The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-08-25

ru.y broad. representative Council
ior Give Unity has been organized
and Is beginning n sctvate a va
rely ~ influential groups around
A vel coordinate plan.
The next requisite is practical.
realistic master plan which assigns
10 cacn group specific responsibii-
tics for It's own field and provides
FOR Joint action hy all groups on
lsr7er issues, such Is fair employ
meat,
Every Resident Affected
The third requisite IS the con-
yirCIng Of every individual citizen
AS we'll As those organizations not
vet cooperating that the disease Of
discrimination cannot be isolated.
and on the contrary affects every
resident ~ the community. The
radio. the press. and all the other
means OF communication must be
used 10 point out such facts as the
cost OF restrictive covenants 10 the
taxpayer who lives miles away
from the 9hettns these covenants
create The axiom that the burning
u Negro homes can lead 10 attacks
on Jews, Catholics trade unionists
and even Democratic and Repub-
lean politIcians-muSt De repeated
again and again For every smear
and WING stereotype. We must
counter-attack with a dozen truths,
until We have made the coTmu-
njtv conscious OF the dan ger in its
midst.
Fourth, nelghborhood organizs-
tons. such as the Back-of-the-
Yards Council in Chicago, must be
developed 70 mobilize the growing
interest IN racial unity and channel
it into productive activity, 70
counter outbreaks OF violence ayf
replace fear and suspicion with
understanding, and perhaps most
important of all. 10 use pressure
where't will do the most good-at
the ballot box. and n cooperation
With other groups working toward
the same ends.
have mentioned the Official
committees last adviSedlv Such
committees can be an important
factor in dealing with certain as
poets Of the common problem. but
the scope and possibilities for &C.
ton are necessarily limited.
Mayors Committee Limited
A Mayors committee can 70
/ only so far and that's not far
enough. Individual citizens and
groups must stop regarding the
mere existence Of q Mayors COM
mittee as the solution to racial
and religious tensions. An Official
committee can 20 no further than
community pressures and atti-
tudes demand.
Such committee. il seems 70
ne has the following responsible
tiles. first. ESTABLISHING sound
policy on race relations and civic
unity for the Mayor and the whole
city government, second. seeing
that this policy is inplemented by
city departments. such as schools.
welfare, police. etc; third, check
Ing or actual operations If city
departments 10 insure against dis
cri1,instion or segregation IN city
services. fourth developing effec-
tive training programs in inter-
group relations for all city en-
ployes ffth. meeting and working
with various community and tech
veal groups 10 obtain reactions 20
the Official program and sGSgeS-
tons for future action; and, sixth,
reporting 70 the community on &C.
ton taken by the city. problems
which require community action
and situations which must be dealt
with by definite pressure groups.
To expect this MAYORS commit
tee or any Of its staff to do q cru
sading job or 10 push out far
ahead-eE public opinion in the
community Is unrealistic. Its
budget comes from the city ad-
ministration. and its personnel Is
appointed. BY Its very structure,
therefore. such committee Is
limited. Realizing It's limitations.