The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1944-02-05

SOME QUESTIONS PUT TO
JOHN DANCY ABOUT THE
MEDICAL CENTER E.
John Dancy Is one OF Detroits
thinkers and workers for the ad-
vancement of the Negro people.
His position on the proposed Medi-
cal Center Is inconsistent with some
Of his best thinking In the past on
great social issues.
Mr.. John Dancy Is leading the
fight to defeat the present site Of
the proposed Medical Center.
There are some questions that
this writer feels must be put be-
fore the public in order to get the
facts discussed and properly orien-
tated by the people.
Mr.. John Dancy, these questions
must be answered by you because
IL there Is anybody who has to
square his social thinking with to-
morrow's problems, you are one OF
such persons.
First. on what basis do you feel
that the proposed site Is static
enough TO offer any permanent res
idential or business values to the
Negroes now In the area? In other
words, is not the neighborhood al
ready too transient to hold so per
cent of even its present valuation!
Second. will not the problems
confronting Negroes. as far as hous-
ing Is concerned, still be unsolved
IL the present site Is defeated?
To say it differently, you and your
committee have urged that one OBJ
lection to the present site is that
Negroes are now underhouSed. Will
a defeat of the proposed Medical
Center site help this situation' II
the housing situation Is allowed to
remain the same, does II not mean
that Negroes are losing ground In
their fight for increased decency?
Third, has condemnation been
correctly and thoroughly explained
to the institutions and property
owners? Is II clear to the people
who own property that under con-
domination they will lose nothing!
Have you and your committee told
the people that every anti-demO-
cratic group In the city will help
them to defeat the project. because,
they know that the pattern Of the
Ghetto will be firmly established
in Detroit for another IS years or
more?
Fourth Mr.. Dancy, have you
made IL clear land you know more
about it than some Of the other fine
people on the committed that many
people are convinced that Negroes
are against civic and community
progress and that opposition to the
site in a sentimentally negative
manner reaffirms this mistaken
notion in the minds OF people who
are opposed to better housing for
Negroes?
Fifth, Mr., Dancy, do you know
that your committee is reaffirming
the feeling that many whites al
ready hold-that Negroes still want
to be treated paternalistically -
when you ask the question. What
are you going to do with the Ne
grocs there now in the proposed
site?"
Sixth, Mr.. Dancy. you are aware
that the density is II per cent in
this area whereas for other ordi-
nary residential areas it is IL per
cent?
Do you and your committee dis
count the idea that an acceptance
of the site with a view to re-focus-
ing the Negroes housing problems.
which will become more acute with
the end OF the war, is important
Seventh, has it been made clear
to the leaders and property owners
in the proposed Medical Center area
that the proposed plans call for a
l0-year schedule? In other words,
only a few OF the worst buildings
will be demolished presently. 10000
Negroes will not be bothered for
years to come. II Negroes are still
progressing las we are. few OF the
present residents will be there any
way.
/, John Dahcy. have you told the
cons;crated leadership Of the great
churches in the area that they will
be selling short" the future gene
rations Of the churches II the pres
ent leadership Of the churches does
not take advantage OF this oppor-
tunity to enhance the beauty and
worth Of their present plants?
The writer has great respect for
the people leading this fight against
the present site. He knows that
the proposed site can be defeated
easily. It brings together all OF the
wrong forces in behalf Of the oppO-
sition to the present proposed site
for the Medical Center and the ex-
pansion program Of the Wayne uni
versity.. For the record. we must
have some public discussion OF this
site. Before the change is made all
sides must be heard.