The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-06-19
HORACE WHITE
BLASTS LOCAL
REALTY HEAD
Charges That H. Johnson
Evades Issue In
His Speech


views on housing expressed in a
speech last week by Henry John
son, prominent Detroit resltor.
Housing Commissioner Horace A.
White sent an open letter 10 Mr..
johnson this week. A copy OF he
letter Is reprinted below:
June IL, ls43
Mr. Henry johnson
Seldom & johnson
800 Penooscott Bldg
Detroit. Michigan
My Dear Mr.. Johnson:
The newspapers quoted you last
week as saying tina; Negroes wanted
10 live 10 themselves, and that they
make good tenants under the proper
circumstances and that Negro news
papers were radical.
Your first idea that Negroes
wanted 10 live to themselves, seems
TO be an unwilling misinterpreta-
ton OF the issue OF segregation
against which Negroes fight daily.
You would seem 10 infer that when
Negroes fght against segregation in
housing and wherever il is found,
that their interest IS TO be with
white people. Too many white peo-
pie have this notion. and your state
nent indirectly confirmed their
notion. The Negro people are OPP
posed 20 segregated housing as all
good Americans should be, Il We
mean what We are saying in the
statement Of our war aims. II there
IS segregation N an oxcart, and 10
meet the issue OF this segregation
some one suggests travelling N
streamiined train and in this
sireamlined train Negroes are still
relegated 20 the rear. he matter Of
segregation IS just as vile n the
matter OF s;resmlined trains as !;
was in the oXcsrt The only way 70
satisfy Negroes on the issue Of
segregation IS 10 abolish Il.
Negroes do no; want 10 1--we with
white people, they want the right
extended 10 them 10 1--we where
they are able 10 1--we. with no re-
st-ictions placed on them a; a.. To
NEE; the problem Of segregation
with a well planned palliative such
IS you SuggeS; IS merely lodging
the main contention IN our dem
ocrauc struggle, namely, that seq
regauon IS wrong. Our democracy
holds tina, a man must be judged
as an individual. This IS the whole
foundation Of the American sys-
TEN In housing the Negro contends
.or being treated as an American
citizen with no restrictions because
81 his color save those restrictions
that apply 20 every other man in
our democracy.
You next state that you have
discovered that Negroes are good
tenants Good for you Anybody
VII ! has dealt with Negro tenants
over long PERIOD Of time knows
'ha, they are exactly as other ten
ants are, When they are not ex-
plotted and given service. they have
an interest in property Real estate
men have known for a long time.
gu they have not wanted 70 admi,
{ because the Negro population has
been used for dumping ground
Cor worn out dilapidated real estate
holdings. Hence the reason for
keeping Negroes huddled together
in the worst section OF the town,
and permitting them expansion
only when other sections begin 10
DC Worn out. In other words, Nc
sroeS are forced 10 take the cast
offs IN dwellings.
Your colleagues have planned so
well against any other course by
Negroes that their position is al
mos; hopeless without a thorough
going revolution in the matter Of
housing for Negroes. Your suggcS-
ton is not thorough going.
What right have you 10 say that
Negro newspapers are radical be-
cause they insist upon equality and
justice for one-ienth Of Americas
population Negroes? The grea;
majority " Negro newspapers sup
port the American system They be-
lieve in Capitalism and individual
ism. They know. however that
these are not safe, Il injustice IS
done wilfuily 10 one-,enih OF he
American population with no SIM
cere effort AZ bringing about equity.
/; would seem fair x you were 20
study the Negro press. Every one
Of is contentious has been within