The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1942-12-26
UNCLE TOM CABINS


a housing project for Negro war workers would be
constructed near Ypsianti. Several committees OF
Negro and liberal white citizens have pettioned the
housing authorities to open all housing projects now
being constructed or planned to all citizens re-
gardless of race or color. The citizens are making
it clear that the fascis-minded policy of jim crow
public housing will be vigorously fought and that
construction of glorifed Uncle Tom Cabins is wrong
in principle and damaging in fact. Public housing
built with taxpayers money is the property OF the
ocitizenry and that includes all of US without dis
elimination.
As a matter of fact the segregation issue lies at
the bottom of most of our housing controversies In
Detroit If the authorities had taken fortnight
position and opened public housing projects to those
citizens who were qualified regardless of race there
might not have been Sojourner Truth controversy
and no rioting. Mixed occupancy in the projects in
Chicago, Cleveland and other cities have proved
emnently practical and no riotous issues have de-
veloped. Segregation is fundamentally anti-demo-
cratic and it tends to pit group against group on
every level of relationship. In the South segrega-
ton is admittedly instrument used by the believ
ers in white supremacy" to keep the Negro sin his
place." 1t works in the South just as similar laws
against Jews are working in Germany, the segre-
gated grow terrorzed and beaten into acceptance
The Negro citizens of Michigan are believers in
democracy They left the South to escape its anti.
democratic traditions, and they do not intend to per
nit them to take deep root in Michigan. If the hous
ing authorities take democratic position, they will
be supported by Negroes organized labor and all
democratic elements. If they do not, they must be-
fought, not for our sake alone but for democratic
principles which are at stake
The federal government expects us to live up
to our respons bties as citizens in this world wal
against fascism and slavery. The Negro citizens are
doing their part While we recognize and live up to
our responsibilities we are keenly of the priv
leqes and rights of our citizenship We cannot have
all respons bilites and no privileges yet this is just
what the native American fascsts believe The
policy of segregation eireumscribes freedom
denies US rights solely because we are of different
color. This is the basic reason for Negro unrest
today.
We have grown weary of the white man who at
tempts to play the role of God by seeking to divide
the human race into two groups the good and the
bad, accord ng to the color of their hides We shall
fight such presumptuous asses in America just as
hard as we are fighting the most presumptuous ass
of all, Adolf Hitler.
The housing authorities and any other govern
mental body must act according to democratic prin.
ciples or we shall have no sembance of democracy
We believe that when the-issues are fully
weighed, the Jim crow housing policy taking root in
Detroit will be scrapped 1t is obvious that such a
policy WILL in the long rum result more problems
than benefits. We who are interested in the welfare
of our community, white or black, must drive these
truths home to those who are directing our govern.
mental agencies. Let them know the truth and pre-
pare to see that they follow it.