Hon. HERBERT H. LEHMAN
Governor
Brig. Gen. AMES T. BROWN
The Adjutant General
State Director

Selective Service
New York State Headquarters
76 State Street
Albany

February 28, 1942

Mr. James E. Davis,
415 W. 154th Street,
New York, N.Y.

Dear Mr. Davis:

In reply to your letter of February 26th appeals to the President are only taken wherein it is believed injustice has been done in accordance with the Selective Service regulations and your claim is not based on anything in accordance with regulations and the prescribed policy of the War Department.

I am given to understand that it is the ambition of the negroes at some future date to do away with all segregation within the army but that the leaders of thought amongst the colored people realize that the time is not yet and you can only do yourself and the colored people harm if you persist in the stand you have taken which would only cause you to be classed as a delinquent and you would be apprehended by the Department of Justice.

With my interest in the colored people which is well known I urge you to allow your induction into the Army of the United States to take place under existing laws and regulations.

415 W. 154th street

New York, New York

April 6, 1942

President Franklin D. Roosevelt
The White House
Washington, D.C.

Dear Sir:

I have appealed my case thru the channels afforded by the Selective Service System and have been denied by:

(1) My Local Board

(2) The Appeal Board

(3) The New York State Director of S.S., Brig. Gen. Ames T. Brown

(4) The National Director of S.S., Brig. Gen. Lewis B. Hershey ( who referred my appeal to him back to the N.Y.C. Director, Col. Arthur V. McDermott, for a reply).

I am making my final appeal to you, The President of the United States, and feel that I am now entitled to a reply directly from you.

I am uncompromisingly opposed to serving in military forces that segregate and discriminate between citizens solely because of race, creed, or color.

I have requested permission to leave the country to enlist in the Canadian Armed Forces where I am given to understand that segregation *been* because of race is not tolerated. My request has been denied.

The New York State Director of S.S. answered my appeal in this manner:

"I am given to understand that it is the ambition of the negroes (small n) at some future date to do away with segregation within the army but that the leaders of thought amongst the colored people realize that the time is not yet and you can only do yourself and the colored people harm if you persist in the stand that you have taken."

Mr. President, I wish to quote to you part of my letter to Gen. Lewis B. Hershey. "It is the ambition of all people who are sincerely striving for a real, workable democracy to do away with segregation within the army NOW and not at some future date. We have a war and peace to win and segregation and race discrimination are very seriously hindering that effort.

Pres. Roosevelt

April 6, 1942

(2)

Mixed units are working well in Canada and could work just as well here (some of the southern states possibly excepted). If and when such units are authorized I should love to be among the first to volunteer; but, until then I have resolved to take any consequences to serving my country in an undemocratic, jim crow capacity."

Just as Lincoln decided that we could not exist half slave and half free and took a positive, active stand against slavery, it is your duty to God, your Country, and Humanity to take a similar stand against segregation, race discrimination, and other undemocratic, unchristian principles.

Today men are interested in deeds - not words.

South America is interested in deeds - not words.

India is interested in deeds - not words. - FREEDOM NOW.

The apathy of the Negro toward this war is prevalent because he is interested in deeds - not words.

The whole world's attention is focused upon you and what you do in this world-wide crisis. By boldly setting your own house in order, regardless of the headaches, sacrifices, - or blood-shed involved, you will prove to God and the world that you too are interested in deeds - not words.

YOU HAVE THE KEY TO THE WINNING OF THE WAR AND THE PEACE THAT FOLLOWS. FOR HUMANITY'S SAKE, WONT YOU GIVE IT A TURN ?

250 Epps Avenue,
Englewood, New Jersey,
July 14, 1942.

Gentlemen:

Having stated my protest against Jim Crowism in all the forms available to me, namely in writing to my draft board, (Mannattan, No. 62), to the Appeal Board, to the New York State Director of Selective Service, to the National Director of Selective Service, and to President Roosevelt as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces; this protest having been published in the press; and having been imprisoned in the Federal House of Detention through a desire to improve the democratic processes in reference to my own race and my country as a whole, I now feel that no further useful interest could be served by my continued refusal to go into the armed forces, segregated even as they are into white and Negro units.

I shall now report for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States, offering all that I have to the service of my country during this hour of peril in our common fight against the Fascist threat from without. It is my fervent hope and desire that from this conflict will emerge an America in which no race or people are any longer denied any of the democratic rights embodied in our national ideals, in our constitution, and in the recent speeches of our President and Vice-President whose words hold out hope for the poor and oppressed of all the world. May I be of service in the creation of this new world where all men are brothers, and all people are guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

250 Epps Avenue,
Englewood, New Jersey,
July 14, 1948.

Gentlemen:

Having stated my protest against Jim Crow in all the
forms available to me, namely in writing to my draft board, (Man-
hattan, No. 62), to the Appeal Board, to the New York State Direct-
or of Selective Service, to the National Director of Selective
Service, and to President Roosevelt as Commander in Chief of the
Armed Forces; this protest having been published in the press;
and having been imprisoned in the Federal House of Detention through
a desire to improve the democratic processes in reference to my own
race and my country as a whole, I now feel that no further useful
interest could be served by my continued refusal to go into the armed
forces, segregated even as they are into white and Negro units.

I shall now report for induction into the Armed Forces of
the United States, offering all that I have to the service of my
country during this hour of peril in our common fight against the
Fascist threat from without. It is my fervent hope and desire that
from this conflict will emerge an America in which no race or peo-
ple are any longer denied any of the democratic rights embodied in our
national ideals, in our constitution, and in the recent speeches of
our President and Vice-President whose words hold out hope for the
poor and oppressed of all the world. May I be of service in the
creation of this new world where all men are brothers, and all peo-
ples are guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the
pursuit of happiness.

Gentlemen:

Having stated my protest against Jim Crowism in all the forms available to me, namely in writing to my draft board, (Manhattan, No. 62), to the Appeal Board, to the New York State Director of Selective Service, to the National Director of Selective Service, and to President Roosevelt as Commander in Chief of the Armed Forces; this protest having been published in the press; and having been imprisoned in the Federal House of Detention through a desire to improve the democratic processes in reference to my own race and my country as a whole, I now feel that no further useful interest could be served by my continued refusal to go into the armed forces, segregated even as they are into white and Negro units.

I shall now report for induction into the Armed Forces of the United States, offering all that I have to the service of my country during this hour of peril in our common fight against the Fascist threat from without. It is my fervent hope and desire that from this conflict will emerge an America in which no race or people are any longer denied any of the democratic rights embodied in our national ideals, in our constitution, and in the recent speeches of our President and Vice-President whose words hold out hope for the poor and oppressed of all the world. May I be of service in the creation of this new world where all men are brothers, and all peoples are guaranteed the inalienable rights of life, liberty, and the pursuit of happiness.

HEADQUARTERS
CANADIAN-AMERICAN MILITARY BOARD
Munitions Building, Room 2221

WAR DEPARTMENT

WASHINGTON, D. C.

GVH/cmc

June 29, 1942.

Mr. James E. Davis,
415 West 154th Street,
New York, New York.

Dear Sir:

Your night letter of June 23, 1942, addressed to the President
has been referred to me for reply.

The Canadian Government in general does not accept American
Citizens for service in its armed forces. Such was its decision made
a few months ago. Whether or not they would make an exception in your
case, I do not know. You are, of course, at liberty to address the
Minister of Defence, Ottawa, Canada, regarding the matter of enlistment,
as enlistment in the Canadian Armed Forces is not controlled by the
United States Government.

Regretting that I cannot give you a more favorable reply, I
remain,

SELECTIVE SERVICE
NEW YORK CITY HEADQUARTERS

1 EAST 44TH STREET
NEW YORK CITY

HON. HERBERT H. LEHMAN
GOVERNOR

BRIG. GEN. AMES T. BROWN
THE ADJUTANT GENERAL
STATE DIRECTOR

COL. ARTHUR V. McDERMOTT
NEW YORK CITY DIRECTOR

March 24th, 1942

REFER TO FILE: AVM:AK:Mha

Mr. James E. Davis
415 West 154th Street
New York, New York

Subject: Local Board Number 62

Dear Mr. Davis:-

Your letter of March 18th, addressed to General Hershey and the enclosed copies of letters to General Brown and Local Board Number 62, have been referred to this office for reply.

Your resentment of the conditions which you complain of is quite understandable. However, we are bound by the laws and the regulations, and must do our jobs in accordance with the procedures laid down by higher authority.

Selective Service Regulations forbid a Local Board's granting a release to leave the country where the granting of such a release will interfere with the operation of the Selective Service Act. In your case, since you are in Class I-A and eligible for service in our Army, it would be improper for your Local Board to grant such a release, or for me or any other officer of the Selective Service System to attempt to secure the release you request.

As I see it, we must all do our jobs as directed. Your letter indicates that you are intelligent enough to understand that there are some conditions which we must accept, even though we may disagree with the reasons for their existence.

SELECTIVE SERVICE
NEW YORK STATE HEADQUARTERS

76 STATE STREET
ALBANY

February 28, 1942.

REFER TO FILE:

Mr. James E. Davis,
415 W. 154th Street,
New York, N. Y.

Dear Mr. Davis:

ATB:LDC

Dear Sir;

On April 6, 1942 I made an appeal to you by letter. Since I have received no reply I am making a second appeal by telegraph.

I am eager to shoulder a gun against Hitlerism and it's racial superiority myth but an uncompromisingly opposed to serving in military forces that segregate Negroes alone into separate units solely because of 'race'.

( #62 Manhattan, N.Y.C.)

My local Board was notified of my stand many months prior to Pearl Harbor.

I have requested and been denied permission to enlist in the Canadian Army where Jim Crow is not tolerated.

On June 20, I received notice to report for induction on June 27.

Mr. President, I again appeal to you personally for permission to enlist in the Canadian Army because my conscience, regardless of the consequences, will not allow me to serve my country in an undemocratic, Jim Crow capacity.