Identifier

FBI_00140

Title

Negro Press Memo (Week of November 29th, 1942)

Creator

Department of Justice, Special War Policies Unit

Description

A memo containing a collection of quotes from Black publications from the week of November 29th, 1942. These memos were distributed internally and documented “serious situations adversely affecting Negroes” These memos were drafted to support the FBI’s Survey of Racial Conditions (RACON) regarding racial unrest and agitation. Pages and quotes included in this selection of pages highlight discrimination in the Armed Forces and employment. It is important to note, although this is listed alongside COINTELPRO files, this surveillance took place prior to formal initiation of COINTELPRO in 1956. The type of surveillance here is a precursor to the further expansion of mass surveillance activities throughout COINTELPRO.

Source

100-HQ-135-Serial90-p2, 15 December 1942, Federal Bureau of Investigation Records, "Foreign Inspired Agitation Among American Negroes", Detroit FBI Files - Black Freedom.

Theme

Criminalization and Resistance, Community and Resistance

Type

Government Records, Publications

Level 1 Tag

Race

Racism

Racialization

Social Movements

Surveillance

Government Correspondence

Activism

COINTELPRO

Detroit

Resistance

Level 2 Tag

Racial Unrest

Profiling

Abuse by Government

Race & Ethnic Identity

COINTELPRO - Foreign Inspired Agitation Among American Negroes

Racial Inequality

Level 3 Tag

Federal Bureau of Investigation

The People's Voice

The Pittsburgh Courier

The Washington Afro-American

The Chicago Defender

Date

1942-12-15

Rights

Public Domain acquired through Freedom of Information Act