The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-10-14
BY HORACE A. WHITE

MEDICAL CARE FOR NEGROES
"A few short months ago. we
were discussing In this column the
Detroit Medical Center. As you
will recall, there was planned
Medical Center I'm connection with
the expansion Of Wayne university.
Certain sections Of the Negro popu-
lation were quite disturbed over
the fact that the Medical Center
was going TO cut into the Negro
section and take away much need
ed housing. Anyone with an ieta
81 sense could easily understand
why the Negroes would ret upset
over the possible loss Of . single
dwelling. not TO speak Of two or
three hundred houses being taken
away. This fear and anxiety over
the Negro housing situation Is al
together justified. The way to meet
II. however. Is not to short-circuit
the general development Of the
community. which development In
the long run will be Of great benefit
TO Negroes IS well as 10 everybody
else.
The way 10 meet the housing
shortage Is to work for an oppor-
tunity for Negroes TO expand Into
new areas. II new areas are un-
available at this time. then we
must see 10 IL that the areas now
inhabited by Negroes have good
housing. This can be done by in
sisting upon . multiple dwelling
sium clearance program. In other
words, where We now have one
rundown shack housing Ave fam
lilies, we can see 20 II that . decent
multiple dwelling Is placed there
that will house ten families I'm de-
cency and comfort at q reasonable
rent or purchase price. Your col
umnist does not accept the idea
that ways and means cannot be
worked out and worked out imme-
diately whereby the overcrowded
sections that now accommodate the
great majority Of Negroes cannot
be expanded. Certainly Il Is true
that stagnation and status quo (as
you are) Is not the answer.
This matter Of medical care for
Negroes and the hospital as planned
by the Board Of Education in con-
nection with the expansion of
Wayne university becomes very i'm
portant when we understand what
certain groups are suggesting in
Detroit at this time for the medical
care and training OF Negroes. A
group interested in health has been
formed, and they have recently
made report on the Negro health
problem. as they call it. They point
out that the Negro is under-hos-
pitalized. and that the Negro can.
not receive adequate nurse training
IN Detroit because of the race dis
elimination prevailing in the De-
troit community. This group adj
mits in its report that something
must be done.
They indicate in their report that
the wisest thing seems 10 be 10 set
up a segregated hospital, and a
medical training program that will
look after the needs of Negroes
This medical group also indicates
that number OF leading Negro
medical men are in favor OF a COM
pletely segregated hospital pro-
gram. The truth OF this statement
We have a right TO doubt. II seems
incredible that any medical man
would suggest that Detroit give way
to . segregated hospital setup at
this stage or our development. A
segregated program can never give
adequate medical attention and care
to Negroes any more than u can
give adequate attention and care to
lrishmen on . segregated basis.
The group making this report has
It's fingers on the social non-proft
instrument funds in Detroit. They
claim to be free from race preju.
dice. and they must know what a
financial and social waste II Ia 10
follow a program OF segregation in
providing community services. At
least their own program and other
fields should have taught them this
The liberal forces In Detroit must
combine to give TO the organiza-
lions and groups seeking to serve
the community good programs
that has at Its heart the service
OF the community In terms Of need
rather than program that par
TALLY meets the need and takes
care Of entirely the dsmnable white
superiority that turks In the minds
o. some good but misguided people.
We cannot permit ourselves 20 deny
al 81 the goals 10 ourselves and