The Detroit tribune. (Detroit, Mich.) 1935-1966, 1956-06-02
Concern of All Detroiters
By JULIAN c. WYCHE

There was little or no comfort being meted out
to Mchigans unemployed, the majority beng centereo
around the various automotve plants IN Detroit over
the weekend despite attempts of Governor Williams
and Mayor Cobo
Heretofore the tagging of a certain locality as
being "a distressed labor area was ike saying open
Sesame, and doors flung open for the lad-on
workers TO their employment
This was not so last weekend for the designation
failed to have flowing forth relief in form Of contracts
awarded in labor surplus by the defense Depart
ment.
This statement of fact should not sur
prise any for four months ago was revealed
the distress labor area designation plan was not
working out too we'll
This revelation was made in a February testimony
bv Assistant Defense Secretary Thomas Pike He stated
in substance that the department had not been sue
cessfu in major degree awarding contracts to ease
unemployed problems in any area. The revelation
was made during the House appropriations hearings
Actually the problem was one of procurement, as
Pike pointed and Secretary Wilson also confirmed
The latter went on to say that law forbd the defense
department from buying at premium in distressed
areas
Another was that the amount of posed automotive
(armored military vehices) purchases for the depart
ment for fiscal year just about half Of the cur
rent year. being lowered to 191 million dollars.
Two other observations offered around that
mechanical automaton and steppedup automobile
production way past the consumption level have kept
than eveling-off Veteran observers cite the latter
two as being absent in other similar periods thereby
unemployment has been comparatively short in dura-
ton and mailer in number.
The slums and blighted areas of Detroit finally
got an excellent arng-out in series of articles in the
Detroit Free Press. Finally got airing because most
of them are Inhabited by Negroes
This may read strange since all segments or COM
munities makeup the whole city of Detroit and should
be of interest to all residents but let's ponder it
for few sentences.
Firstly why is it that the colored popuace in the
majority found in the sums rundown sections
of the city? There are wo immediate answers such
economics (earnng-power) and results of unwrit-
ten restrictive covenants segregated housing pat
tern which fosters the ghetto that has hundreds of
families overcrowded in dilapidated housing.
This is true, but the main reason is that the Ne
gro a restricted to separate social order
is forgotten" or eschewed. How anyone reason
for his needs wants desires when the Judge
apparently regards him human being who is lucky
to get second-class status a citizen.
This is the real why that the series of shameful
housing conditions and exorbitant rentals and oper
defiance of ordinances for improvements by landlord
has long been wanted.
This is not the first expose of the inhumane hous
ing conditions, for the catering to Negroes ha
been screaming against them for years. But thu
Negro press limited not only in but also
in reaching the public at-large.
Where the voice Of the largest minority of the
nation had its shortcomings the Free Press ab'
to carryon. And good job i did Now, the majority
of citizens OF Detroit know the sordid story including
those IN responsible Jobs who may now be moved t
do Just little bit 20 the plight OF their un
fortunate fellow citizens.
Certainly, the plight Of the slum dweler is reason
for concern Of all Detrolter.