BETTER HOMES FOR NEGRO FAMILIES IN SOUTH 297 dramatic, but it is engaged in experimenting with client relationship. They have realized, too, the lanned groups to serve a variety of ends desirability of making clear to their " employers' just what the possibilities and the limits of such EXPERTNESS service are. The client of a social age A negative aspect of the cult of the average man that very fact, to understand better the importance has been the resistance of Americans to the of professionalism in our society and to be better evelopment of expertness, especially in public able to make constructive use of experts in other ervice. But the more complex a society grows, the fields. greater its need for specialization. Folk controls no longer work in such a situation. American In conclusion, social work reflects to some extent society has developed to a unique degree profes- the older culture of America. It responds in part to sionalization for the self-policing of groups with the far-reaching changes that are remaking both protecting of the public welfare against a group's Through its own development, it contribute. highly specialized skills and attitudes, and for the our behavioral patterns and our social structu own private interests large measure to the process of peaceful evolution Ordinary people need to understand their posi- and through its clients it helps to domesticate a tion in relation to the professionals whose services mass of new ideas and attitudes. It also serves to they increasingly employ, Social workers have ease the tensions caused by social dynamism at gone far in the democratization of the professional- the points where they are most keenly felt BETTER HOMES FOR NEGRO FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH DONALD W. WYATT Fisk University NCe the close of World War Il, interesting presented of the housing and accom developments have been taking place in the tions of Negroes prior to World War II, with South, through the initiative and resources special emphasis upon the benefits Negroes in of private industry and finance, in supplying the southern communities received through the public Negro market with FHA-insured living accom- housing programs sponsored by the Roosevelt nodations 1 This paper attempts to focus atten- administration. Attention will also be directed tion on this new trend which promises some relief towards the acute situation which resulted from to hundreds of American communities where the the movement of war workers during World War housing of Negroes is a major social problem. It II and the return of ex-soldiers at the close of the is, significant that for the most part these moder lower-cost dwellings for Negroes are being co structed in the South, where half of the urban AINS UNDER THE NEW Negro families are concentrated and where their median incomes are just half of those of their Prior to the advent of the New Deals slum- white neighbors clearance program, the average Negro family By way of introduction and to furnish some wherever located, rarely had the opportunity to necessary background, a brief review will first be enjoy newly-built, first-class housing accommoda Read before the twelfth annual meeting of the tions Negro housing of the past, more so than that outhern Sociological Society, Knoxville, Tennessee, of the white population, has been largely charac- April 1, 1945 1 The fact that the Federal Housing Administr terized by blighted neighborhoods, slum conditions, vidence of sound construction, functional design, and suitable location depravity, and crime. A study by a housingBETTER HOMES FOR NEGRO FAMILIES IN SOUTH 297 dramatic, but it is engaged in experimenting with planned groups to serve a variety of ends. EXPERTNESS A negative aspect of the cult of the average man has been the resistance of Americans to the development of expertness, especially in public service. But the more complex a society grows, the greater its need for specialization. Folk controls no longer work in such a situation. American society has developed to a unique degree profes￾sionalization for the self-policing of groups with highly specialized skills and attitudes, and for the protecting of the public welfare against a group's own private interests. Ordinary people need to understand their posi￾tion in relation to the professionals whose services they increasingly employ. Social workers have gone far in the democratization of the professional￾client relationship. They have realized, too, the desirability of making clear to their "employers" just what the possibilities and the limits of such service are. The client of a social agency ought, by that very fact, to understand better the importance of professionalism in our society and to be better. able to make constructive use of experts in other fields. In conclusion, social work reflects to some extent, the older culture of America. It responds in part to the far-reaching changes that are remaking both our behavioral patterns and our social structure. Through its own development, it contributes in large measure to the process of peaceful evolution, and through its clients it helps to domesticate a mass of new ideas and attitudes. It also serves to ease the tensions caused by social dynamism at the points where they are most keenly felt. BETTER HOMES FOR NEGRO FAMILIES IN THE SOUTH* DONALD W. WYATT Fisk University INCE the close of World War II, interesting developments have been taking place in the South, through the initiative and resources of private industry and finance, in supplying the Negro market with FHA-insured living accom￾modations.1 This paper attempts to focus atten￾tion on this new trend which promises some relief to hundreds of American communities where the housing of Negroes is a major social problem. It is, significant that for the most part these modern, lower-cost dwellings for Negroes are being con￾structed in the South, where half of the urban Negro families are concentrated and where their median incomes are just half of those of their white neighbors. By way of introduction and to furnish some necessary background, a brief review will first be presented of the housing needs and accommoda￾tions of Negroes prior to World War II, with special emphasis upon the benefits Negroes in southern communities received through the public housing programs sponsored by the Roosevelt administration. Attention will also be directed towards the acute situation which resulted from the movement of war workers during World War II and the return of ex-soldiers at the close of the war. GAINS UNDER THE NEW DEAL Prior to the advent of the New Deal's slum￾clearance program, the average Negro family, wherever located, rarely had the opportunity to enjoy newly-built, first-class housing accommoda￾tions. Negro housing of the past, more so than that of the white population, has been largely charac￾terized by blighted neighborhoods, slum conditions, substandard accommodations, and has been dis￾tressingly infested with the germs of disease, depravity, and crime. A study by a housing * Read before the twelfth annual meeting of the Southern Sociological Society, Knoxville, Tennessee, April 1, 1949. 1 The fact that the Federal Housing Administration insured the mortgages may be regarded as prima facie evidence of sound construction, functional design, and suitable location