The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-06-13
Group HELD
FIRST MEETING
LAST THURSDAY

In its initial meeting at the Cen
trail Y.W,C.A. Thursday the Sub
committee on Interracial Fellow
ship, Department OF Public Affairs
OF the Detroit Council OF Churches
proposed, in a resolution the for
nation OF an Interracial Commits
sion by the Mayor OF Detroit. The
Rev. Charles A. Hill, chairman Of
the group presided.
The Fellowship lauded the ami
cable settlement OF the Sojourner
Truth Housing dispute and dis
cuSsed other phases Of housing, en-
ployment discrimination and the
possibility OF the formation Of an
Interracial commission. New de-
velopments in the Colonel Ham
tramck housing situation in Ham
tramck which threatens another
Sojourner Truth situation were dis
cussed but no course OF action was
planned.
It was decided in view o, small
attendance at this meeting, to sub
nit the following resolution to the
entire committee by mail for bal
lot approval or otherwise and
then to present the results through
the chairman of the Public Affairs
department as the judgment Of
this committee before the board
meeting, June II.
Resolution
The Interracial Fellowship, being
a subcommittee Of the Public At
fairs department of the Detroit
Council OF Churches, at its first
meeting on June 4, at the Detroit
Downtown Y.MCA., takes this
occasion to express appreciation of
lth4 Just and on the whole amicable
solution Of the problem Of the So
journer Truth housing project.
This, we feel is in keeping with
the Christian spirit and that Of
American democracy, and it is sal
utary that in this period Of ma
tional and international crisis such
problems can be handled without
racial discrimination.
With this outstanding example of
what may be accomplished through
interracial understanding and CO.
operation as background, we ex-
press it is our judgment that the
present is an suspicious time for
the appointment by the Mayor Of
Detroit OF an Interracial commits
sion, to study and assist in the solu-
ton OF the many remaining prob
lens confronting white and Negro
peoples in the city.
Call For New Bill Of Rights
One such area OF possible fric-
ton is that of discrimination in
employment, even in war produc-
ton industries which purport to
represent the nation as a whole
and where civic unity is most
necessary at the present time, An
other sphere Of discrimination is
in respect Community housing.
and we would call attention to
such projects as the Colonel Ham
tramck" unit where in spite of
assurances to the contrary, the Ne
groes though most needful, Of low
cost housing accommodations are
in danger Of being excluded from
housing butt upon land formerly
occupied by Negroes as we'll as
whites.
These and all such difficulties,
we are convinced, can only be
solved with credit to a democratic
nation in the spirit Of the New
Testament and of our American
Blu Of Rights.
Members Of the committee re-
ceiving these minutes are asked
to give a reply by the enclosed
postcard as to support or objection
to the above resolution, together
with any comments thereon.
Plan Interracial Meeting Series
1t was suggested that in Au-
tumn and winter it would be well
TO have a series of interracial meet
ings, perhaps with dinner and with
speakers and discussion on peril
nent problems. A need is felt for
genuine experiments in interracial
fellowship and cooperation, and
nowhere more so than among stu
dents and youth whom the church
should be reaching with program
Of universal brotherhood beginning
ct home. II,
1t was also proposed that all
members to whom these minutes
are sent be urged to submit by