The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1938-09-24
With the Youth
Council
BY Horace Sheffield II

About two weeks ago. some
friends sent me recent copy OF
The Western Examiner" Polish
weekly covering West Detroit The
first thing that struck my attention
was picture of an old dilapidated
house, perched on four brick pill
lars. with a Negro slovenly stand
ing In the front OF the door. In the
column next to this picture there
was an article headed by these few
lines. Passing OF Resolution Means
Evacuation OF 800 Negroes IL read,
"A sore spot on the West Side rum
down neglected and undcniably
rcpellent TO the human eye Ia the
slum area. l.umley street bounded
by Michigan avenue and Michigan
Central railroad" on the other side
OF the picture was acolumn which
described a near automobile acct
dent that the starr members almost
had with another white man while
out on this Stun district assign
ment.' They gave the aftermath OF
the accident In The following FASH
ion: Immediately following the
near accident pickaninny yelled,
that's what you get for coming out
here. Stay out where you belong. F"
After reading all OF this. my in
terest was aroused to the point
where IL was imperative that visit
that particular locality. and at
tempt to ascertain the statue Of
things. Upon arriving out on Lum-
ley. toured the street closely
scrutinizing every individual home.
was surprised for there were
quite number OF fine homes lining
the street. Then | toured the i'm
mediate Polish vicinity. was sur
prieed for there was quite num-
her OF shacks. Some OF the Polish
homes that were found on Bruck-
ner. Otis and Southern streets, had
very much In common with the few
Negro shacks found on Lumlcy.
After returning 10 l.umley and
talked with some Of the most re-
putable residents. | was able to
learn many facts pertinent to the
case.
Two Polish real estate agents
head the opposing organization
known as the West Side Civic as
ISOLATION. This organization is sup
posed to represent $4,000 people
who are interested in Having a low
cost housing project built In this
particular settlement. II seems that
they feel that Lumley street (which
Is only about three blocks long
and it's colored inhabitants. are
causing the gradual devaluation OF
their property. From all informa-
ton gained. II appears that the
main agitstors for this housing
project are the two real estate
agents aud another Polish gentle
man who Is seeking election to n
public office. or course. II Is also
fact that the worst Negro homes on
Lumley are owned by the banks.
The coored people Of that neigh
borhood feel that II Is only a means
by which the Polish people hope
TO remove them from the commune
lily. Their Negro leaders are circn-
latlng petitions. which they intend
TO present TO the proper authorities
protesting against any proposed
housing project. Some OF the color
ed people have attended the meet
ing Of this West Side Civic assocla-
ton. but TO no avail for their meet
ings are conducted In Polish. The
people OF the community have been
greatly affected by the recent re
cession" but with the coming OF
better times they hope to bring
about general improvement Of the
neishborhood. or street, aud there
by protect their Investments.
Opening Soon A fcrguscn