not of this fact
The white insurance agencies do not call this race
the risk for insurng Negro is greater than the RISK OF
issunea policy to white person. This may be true IN re-
gard classes of people in some backward sec
tons where Negroes are forced by economic conoons
to live unhealthy slum districts and exposed TO
many hazards 1t may also be true in certain localities
where innocent members of ynched or shot
down for pase the other hand the insurance risk In
the case the large per centage of intelligent pro-
gressve colored citizens is greater than the risk on
white people of similar type and the premium rate should
be higher ..'...'
Aside from denying jobs colored citizens and fore
ing us to pay higher premium rates. of the white
companies even go in their discrimination to set
up jim Crow departments for handling their Negro bust
ness They do permit their colored poicy-hoders to
pay premiums and adjust claims in the offices used by
white patrons but compel Negroes to climb back stairs IN
the same buildings and transact their business in segregat
disrespectful individuals.
The Metropolitan Life Insurance Company is notor
Gus for this kind of segregation Complaints. against the
local Metropolitan office and other branches in such cities
as St Louis. Cleveland, Chicago, and Philadelphia
have been filed by the n. A. A. c. with the Metro
potian officials in the New York headquarters OF the
company.
Why should intelligent self-respectng members of
our race submit this humilng form of color dscrimi-
nation 1t is insulting and humiliatng than slap in
the face and what is more, it is unnecessary
There may be excuse in the case of individuals
policies old and nearing maturity, but certainly
should hesitate long time before taking out new poll
cies with such prejudiced concerns.
Negroes should longer continue to rush with their
doers the Jim Crow Offices of white insurance COM
panies We large, reliable courteous insurance
concerns of our
The, Great Lakes Life Insurance Company OF DE
ro and the Supreme Liberty Life of Chicago are nota
bic examples These and others of our insurance COM
NAMES are amply able take of our needs Let us
paronize them more literally By doing we Will not
only preserve our self respect, but will be helping TO
build up strong institutions and thereby create more
Jobs for boys and girls.