The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1955-11-05
Discredit to Their Race?
By JULIAN c. WYCHE

failure NEGROES
Mayor Cobo's Commission on Community Relations re-
Gently on its request caused the Detroit NAACP branch
to call thu pair discredit to their race last week
Sparkling the verbal blast is the adamant stand Of
the Mayor against ntegrated public housing projects
lot of ranting be made but little can be accomplished
the salient fact isn't conceded-that Mayor Cobo de-
hantly uphods racial segregated public housing pro-
gram
That brings up the purpose of the Commission on Com
munty Relations Its aim surprisingly to cement better
human relations Its function was supposed TO be even
broader than predecessor the Mayors nterracia Com
mttee et-up after the infamous riot in the early
forteS.
For those not familiar with the Committee the first
group functioned from Mayors John Smith through Eu
gene Van Antwerp, city councilman with little or
10 interference from the Mayors office.
But once Cobo became Mayor then repercussions
started. AS allow minimum interference from
the city administration (this being the Mayor the
committees changed to its present one and was
granted ordinance status.
This ordinance status under the present Mayor has
little meaning The case of selecting director after
George Schemer resigned director for similar post in
Philadelphia is illustrative.
The Committee was to select an interviewing unit
within and possible candidates. This it did and
made recommendations Gas formal procedure to the
Mayor The Mayor at first rejected the slate including
the of Mrs Beuah Whitby, who acted director
the several months period it functoned without
head Mrs Whitby it could be added had been assistant
director Of the Committee since its inception
Why did the Mayor reject Mrs. Whitby? He stated
that she belonged organization which publicly de-
nounced segregated public housng-hs babe which he
urtured through his appointed Harry j. Durbn director
secretary of the Detroit Housing Commission.
The organization? The Detroit Urban League. Ac-
tualy the League has many divisions, and Mrs Whitby
directly connected with the section responsible
for Cobos anger.
Here again the salient point is missed Actually what
happened that division of the League under direc
ton of William Price made survey to determine if the
Cty DEDICATION program for families in the sum clear
progressing smoothly stated by Durbn
Ii showed that it was handicap
Mr.. Price, then suggested that the City house the
deocaed families in available public housing units. And
YOU guess that the only available those
marked for whites-ony. Durbin speaker at the
revealed and queried of the heretofore
gated units.
Reluctantly he admitted, as did the Mayor later that
the relocation program not progressing reported
60 the daily press and that relief for the Negro families
forthcoming.
Let's look at the position of the Negroes the
present Commission They appointed after Atty Ed
ward Turner state NAACP president, resigned chiefly
because Of the Mayors stand segregated housing and
interference followed by that of his predecessor Atty
Herbert Dudley who first stated that he against seq
regaton of any form before accepting the post Atty Dud
ley said he resigned because Of the nepness of the group
and seemingly the leaning Of members toward the Mayors
whims.
II seems to boil down to this: the two resigning Ger
members attorneys and familiar with legal proce
dure 1t is reasonable that they felt that the
Mayor willing to try to evade legal decisions to
uphold his stand housing.
How then can one two Negroes reasonable
feel that they can a biased Mayor-nfluenced
Commission without identity. 1t because of their
that they appointed
And, does the charge that the NAACP is trying to
push them around, to individual actions members,
hold water?
One thing certain however is that the Detroit NAACP
is dedicated protect the civil and human rights of the
Negro and has proved that ii Is competent and capable
TO evauae situation to whether individual actions
tend to hinder and hurt rather than boost the nations
largest minority