Federal Aid, Local Control, and Negro Participation

Abstract

anew the old problem of administrative control-centralized, or Federal, versus decentralized, or local. In such cooperative programs as public housing, social security, and education, which are financed jointly by Federal and local governments, this problem calls for certain definite and workable adjustments in accordance with our republican form of government. These adjustments are of the utmost importance to Negro citizens because the majority of them still live in the South where they generally do not participate actively in state or local government and, consequently, are usually unable to make effective demand for their full share of the benefits of the program. In order to assure equitable participation in decentralized programs, Negroes have sought both legislative and administrative safeguards. The public resolution appropriating funds for the Work Projects Administration for the fiscal year ending June 30, 1940, forbids racial discrimination in employment. Efforts have been made to have similar clauses inserted in legislation appropriating Federal funds for education and health.1