The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-12-09

cupancy OF public housing projects.
II has obtained improvement In
taxicab service for Negroes (many
Detroit cabs have refused to pick
up Negro passengers either In the
streets or at cab stands. A man.
power shortage in the city recrea-
ton department has been relieved.
with consequent improvement In
the playground situation. The COM
mittee reports that housing condi-
lions are slightly better and that
private builders. seeking TO com
pete with public L ,''sing, are max.
ing homes available 20 Negroes
Police administr ~, the faults Of
which contribu.e , the lS43 riot.
has undergone a. reorganixa-
ton, with director, more
Negroes on - lo-ce, and direc-
tives on the at,i. ies Of all onieers
toward Negro citizens.
in coopers :on with the police
department the mayors commit
tee has established q Community
barometer" for measuring local
racial tension. Volunteer observers
report difficulties as they occur IN
different parts Of Detroit. These arc
compiled and recorded with refer
ence to their area and intensity
This experiment replaces and i'm
proves upon ordinary word-of-
mouth report In which fact II ap'
20 be confused with rumor and ).
fan smoldering fires.
IMPROVEMENTS ALL
SUPERFICIAL
But, with the exception u police
changes, NEST 81 these Develop
, ments are superficial % se0e
members u the mayors committee
readily admit Rectal tsuasn. De-
trsiteFs say, begins .dssDef-ln
Father Csushlin's still potent h.
Auence. I'm the setivities @ GerslA
L. X. Smith and kindred sporitn.
In the shameless ne u racial prej-
udiees to reinforce political fences
and special ytivilege. Thua. evun
mere important than tAe WAyer's
committee are activities q church,
labor. business and social ssganiaa-
items working with masses q peo-
ME where persenal attitudes are
formed and ecensale Interest af-
fected.
Most committees, oficial g vol
untary, feel that guidance from q
national. experienced source would
save loss Of time and energy.
II is doubtful whether plans for
national federation Of interrac1a'
committees VIII or should 20 much
further than these developmouts. II
would Be particularly unfortunAts
~ u paW coknmtt1aao shon1Ar An1nuQA,
too hastily az depend upon cul
Z one "a two national adviDssA n (
CO100TTExs a
PROMISE
II Looking back over the PCS
: months, II seems clear that rapis
r organization Of Official and volun
tary race relations COMMITTEES In ,
, promise. rather than q guarantee
OF progress in race relations. n
; promise lies in the willingness O
, local committees TO tackle racis
|, problems seriously. This uneasy
, stirring Of the public conscience
this tentative fumblir for an &c.
ton methods q most encouraging
development.
i. The guarantee q secial RYOwtA
win esme when self -censcieus cen
'nittee srgsnfsatisn b NJ lsags,
neeessary--when the principles sel
fertN BY these greups are - firmly
embedded In eur pubic anA en-
, personal sssscir - that they AN
ac,erted as untAfnk,ugly ~ srai.
nary gee0 .anners IN sseial rela.
/ tionships. Until that day cs0es. VI
need not fewer, but mere. inter.
. racial srgsnisatisn
. This b . day 81 social pjsneer.
ing. and eur country needs ever
hopeful technique. every peesibll
experiment In race relations - heir
establish the truth Of American Nv.
Ing In every American csmmunlty