The Omaha guide., 1937-02-06


despite loud bowls from Negroes IL
all parts of the country, the blank
space for designation Of "color' or
application for Social Security bene-
fits probably will not be removed
at any time soon.
Social Security Board members
say the designation of color is nee
essary for "identife on"-oby
~ a subterfuge, since few Negroes
are really black and many cannot
be distinguished from white per-
sons. Since there IS no sharp divid-
ing line between the fermentation
Of white and %colored persons, the
knowledge of a persons rae does
not necessarily aid in his Identified
ton.
The truth is that the Ssh wants
a record Of the race Of its benehc-
aries for statistical purposes. 1t
wants to know just how much Ne
groes + getting from its various
programs. How this knowledge will
be used depends upon the men in
power. Statistics may work distinct
" to the advantage Of Negroes in
bringing cases of discrimination to
light. At the same time, they can
be manhandled in such a way as to
rob the ace of many intended bene-
fits.
The reason the request for design
alton of color will remain on the
application cards is that Negro
readers will not support a fight to
have 1t removed. If this fight were
won, they point out how could any
n tell whether Negroes are parti-
eipating in the program as they
should? Without stasties, what bas-
is would there be for concrete pre-
sentatlon of complaints against dis
elimination?
There the issue stands today.
Undoubtedly many colored per-
sons will suffer as a result of the
designation of their color on social
security cards. Those who swing
back and forth ''across the line" in
their efforts to find decent jobs
may be the hardest hit.
But on the other hand, if there
Is no racial breakdown in the So
oial Security Boards statistics, the
Negro, as a minority group, will
find it harder than ever to put a fin
ger on any actual or imagined dis
elimination.
In the choice between two evils,
leaders of the race claim it is bet
ter at this stage to have the racial
breakdown in stasties, so that
tho faults in he program can be OBJ
jectively pointed out.
For the time at least, then, it
looks as though "eolor" blank will
stay.
Incidentlly, it might be interest.
ing to ask the Social Security
Board just how 1t defines NEGRO
where it draws the line between
white and black.
Interesting news in the houslnl
field is that, of five PWA low-ren
projects opened to date, three arr
to be occupied predominently by col
ored tenants.
These projects are Liberty SOU
are, Miami, Fla; William Patter
son Courts, Montgomery, Ala; anc
University Homes, Atlanta, Ca.
PWA Advisor Robert C. Weaver
says that on these three projects
Negro labor received more than &c
percent of all money paid for skill
ed work, and more than so per cent
of all money paid for unskilled work
The percentages are significant
because they showed that DIR. Wea-
ver's scheme, by which special pre-.
cautions are being taken to pre-.
vent discrimination against Negro
skilled and unskilIed labor on hous,
ing projects, is really working.
Secretary Of Agriculture Wall
ace, in his recent address to tn
National Conference on the Pro
blems Of Negroes, said some thing.
about the farm tenancy problem
that would have made front pag
headlines but for the fact that h
was overshadowed by the presenc
Of Mrs. Roosevelt and dozens O
other dignitaries on the same pro
gram.
Much of his speech, lost in tn
shuttle by the press, was of efinit