Evening star., 1947-10-29

tientS into the hospital. negro meo-
ical students are similarly discrim-
mated against in the provision OF
training facilities.
Public and private agency well
fare services are available to both
colored and white residents, but
institutional care is provided only
on a segregated basis and the in
stitutions for Negroes are far in
ferior in both number and quality
to those for whites. Here again
the lower economic position of Ne
groes and their consequent need
for care aggravates the problem.
DISCRIMINATION IN RECREA-
TIONAL SERVICES.
In the field of public recreation
compulsory segregation has In.
creased over the past Is years
Various public authorities have
cIosed to one race or the other
numerous facilities where whites
and Negroes once played together
harmoniouHly. In 1912, the District
Of Columbia Board of Recreation
was set up to centralize the control
of public recreation facilities. Con-
gress eliminated from the locally
sponsored bill a provision that
would have required the new board
to continue segregation. But II
took no positive stand on the issue
and the board has adopted reguia-
tions which enforce segregation In
all the parks and Fairgrounds
under its control.
Under this policy, facilities In
seven out of 26 natural areas" In
the District have been turned ovei
to Negroes. Because the Negro
areas are disproportionately con-
centrated in the older, crowded parts
of the city, white facilities are gen.
orally superior to those allotted te
Negroes. Furthermore, whites ano
Negroes alike who live far from
facilities open to their race have
easy access to none. White resi-.
dents who had shared with Negroes
the use of the Rose Park tennis
courts protested in vain against
being barred from them.
On the other hand, recreation
facilities under the jurisdiction c1
the Department of Interior are
open to all races, and serious fric.
ton is nonexistent. District ofii'
cials have tried repeatedly to have
these facilities turned over to ths
Recreation Board. The transfer ha!
not been made because the boare
will not agree to refrain from inn
posing segregation in their use.
Most private recreational groups
follow the official policy of segrega-
ton, although occasional interracial
competitions have been held sue
cessfully by some. The Washing
ton branch of the Amateur Athletic
Union allows no interracial contests
under It's auspices. For example, NO
Negro may enter the local Golden
Gloves Tournament. although they
compete in the national tourna-
ment.
Editors note-This was true at
the time the committee report was
written. However, at the District
AAU meeting on October Is this
year, the association lifted the ban
on interracial competition in anna
teur boxing and track)
DISCRIMINATION IN PLACES OF
PUBLIC ACCOMMODATION.
Public transportation Is provided
without separation of the races and
the spectators at most professional
sporting events are unsegregated
But other public accommodations
are a focal point Of Negro resent
ment, because rigorous segregation
in practice means exclusion. Nc
downtown theater except the bur-
lesque house admits Negroes. They
may see movies only in their neigh
borhood houses. Some department
stores and many downtown shops
exclude Negro patrons by ignoring
them or refusing to show the stock
they request or making them wait
until all white customers have been
served. A Negro is seldom accepted
at the downtown hotels unless spe-
cial arrangements are made. Al
though they may dine at the Union
Station, the YWCA and the cate
terias in Government office build
ings, the overwhelming majority OF
downtown restaurants are closed to
them.
The shamefulness and absurdity
Of Washington's treatment OF Negro
Americans is high lighted, by the
presence of many dark-skinned for.