The tribune independent of Michigan. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1933-1935, 1934-03-10
Seed In The Wind
VICTOR l.. HICKS

On Stun Clearance: Frederick
Hoffman published his Race
Traits and Tendencies" of the
American Negro way back in the
Dark Ages" In that generou
volume science came to his res
cue and put the last smooth touch
es to that boogie mirage.
The Black Man was going 10
die out, was going to leave this
Earth in a hurry by way of the
undertaken. No further cause "a
worry. death can't miss him.
Now. we find him here in 1884.
seemingly az spry as ever but suf-
fering from lack of adequate
means to live under conditions
conducive to the best OF health.
Visit with me the house of Mrs.
X. Good morning Mister. excuse
this dampness; quit your coffing.
Johnnie, can't hear what this
gentleman is saying. Yes sir, we
been aging twenty dollars for this
place but now we just pay ten and
the man won't fix II up. Plumbing
wish you'd see IT, That floor is
soaking wet all the time and there
are 50 many cracks that II couldn't
be used as a bathroom anyhow
Yes sir, when IL rains we had just
az we'll be out side. because then
we would be expecting to get wet
Yes its pretty bad but its the best
we can get. Yes, sir. good bye"
And on We go, most OF the Mrs
KS we talk with tell the same
story and have the same exhibit
to offer In testimony.
Now. every year $4,000 Negroes
die from tuberculosis In this
country and at all times 100000
Negroes are iii with the disease
I am wondering IL Detroit's Stun
Clearance Program should not be
hurried thru for the reason OF re
duction in this rate of sickness
and death alone.
Accusing the Negro OF lack q
racial resistance is without foun
dalton. The reason that wei ovel
so per cent OF US are infected ant
die with tuberculosis and pneu
monia is because OF poor livint
conditions, poor surroundings. bat
air dirt. sleeping in crowded, un
ventilated rooms inadequate shell
ter. The Stun Clearance Projec
would do away with all OF these
deadly contributions. What cal
you do to rush this project?
There Was A Fire; Clang
Clang! Clang! Whee-ee-ee! TIL
bells ring. the sirens cry out ant
the apparatus and equipmen
bought and paid for by the citi
zens, THE CITIZENS" | said, o
the city of Detroit rush to rende
aid to those oppressed by tn
roaring flames and the fear of de
struction of hard won possessions
Look The pipeman leaps to tn
hydrant, the engineer turns on tn
pump full force; huge streams O
water pour from the MOBILES an
out go the flames. What was tn
cost Of this run OF the fire comp
any? Who paid for IT, Who man
ned the apparatus? The first tw'
questions asked re obvious. TIL
last one Is for Negroes to thinl
about. The apparatus was manno'
by white pipemen, engineers, ant
officers. So are all the fire comp
anies in Detroit manned. Nov
while Negroes ara spending 81
much time ous;ing one anothe
from jobs. fighting constructive
projects without having anythlnl
better to put I'm their places ant
agltating against this or that 70
the sake OF personal publicity
wouldn't II he we'll TO put on
concerted drive for colored men Il
the City's Fire Department. i dar
say that the type of Negro tina
would apply for a position as
fireman would be far more capabl
than the average white membe
OF the present force. This woul
hold good both from an intellect
uai and physical angle, Other cit
les have given their citizens Oh
fright to fight fires as members O