Journal of Negro Education

The Training of Negroes for War Industries in World War II Author(s): Herman Branson Source: The Journal of Negro Education, Vol. 12, No. 3, The American Negro in World War I and World War II (Summer, 1943), pp. 376-385 Published by: Journal of Negro Education Stable URL: http://www.jstor.org/stable/2293057 . Accessed: 29/10/2014 12:13

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This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions CHAPTERXIII THE TRAINING OF NEGROES FOR WAR INDUSTRIES IN WORLD WAR II

HERMAN BRANSON WhenJapanese bombs blasted holes Officeof Education, the National in theArizona in Pearl Harbor,many Youth Administration(NYA), the Negroesfelt that downinto the mud schools,and private industry. The U.S. and siltwent not only ships but a pat- Officeof Educationconducts two ma- tern of societal organizationwhich jor programs:Vocational Training for limitedthe Negro in thesocial, politi- War ProductionWorkers and theEn- cal, and economiclife of America.A gineering,Science, and Management keensocial observer expressed a prev- War TrainingProgram (ESMWT). alentview: The programsaccommodate train- eesof varying educational preparation. Logicallyit would be appropriatefor gov- ernmentto imposecontrols and regulations, The Vocational Training Program as mandatoryas those imposedon its eco- aims primarilyat the trainingof nomiclife, to ensureto all its racial minori- adultswith nominal educational back- ties not only free but equal participation grounds.The NYA trainsyouths who in the economic and political life of the have grade school education. The country.In fact,before the presentwar is ended, such action may become a political ESMWT requiresthat coursesbe of necessity.1 college grade; the minimumeduca- tionalprerequisite is graduationfrom Everywhereone metthe beliefthat secondary school. The ESMWT at last the integrationof the Negro coursesrange from the first-yearcol- intoAmerican life was not a question lege levelto thoseof graduate-school ofcharity or abstractdemocratic prin- level. The in-serviceand pre-service ciplebut a necessityfor the fullmo- trainingof private industryvaries bilizationof our most valuable war in the educationalprerequisites ac- asset, manpower.On everyside one cordingto the typeof training. heardthat this is a people'swar and The VocationalTraining Program thatthere would be fullutilization of preparesskilled workers in two types all thetalents of theAmerican people of courses:supplementary courses for to defeatthe ruthless enemy of democ- workersalready in war industriesto racy. Now with the war 15 months improvetheir knowledge and skilland old, a betterappraisal of the larger pre-employmentrefresher courses to horizonoffered in thetraining of Ne- prepare workers for war jobs. groesfor skilled positions by the war $104,000,000was appropriatedfor this is possible. programfor 1942-1943. Programsfor the trainingof essen- For the period July-December, -tialpersonnel for war industriesare 1942,58,228 Negroes enrolled in pre- centeredin fourauthorities: the U.S. employmentcourses and 13,066in the 1 Charles S. Johnson, Patterns of Negro Segre- supplementary.The distributionof the gation, New York: Harper and Brothers, 1943. p. 324. traineeswas as follows: 376

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Training for: PreemploymentSupplementary nois,New York, and Ohio had over Aircraft Industries 9970 2934 Ship Building 8208 2671 18,000preemployment Negro trainees, Sheet Metal and Welding 8179 1638 AutomotiveMechanics 1187 292 over3,000 more than the 17 Southern Machine Shop 20222 1786 Electricity and Radio 2352 1912 states and the Districtof Columbia. Inspection and Foremanship 979 301 Miscellaneous 7131 1532 Pennsylvaniawith 3,280 supplemen- These trainees were distributedtary trainees had over300 morethan throughoutthe States and Puerto the South; Nebraskahad moretrain- Rico; nonewere being trained in Ver- ees than Mississippi;Massachusetts mont,North Dakota, and Hawaii. had threetimes as manyas .We The geographicdistribution of Negro could continuethis comparison.In traineesis tabulatedin the following: briefthe South withroughly 80 per Number Per cent cent of the Negro populationwas Pre. Sup. Pre. Sup. training0.2 of 1 percent of that popu- North and Northeast: lationin thisprogram or 20 per cent (Connecticut,Dela- ware, Maine, Massa- of the total trainees,the otherstates chusetts, New Hamp- shire, New Jersey 15,898 5100 27 39 with 20 per cent of the population New York, Pennsyl- vania, Rhode Island, weretraining about 2 per centor 80 Vermont.) Midwedt: per centof thetotal. (Illinois, Indiana, The data do show,however, that Iowa, Kansas, Michi- gan, Minnesota, Ne- 22,662 3150 39 24 therehas been a tremendousupsurge braska, North Da- kota, Ohio, South in Negroparticipation since the study Dakota, Wisconsin) Farwe8t: of Wilkerson3and Fortune'ssurvey. (Arizona, California, Otherdata showtoo thatthe per cent Colorado, Idaho, Mon- tana, Nevada, New 3,989 1820 7 14 of Negroesto total in the numberof Mexico, Oregon, Utah, Washington, Wyom- traineesentering the preemployment ing) South: programhas grownsteadily since the (Alabama, Arkansas, quarterJuly-September, 1941, from Florida, Georgia, Louisiana, Maryland, 4.9 per centto 10.6 per centfor the Kentucky, Mississip- pi, Missouri, North 15,516 2961 27 23 quarterOctober-December, 1942. For Carolina, Oklahoma, South Carolina, Ten- the sameperiod the Negro trainees in nessee, Texas, Vir- ginia, West Virginia, trainingat the end of each quarter, District of Columbia.) from5.2 11.7 cent.For Puerto Rico 163 35 increased to per the supplementaryprogram the per The specificlisting by statesshows centfor the numberentering quarter discrepanciesbetween the population was 2.8 for July-September,1941, percentagesand traineesmore vividly which droppedsharply and rose to than does our summary.During the 2.4 for October-December,1942. six-monthsperiod, the eight states, The Negroseems to be participating California (3,639-1535)2 Illinois in approximatelyhis populationratio (6,251-370),Maryland (3,655-553), in thepreemployment program but at Michigan (6,242-1512), New York onlyone-third that ratio in thesupple- (6,327-899),Ohio (6,298-752),and mentaryprogram. In the South,he (7,037-3,280) had over participatesin verymuch less than his 70 per centof the Negro trainees. Illi- 'Doxey A. Wilkerson, "The Training and Em. ployment of Negroes in National Defense Indus- 2The first number gives the preemployment, tries," JOURNAL OF NEGRO EDUCATION, 10:121- the second the supplementary enrollment. 132, Ja. 1941.

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 378 THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO EDUCATION local ratio, but this is offset,numeri- These observationswere made in the cally, by his increasedparticipation in Spring of 1942. As far as numbersin other regions. training,Georgia had improvedlittle The enrollmentstatistics in no way by December,for the numberentering indicate the most importantaspect of trainingfrom July-December was only this training-its quality. In the South 217. With equipment rigorouslyra- Fe expect in general poor equipment tioned or not obtainable, there has and poor facilities.A visitor through been little chance of improvementin the South reported: this sphere. There seems to be little Thousands of Mobile natives who hap- differencein the quality of trainingfor pened to be Negroes,however, were walk- both groupsin the othersections of the ing the streetsunemployed and barredfrom country. any trainingwhatsoever.... With the tremendousefforts of able This was the trainingsituation in Ala- and sinceremen, Negro and white,in bama then. The same thing prevailed in Georgia,and Tennessee and Arkansasand the U.S. Officeof Education, this pro- South Carolina and Texas. Hardly any de- gram is making headway against the fense trainingwas open to Negroes any- Southernpattern. It is slow and unsat- wherein the South,and much of what was isfactoryperhaps, for a few men in to labeled defensetraining was close being one sectionof the countrycan do little outrightfraudulent. I might mentionone course for 150 shipfitterhelpers where the when the local administratorsinsist sole shop equipmentconsisted of some ship- upon giving priorityto local preju- yard picturesclipped from Life magazine dices. Johnsonreports that a spokes- and a bathtubnavy, purchasedout of the man of the Nashville branch of the instructor'spocket at the five-and-ten.This Vultee Aircraft Company asserted particularcourse accounted for two-thirds of the Negro traineesin the state of Geor- baldly: gia. Somewhereelse they were pretending ... we do not believeit advisable-to in- to trainNegro marineelectricians in a shop cludecolored people with our regular work- where positivelythe only item of marine ingforce. We may,at a laterdate, be in a equipment was an eight-inchlength of positionto add some coloredpeople in electricalcable. I recallalso a class in motor minorcapacities such as portersand clean- mechanics where the students were for- ers. bidden to go into the motors-it was ac- In discussingthis matter with some mem- tuallya class in alemiting,tire-inflating and bersof theBoard of Education,they have windshieldwiping for filling station attend- advisedthat theyare consideringstarting ants. And I shouldn'tforget the Negro de- coursesin occupationsin whichcolored peo- fense shop so far out in the piney woods ple wouldexperience no difficultyin obtain- that it was next to impossibleto get to, ing employment.These courses,I believe yet I heard such praises of and such ac- coversuch subjects as auto repair,construc- countsof the completenessof its equipment tion work,cement finishers, molding, etc.5 that I arrangedto visit it. There I found a splendidly-equippedsheet metal shop The Engineering,Science and Man- with unfortunatelyno sheet metal to fabri- agement War Training Program cate but only tin cans salvaged fromthe garbage pile. There I found also a gleam- (ESMWT)-the second programun- ing row of electricwelding machinesbut der the U.S. Officeof Education was somebodyhad neglectedto put throughthe establishedto assist in furnishingthe requisitionthat would connectthem with large numberof people with training power.4 in the physical sciences and manage- 4 John Beecher, "Problems of Discrimination," Science and Society, 7:36-44, Winter, 1943. 5 Op. cit.. p. 106.

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions TRAINING OF NEGROES FOR WAR INDUSTRIES 379 ment for the war effort.It succeeds campusor elsewhere;many institutions are the Engineering,Science, and Manage- conductingcourses simultaneouslyin sev- eral ment Defense Training Program of cities. All classes receive personalin- structionfrom qualified teachers, except for 1941-1942 (in which 196 institutions a few specializedcorrespondence courses in participatedwith 438,000trainees and the subject matter of mathematicsand a budget of $18,000,000) and the En- physicswhich are offeredto preparehigh gineering,Defense Training Program school teachersto conductcourses in those subjects. Some are given- after working of 1940-1941 (in which 144 institu- hours for the benefitof employedpersons. tions participatedwith 120,000train- The time required to complete a course ees and a budget of $6,140,000). The varies froma fewweeks to several months, second sessionof the 77th Congresson dependingupon the extent and nature of June 30th, 1942, in Public Law 647 the training.Subjects range from basic courses,such as engineeringdrawing and authorized$30,000,000 to continuethe precisioninspection, to refinedspecialties, trainingof engineers,chemists, physi- such as geometricaloptics and the X-ray cists, and production managers for diffractionanalysis of metals.In general,the war service for the year ending June war trainingneeds of an area determinethe 30, 1943. coursesoffered there, but some coursesare conductedto meet Nation-wideneeds of Organizationof Courses.Tax-exempt col- the armed forcesand governmentwar pro- leges and universitiesoffering recognized ductionactivities. degreeswith majors in engineering,chem- istry,physics, or productionsupervision, are Sixty-fiveNegro colleges are par- eligibleto participatein . .. ESMWT. Be- ticipating in the ESMWT program. forea courseis organized,the sponsoringOnly 12 hold directcontracts with the collegeor universitydetermines the need U.S. Officeof Education. The remain- con- forthe contemplatedtraining through der are sub-contractors.For example, sultationwith nearby industries and the con- ESMWT regionaladviser for the area 6 American Mathematical Monthly, 50:276-278, cernedand preparesan estimateof the Ap 1943. Aabama: Miles Memorial College, Selma Univer- probablenumber and qualificationsofthose sity, , Tuskegee Institute; Arkan- availablefor the training. If conditionsare sas: A. N. and Normal College, , , Shorter College; favorable,one or moreshort courses are Delaware: State College for Colored Students; Georgia: Atlanta University System, Clark Uni- designedto prepareavailable trainees for versity, Georgia State College, , the in whicha shortagewas found. Morris Brown University, , Spelman .jobs College; Kentucky: Kentucky State College; Louissi- Pertinentinformation including estimates ana: , Leland College, and Agricultural and Mechanical Col- of costs,is sentto theU. S. Officeof Edu- lege, Xavier University; Maryland: Morgan State College, Princess Anne College; Mississippi: Alcorn cationin a formalproposal to give each Agricultural and Mechanical College, Campbell Col- coursethat is planned.Those proposals that lege, Jackson College, , Tougaloo Col- lege; Missouri: Lincoln University,Stowe Teachers meet all legal, educational,and practical and Junior College; North Carolina: Agricultural and Technical College, of North Carolina, Bennett standardsare approved,and the institutionCollege, Johnson C. Smith University, Livingstone may beginas soon thereafteras qualified College, North Carolina College for Negroes, St. Augustine's College, ; Ohio: Wil- traineescan be enrolled.Additional pro- berforce University; Oklahoma: Langston Univer- sity (Colored Agriculturaland Normal University); posalsmay be submittedas othertraining Pennsylvania: CheyneyTraining School for Teach- needsare established. ers, Lincoln University; South Carolina: ,, Chaflin College,Colored Types oJT-Instruction: Regional differ- Normal, Agricultural, and Mechanical College of South Carolina, ; Tennessee: Fisk encesin facilitiesand in wartraining needs University, , , Le dictatewide variationsin the coursesof- Moyne College, Tennessee Agricultural and Indus- trial State Teachers College; TPexas: Bishop College, fered.Some are designedto prepareper- Houston College for Negroes, Jarvis Christian Col- lege, , Prairie View State Col- sons fornew fieldsof work;others- to fit lege, Samuel Huston College, Tillotson College, thosealready employed in war activities ; Virginia: Hampton Institute, Vir- ginia State College for Negroes: West Virginia: for moredifficult and responsibleassign- Bluefield State Teachers College, , West Virginia State College; District of Colum- ments.Classes may meet on the college bia: Howard University.

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 380 THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO EDUCATION in Alabama, the Alabama Polytechnic time; , 1 part-time; Institute had about 85 ESMWT Hampton Institute,7 part-time;Vir- coursesin 20 centersin the state; three ginia State College, 6 part-time;West courses were designated "for Ne- Virginia State College, 3 part-time. groes": EngineeringDrawing I, Pipe In February and March, 1943, seven Drafting,and Fundamentalsof Radio. of these collegeswere authorized to be- The Universityof Alabama held con- gin 26 part-time and 2 full-time tracts for 146 coursesin 20 centersin courses: Howard University,1 part- Alabama, two were "for Negroes": time and 1 full-time;Atlanta Univer- Foremanshipand Supervisionand In- sity, 3 part-time; A. and T. College,

TABLE I DISTRIBUTION OF ESMWT COURSES BY FIELDS

Chem- Engi- Manage- Mathe- Physics istry neering ment matics Howard 5 10 1 2 Atlanta 3 1 2 A and T 4 2 2 Southern 3 North Carolina College 4 11 Wilberforce 4 1 Langston 5 1 ColoredNormal, etc., South Carolina 3 4 5 Fisk 1 Hampton 2 5 5 2 VirginiaState College 2 1 6 West VirginiaState 3 1 2 Total 31 27 34 71 3- dustrialChemistry. Since fourNegro 2 part-time; WilberforceUniversity, colleges in Alabama had ESMWT 3 part-time; Colored Normal, etc. of courses,we presumethat the "for Ne- South Carolina, 6 part-time;Hampton groes"courses used their facilities. Institute,6 part-timeand 1 full-time; For theperiod July 1, 1942,through Virginia State College, 4 part-time; January31, 1943,the Negrocolleges West Virginia State College, 2 part- withdirect contracts gave 74 courses; time. Some of the collegeswith direct 69 werepart-time and 5 werefull-time. contracts also participatedas sub-con- HowardUniversity had 14 part-time tractors in certain fields where they and 2 full-time;Atlanta University, could not meet the ESMWT require- 3 part-time;Southern University, 2 ments for a direct contract. part-timeand 1 full-time;A. and T. The numberof Negro colleges par- College of North Carolina,6 part- ticipatingin the ESMWT programis time;North Carolina College for Ne- largerthan one would expectconsider- groes,15 part-time;Wilberforce Uni- ing the stringentrequirements for a versity,2 full-time;Langston Univer- program. The technique of seeking sity, 6 part-time;Colored Normal, sub-contracts when the institution Industrial,Agricultural and Mechani- cannot qualify fora directcontract is cal College,South Carolina,6 part- sound and strategic. The particular

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions TRAINING OF NEGROES FOR WAR INDUSTRIES 381 subjectsstressed by the collegesseem in theircontention that the preparation to resultless froma studyof the needs is too arduousfor a positionwhich will amongNegroes than from what ener- onlylast out thewar. If thepost-war geticperson wishes to give a course worldrealizes any of the thingswe and whatcourses have been popular in are fightingfor, we may find our whitecolleges. The Negro colleges have youngpeople maintainingthe posi- missedentirely the opportunity afford- tionsgained in the war. An intensive ed byESMWT to conductcorrespond- national campaign conducted by some ence coursesfor training high school collegeswith well-plannedand bal- teachers.The concentrationin chemis- ancedfull-time ESMWT programsto tryalmost to the exclusionof physics draw the many Negro womenwho reflectsthe fact that the Negro college have majoredin mathematicsor bi- is strongerin thisfield. The job oppor- ologyin collegeinto physics, chemis- tunitiesare just the reverse.For this try, and engineeringis eminently is a physicist'swar withemphasis on desirable. devices.Possibly the chiefweakness Too fewNegroes participate in the of theESMWT programin theNegro ESMWT program.Of the112,616 stu- collegeis the failureto plan full-time dents,only 1,174 are Negroes,little courses around nation-wideneeds. morethan one per cent. The numberof There are many fieldsin whichthe coursesgiven in all of the Negrocol- Negro has not had opportunityfor legeswith direct contracts is lessthan employmentand trainingnow seeking those given by many singleschools personnel.With a large federalap- such as Alabama PolytechnicInsti- propriationand the possibilityof se- tuteand equals abouthalf the number curinggrants from the U.S. Officeof givenby PennsylvaniaState College. Educationin the loan-fundplan for Mississippiwith over a millionNe- college sciencemajors, many Negro groes has one course: Mechanical collegescould have and shouldhave Drawing. had full-timeprograms in fieldsal- Withover 5,000 Negroes graduating lowedfor by ESMWT. fromcollege each year over the last The problemof the Negrowoman fiveyears and approximately30,000 in the ESMWT programbecomes in- fromsecondary schools and most of creasinglysignificant as the armed themlooking towards teaching, medi- forcescut more and more into the cine,law, dentistry,pharmacy, or so- dwindlingmanpower. Negro women cial work,one would expectan un- withthe educationalprerequisites for usualpercentage of these young people ESMWT coursesneed re-orientation.in re-trainingprograms fitting them- Those who possessthe abilitiesand selves for fullerservice in the war aptitudesfor filling technical positions effort.The failureto enlistmore of are too oftentimid or so impressedby theseyoung people in positionsmak- their clerk's job at $1,620-which ingmore use oftheir specialized abili- could be performedefficiently by a ties and capabilitiesis a nationalloss. highschool student-that they cannot Many menin governmentservice sen- look to engineering,chemistry, or sitive to our manpowerneeds must physicsas a career.There is goodlogic realizethe stupidityof continuingto

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 382 THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO EDUCATION allow 10 per cent of our potential The NYA dividesthe countryinto technicalbrainpower to go largelyun- 11 geographicregions: Region I (Con- used for failureto cut sharplyand necticut,Maine, Massachusetts,New resolutelyacross some social preju- Hampshire,Rhode Island, Vermont, dices.The Negrocollege can certainly New York) 816, 14.8 (the firstis the do morein re-orientingand re-train- numberof Negrotrainees, the second ing, but the chief burdenmust be the percentagein that region); Re- borne by government.Nevertheless, gion III (Delaware, New Jersey, any law whichallows the use of our Pennsylvania)1,482, 18.5; RegionIV manpowerto be decidedby local need (District of Columbia, Maryland, forpersonnel is dangerousfor the Ne- NorthCarolina, Virginia, West Vir- gro since it allows too easilythe pi- ginia) 1,808,28.0; Region V (Ken- geonholingof Negroabilities and the tucky,Michigan, Ohio) 1,326,16.8; assignmentto positionstraditionally Region VI (Illinois,Indiana, Wiscon- Negro.But let us returnto thatlater. sin) 1,563,18.7; Region VII (Alabama, The trainingprogram of the Nation- Florida, Georgia,Mississippi, South al Youth Administration(NYA) has Carolina,Tennessee) 1,978, 27.5; Re- a commendablehistory of effective-gion VIII (Iowa, Minnesota,Nebras- ness and equal opportunityin the ka, North Dakota, South Dakota) trainingof Negroes.The agencyhas 188,5.4; RegionIX (Arkansas,Kan- conductedtwo programs,a student- sas, Missouri,Oklahoma) 1,380, 21.9; aid programto help studentsin col- Region X (Louisiana,New Mexico, leges and graduateschools and NYA Texas) 675, 15.3; RegionXI (Colo- tradeclasses. The chiefemphasis since rado, Idaho, Montana, Utah, Wyo- the war seems to be the vocational ming) 53, 4.1; RegionXII (Arizona, trainingprogram in tradesvital to the California,Nevada, Oregon, Washing- war economy.The numberof young ton) 120,9.6. In mostof these regions peoplein trainingas of February17, theNegro participates in a percentage 1943,was: larger than his relative population Total Negro percentage. Shop activities 58,328 11,057 Clerical activities 1,801 312 The relativelylarge number of Ne- Other activities 55 20. grotrainees may be indicativeof the Shop activities included machine, inabilityof the youngNegro to find sheetmetal, welding, foundry, forge,' employment.In theNYA program,the radio, woodwork,industrial sewing, enrolleesare paid a fairhourly wage etc.The greatestconcentration of Ne- duringthe trainingperiod. The rate, groeswas in machine(2,462), sheet particularlyin the Southand border metal (1,468), arc welding (2,105), states,is higherthan that the Negro is and industrialsewing (1,757). Negro accustomedto receivein the busboy- women (6,392) exceeded the men messenger-janitor-jobsopen to them. (4,665) withhalf of the womencon- Thisshould not detract, however, from centratedin machine(1,507) and in- the real factthat NYA givestraining dustrialsewing (1,756). Of the 312 of high quality on excellentequip- Negroesin clericalactivities, 307 were ment.We needmore of it. women. The data on trainingprograms of

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions TRAINING OF NEGROES FOR WAR INDUSTRIES 383 privateindustries are meager.Verbal ciently.I do notknow that such busi- reportsindicate that Negroespartici- nessesare trainingNegroes. pate on the skilledand semi-skilled In-servicetraining is the pattern levelsbut neverin the ratioapproxi- commonto a largenumber of indus- matingthe population ratio. There are tries.A personis hiredand sent to severaladvanced engineering programs special classes for a shortperiod to forwomen for which Negro girls have learn specificduties. Negroes experi- applied,unsuccessfully. The Curtiss- ence the initial difficultyof getting WrightCorporation has a ten-months'hired. engineeringtraining course for women The over-allpicture of the training in cooperation with engineeringof Negroes for war industrieshas schools.8Women have been assigned to brightenedconsiderably in recent Cornell,Iowa State College,Minne- months.Wilkerson's study of the Vo- sota,Pennsylvania State College, Pur- cationalEducation Program empha- due,and theUniversity of Texas. The sized that as of October15, 1940,of curriculumincludes mathematics, job the 90,000enrollees only 5,000 or ap- terminologyand specifications,air- proximately5 per centwere Negroes. craftdrawing and design,elementary Approximately 1,500 were in the 13 mechanics,and aircraft materials. Southern states with segregated None of these coursesrequire equip- schools.There is correspondinggrowth mentnot easily placed in manyNegro in the ESMWT program. colleges. The only solutionto the training Fortune'srecent survey of manage- problemlies in a stronggovernment mentopinion indirectly points to the programdirected to the development probablefate of the Negroin indus- of skillsirrespective of race,color, or try'straining program. When 47.5 per creed. The Kilgore bill, introduced cent of managementreported that intothe Senate on February11, 1943, they employedno Negroes,34.8 per appearsto be an excellentinstrument cent statedthat they employedless assuringthe use of Negro abilities. than 10 per cent and 38.9 per cent Item 8 under Purposesof the Act insistedthat they could employno reads: Negroesefficiently and 27.8 per cent To promoteinterest in scientificand tech- thatthey could not employ more than nical education,and to providefor all quali- 10 per cent efficiently,Fortune fied persons"0the means of scientificand editorialized: technicaltraining and employment.... Theoreticians,even practical theoreticians, Item C underPowers of the Office may take exceptionto the executives'col- states: lectiveestimates of the ceilingsof usefulness of Negroes. . . . Obviously business man- To formulateand promoteprojects and pro- agementwants little part of them. ... grams for the developmentand use of scientificand technicalfacilities and per- The responsesindicate, however, that sonneland, when necessary,to initiateand businessesnot now hiring Negroes be- carryout such projects. lieve that they can use them effi- 8 For a popular description of the program, see The billproposes a NationalScientific Life, p. 45-49, May 10, 1943. 9Fortune, p. 143, F 1943. 10The italics are mine.

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions 384 THE JOURNAL OF NEGRO EDUCATION

and TechnicalCommittee with repre- In reviewingthe Kilgorebill and sentativesof the consumingpublic, theelaborate training programs neces- labor,business, and government.The sitatedby WorldWar II, one is im- initial appropriationrequested is pressedby the tremendousdifference $200,000,000, betweenthe technological demands of The hope-inspiringfeature of the World War II and World War I. Kilgorebill is that unlikeESMWT WorldWar I seemsto haveended just wherethe requirements for a program as it was enteringthe device stage. No eliminatedmost Negro schools,this elaboratenational program was re- bill leavesthe particular machinery of quired.Although World War I has formulatingand promotingprojects been called a chemist'swar in com- and programsto be determinedby na- parisonwith World War II, a physi- tional need. Heretoforemany of the cist's war, even the requirementof specialproblems in the scientificand personnelwith training in chemistry technicaleducation of Negroescould was muchless thannow. So fewNe- not be successfullyapproached. With groeswere concernedwith technical a blanketprovision "to formulateand and scientificwork at that timethat promoteprojects and programs. . . our collegestook littlenotice of any and, whennecessary, to initiateand contributionthey could have made. carryout such projects,"the Negro Theoutstanding mathematicians, phys- collegecould look towardmore effec- icists, and chemistswere used in tive selectionand trainingof young research,but on a muchsmaller scale. peoplein thephysical sciences. The increasingsignificance of tech- Two otherprovisions of the act are nologyin waris notunusual. It seems of interest: thatwars exploit the technology of an Powersof the Office: era morecompletely than does peace. (j) To financeby loan, grant, exchange, In spiteof the growth in enrollment purchase,or otherwisethe operations and extensionof trainingprograms, or functions,or any of them,authorized by this Act, and, or the same purposes, thereremains the generalweakness to make or acquire any contract,. . . thatall of the programshave not en- and to enterinto any transactionneces- listedenough Negroes to rendertheir sary or appropriatefor the performance participationin the technicalside of of its duties or powers. the war programefficient. The ex- (o) To conductsuch research and investiga- tion touchingupon the use and de- tremelysmall number of Negroesre- velopment of scientificand technical ceivingscientific training for war work facilitiesand personnelas the Office in contrastto thosewho are learning may deem necessaryand appropriateto to manipulatethe appliancesof our carryout the purposesof thisAct. technologywithout any scientific The War ManpowerCommission is knowledgeor trainingis certainto at work on a Civilian Trainingbill weakenus in thesuper-scientific world which will request approximatelypredicted for the post-war period. Un- $60,000,000.I do notknow the specific questionablythere are many factors at provisions,but it will absorbthe war- workto hinderand thwartthe Negro, loan programof the U.S. Officeof but thereremains the convictionthat Education. the governmentagencies, our schools,

This content downloaded from 129.2.19.102 on Wed, 29 Oct 2014 12:13:12 PM All use subject to JSTOR Terms and Conditions TRAINING OF NEGROES FOR WAR INDUSTRIES 385 and industryhave not reachedtheir I wouldadd to these: optimumefficiency within the limita- 4. The traditionalvocational interestsof tionsof the social pattern.To reach Negro students.The coursesnow in de- thislevel will require increased atten- mand have been almost exclusivelypre- tion by Negro schoolsand generous professionalcourses in Negro colleges. There is need fora changeof attitude. assistanceby government.Tactics will 5. A muchalive, widespreadbelief that the have to be devisedfor circumventing war should interfereas little as possible pettyprejudices in local or national with the life of the individualunless he officials. is called forservice. The studentis look- In a surveyof the Negro college and ing to the post-warworld with the con- victionthat the job opportunitieswill be the war trainingprogram, conducted the same as now. Somethingcan be done in thelast halfof 1942,L. L. Woods"' to combat this attitude. concludedthat within their limitations thecolleges are doinga goodjob. Lack Whenone considersall of the fac- of more and betterintegrated pro- torsinvolved in the war trainingpro- gramswas chargedto: gram for Negroes-numbersof Ne- groeswith sufficient educational back- 1. Indifferentpreparation of students.Since most of the studentsof the Negro col- ground,teaching personnel, equipment leges come from poorly staffedhigh needs,advertising of job opportunities schoolsit has been foundthat whenthey in the technicalfields-it becomes reach college much time must be spent clearthat the onlyreal hopelies in a in teachingthat whichthey should have sincere governmentprogram which been given beforereaching college. 2. Administrativeapathy. The unwilling- willconsider the task of recruiting and ness of school administratorsto establish trainingNegro brainpowerwith the and properlyprovide for the intensive objectivecalmness that one considers scientifictraining merely because the cost the metallurgicalproblem of extract- per studentis higherand because classes ing magnesiumfrom sea water.Now are smaller in the sciences than in the otherdepartments. that we are preparingto hit Hitler's 3. Lack of properpublic and governmental fortressEurope, it may be necessary support.Negro colleges usually have a to lookto thebetter utilization of this hard time maintainingexisting programs 10 per centof our mostessential war the amountof directinterest shown and material.'2 by federalagencies, by theirsupport, is farshort of whatit shouldbe. 12The author wishes to thank Mr. E. P. West- moreland, U. S. Office of Education, and Mr. "1 L. L. Woods, "The Negro College and the Charles P. Browning, National Youth Administra- War Training Program," School and Society, 57: tion, for generous assistance in securing data and 19-20, J 2, 1943. for their counsel.

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