On 11 April 1913, the government of US President Woodrow Wilson authorised racial segregation of federal employees.
Treasury Secretary William McAdoo was amongst the officials who had complained about supposed issues such as “irritation where white women have been. Unless this to sit at desks with coloured men.”
The move was discussed at a cabinet meeting on April 11, at which multiple departments decided to implement segregation, including the post office and treasury, with no objection from Wilson.
Before his election, Wilson courted Black votes, claiming that: “Should I become President of the United States, [Negroes] [sic] may count upon me for absolute fair dealing and for everything by which I could assist in advancing the interests of their race in the United States.” But after segregation was introduced he wrote in the letter: “I would say that I do approve of the segregation that is being attempted in several of the departments”.
The government then began requiring photographs for job applications, in order to identify Black applicants, and began physically relocating Black workers to segregated bathrooms, canteens and workplaces.
Many Black workers were demoted or fired, and Black post office workers were removed from public view. Meanwhile, the workers’ union, the Railway Mail Association, refused to admit Black members.
Black workers responded by forming the National Alliance of Postal and Federal Employees. Protests began against the scheme, including some organised by the Association for the Advancement of Coloured People (NAACP), which resulted in the removal of segregated bathrooms signs, but discrimination continued, and photographs remained a requirement in job applications until 1940.
Federal government segregation authorised - WCH | Stories
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