113. Memorandum From the Assistant Director for Africa, United States Information Agency (Roberts) to the Deputy Director (Wilson)1
We are becoming increasingly concerned over what we see as the failure of Agency output to pay enough attention to the task of projecting an integrated American society. Ten percent of the population is Negro. Another significant percentage is non-white. Various top officials, including the Attorney General, have stated that racial issues are of primary importance overseas. Therefore I believe that no serious effort by this Agency on any theme or campaign should fail to take this task into account.
I do not think it is being done. To cite a few examples:
I am told that initial IPS and ITV materials on the “Thirty Years of Progress”2 failed to make any mention of social progress in the field of race relations.3
The December–January Special issue of Informations & Documents, put out by USIS-Paris is devoted to “La Civilisation Americaine”, but as you will see from the attached copy,4 not a single Negro American is pictured in it.
A few months ago we succeeded for the first time in getting certain of the Agency’s stock color illustrated posters printed up in an African language—one on churches of America and another on American agriculture. In neither of these was there a single non-white face.
I would like to make it clear that I am not talking about the encouraging flow of materials on the progress of American Negroes which is of direct interest to the African posts. I am talking about what we feel is a failure to project world-wide, in a constant “soft sell” manner, the basic idea of an integrated society in which non-whites are playing an increasing role.
[Page 295]I feel that it is not especially productive for one area director, who justly may be accused of a partisan viewpoint, to be pressing this. If you agree with me, might I suggest that the best approach would be for the Director and Deputy Directors to demonstrate an interest in this question?
- Source: National Archives, RG 306, DIRCTR Sub Files, 1963–69, Bx 6–29 63–69: Acc: #72A5121, Entry UD WW 257, Box 8, Field—Africa (IAA) 1963. No classification marking. A copy was sent to Sorensen. Wilson wrote a “W” at the top of the first page of the memorandum. Above Wilson’s notation, an unknown hand wrote: “I/S.” Carter wrote his initials, “AC,” above this notation.↩
- Presumable reference to circular airgram USIA CA–1971, January 23, regarding the commemoration of President Franklin D. Roosevelt’s first inauguration on March 4, 1933. (National Archives, RG 306, General Subject Files, 1949–1970; Acc. #66–Y–0274, Entry UD WW 382, Box 117, Master Copies 1963)↩
- In the left margin next to of the paragraph, Carter wrote: “DW—not true re IPS.”↩
- Not found attached.↩
- Roberts signed “Ned” above his typed signature.↩