Page:Chicago Race Riots (Sandburg, 1919).djvu/52

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42
THE CHICAGO RACE RIOTS

officered by colored men, came into existence this year. There have been 690 shares sold to 105 persons.

Housing surveys of colored residence districts, varying in scope and purposes, are being conducted by the Cook county real estate board and the city public welfare department. One of the best publications on this subject is a pamphlet by Lieut. Charles S. Duke, a colored man, a Harvard graduate, and an engineer in the bridge division of the public works department at the city hall. It was published last April and it summarizes proposals for immediate action under two heads.

First are "things that Chicago owes her colored citizens," which are stated as follows:

1. The privilege of borrowing money easily upon real estate occupied by colored citizens living on the south side, and in the same amounts as can be borrowed upon property located in other parts of the city.

2. Better attention in the matter of repairs and upkeep of premises occupied by colored tenants.

3. Making an end of the neglect of neighborhoods occupied principally by colored people.

4. Abandonment of all attempts at racial segregation.

5. Prohibition, as far as possible, of the commercializing of race prejudice in real estate matters.

6. Recovery from hysteria incident to the advent of the first colored neighbors.

7. Fewer indignation meetings and more constructive planning.

8. Better school houses and more modern equipment in schools in districts where colored people live in large numbers.