The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1943-05-15
THE HOUSING FoLLIEs"


played a return engagement at the
Common Council chambers before
q capacity crowd. mostly white
people protesting mixed occupancy
OF war housing projects. who
packed the theatre from main floor
20 balcony leaving standing room
only for tie pitifully small crowd
OF Negroes and liberal whites who
came to perform in the cause OF
democracy.
Star actors In the show were
group Of hand picked speakers rep
resenting a cross section OF the lib
erals of Detroit: a miscellany OF
Improvement organization" heads
white housewives and white Bsp-
tist minister who's attempt to re-
concile discrimination with Chris
tianity was confusing even to his
followers. Biggest round OF APP
plause went to TIE city fathers
who. only a week before had at
tempted to establish a policy OF
segregated housing in Detroit
Lone objector to Sich q policy was
youthful, social-minded Texas-born
Councilman George Edwards.
Reminiscent OF the Sojourner
Truth housing fight. the unruly
white crowd was warned time and
time again 10 refrain from demon
STATIONS as they alternately booed
and cheered as the two factions
took TIE stage in portraysls OF the
housing controversy for and againN
che segreg ationis.S. The city ia
theirs listened attentively and the
only persofINshowing reaction 10 the
play was Mayor Edward J. JEFF
rieS, who sqpirmed uncomiortably
when a white woman revealed that
His Honor had promised the white
people closed hearing Had
failed 70 keep his promise When
the curtain fell on the last act OF
the play the Negro-baiiers were
jubilant, confident that they had
won the initial round in the hght
for democratic housing OF war
workers
But what they didn't know was
tha, the city fathers had wilted
under the strong pleas for democ-
racy and fair play and the indirect
accusations that the city govern
ment is fostering the ideals OF the
Axis in Detroit Even Charles
Edgecombe. reactionary secretary
20 the Detroit Housing Commission
re'ented Said Edgecombe, Well
find a site 10 erect an interrac!al
project" Said Dr. J. j McClendon.
president OF the NAACP. We are
not seeking compromise; existing
projects were built for war work.
.: and We insist tina: they be oc-
cupied on basis OF frst come
As, ser'ed." Said Joseph Buffa,
president OF the Fenelon-Seven
Mile Improvement association.
"what the white property owners
need is an organization like the
NAACP 10 protect them from inva-
sion OF their communities by Ne
g-oes."
As a result OF the "Follies" show
ing: council admitted that il had
informally adopted policy Of seq.
re gauon al the request OF the
ma. or" which statement repudiated
( policy and gave the Negroes
the initial round in the housing
fght Alternative left the fighters
for mixed occupancy: they can start
all over again with the council the
mayor and the Housing commits
sion.
LABOR
Negro workers OF the Ford Mo-
tor company's Rouge plant went
back 10 work at The end OF last
week after a series Of strikes which
spotlighted the disastrous results
OF segregation and union politics.
In publicity release. Ford COM
pany spokesman openly charged
that Negroes were sabotaging the
war effort with a series OF attacks
on plant protection men. demands
for higher wages and fights be-
tween workers which eventually
resulted in walkouts and work
steppages. Said Percy Ilewellyn,
president Of the Local 600. UAW-
CLIO: Months ago the union warned
against segregation-.--.and pro-
posed that employees be distribu-
ted throughout the plant so that
they will be working with EN-.
ployees who are experienced and
know their rights and their re-
sponsibilities under union con-
tract"
Said Walter Hardin. chairman
OF the Interracial committee. JAW.
Clio: The union could settle most
OF the disputes for the Negro work
ers at Fords but the truth is that
a majority OF the recently en-
ploynd workers won't Join the
union. and most OF those wko be-
long won't attend union meetings
10 And on; what is going on" Said
Ford shop committeeman: These
strikes could have been settled long
ago IL II wasn't for union politics
politics involving ambitious Ne
groes who won't take a position
for fear OF jeopardizing their
chances OF getting up in the un-
ion" Said Horace Sheffield. in
ternational representative UAW-
clio: There is something sinister
in this publicity about the Negro
worker at FordS. The recent pic
ture spread and story released in
a nationally circulated Negro week
ly newspaper seems to lave been
timed to synchronike with the an
,uncement that FEPC hearings
will be held IN Detroit this month
That move left bad taste IN The