The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-02-20
JIM GROW MUST GO

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As these lines are wri,ten major controversy
which seriously affects the life and welfare OF the
e;tjzenry of Michigan which menaces he war effort
of this country and threatens the cause OF the Cheu
Nations is swiftly approaching an ominous climax
This terrible controversy has been preciptated by
the summary action of the officials Of the National
uousirr Agency and the Federal Public Housing Au-
thority in Washington
Alta conference held Tuesday morning, February
o 1919 IN the Detroit offices of the Federal Public
Housing Authority representative group OF inter-
ested citizens of both races told that decision
relative to the occupancy of the 3OOO-unit Willow
. Lodge war housing project near the Willow Kun
plant Of the Ford Motor Company had been reached
by the Federal Housing officials.
That decision was to deny any and all accom-
modations to Negro war workers of the Willow Kun
plant Ii was stated that applications when mao
been received from Negro war workers wouid oe
turned down 1t was indicated that project may
be built somewhere, sometime in the future Tor the
snecial use of those war workers who dld not nave
the grace to be born white.
Sprawling Willow Lodge built IN wilderness
between two cities in the grey shadow OF a ohefy
behemoth, the giant Ford plant, must not shelter
citizen of color by order of the United states gov
eminent.
suit Of organized pressure from white war workers
at Willow Run? The answer is NO. Did this de-
cision stem from the racial position OF the foro
Motor Company? Again, No. =
This travesty upon the freedom of the Negro
people has its origins in the fabrle brains OF the
consprators against democracy in Congress and the
Federal Housing administrators who have joined
them in crusade to abrogate the citizenship OF the
Negro people as the first step toward asclst
America. t1g <...e
Four DAYS before this decision was announced,
the Federal Housing officials appeared before
subcommittee of the Appropriations Committee OF
the House and told the archinqusitor, Congressman
Joseph Starnes of Alabama that so far as public
housing was concerned the principle OF white su-
premacy" would be made safe in America
The great liberal traditions of the State OF
Michigan whose gallant sons died in the war for free
dom Of '65 were ignored and cast aside. Bending
their spineess backs to the will of demagogues, the
Federal Housing officials are seeking to apply the
racial views of Mississippi to the housing problems
of the State of Michigan
When this decision was announced on Tuesday,
February g. it was ntimated that those citizens VINO
NAV fight it would be creating strife while the nation
is at war We ask with whom and for what is this
nation at war? Shall we permit Grass racialsm TO
strange the lives and liberties of citizens within our
borders while million Americans OF all Kinds and
coors are seeking to destroy abroad the racial doc
trines which motivate the Nazi Conqueror?
Shall we fight the enemy with our right hand
and comfort him with left? This decision to bar
Negro war workers from Willow Lodge fits into
the center of ghastly mosaic, perfect part OF
wicked pattern pattern which has brought us IN
the last months reverse after reverse Reaction has
set in on Capitol Hill Negroes, organized labor and
all minority groups have come under heavy fire and
the social gains Of the last decade have been called
into question. The job rights of mnorites as guar
anteed by the President Executive Order have been
attacked The rights Of organized labor are being
challenged on the floor of Congress. Congressman
Dies who worships fascist god has been given a
new lease on life. Our global for the liberation
Of all peoples has become for many "globaoney.'
Yet we who cry out against this treachery, may
be accused of creating civil Strife 1t is indeed odd
at this hour when the ideals of our country are i'm
peried that there should be no greater sanctuary
in America for the democratic faith than exists in
the hearts of the Negro people Then again it is not
strange that we who are the sep-children of Amer
lea should more dearly prize our democratic heritage
IL O,,rf in will