The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-12-11
THE FACTS
N OUR NE VS.
By HORACE A. WHITE

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Medical Center and Negro Prog
ress There Is . large medical
center planned In connection with
the expansion and Identification Of
Wayne university. This medical
center and Wayne university pro-
gram will take place In our Mid
town ares"-which Is within our
Boulevard area. There were those
who wanted the university and
medical center moved away from
this area and therefore away from
the people. This idea was killed.
Now the plan Is 10 expand Wayne
within framework Of Its present To-
cation. This II as II should be.
Since we need and must have q
large medical center for all our peo-
pie, II was thought that the medi-
cal center should be tied In with
the university expansion program.
Most Of the university expansion
proper will be west Of Woodward
avenue. II was decided that most
Of the medical center program
would extend east Of Woodward
avenue which Is populated by Ne
groes. This Is why the medical
center has become . matter Of con-
troversy. The problems raised In
connection with the present contro-
troversy among Negroes over the
medical center are not TO be dis
missed lightly. They are real prob
lens for the people now. living In
the area to be taken for the medical
center. The whole population Of
our city Is called upon to help solve
the problems.
The one thing that all Negro lead
ership must try hard to see is that
to oppose the medical center and
the site selected for il Is financially
wrong. sociologically wrong and
certainly morally wrong.
Opposition to the medical center
and its present site is financially
wrong because large civic invest
nents in a given community help to
stabilize the community and en-
courage general community effort in
he physical outlay Of all surround
ng property. This prevents rapid
'roperty depreciation. Further, up-~
less some large civic investment
comes into the neighborhood. the
property in the neighborhood now
planned for the medical center site
will depreciate in value fifty per
cent in the next ten years. This
will happen because already the
mel ghborhood is transient in char
acter TO an alarming extent. A
house bought for twelve thousand
dollars in the neighborhood twelve
years ago is now priced at six
thousand. a lost six hundred dollars
per year In value. II does not take
a wise real estate man long to see
this medical center site Is q bless
ing to Negroes. Because the money
received in cash by the condemna-
ton proceedings will be power for
helping to develop newer and bet
ter living locations for thousands
Of Negro families.
Civic and do-right organizations
ought to welcome this opportunity
to re-focus the idea Of residential
restrictions. This gives them
chance for positive approachJ
The churches ought to Jump up
and clap their heels" In thanks to
God for this opportunity to build
or buy some building for worship
that represents the Negroes deep
religious urge. There Is not n
church In the neighborhood that
can lose q thing, but will gain ire
mendously II they have wise lead
ership-and I think they have.
It is wrong, sociologically, be-
cause the Negro is a part OF com.
munity progress. II community
progress is ever in the offing. the
Negro should be foremost in its
advocacy. Our people are hampered
more when social progress lags, be-
cause we have many sociological
odds against US. One step in gen.
eral community progress often
means three steps for US as race.
Health is one Of our great needs
in Detroit. II would appear to be
criminal to attempt to block such a
project. Certainly It would be PEN
alizing Negro posterity. One only
has to read infant mortality rates
and general mortality rates among
Negroes to see what is meant here.
II Is morally wrong because, by
this medical center coming into
this neighborhood we have q chance
to really show how interested we
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