The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-26
THE S64 QUESTION

to the Detroit News our old friend
"Choo Choo' Charley Edgecombe of the Detroit
Housing Commission made very significant obser-
walton last week during meeting of Mayor Jeffries
new Racial Relations Committee. 1t seems tn a t
"More than IL 900 eligible applications by Negroes
are now on file with the Detroit Housing Commits
son" and that lat present, there no non-contro
versal areas for this housing 1t appears also that
the matter of housing the white citizens of fair
city is under control at least the problem is not
nearly great it is for the darksknned citizens
Assuming that each Negro applicant for housing
has family and that each family is blessed with at
least two children and we believe that this is very
legitimate assumption, there are almost az, 600 col
ored human beings who are living under such con-
ditions that they want assistance from the Detroit
Housing Commission. But according to Mr.. Edge
combe, there no 'non-controversial sites where
housing could be provided for these human beings.
Now the S64 question Isl what is the city of Detroit
going to do about it?
Our fair-haired Mayor promised the voters, the
white ones that he was not going to have the racial
characteristics of neghborhoods violated. In Short
he promised not to mix Chocolate and Vanilla because
he doesn't believe Detroit digest this combination
1t seems that our Mayor has talked himself into
very disturbing and unless he builds house
boats in the Detroit river he is going to face some
weird music By playing politics with race prejudice
he has helped to intensity the very problem he sought
to solve
We, however, are not now so concerned with
placing blame are in providing housing for
citizens who need housing and who will create
frghtfu social problem in the city of Detroit unless
they get it. War was declared on housing for Ne
gTpes from the DAY the klanfascists began to mohl
lite to keep Negro war workers out Of the Sojourner
Truth project. The city administration must now
put an end to this conflict by publicly facing the issue
and taking bold, fortnight stand and defy these
rabble-rousing fascists who are obstructng peace
and progress in Detroit
We are convinced that there is no easy way out
of this dilemma which not only affects the welfare
of Negroes but of all the citizens in the city. The
whole program of segregated housing, separate ra-
cial districts, etc., is not only downright damnable
but it is unrealistic and wholly impractical and it
will grow worse in the years to come. This issue
transcends any consideration of Negro rights as
such and directly involves the peace, progress and
welfare of all Detroit. The whole future of this
city is tied up in this matter of race relations, and
no honest student of our municipal problems will
deny it. Housingis the keystone in this race rela
tions arch.
Despite all the conflicts, Detroit has played a
great and important role in this tremendous war
effort and it may play an even bigger role in the
postwar world. Shall this great industrial city
permit the anti-democratc prejudices of some of
its citizens destroy the promises of its future? Shall
Detroit commit suicide for want Of the courage to
insist upon human decency? Face the facts, Mr..
Mayor, and, let the world know that in Detroit we
practice as well as preach democracy.