Letter, Al Griggs to Franklin D. Roosevelt

Haines Normal and Industrial Institute AUGUSTA, georgia OFFICE OF THE PRINCIPAL September 26,1935 REV. A. C. GRIGGS His Excellency Franklin D. Roosevelt President of the United States Washington, D.C. Dear Mr. Roosevelt: I am sure that there are many unfortunate people in our community who deserve to share the benefits of the Social Security Legislation recently enacted. In our community as in many others, housing conditions especially among the Colored people are deplorable. The poor, squallid quarters in which thousands of them live are nothing more than crude huts which are overcrowded to such an extent that there is no hope for sanitary conditions under such circumstances. We have many people too, who are in danger of losing their homes because they have no incomes but yet are not eligible for relief according to our local set-up. We who attempt to lead our people certainly hope that some provision will be made to help these thrifty people who having no control of the situation, are forced to stand by helpless and see their savings swept away. One of the most important problems facing us now is the shortage of money for student aid. There are more than one hundred Colored children in Richmond County who are eligible for Federal Aid under the N.Y.A. The amount allotted for them is only four hundred sixty- eight dollars which took care of only seventy-eight children. Since Richmond County makes no provision for high school education for Negro youth, this amount was inadequate to say the least. It will not meet the needs of our people. We are heartily in accord with this feature of the Social Security Legislation and hope that all problems that present themselves may be adjusted practically and amicably. Very al. Griggs truly yours