mar 17, 1941 - "Limit Negro Air Jobs"

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On March 17, 1941, a protest meeting occurred and was reported by the the Kansas City Star newspaper: “Limit Negro Air Jobs” J.H. Kindelberger, President and General Manager of North American Aviation, Inc., made the following statements: “Applications for jobs in the plant where we will employ upwards of 10,000 persons, will be received at the temporary Kansas City offices in the near future.” Further, Mr. Kindelberger stated: “We will receive applications from both white and Negro workers; however, the Negroes will be considered only as janitors and in other similar capacities.” He emphasized that “under no circumstances would Negroes be employed as aircraft workers or mechanics in the plant.” There will be some jobs as janitors. Regardless of their training as aircraft workers, we will not employ them in the North America plants.” The plant was located in the Fairfax area of Kansas City, Kansas.

Because of this, a protest rally was held in April 1941, at the Memorial Hall in Kansas City, Kansas, sponsored by the Kansas City, Kansas branch of the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP). Approximately 5,000 people attended the meeting, which was the largest protest meeting ever held in Kansas City, Kansas or Kansas City, Missouri. The principal speaker was Dr. A. Porter Davis, prominent physician, in Kansas City, Kansas. His comments were greeted with enthusiasm and frequently applauded. Mr. C.A. Franklin, Editor of the Kansas City Call Newspaper, was also a speaker.

Funds were collected to send a delegation to Washington D.C., to put the problem of the proposed discrimination in national defense employment before federal authorities. The selected delegation was Dr. A. Porter Davis, R.B. Brown, President of the Kansas City, Kansas Branch of the NAACP, C.A. Franklin and Bishop John A. Gregg. (K.C. Call April 4, 1941)

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