Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1942-04-11
Information Is
Lacking, 0CD
Leader Says
M. s. Fauset
Seeks to Explain
National Setup

WASHINGTON, D. Ca N P)
1.-THE Negro of today is not the
Negro of yesterday" said a MEM
Der of a committee calling on
Jonathan Daniels, son of Josephus
Daniels of North Carolina, when
the committee sought to find out
what the office of Civilian De-
Tense was doing toward preparing
the Negro for the part ne is to
play in the event the country is
subjected to the bombing which
have terrorized all other countries
during the present war.
Calling on Mrs. Crystal Byrd
Fauset to explain the status of the
Negro and the apparent lack of in
terest in the Negroes welfare, the
committee listened patiently while
Mr.. Daniels and Mrs. Fauset at
tempted to set forth the functions
of OCD.
NO INFORMATION
With all of the highly paid ma
tional heads and regional leaders
among the Negroes assigned to
Negro division, there is less infor-
nation concerning OCD available,
its aims and functions, the direc-
tor was told, than any other gov
ernmental organization. and at the
same time it was pointed out that
Negroes as well as any other group
were entitled to know just what
was going on and what to expect
and what to do.
The apathetic attitude toward
Negroes, reflected in the OCD as
in other organizations, leaders said
was not conducive to any great re-
spect for the OCD nor what it
stood for and these particular
representatives of several groups
wanted information as to the at
titude to be taken toward Negroes.
Mr.. Daniels was told and agreed
with the statement that the same
treatment accorded Negroes in
North Carolina would not do in
New York and other states.
ATTEMPTS TO EXPLAIN
Mrs. Fauset attempted to explain
the functions of OCD and led the
committee to believe that the Of
flee in Washington did not con-
troll the actions of state offices.
She asked the organizations to CO.
operate with OCD in an effort to
spread information as TO what they
could and would do.
This decentralization of OCD
functions makes a different pic
ture in Florida from the one in
New York. !. and in the southern
states in general where diScrimina-
tory practices are the rule with
Negroes suffering a lack when
there is lack.
Mr.. Daniels said he regarded
the whole thing as a humanitar-
ian effort. Present at the same
time were Mrs. Roach of Colo
RADIO who is specialist in Mexi-
can and Spanish affairs" and
serves as an adviser in this ca
pacity.
Visiting the Office of Civilian
Defense were Lester Granger, Ma
tional Urban League; DR.. Thomp-
sons, American Teachers aSsocia-
ton; DR.. Millard R. Deane. Ma
tional Dental association: Thomas
p. Bonner, National Alliance Of
Postal Employees; Mrs. Rachael
Corrothers, Negro Labor commit
tee, New York; Mrs. Maurice
Curtice, Paterson, New Jersey, Ma
tional Board of YWCA; and DR..
j. F. Gathirgs, National Medical
association, New York.
One OF the disturbing elements
as far as the committee was con-
cerned was the lack of publicity
from OCD advising of activities
of the organizations and advice
necessary to the proper conduct of
plans devised for civilian defense.
Reorganization plans for OCD
are said to include a shift in Mrs.
Byrd'S post which will not be COM