St. Paul recorder. [volume] (St. Paul, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1946-05-17

and Religious Discrimination
To gain a notion Of the extent
Of congestion, there were, for
example, 100000 Negroes in
Chicago in 1920. Today there
are 100000. Yet the area open
to Negro residents has changed
scarcely at all. Practically the
only homes for this increasing
population have been outmoded
units in the same area aban-
doned by white tenants. In
1920 the upper half Of what is
called the BLACK Belt" was al
most evenly divided between
white and colored; the lower
section was more than half
white.
PeTiIs Of overerowding.
Today, in the whole region,
white residents form a scant
handful. In other densely popu-
lated sections Of Chicago the
population is around 5000
people per square mile. In this
Belt, however, II is 10000. 90, 900,
Such figures indicate that there
must be overcrowding. but only
by the experience Of actually
living, with three or four to the
room, in some cold. dark, rat
infested fire.trap, without access
to a .tub-many are without
the convenience Of running
water-can one begin to appre'
ciate what sub. standard housing
means.
II q whole urea Is oveTcrowd'
cd, its schools ore accordingly
overlooked and may be forced to
eurtdil the hours Of instruction
and resort to the double-shift;
recreation centers. such us they
gre. become hopelesslY made
quote. Refuse collection. too
breaks down. molEing for In
creased health hdzdTds.
The picture Of overcrowding
is more or less general in
America.
One does not need to be a
moralist to realize that some,
thing is wrong, very wrong; MOI
does one need to have a pro
found understanding Of peace tC
know that our cities are far from
peaceful. Nevertheless, so faulty
has our grasp Of Christian
principles become that even
now many do not realize that
segregation is immoral, or that
they personally share the blame
for allowing II to progress to the
point II has now reached.
unnuturul and Evil.
|, The first step in eliminating
segregation Is to recognize thai
Il is evil, unnatural and directly
In opposition to Gods purpOst
In establishing group life; de
priving both those who Segre
gate and those who are segre
gated Of that full persona
development possible in thu
} interplay OF community living
Like other customs. segTegd
, ton. once established. hoi
tended to peTpetuute itself
I However. II 10 only by lego
1 sanction that II remains Intact
2 Without the support of tn
/ courts, Il would never have be
come as complete as II Is. no
I would II have persisted in tn
I face OF the ever more disorgun
!, iKed and depeTsonaliEed uTbdi
S life typical Of our times. wheTl
enc knows or cares little dbou
his neighboTs
The Supreme Court has no
2 given a clear decision as to tn
4 validity Of covenants. In 1872
the case Of Corrigan VS. Buckle
. was decided by the Court 4
Y favor Of the covenant; but tn
e decision did not uphold sucl
covenants in general, although
- many lower courts have referee
I to II as a precedent for enforcin
i restrictive contracts. Within tn
last few years. however a grow
5. ing number OF courts, aware {
l. the moral issues involved, hav
= declined to uphold covenant
II In California, in particula
y where Negroes have been hal
r asSed by race prohibition
several fine decisions have bee
n given
a So in the building that Is a
:. ready beginning, let us rous
/. ourselves to take initiative
establishing fair housing pral
), ices. Where the decisions al
Is made-in the offices Of the FIJI
3, in Washington and in the fielD
e in the offices OF the local plar
}. ing commissions and housir
is authorities; and In our ow
purchase, sales or leasing
Is 0ronerty-there we must
"a vigiliant. II will not suffice
C say: Il have no preiudi,
againSt members Of minori
V groups"