The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-03-10

HI osSu hes
-'---'''' : 90 .'---' workers are
Horace A. White coming into
Detroit rom
the South at the rateo, from
1000 to $500 a month. IS in
formation, given out b.. agen-
cies that have some bass for
their statement. has figured In
the recent discussions having to
do with providing more housing
for Negro war workers.
II has been suggested by men,
bers Of the Common Council that
if there were some way TO curb
the Immigrant worker through the
draft board procedure, Detroits
housing problem as il relates TO
Negroes would have some chance
Of being worked on with a solution
in the offing. Councilmen and
other city officials maintain that
if immigration of Negro workers
continues. there is little hope of
ever seeing any lasting progress,
in the housing picture for the Ne
gro Immigrant war worker. =
Those Of us who are trying to
the best of our abilities to Crap
pie with the increasing problems
that arise in the great northern
metropolis, such as juvenile de-
linquency, recreation, school IA
cilities, racial tensions and hous-
ing needs, must think a little
H.. h..
Of migration from the South
than some of us in official posi-
tions have been willing TO do
up to this point.
- In the first place, we must
see our present war as afford
ing for the first time many peo-
pie the opportunity TO escape
from the sitting bondage of the
South. This is true for-white
and Negro people who in-migrate
from the South. But II is espe-
cially true for Negroes who come
North. II would be an error in
judgment to conclude that work.
ers. and specifically Negro work.
ers, are coming North simply
because there are advertisements
to the effect that workers are
needed in Detroit and other large
northern industrial centers.
These people are coming North
In order to escape disfranchise-
ment. poor schools. little recrca-
tional opportunities. and the dew
astating inequalities before the
law that are visited upon men
and women Of color in the South.
In other words, the sins that the
South has been allowed to visit
upon the workers in the South
are now coming home to "roosr
in our northern cities.
There is no use in our trying TO
devise some superficial method to
keep people out Of our large cities.
such as control OF immigration
through draft board procedure.
Even il this were practiced, il
could only hold.in any individual
case for 30 days II we could ina
zine the worst in this respect,
amcly, that through the manipu-
iation Of draft board procedure, we
could control some immigration for
nc duration of the war. We would
still have 10 look forward 10 ard
prepare for a very large in-migra-
ton into our northern cities from
the South after the war. For ex-
ample. it has been estimated that
about onc-thlrd OF the Negro SOL
dlers now serving IN our armed
forces viii return 10 points in the
South from which they originally
came The other tWo-thirds hope
10 find homes in the North, North
west, West and East.
Secondly. northern cities to
which people are migrating
must take their responsibility for
Americas total problem. Northern
cities must take this responsibility
in an increasing measure. II viii
be hard for us at first. because we.
have lived and acted as If we were
separate from what was happen
Ing and is happening to the people
in The South
We have not been very much
concerned about the fact that edu-
cation generally in the South is
carried on at very low level. and
in many instances practically no
education is given TO thousands OF
our people. We have not been
concerned about the health condi-
lions Of our people in the South.
Housing in the South for too many
millions OF our people is greatly
worse than some Of our very bad
housing in our northern cities -
and God knows too much housing
in our northern cities is too bad
for human habitstion.
All that has happened in the
last 25 years In our country In
the way Of progress has not come
In large enough measure TO the
workers Of the South. whether
white or black. but certainly has
not come 10 Negro workers. In
addition to this. the International
Harvester company Is putting out
a cotton picker in the South now
being experimental with on the
Hobson plantation In Mississippi,
that will throw about five mil
lion workers out Of work. as
poorly paid as that work Is.
These workers will come to our
cities looking for places TO stay
and work 10 do.
Detroit and no other city In
the North will he able 10 dodge
the demand Of these diSinhcrited
men and women for shelter and
bread. TkcrcG -. for Detroit a.
ficials TO put their heads in tne
sand and act as II we are not
responsible. along with the Off
Gals Of other great cities. fer the
reasons that cause workers. and
especially the black workers, to
come North. Is inviting tragedy
Of the worst kind - tragedy born
Of the past and 81 the present.
Councilman John Lodge hit the
nail squarely on the head when
he made the statement that II Is
our duty as city officials 10 apply
a remedy to the problems now con-
fronting us as a city. Nobody with
any awarencss Of what VIC arc fac
l..