The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-02-24

within generation Detroit has had
thrust upon it, Negro problem
ien-fold, while its total population
scarcely doubled.
This situation. accelerated by the
war which attracted more than
$1,000 Negroes into Detroit and
more than $4,000 into the metro
polItan area in four years has ere
ated an explosive situation.
NEGRO HOUSES
SUBSTANDARD
Here are some OF the factors:
!. There are not enough houses
for Negroes. AT present there are
$4,000 Detroit domiciles for Ne
groes. Before the war started half
Of these officially we're called SUBJ
standard. SO Detroit began a series
OF slum-clearance projects. which
we're stopped by the war. II Is esti-
mated that due to overcrowding OF
the $4,000 Negro dwellings, and
wear and tear. that IS per cent OF
such houses are now substandard.
2. In 1910 Detroit's population
was 9 per cent Negro In 1874 il has
risen to l2.7 per cent. BY 1850 il is
estimated the Negroes here will
total not less than Is per cent or
400. 900.
3. Since the war started there
have been 1900 housing units
constructed in the Detroit area.
or these. roughly. 5000 have been
for Negroes, or less than eight per
cent Of new construction although
the Negroes make UP above IL
per cent OF the population. Some
$500 new Negro housing units are
projected by the federal govern
ment as a war-houSing necessity.
A third of them are now going up
orih' Of Eight Mile. near Myers
road
FIND FEW NEGRO SITES
T. What thinking has been done
by designated groups. such as the
Detroit Victory Council. the Detroi;
Inter Racial Relations group and
the Citizens Housing and Planning
Council. has been 10 this effect
Find new vacant sites not plated
and thus not barring Negroes: keer
a black belt away from downtown
shopping areas: try to protect ex
listing neighborhoods. The result
has been: few new locations OBJ
tanned for Negro housing
S. One important view is The
housing problem cannot be solved
for Negroes, since provision of new
homes only serves to attract m
ever growing stream Of immigrants
from the South, now going on n
the rate Of $500 Negro arrivals
monthly. despite the lack Of sde.
quate housing. With an end Of war
work. the unskilled Negroes will
be the nrst dropped from payroIls,
thus throwing . great burden on
all citizens, particularly hsme sun-
ers.
6. In al the programs for relief
OF the Negro housing situation. ad-
mittedly explosive. few are willing
10 face realities which occur with
Negro utilization.
LOWER PROPERTY VALUES
a. Reduced property values.
Whena Negro housing project is
put NJ the surrounding white-folks
residences depreciate up 10 so per
cent in value, and there is 70 way
for the man who has saved for
years 10 get a substantial equity in
home 10 regain his loss. To him
this is no laughing matter and not
answered by calling him snythin Z
from an i,lioeral to a fascist. The
white resident who takes such a
cut IN home value wants 20 know
where. how and when he Is 10 be
com penSa.cd.
.. The trouble that ensues in
bringing Negro neighborhoods ad-
jscent 10 or mixed into white area.
from Negro youth molesting white
girls, and white boys visa versa.
This IS also an ISSUE that cannot be
remedied by waving a ward. recit-
ing poetry or endorsing Latin quar-
;er tolerance charts
c Landlords and owners oDf prop
erty IN Negro areas should be re-
quired 10 maintain standards Of ap-
pesrance and sanitation. not OILY
20 make living conditions more at
;ractive but also 10 keep up tax
revenues
d Education among Negroes. by
Negroes, 10 ins;ill more pride Of
race. 10 Offset the present erroneous
pohees and propaganda. par,icu-
.ar,y Nv communists. 10 Try 10 make
a black or colored man poor