Off-Campus Housing

James Maddox actively addressed the racially-charged Brieaddy housing dispute. 

No topic of discrimination took a stronger hold on the Good Neighbor Council than off-campus housing disputes. In the spring of 1967, the student-lead Direct Action for Racial Equality (DARE) accused the NC State Housing Rental Office of discrimination in the handling of room assignments and presented statistical evidence for the case.[1] Therefore, the GNC immediately called a meeting with the Director of Housing, Mr. N. B. Watts. He explained that it was university policy to make room assignments without regard to race, nationality, or religion. However, Watts admitted that he recently sent a letter outlining the university's non-discriminatory policy for all off-campus listings; the GNC readily noted that landlords who would not comply with such policies could merely take their properties off the list.[2]

The Good Neighbor Council took discriminatory housing policies very seriously. For example, the landlords of graduate students Linda and Lawrence Brieaddy evicted the young couple from their home simply because they invited a black friend over for a visit.[3] The GNC quickly rushed to the Brieaddlys' aid and represented them in the ensuing housing dispute. Chairman Maddox exclaimed, "In a war that's getting hotter and in a world that's getting hungrier for bread and justice, we need the combined talents of all our students - Negro and White, if peace and brotherhood are to be established. We regret that you find it impossible to join in this task."[4] 

The Good Neighbor Council recognized that housing discrimination was the most palpable form of racial inequality in the Raleigh area, as it led to extreme housing shortages for black and international NC State students. The few landlords who were willing to rent to people of color oftentimes were forced by the majority of property holders to evict a student; ultimately, the possibility of declining property values triumphed over racial tolerance. With limited avenues of recourse in the Good Neighbor arsenal, the GNC looked to the City of Raleigh for guidance and leadership.