The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1939-04-15
EDITORIAL PAGE


auzH1< x3
|usn Goidon b Mane slzz
NEGROES LOSING THEIR LAND;
DANGEROUS SYMPTOM
In a recent survey conducted by
the virginia Polytechnic Institute.
II was revealed that gradually land
ownership by Negroes in Virginia
Is decreasing. Wherein this pheno-
menon represents an isolated situ-
alton in time and space II need not
occasion alarm: but wherein II re-
presents a general tendency It be-
comes an alarming economic
symptom and one that should cause
Negro leadership grave concern.
The desire to own land was one OF
the fine and constructive obses-
sions. OF the older Negroes and be-
cause OF II much land was ac-
quired.
Negroes Losing Land
For some years there have been
indications that this land purchase
through sweat and blood was grad
ually slipping from the present
Negro generations. In far too many
instances lands are going 10 waste
that few years ago were In fine
states OF cultivation. while thou
sands Of younger Negroes from the
South are languishing in the slums
OF the Northern cities. What is
worse. these lands are being re-
possessed by the whites who more
and more are returning TO the farm
for sustenance. The reason the
younger generations OF Negroes is
indifferent 10 the possibilities OF
land ownership resides in the fact,
that Negro leadership has been re-
miss IN its great opportunity 10
hold before the race the future
lessness OF landless people! The
group that relnquishes hold on the
land Is on It's way out. The future
OF the Negro lies on the farm and
not In the city The city is OF the
white man by the white man. and
for the white man The Negro need
not hope for more than what Is
left" and this is becoming less
and less While few Negroes may
spread out" and win economic
competence. the masses are going
To be more and more distressed II
this fact were more generally
pressed upon the Negro he would
be more hesitant TO let his land get
away. But the matter of urging Ne
groes to stick TO the land is not
popular and does not SAVIOR OF the
fight" that Negroes are wont IL
manifest but. as about the farm. 50
about many other matters OF vital
concern. Negro leadership is more
DESTROYS Of being popular than
in being helpful II has come about
that little or nothing Is being done
10 point out the shortcomings along
with the long-comings" OF the race
Nobody Is doing anything to pro-
woke the race 10 serious thought on
a racial program. Aside from pro-
test. we have no program and this
writer has pointed out time and
again that a program based on pro-
lest alone will not suffice. Negroes
need vocational education most
keenly today but there Is nobody
TO press the matter upon him.
Teachers Apathetlc To yocationa
Training
This matter must he sold through
our school systems hut our teach.
ers are not sold on the matter ol
vocational education. They do not
believe In II and therefore cannot
commend II 10 their pupils II /:
safe TO say that the major results
OF the entire program Of Negro
education can he resolved into two
fundamental reactions To the worlt
about us, the white collar com.
pick and the protest complex.
Aside from these two reactions tho
moral effects OF our education ar,
negligible. The situation demands
that somebody do some straight
talk 10 Negroes themselves. When
we shall have gotten the white man
told and have learned 10 speak
np to- aud back at him, we are
still a long way from the Promised
Land OF economic and social sal.
walton. Negroes have faults no les,
than the white man and they should
be told OF these faults.
should See Our Own Faults
A spoiled race in this age is at a
serious disadvantage and this will
be more disadvanIageous as IN,
generations come and go. Israe
must be told OF his sins. We are MOI
doing the cause OF Negro advance.
ment TO direct all OF our criticism
at the dominant white man and fail
to exhort and admonlsh our owl
people along the ways OF survival
The white man makes us race con.
scious, but we ourselves mus
achieve vofe-cons clousness doh