The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-08-18
CALLED NO. |
enemy OF DET.
HOME OWNERS
BY GLOSTER b. CURRENT
Executive Secretary, NAACP)


The adverse and undemocratic
decision OF Judge John v. Bren.
nan last month when he ruled
against Mr.. and Mrs. Joel Marshall
In a restrictive covenant case, once
again brings to light the necessity
for an about drive against the
restrictive covenant, the most per-
nicious and undemocratic legal
document which Negroes are pres
emily facing in the fight for ade-
/. Quate housing.
y The citizens Of Detroit must
awaken 10 the fact that because
Of the unholy alliance between
the courts, the Improvement
associations, the Housing Com
missions and Federal authorities
throughout the area, that the
Negro Is continually being hem
med into smaller and smaller
living space with continued evils
Of evercrowding.
WHENEVER a Negro moves into
q desirable piece Of property out
side the so-called Negro area, he
finds hundreds of white property
owners arrayed against him. These
property owners band themselves
together in so-called Improvement
associations and sue 10 keep the
Negro out. While the poor Negro
defendant has usually spent all Of
his funds 10 purchase the property,
usually at an exorbltant price,
these who belong 10 the Improve
ment association pool their funds
usually ten dollars or more) TO
form a legal defense fund which
j. staggering in total and enables
retention Of the best legal talent
10 fight the Negroes use Of the
property.
Negroes are now barred from
adequate and decent living space
by undemocrstlc policy of the To-
cal housing authorities. not 10
change the neighborhood charac-
teristics. the anti-Negro decision
Of Judge Thomas + Maher IN the
Hamtrsmck Housing case. and the
enti-Negro decisions Of judges like
Judge John v. Brennan in favor o.
restrictions against Negro occu-
pancy. Moreover the Federal Gov
eminent Is also a party 10 tins
question by refusing 10 insure
loans through FLA on property
on which restrictive covenants are
found. The government further
extends the practice by mamie
nance Of neiehborhood Characters
tics policy.
RACE RESTRICTIVE covenants
and all other devices 10 keen tho
Negro IN the ghetto are unsound
both economically and socially.
The Health Commissioner Of De-
troit DR.. Bruce Douglass. has said
on a number of occasions tina, it
Is impossible 10 enforce existing
health laws. because OF the hovs-
Ing shortage and admits that Ne
Rroes are forced e live W 'hous-
Ing ncrmally unflt n human hab-
itation. rOn the Whef hand Ne
groes are faced with mounting
crime, juvenile delinquency and
other ills Of social maladjuStment
because Of their association with
overcrowding and discriminatory
conditions
There IS way out Racial re-
sirictions and covenants must be
condemned by community organ
nations and lnter-raclsl organIza-
lions such as the Mayors Inter-
racial committee. Chicago has AL
ready done this effectively by GO
Ing or record both through Us In
tcr.rscial committee and by COM
munity action against the covenant.
Secondly. the facts must be made
known 10 The public through public
discussion and other means OF puo-
lefty ION the problem.
Thirdiy, anii-reStrictivc coven-
snt legislation must be passed IN
the State legislature
Fourth. a legal campaign mus;
begin with adequate funds 10 en-
plby lawyers who can devote full
time 10 study and presentation Of
cases 10 knock out the covenants
In the courts
This Is our task. let's 70 10 IL.