The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1944-07-22

HARLEM ANOTHER AND GREATER RACE RIOT
CHURCHES LOST HOLD REGAToNs

In Harlem last week Youthful gang war broke
out II vas shortved but lasted long enough for
l7-,car-old Negro boy TO be ridded With police
luers: long enough for the woundng Of four teen
aged negro boys and the shooting OF Negro police
man Who was iryng 10 restore order IL also last
I'd long enough to give weigh TO an almost universal
fear that another riot is in store for Harlem on
greater proportions than the outbreak in 1919 The
problem Is national II applies to Chicago as we'll
as 10 Nanta The gang war was among thfee So
called social clubs The Sabers the Bachelors and
The Chancclors. 1 took place in Ilarlems largest
park Colonial Park which stretches for ten city
blocks along residential thorouehfarc.
The Sahcrs Bachelors and Chancellors are but
three social clubs" among hundreds that exist In
liaflem BrooAlyn the Bronx and in Queens. They
arc bur an inhniesimal part Of the huge though
unrelated network OF gangs that are proving New
Yorss streets seeking FOR opportunities 10 commit
crimes and acts OF outright Nandalism-crimes mat
range from nurse-snatchng TO deliberately planned
muracr similarly there are white gangs that roam
New YORK and are akin 70 tho Negro mobs in intent
and purposes as well practice. Thus far the Ne
gro gangs have contented themselves with warfare
among themselves Intcrracial clashes rare
save for Isolated instances occurred when gangs
OF white boys oonverged Negro lads in Brook
Ism park ihc cher week 10 avengc the shooting OF
white man on subway rain who objected 10 bois
ferrous rowdy conduct by group of teen aged Ne
GRO h0odlums.
SOCIAL WORkERS. PREACHERS LOSE FACE
The rfea, hncnis OF The social workers and vel
fare agencies have far fallen On deaf ears. The
measures they advocate 10 cnre the ills from which
no JIarlcm community suffering have thus far
proven Impractical They range from the rather
absurd proposition 10 lear down all Harlems old
bindings ana erect new to shipping all uncon-
irOllable Negroes some place In the deep Souh
where they can be conveniently forgotten. The
churches have apparently LOST all influence on their
10, rs for good in this instance Respect for preach
,rs and pas ors is steadily diminishing Preachers
and pastors in politics, in business in public ~
fec. in e,crythng except the pulpit and In the
hearts and minds OF their cong rcgaticns They can
NOT command respect from anyone when they insist
on dong the wrong things with then sacred calngs
The New York Police department has rightly been
rated as HE greatest in The world II is tough
hard-hn ouift. augmented daily by colleee-bfed
men who also know how 20 rough up hoodlum
Harlem has always been The police departments
number one problem. The reason Is simple. There
ale nearly 3n0uOU Negroes living W small area
packed Together like snrdines hcmmed in on all
sides by white communities from which they are
barred by residential zoning clauses outright refusal
OF white landlords 90 rent sen dwellings TO other
Than white people White businessmen thrive IN
Harlem Whites control 90 pcr cent Of the bust
ness places. Few whites scani handful live in
Harlem The police thus ON the continual alert
chcck any manifestation OF unrest in Harlem
which might ho'l over inio actual race riot.