April Fifteenth
1944
Dear Mr. Billikopf:
Many thanks for your kind letter of April 1 in reference to the Spingarn Medal.
I have read with interest the report of the Sub-Committee to study the Red Cross situation which you were good enough to enclose in your letter. I am thoroughly in accord with your committee's approach to this problem. I think that the Army made a grievous mistake, a stupid error in first issuing an order to the effect that blood for the Army should not be received from Negroes. It was a bad mistake for three reasons: (1) No official department of the Federal Government should willfully humiliate its citizens; (2) There is no scientific basis for the order; (3) They need the blood. I would be heartily in favor of pressure of all types being brought on the Surgeon General of the U.S. Army to force him to rescind the instructions to the American Red Cross which demands the separation of the bloods of the donors. Such an order, I believe, would have a greater salutory effect upon the morals of Negroes than any other act which could be done at this time. I have had occasion to say this before both official and unofficial in Army circles and outside of it, but to date, with no avail.
I am returning the copy of the letter which you so generously sent.
Very sincerely yours,
Charles R. Drew, M.D.