The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-04-25
OPEN LETTER

It has been my good fortune for
the past year TO work as an OPP
ponent against the Incorporation of
the West Eight Mile Road COM
munity into a fifth class city. l
have tried to look the issue squarely
in the face. observing the advan-
tages and disadvantages of incor-
poration. ! have contacted and in
terviewed many Southern Oakland
county officials, Lansing officials, as
well as attorneys and lay people.
As president OF the Eight Mile
Road Taxpayers Protective League,
with the good support of ABB tax
payers, l fought fervently against
incorporation last year. 1t SEEM
ingly died since that time, but a
minister said to me, ITS dead now,
but it is like a snake; when the
sun goes down, it will revive again.
So it came to life last month in the
form Of club known as the Town
ship Labor" it is thriving family.
but the Taxpayers old blood is
coagulating in its veins. l pray with
the guidance and forces of that
almighty hidden power that it shall
die again.
find this city Incorporation as
an eating cancer upon many living
cells-many roots branching out;
namely, racial prejudice, I'M
American activities, discharges
from real estate businesses, Klans
motives, and many others which
would have TO probe too deeply into
the pure blooded races flesh 20
bring out in this letter. II we heal
the cancer on Eight Mile Road. 1t
will break out from some Of the
living cells just mentioned above
maybe on the West side Of Detroit
among the colored American citi-
zens, or north of Detroit among our
colored people-as in Conant Gar
dens, or on Grand boulevard. But
the colored people living in noisy
factory locations near railroad
tracks, or extreme farm land. seem
to be immune from the white mans
cancer.
We well know the reason Wayne
county seeks to get an airport in
Oakland county. It is with the CO.
operation Of many OF the Oakland
county's narrow-thinking people, in
order that they may have a reason
to condemn the property OF the
colored people. When one OF our
present state senator's was cam
paignng to be elected, he stated
in his speech in Grant school To
the colored people that II he were
elected he would try to enact law
TO bring an airport into our COM
munity to make our property valu-
able, but that was not the reason
at all; it was to try 10 find a cause
for condemnation Of our property.
This fifth class city OF the West
Eight Mile Road is strongly linked
with the airport movement. They
think that TO incorporate US into s
city will pave the way for a
smoother cause for condemnation
Forget the airport forget the in
corporation OF fifth class city on
grounds of observation-disclosures
war concerned. Put your praver7
and efforts back OF our country and
help to preserve our democracy
There Is lots Of vacant land and
delinquent tax property other than
in Oak Park vicinity that could be
used II it is necessary for an air
port-Signed: Mary E. Morris.
president Taxpayers Protective
League.
Editor: The Alpha Kappa Alpha
sorority wishes 10 call your atten-
ton 10 the following statement
made by Miss Bertha c REYNOLDS.
author and teacher at the Univer-
sity Of Michigan School OF Social
Work:
The occupancy OF the Sojourner
Truth Homes is not a race issue
Those who say. Wait until race
feeling has subsidized. arc as wron
as those who say Take arms and
fight a race battle The Tokyo
radio. which FASTENED 10 broadcas,
to Asia and Africa wild reports Of
a massacre in Detroit proves that
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