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1308 An American Dilemma
specifications in those states where such specifications are contrary to State law; . ,
{Ibid,, p. 2.)
The war housing work, for a long time, was extremely uncoordinated, particularly
from a local viewpoint. This was due, largely, to the fact that the local Housing Author-
ities were kept from leadership since they worked under the auspices of the United
States Housing Authority which happened to be rather unpopular in Congress. Most of
these organizational difficulties, however, have been overcome since the integration of
all public housing programs under the National Housing Agency in 1942.
The following description of the conditions in the Negro section of Norfolk,
Virginia, in the spring of 1942 is pertinent in this context:
“Three recent field trips to the area have convinced the writer that there is an
immediate demand for dormitory accommodations. All rooming houses are overcrowded.
Such community agencies as the Young Men’s and Young Women’s Christian Associa-
tions have canvassed the city for spare rooms that residents would be willing to rent
out to new-comers. All available sleeping space has been utilized: porches have been
closed in, two and three double beds have been placed in rooms, couches have been
placed in halls, and as many as 35 men a night can be found sleeping in chairs or on the
floor of the recreation room of the Y.M.C.A. It is difficult to find single accommoda-
tions. A man has to share his bed with a second occupant. The ‘hot bed’ practice of sleep-
ing men in shifts without a change of linen has been reported . . (Lyonel C. Florant.
Population Study, Virginia State Planning Board, “Memorandum re: Negro Housing
in Norfolk, Virginia,” typescript [June 3, 1942], p. 3.)
Information from Miss Corienne K. Robinson, National Housing Agency, Federal
Public Housing Administration (letter, [August 28, 1942]).
See, for instance, Emmett J. Scott, The American Negro in the World War
(1919), pp. 77-78.
Monroe N. Work (editor), Negro Year Book, jg$i-S2 (1931), pp. 327-334.
Negro soldiers were used on both sides in the Revolutionary War—often in unsegregated
outfits. There were almost 1 80,000 Negro troops on the Union side in the Civil War
;
some fought on the Confederate side. During the First World War there were 380,000
Negroes in the Army. About 200,000 Negro soldiers were sent to France. Most of these
were in labor battalions and service units; only 42,000 were combat troops, and Negroes
had to fight for the right to be represented at all among the line soldiers. About 1,400
Negroes were commissioned as officers in the Army of the First World War, although
it took some time before the Army leadership could be induced to make provisions for
giving officer’s training to any Negro soldiers.
Scott, op. cit., particularly, pp. 82-91, 315-327 and 442-443.
Brown and Leighton, of. cit., p. 7; “The Negro’s War,” p. 164; “The Negro in
the Army Today,** typewritten statement issued by Judge William Hastie, Special
Assistant, War Department; White, op. cit., p. 63.
40
‘‘Xhe Negro In the Army Today.”
See, for example. White, op. cit., p, 61.
High, Of. cit., p, 114; Brown and Leighton, of. cit., p. 7.
The Negro pilot school at Tuskegee at present (August, 1942) accepts only some
20-odd Negro pupils every five weeks. At the present time (September, 1942), however,
there are plans for a considerable expansion in the Negro aviation cadet training
program.
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