Jackson advocate. [volume] (Jackson, Miss.) 1939-current, 1943-10-02
About Negroes And The Selective Service

Among the conditions brought out most wildly in the
prosecution of the the difference between the
American youth and the European and perhaps the
Asia particularly Russian and Japanese in physical and
mental fitness for Military Service Judging from the size
of the armies the Eurpean and Asiatc nations
gagged in and comparing their populations with that of
the United States the degree of reflections among those of
military those nations must be considerably lower
than in this country ese the physical and mental
quremens for military service must be upon standard
much lower than exist here.
With respects to both physical and mental fitness for
military service, the rate of reectons revealed through
the operation of the draft has been considerably higher
for the south than for the other sections of the nation due
IN large part to causes peculiar to the SOUTH which would
be to point out Adding to the rate of the rejection
in the SOUTH to degree far out of proportion with their
relations to the general population has been the rate of
such reflections among southern Negroes
Recently the Seectve Service in the operation of the
draft law attempting to offset the high degree of reiec
ions indicated in educational tests which made draftee
of the fourth grade eligible for military service changed
TO series of psychological tests under which it is possible
for drafee to exhibit intelligence mental fitness that
would qualify him for military service though he had
never been to school day Under these has
revealed that the reflections because of intelligence
and mental fitness exhibited has increased rather than
creased.
In a recent conference here in Jackson with high
ranking official of the Seectivve Service group Ne
educators professional and business leaders participant
ing the possibility that draftee might be able feign
lack of intelligence and mental fitness for military serv-
ce under the psychological tests came consd-
cradle dscusslon with due consideration being to
cultural background and experience incidence the
age Negro draee from the south 1t the prevailing
opinion that cultural background and experience incidence
or lack of them not responsible for the increase in
rejection under the tests.
1t also pointed out that aside from feigning lack
of intelligence and mental fitness Negro draftees were
adopting number of stratagems to indicate physical
ditions rendering them unfit for military service was
also brought out that Negro Draftees who the Undue
ton centers and rejected return to their respective
communities and than likely be regarded as
being unusually clever and receive show commenda-
ton rather than condemnation of any kind upon their
testimony having feigned lack of intelligence and men
tai fitness stratagem indicate physical
condition rendering them unfit for military service to OBJ
tain rejection, and escape military service.
What is revealed here more than any other one con-
don the fact that the continued impact of conditions
ana Incidents throughout the SOUTH conditions
dents that need not be mentioned evidence no regard for
the spirit and morale of the Negro and lack of high
morale and spirit is producing these unhealthy physcho-
logical reactions in the prospective Negro soldier and
the Negro OF the south, its magnitude be greatly
unhealthy Psychological reaction in the prospective Ne
gro Soldier TO the smallest degree and in Negro
community WELL suggests immediate and urgent need
for action the part of Southern Negro leaders, and the
combined White and Negro leadership every Southern
community.
And problem of the Selective Service regarding
the Negro of the SOUTH its magnitude be greatf re-
duced bringing Negroes directly into the functions
and operation of the Seectve Service with respects to Ne
groes