The Michigan chronicle. [volume] (Detroit, Mich.) 1936-current, 1945-03-24
A NEGRO TALKS ABOUT HOUSING

the Negro community which means poorer
health crime and delinquency. These ills affect
the total community.
While attempting to tell this side of the Negro
story. am wont TO think about the plight of
several Negro families in Detroits Erner gency
Shelter. When families are evicted, they are
sent there for a maximum period Of y hours
while housing accommodations are sought for
them Because of the acute shortage of housing
for Negroes IN Detroit, many of these families
that have gone 10 the Shelter have remained
there for as long % months amid dirt and filth
and vermin unmaginable Just picture you and
your family OF four FIVE living in one ROOM
with no bath toilet facilities. These people
are ordinary citizens They earn enough money
some of ,hcm-to afford decent shelter But,
they are black and have too many children for
the average landlord, so once evicted it is i'm
possible for them to secure housing. Actually,
even il the landlord would take children, there
would be no housing available.
Cold figures tell the story more adequately,
although il you interested in brotherhood
and want TO get the feel of how the other half
lives, then visit for yourself one Of the slum
areas. Remember, Detroit has no monopoly on
slums Just as likely there's stable slum area
in your town,
In Detroit. local housing authorities agree
that at least 5000 people presently living
in store-fronts, chicken coops, shacks garages
barns and other normally uninhabitable dwell
ingS. In 1914 l4,466 Negroes applied for hous-
ing from the Detroit War Housing center. OF
this number 1897 were fortunate 10 receive any;
1875 applicants are still looking for place to
live.
What are we fighting for? Democracy or
chaos? The Negro wonders aloud He is jim-
crowed (segregated) in the armed forces He had
10 fight IN order TO fight in the WAVES TO serve
as Nurses and Doctors in the various medical
corps Girls who desire nurse training cannot
oe trained IN most Michigan hospitals but must
60 TO other states. When the Negro veteran
comes home, his family cannot get housing and
he, too, must join the unhoused
Most Americans today are talking about full
employment about noed for 60.000.oO0 Jobs
Full employment will help to make true broth
erheed possible because then your Negro broth
or. your Mexican. Japanese brother and others Of
color can at least be assured of making enough
TO provide food Whether these people will be
employed at their greatest skill depends on the
safeguards you are willing to give in the form of
Fair Employment Practice legislation to prevent
discrimination and segregation on account of
race, color, creed or national origin
The church in Michigan as part Of It's social
service program should get behind FEPC lcgis-
latlon being introduced in the State Legislature
and in Congress. Every community should be
activated to press for job equality
What should the church do about housing
The church should survey Michigan conditions
and report the facts to its members. len action
should be taken TO ensure that people can buy
where they can afford to purchase: can live
wherever accommodations are available regard
less of color or creed
II Is one thing TO exchange pulpits on Sunday
ana talk It's another thing TO do something
ABOUT the problem you've SO long ignored And
,he Ming snail answer and say unto them. verify
say unto you. lnasmuch as We have done il
unto one of the least of these nv brethren ,o
have done il unto me-"