Minneapolis spokesman. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn.) 1934-2000, 1961-02-24

were h0n0red by the Rhiiadelp
Of Malta Awards along with DR.
and prices DROP but where whites
stay put, values stabilize. In some
cases, Negroes have even bid up
prices and the owners have pro-
fitted. While fear Of decline in
prices has spurred panic selling. ]
believe that even If values were
proved to go up in all cases, the
whites would stil not hang out
the welcome sign Fear Of changes
in the schools and in neighborhood
associations Is still a very power
full cause of neighborhood hostility.
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FUNCTION OF Law
Law can be an effective count
enforce against pressures for
segregation, especially when eff
ficiently administered and sup
ported by articulate citizen
groups. An important function
Of laws for racial equality II
not merely TO compel or pro-
hiblt, but to give freedom Of &c
ton to persons VINO would pre-
fer not to discriminate.-'R
ence and Race"
E4&F&R&R4S%F&&F4R4%&&%H&
The most hopeful and best-docu-
mented aspect Of the study il made
by Eunice and George Grier, who
have explored fifty privately de-
veloped housing areas In number
Of Northern and Western states
where Negroes and whites have
been living in harmony. The white
occupants include not only racial
liberals" but people who bought
into a mixed neighborhood because
they considered II a better bargain.
To others, a few Negroes in the
neighborhood made no difference.
The better educated the white
owner, the less prone he is to OBJ
ject.
The builders OF these new neigh
borhoods have included not only
unions, cooperatives, idealists and
enlightened institutions but those
with no nobler motive than to sell
their product and get the best
price for ii. Since the passage Of
four state laws banning discrimin-
alton in private housing, some
builders have voluntarily accepted
others have, yielded to
the laws pressures. All in all, the
laws have worked well. The fear
that their enactment would be fol-
lowed by a Negro inundation has
not been sustained. One reason is
that good housing Is beyond the
economic reach Of most Negroes.
some prefer living with
their own friends and institutions;
others hesitate to submit their |
children to the gibes Of a hostile
.
The Griers and Mr.. McEntire |
both emphasize the importance of
sound techniques to achieve sue
cessful Indignation. This aspect Of
sociology is still in
Its infancy, the trained profession
ais are few, official insights dim.
The low-income required for adj
to public housing tends to
accentuate Negro applications and
Negro concentrations in the pro-
Iects, contributing to the growing
lnpopularity of public housing. The
lrban-renewal program, in which
more than half of those evicted
have been Negroes, is simply shift
ng the Stun from one place to
mother. 1t Is accentuating over
PROVIDING, which has become the
most pernicious aspect Of Stun life.
The education of the private
builder and occupant, more legis-
alton to outlaw discrimination and
sensible controls to achieve bal
Lnced neighborhoods are indispen-
ible. To placate white residents,
dr. McEntire would even approve
! quota system, a discreditable
ERIN for achieving a creditable OBJ
ectiva
Mr.. McEntire's conclusion that
Negroes and whites can share q
In tolerable accord
Ihould not be surprising. This has
'een the older and more tradition
4 pattern In America and Ii stiIl
he case In many sections Of the
South. As for the North,
! Negro janitor and his family can
I've In the swanlxiest Of neighbor-
loods-it Is only when he begins
aging rent that the drums are
ounded.
Taken together these five vol
mes present a generally hopeful
respect. Although the successful
Of Indignation In neigh
'orhoods they cite are not yet
Widespread. it should be recalled
hat little more than a decade ago
acial exclusion was being insisted
pom in manuals Of the Federal
Administration. some par
Of which read like the