The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-03-24
BY GLoSTER B. CURRENT
(Condensed from Michigan Christian Advocated

AS ONE WHO has had the opportunity to
"A speak in many white churches on race rela-
tions, have often caught myself talking aloud
on the subject, while thinking silently about the
utter useleSsness OF trying to convince most
white people through recital Of fact, the neces-
sity OF brotherhood. have often wondered why
so many Christians snug ohlivious TO
the obvious. While speaking to the pious, my
thoughts run something like this:
Here am speaking again TO group of people
who mouth the Christian creed Of brotherhood.
They pray the same prayers that do. They are
members Of the same faith. Their order Of serv-
ice is the same. But they are so far from reality.
saw one of the women vince when spoke
of living together as neghbors. know what's
her mind It'll probably come out in the
question period Would / want my daughter
TO marry Negro?" That's what she's thinking!
These people are the most logical in the world.
They have built great industries. great churches,
and great country We helped build America.
too, but they don't give us much credit
Sec that man over there? He's probably think
ing abou. the possibility of his property depre-
ciating in value if move in. Although
exploited and the property is enhanced in value
when sold 10 colorcd people, he won't believe
that real estate u1anipulatorS make him believe
that in order to further exploit us. Yesterday,
his neighbors probably urged him 10 sign new
with his conscience but in the end he signed!
What are the churches doing about housing?
Very little don't speak disparagngly of what
several ministers in the Detroit area are doing.
Certainly Dr.. Henry FHltt Crane, Rev. Owen
Greer and Dr. T. T. Brumbaugh and perhaps
others whom ! don't know. are doing the best
they can TO meet this problem. But. in the main.
I'm perfectly safe in my general conclusion: the
church in Michigan had turned its eyes away
from the obvious.
In many of our Michigan communities the in.
migration of new workers TO man the war ma
chimes has overtaxcd already subs,andard hous-
ing accommodations. Negroes, Mexicans. Jap
Anese- Americans face similar problems in this
regard. When the public housing authorities at
tempted to build housing TO meet some of the
minimum need they ran into opposition of real
estate and other selfish interests who were op-
posed to public housing and opposed Negroes
and other people OF color bcneftng from decent
housing. They phraScd policies like the one
adopted by the Detroit House Commission
in l943.
The Detroit Housing Commission will in no
way change the racial characteristics of any
neghborhood in Detroit through occupancy
standards of housing projects under their juris-
diction
Translated this policy meant that Negroes
would be unable to move from sum areas where
housing was available, because Of their color
Although many could afford TO purchase in bet
ter neghborhoodS. they have been unable 10
because of restrictive covenants Signing these
un-ChriStan documents which diffcrcntiate be-
tween people because Of their color. and in some
cases religion, is contrary to the Christian creed
Of brotherhood and equality Of mankind Prop
erty is more important, so the church keeps
silent on this question. Yet the result is con-
tinued and more oppressive overcrowding in