“I would fight it up to the United States Supreme Court”

One of the many conflicts that John wrote in detail about was his fight to prevent his home at 150 Ashley Avenue from being taken from him through eminent domain. From his description, it was apparent that the attempt was the typical entice the owner to buylow, intimidate if that didn’t work and then do a “land grab” and sell high. Of course, most homeowners have little ammunition against the land grabbers.  These folks didn’t know John. It can be seen through the pages of the manuscript that even as a youth, John had learned to defend himself from bullies like the ones who called him “four eyes”  or the “N” word in college. Montague Triest didn’t realize he’d taken on a bulldog.

John was a charter member of the National Association of Colored People (NAACP). Possibly, he had crossed paths with The Crises editor W.E.B. DuBois when DuBois was researching the Philadelphia Negro in ward 7 and John was working at the Douglass Hospital pharmacy that was located there.  In any event, John covered his bases in his battle with Triest. Despite making what seemed to be a successful presentation to the SC legislators, he nevertheless, took extra steps to travel to NYC to meet with the NAACP.  There he met with NAACP executive director Walter White and NAACP founders Joel and Arthur Springarn.